Sheldon Bank Is Robbed
(Sheldon) — Law enforcement officials are searching for the suspect that robbed the Iowa State Bank of Sheldon. The robbery took place Thursday at around noon. The suspect was seen using a handgun when he robbed the Sheldon bank. The suspect is described as a black male standing 6-feet 2-inches tall, last wearing red glasses, a black mask, white gloves and a black and grey pants. Apparently, the robber made off with a sum of cash carrying two light tan colored canvas bags. Authorities believe the suspect may have left the bank on foot, prompting a large-scale manhunt spreading from the bank.
Authorities are asking the assistance of the public. If you know who the suspect is, or if you see someone matching the suspect’s description, you are asked to call 9-1-1. Authorities caution not to approach the suspect, as it is believed his his armed and dangerous.
Le Mars RAGBRAI Committee To Make Announcement
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars RAGBRAI committee is set to make an announcement regarding the headliner band scheduled to perform in Le Mars for when the cross-state bicycle ride begins its journey starting from the Ice Cream Capital of the World. The announcement will take place on Friday evening,
June 4th from the Iowa Barbecue Company and Uptown Event Center located at 100 Plymouth Street Southwest. An evening of food, music, and merchandise will accompany the announcement. The event will take place between 6:00 p.m. and
11:00 p.m. with the actual announcement scheduled for 7:00 p.m. RAGBRAI, the bicycle ride across Iowa and sponsored by the Des Moines Register newspaper will be in Le Mars, Saturday, July 24th.
Lux Fest Is Scheduled For This Weekend
(Alton) — Luxembourg is a tiny European nation of only 990 square miles nestled between Belgium and Netherlands and Germany, and 150 years ago, several people from Luxembourg migrated to the United States. Many of those immigrants ended up in the region of northwest Iowa between Remsen and Marcus
to the south and Granville, Hospers, and Alton to the north. This weekend, descendants of Luxembourg are celebrating the 150 years of the migration of Luxembourg citizens as part of what is known as “Lux Fest.” Judy Stokesberry of Remsen serves as the president of the Luxembourg Heritage Society of Northwest Iowa. She says Peter Gehlen, known as the founder of Gehlen
Catholic School in Le Mars, is perhaps the best known name of the Luxembourg migrants. Stokesberry says Gehlen was influential in convincing his fellow countrymen to settle in northwest Iowa.
Stokesberry says the Luxembourg immigrants settled in this region mainly because of the fertile soil and wide open spaces.
The Lux Fest was to have happen a year ago, but because of the COVID virus, the festival was postponed until this year. Stokesberry says a special visitor is scheduled to appear at Lux Fest. His Excellency, Gastron Stronk, Ambassador from Luxembourg to the United States will visit Lux Fest.
Stokesberry says many of the Lux Fest events will take place on Saturday at Alton. She says there will be an array of vendors, including food vendors, located at the park. The president of the Luxembourg Heritage Society of Northwest Iowa says Luxembourg flags will be on display at Remsen, Alton, Le
Mars, Granville, and Hospers cemeteries indicating those people that were originally born in Luxembourg and migrated to the United States.
Dry Conditions May Worsen With Hot Temperatures
(Le Mars) — The weather forecast isn’t calling for any rain showers within the next few days, and instead, temperatures are expected to rise in the 90’s, which will only contribute to the already dry conditions in many parts of Iowa. Although a few light showers occurred last week, State Climatologist
Justin Glisten says soil moisture levels are below normal for this time of year. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says much of western and northwestern Iowa are needing additional moisture to sustain adequate crop development.
Naig says in southeastern Iowa, farmers are needing warm and dry conditions.
He says it has been wet in the southeastern area of the state, and that has prevented some farmers from finishing planting soybeans.
Iowa GOP Chair: New Hampshire, Nevada & South Carolina Back Current Caucus, Primaries
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann says he and the G-O-P leaders of New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada are “wholeheartedly united” behind maintaining the same sequence for presidential caucuses and primaries in 2024 that was used in 2020. Kauffman said, “I am
unwavering, I am granite…Iowa is going to be first-in-the-nation and we are going to hold a Caucus.” The Democratic-led Nevada legislature passed a bill Monday that seeks to change that state’s caucus to a primary and schedule it as the opening event in the presidential nominating process. Kaufmann spoke with the Nevada Republican Party’s leader today (Thursday), who has publicly opposed a first-in-the-nation Nevada Primary. Michael McDonald has warned the state could lose its delegates to the national conventions held by Republicans and Democrats. The Republican and Democratic National Committees approve the
dates for state primaries and caucuses that help determine each party’s presidential nominee.
Commission To Conduct Study Of Gambling Industry
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is planning to conduct a socio-economic study of the gambling industry. Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko (Oh-reel-koh) says it will look at socio-economic behavior — specifically if gambling increases crime, bankruptcies,
and a number of socio-economic factors. The study is required by law every eight years, but the I-R-G-C is also including an economic study. Ohorilko says with all the changes that have occurred since the last economic study, they want an update on the business side of things.
Iowa Department Of Transportation Still Printing Road Maps
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Department of Transportation has printed one-million paper road maps this year for those who want something more than a screen. The full-color map measures 27-by-47 inches and includes 942 incorporated cities and a few hundred more unincorporated towns. D-O-T
transportation planner, Mark Hansen, says there are several hundred changes with every printing, but only a few most people would spot — like the renaming of Interstate 680, north of Council Bluffs. to I-880. The maps are available at drivers’ license stations, rest areas, welcome centers, county
treasurer’s offices, all six Iowa D-O-T district offices.
Regular Operations Returning To State Universities In Iowa This Fall
(Des Moines, IA) — The president of the Board of Regents says the state universities will resume regular operations this fall. Mike Richards says faculty and staff will return to the campuses beginning July 1st, 2021. He says students at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Northern Iowa will not be required to be vaccinated to return — but it is highly recommended. Richards says each of the schools will make
vaccines readily available for those who want to receive their shots.
Motorcyclist Killed in Crash With Semi in Western Iowa’s Monona County
(Monona County, IA) — A motorcyclist from Nebraska is dead after a collision involving a semi Wednesday afternoon in western Iowa’s Monona County. The Iowa State Patrol says an S-U-V driven by a Moorhead woman was northbound on Highway 183 and the motorcycle and semi were traveling behind
her. Troopers say the semi began to pass the S-U-V around the same time 68-year-old Stephen Hendricks of Columbus tried to pass on his cycle. Hendricks collided with truck, lost control and died at the scene. The other drivers weren’t hurt.
Davenport Woman Charged In Deadly Hit-And-Run
(Davenport, IA) — A Davenport woman is charged in a hit-and-run crash that killed a man last month. Fifty-three-year-old Michelle Fix is facing one count of leaving the scene of an accident causing death. Police say 48-year-old Alfonso Reid, Junior was found May 1st after a car-pedestrian accident.
Scott County court records show Fix will be arraigned on June 24th. She is out of jail under Department of Correctional Services supervision.
Free Fishing Weekend Begins Friday in Iowa
(Des Moines, IA) — Fishing is more popular than ever in Iowa and state officials are hoping to lure more people to the sport with free fishing today (Friday) through Sunday. D-N-R Fisheries Bureau chief Joe Larscheid says Iowans can try fishing without buying a license this weekend. Larscheid says, “last year during the COVID crisis, we had an all-time record high of fishing
license sales and this year is right behind that, so we’ve had two solid years in a row of increases in fishing participation.” To encourage young anglers, the D-N-R is offering a frameable certificate of accomplishment when they catch their first fish.
