Ice Cream Days Gets Kicked Off With Chamber Coffee
(Le Mars) — Ice Cream Days kicked off this morning with a Chamber of Commerce coffee hosted by the Wells Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor. Mike Wells the CEO of Wells Enterprises welcomed the gathering and reminded the group that it was just two years ago when the visitors center and ice cream parlor
had finished with its renovation. Wells says the COVID-19 virus slowed down the visits to the Visitors Center last year, but now the Le Mars tourist destination is on pace to achieving its goal for attracting visitors.
Wells shared his appreciation to the Ice Cream Days committee for organizing a great event showcasing Le Mars.
Margaret Catton serves on the Ice Cream Days Executive Committee. Catton says this year’s Ice Cream Days will be filled with many fun events.
The Browns musical family is scheduled to perform from their Century Theater at 1:30 p.m. Catton reviews the rest of the first day’s schedule of Ice Cream Days beginning with the annual Tri-State Cruisers Car Show held at Bob’s Drive-Inn.
The Le Mars Public Library is hosting Scott Culpepper at the Browns Century Theater beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The first day of Ice Cream Days concludes with the Le Mars Municipal Band performing at Foster Park with an ice cream social sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and Aktion Club. The concert is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m.
Police Say They Have Apprehended Park Vandals
(Le Mars) — Le Mars police have announced they have found the individuals responsible for some of the vandalism and graffiti that has occurred recently at some of our city parks. Assistant Chief Justin Daale says surveillance cameras placed at the city parks helped identify the culprits.
Daale says the graffiti reported at both Foster Park and Cleveland Park has since been cleaned, and the individuals responsible have been apprehended.
Daale says unfortunately, police officers are still trying to find those responsible for breaking the Plymouth County Historical Museum’s windows and display cases after rocks were thrown through the windows. Since that incident was reported, numerous businesses and organizations have stepped up
and have donated money to the museum for repair costs. The Le Mars Eagles organization has offered a reward of one thousand dollars for the apprehension of those responsible for the damage at the museum.
City Officials Remind Residents Of Ordinances Involving The Discharge Of Fireworks
(Le Mars) — Fireworks can now be purchased from vendors selling the 4th of July traditional items, but Le Mars officials want to remind people of the window of time allowed to discharge those fireworks within the city limits.
Assistant Police Chief, Justin Daale says city officials passed an ordinance last year that allows for fireworks to be used on only three days.
This year, those three days include the Saturday, Sunday and Monday surrounding the holiday. Daale reminds people to be considerate of others while celebrating the nation’s independence.
Daale says fireworks can only be discharged on private property.
The Assistant Police Chief says school grounds and businesses are included with parks as being locations that fireworks are forbidden of being discharged. Daale reminds people the hours that fireworks can be discharged are from 12:00 noon until 11:00 p.m. only on July 3rd, July 4th and July 5th.
He says people need to use common sense and be safe during the holiday weekend.
Trials Delayed For Suspects in Anamosa Prison Worker Murders
(Anamosa, IA) — The trials of two inmates accused of murdering two Anamosa prison employees are being pushed back. Prosecutors say Michael Dutcher and Thomas Woodward were trying to escape when they killed nurse Lorena Schulte
and correctional officer Robert McFarland in March. Dutcher’s trial was scheduled to begin June 22nd but is now set for August 3rd. The trial for Woodward was delayed from June 22nd until September 21st in Linn County. Dutcher is seeking a change of venue from Jones County. Both suspects have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, kidnapping and attempted murder
charges.
DNR Report Suggests A Full Generation to Replace Trees Lost in Derecho
(Des Moines, IA) — Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources think it will take a full generation for the state’s ecosystem to recover from the derecho. A new report says the derecho last summer wiped out more than four-million trees in central and eastern Iowa. It says the lack of trees
could cause Iowa’s air quality to plummet, hurt flood mitigation efforts, and that re-growing the trees could take decades. The D-N-R is encouraging Iowans to plant new trees right away. D-N-R disaster recovery coordinator Nick McGrath says “as we feel the increased costs of air conditioning, the heat and diminished air quality – I think that will continue to push tree planting.”
The agency is offering grants to encourage communities to plant trees.
Eastern Iowa Boy Safe After Amber Alert Tuesday Night
(Baldwin, IA) — An eastern Iowa boy who was the subject of an Amber Alert Tuesday night is now reported safe. Authorities in Jackson County issued the alert around 9 p-m, saying five-year-old Abel Lee Keil was abducted in the town of Baldwin. Keil was found in Anamosa about two hours later. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office says the two people initially accused in the
abduction are the boy’s father, 46-year-old Jeremy Keil, and 35-year-old Amy Burick. Reports say Keil heard the Amber Alert, called the sheriff’s office and voluntarily came in for questioning. It appears there’s a misunderstanding about custody rights.
Fort Dodge Bicyclist Killed in Crash With Pickup Truck
(Fort Dodge, IA) — Police in Fort Dodge say a woman is dead after she was hit by a truck while crossing the street in a tricycle Tuesday morning. The victim was identified as 65-year-old Melissa Ristau of Fort Dodge. Officers found Ristau lying in the roadway unresponsive and she died at the scene.
Investigators say a pickup driven by an 18-year-old Goldfield man struck Ristau on her three-wheeled bike at an intersection. The Iowa State Patrol is assisting with the investigation.
Farmers Need To Certify Their Crop Acreage Before July 15th
WASHINGTON, June 16, 2021 – Agricultural producers who have not yet completed their crop acreage reports after planting should make an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office before the applicable deadline.
July 15 is a major deadline for most crops, but acreage reporting deadlines vary by county and by crop.
FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux says, “USDA offers a lot of programs to assist producers, but in order to receive many of these program benefits, you must file an accurate crop acreage report.” He continues by saying, “Once planting is complete, call your local FSA county office to make an appointment.”
An acreage report documents a crop grown on a farm or ranch and its intended uses. Filing an accurate and timely acreage report for all crops and land uses, including failed acreage and prevented planted acreage, can prevent the loss of benefits.
Producers can contact their FSA county office for acreage reporting deadlines that are specific to their county.
