Three Local Charity Organizations Benefit From Shop-Save-Give
(Le Mars) — The third annual Le Mars Shop Save Give promotion was held again this year. Shoppers in the community could pay $5.00 to get specials in participating stores from November 16 thru December 12. The shopper could
choose one organization to receive the $5.00 donation from the purchase price — the three groups were the Le Mars Backpack Program, Youth for Christ and Josh’s Ride. Checks were presented Friday at the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce.
Josh’s Ride received $915, Le Mars Backpack Program $705 and Youth for Christ $435. Thanks to Le Mars shoppers for supporting the Shop Save Give promotion and for shopping local.
Pictured left to right are Chrissy Rasmussen- Le Mars Backpack Program, Le Mars Chamber Main Street Vice President Michaela Brown, Deb Parmelee – Josh’s Ride, Promotions Committee member Robin Grosenheider and Abraham Curiel – Youth for Christ.
Fareway Donates $2,000 Of Gift Cards To Local Small Businesses
(Le Mars) — Fareway grocery store is wanting to make the holiday season a little brighter for Le Mars small business operators. Revenue is down for many small businesses due to the COVID-19 virus. Fareway has donated $2,000 worth of gift cards to the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce. Each card has a
value of $50 and will be given to 40 selected Le Mars businesses. The cards will be distributed on Monday.
Fire Department Responds To A Field Fire
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a field fire Friday afternoon. The call was received at about 5:12 p.m. Firefighters went to the 24,000 block of 160th Street. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says a controlled brush fire got out of control and began burning crop stubble at an
adjoining field. Firefighters were at the scene for approximately 45 minutes.
Chamber of Commerce Encourages People To Take Photos With Holiday Decorations
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Chamber of Commerce is suggesting to families to take advantage of the many different holiday decorations found around town for unique holiday photo opportunities.
Thanks to Mike and Cheryl Wells for making all the beautiful decorations possible in the downtown area. Wishing you a Merry Christmas in this picture are from left – Ann Bunkers, Heidi Nemmers and Jessica Brownmiller. What a joyful time of year!!! And no coats!!! Happy Holidays!
Iowa Select Farms Donates Pork To Families
(Iowa Falls) — Iowa Falls-based Iowa Select Farms wrapped up its Operation Christmas Meal program this week, having passed out 17-thousand free pork loins to needy Iowans during a dozen events across the state. Jen Sorensen, at Iowa Select, says there were long lines of cars and trucks at every stop as the pandemic has made this such a difficult year for so many Iowans who’ve lost their jobs or lost income.
When the times get tougher, she says, it gets harder for Iowa families to make ends meet.
Iowa families that have never had to take items from a food pantry before are finding it difficult to cope financially this year, and those who’ve benefited from this program make the meat stretch as far as possible.
This is the fourth year for the program which made stops this month in: Marshalltown, Hampton, Osage, Carroll, Storm Lake, Rockwell City, Mount Ayr, Osceola, Humeston, Webster City, Fort Dodge and Iowa Falls.
COVID-19 Vaccines Now Available In Iowa
(Sioux City) — The Iowa Department of Public Health has updated its estimate on the number of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine it expects to get. I-D-P-H reported Thursday that it now expects 138-thousand-300 doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine to be delivered to Iowa by December 27th — or about a 20-percent decline from what it originally thought.. The Health Department first said it though there would be a 30-percent decline, before updating the numbers Thursday. The vaccine continues to be delivered across the state and Sioux City’s two main hospitals were able to start vaccinating employees Thursday. MercyOne nurse, Lisa Torres, was one of the first frontline workers to get vaccinated and says it was routine.
Torres says it is important to her and the staff who work with Covid-19 patients to be vaccinated.
MercyOne’s Chief Nursing Officer, Tracy Larson says the vaccine is a big positive after months of fighting the virus.
The first round of vaccinations includes team members with the highest COVID-19 exposure risk. The hospital staff have the option of not taking the vaccine, but most of them have signed up to receive it.
Governor Reynolds Issues Statement Regarding FDA Approval Of Mederna’s COVID-19 Vaccine
DES MOINES – Governor Reynolds released the following statement on FDA emergency approval of the Moderna vaccine:
“Following FDA approval for the Moderna vaccine, the state of Iowa can vastly expand vaccinations for our hospital workers, long-term care residents, and move forward with additional priority groups and the general population.
“As with the Pfizer distribution, our state is ready to receive shipments and distribute them quickly. This represents another positive step forward but until the vaccine is widely available, we must continue to mitigate the virus by practicing public health measures so we can protect the most vulnerable and preserve hospital resources, while keeping Iowans healthy, our economy open and our kids in school.”
