Plymouth County Authorities Identify Victim With Semi Vs. Train Accident
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the victim involved with Thursday’s accident between a semi truck and a Burlington Northern-Sante Fe railroad. The driver is identified as 74-year old Raymond Burch of Larrabee, Iowa. No indication as to the condition of Burch was indicated on the news release. Authorities had classified his status
immediately after the accident as being serious condition. The accident occurred approximately three miles west of Le Mars at a rail crossing on Highway 3.
Final Day Of Ice Cream Days Features Many Activities
(Le Mars) — There are several events scheduled for this last day of Ice Cream Days for 2021. The highlight event will be the annual parade scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. and will traverse on Central Avenue. However, Margaret Catton says there is an event planned at the Olson Cultural Events Center before the start of the parade to help everyone get off to a great start on
Saturday.
Catton talks about today’s Ice Cream Days parade, and what we can expect.
The Ice Cream Days committee member says there will a special entry for this year’s parade that everyone will be sure to watch.
Catton says many of the events from past Ice Cream Days that were located at Foster Park have now been moved to the Olson Cultural Event Center.
Catton says there will be several interesting and entertaining events that will take place on the north end of town at the O’Tool Park, including what is being referred to as the Post Lockdown Throwdown.
The popular fishing derby will take place at the city’s municipal pond beginning at 5:00 p.m. and at 6:00 p.m. at the Olson Cultural Event Center, Ice Cream Days will hold its finale with the Ice Cream Bash Concert featuring two bands.
Catton says all day long various food truck vendors will be serving delicious food, and of course at many of the events, free ice cream will be served.
Ice Cream Flavor Contest Returns To Ice Cream Days
(Le Mars) — An old favorite activity associated with Ice Cream Days is being brought back this year. 17 area families will compete against each other in the creation of a new ice cream flavor. Mary Reynolds with the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce explains where the contest will be held, as well as the
rules for the new flavor ice cream contest.
Reynolds tells us those selected families that are scheduled to compete for creating the best new flavor of ice cream.
Reynolds says the contest had been suspended for a few years due to a lack of participants, but she says hopefully this year’s contest will stimulate renewed interest in the contest.
The chamber official says she doesn’t know whether or not Wells Enterprises have ever adopted the winning entry of a new flavor and created the product and decided to market the new created flavor.
People Come To Le Mars For More Than Just Ice Cream Days – Tractor Toys Also Have A Huge Draw
(Le Mars) — Thousands of people have come to Le Mars to help celebrate Ice Cream Days, but hundreds of others are here to visit the Le Mars Toy Store.
Albert Schultz is the owner of the Le Mars Toy Store and this weekend they are holding their open house and customer appreciation days along with Ice Cream Days. Schultz says people from all across the country have come to select
that one-of-a-kind find.
Schultz explains the appeal and fascination that many people have when collecting toy scale model tractors.
The Le Mars Toy Store owner says purchasing toy tractors or other toy farm equipment can usually be a good investment as often times the value of the toy tractor increases over time.
Schultz says everyone has their favorite color, brand, and model when it comes to farm equipment and their respective model toys.
Today (Saturday) is the last day of the Le Mars Toy Store open house.
Life Skills To Hold Annual Meeting On Monday
(Le Mars) — Life Skills Training Center will hold its annual meeting and client awards recognition program scheduled for Monday evening. Normally, the annual meeting is held during May, but Shelly Thomson, Development Director with Life Skills says the annual meeting was pushed back to June. Thomson says it will be held at the Presbyterian – United Church of Christ.
Like many other entities, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the daily routine for Life Skills, with the clients being sent home.
Thomson says the contracted janitorial services were also halted due to the virus. The Life Skills official says things are starting to return to normal status, however, she says virus protection protocols are still being practiced.
Thomson says all of the clients have since returned to Life Skills, however, some of the janitorial services have yet to resume. With regards to the upcoming annual meeting on Monday, Thomson says there will be some limitations as to how many people will be able to attend the banquet.
The next major events for Life Skills will be the annual quilt auction and the Bossy Bingo, both held during the Plymouth County Fair. Thomson says so far, more than 40 quilts will be sold, and tickets for the Bossy Bingo contest will go on sale beginning Monday.
Mid-American Energy Able To Keep Up With High Demand For Power
(Le Mars) — The heat wave from the last two weeks with temperatures reaching the 90’s, has placed an extra burden on the power grid system. With the need for air conditioning, fans, and other refrigeration systems, power utility companies have seen a surge in the load factor. Tina Hoffman is a spokesperson for Mid-American Energy Company. She says Mid-American has been able to meet the higher demands for energy, during the peak times.
Hoffman says Mid-American Energy has had to utilize its “Summer Saver” program which allows the energy company to defer usage away from the high demand peak hours.
Hoffman says there are some simple things residents can implement to help save money during these excessive hot days.
The energy spokesperson suggests closing your blinds and curtains as another way to save money on energy costs.
Hoffman says people can either slightly increase the temperature on their air conditioner, or keep it at a constant setting when going to work as another means to beat the heat and cut energy costs.
Des Moines Man Charged With 1st Degree Murder of 15-Month-Old Child
(Des Moines, IA) – – A Des Moines man is charged with the first-degree murder of a 15-month-old child. Detectives say the child was left in the care of 28-year-old Brandon Greenup Monday night while its mother went to work. Police say Greenup was aware the child was having difficulty breathing early the next morning and became unresponsive. Officers say Greenup did not seek medical attention for the child. The child was taken to the hospital by family but had apparently been dead for some time. Investigators say the autopsy revealed trauma consistent with inflicted injuries that would require immediate medical treatment. Greenup was arrested around 11 a-m Friday.
Tentative Trial Date Set For Man Accused in Killing of Missing Davenport Girl
(Davenport, IA) — A July 12th trial date is tentatively set for the man accused of kidnapping and killing ten-year-old Breasia Terrell of Davenport. Forty-eight-year-old Henry Dinkins pleaded not guilty to felony charges Wednesday in Scott County. Investigators say Dinkins kidnapped Breasia from an apartment last July and then shot her and hid her body. Her body was recovered in late March near DeWitt. Lawyers could push for a later trial during a pretrial conference. Dinkins is currently in the Clinton County jail.
Iowa Supreme Court Dismisses Part of Waterloo ‘Ban the Box’ Ordinance
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Supreme Court is dismissing part of a Waterloo ordinance involving the use of the criminal history of job applicants. The high court ruled the city cannot ban employers from making hiring decisions solely on an applicant’s criminal history because it forbids the use of the information even if the employer might have valid business reasons for asking about criminal history. The court did say the section of the ordinance that prohibits asking about criminal history until a job is offered can stand. The Iowa Association of Business and Industry sued the city after the so-called “Ban the Box” ordinance passed in 2019. Waterloo leaders said the ordinance would address racial disparities in hiring practices.
