Firefighters Respond To Early Morning Downtown Fire
(Le Mars) — Firefighters were called to an early morning fire within the downtown business district this Monday morning. At about 4:38 a.m. a fire was reported at an upstairs apartment at 27 and a half Central Avenue NW.
The apartment complex is above the Le Mars Nails Salon. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the fire was confined to a laundry room.
Schipper says they were fortunate the fire hadn’t spread any further than it had.
The Le Mars fire chief says he always imagines the worst when the fire department is called for a downtown structure fire.
Despite Hot Temperatures Good Attendance Noted At Ice Cream Days Events
(Le Mars) — Ice Cream Days officials are calling last week’s four-day event as a big success. Despite having temperatures in the 90’s Wednesday through Friday, plenty of people turned out to attend the various activities and events associated with Ice Cream Days. Saturday’s parade drew thousands of people that had lined Central Avenue from the start of the parade at 8th
Street South Blvd all the way to the north end of town at O’Toole Park. One of the popular events that took place on Saturday at the Olson Cultural Event Center was the Ice Cream Flavor Contest. 17 different families competed against each other in hopes to create a new flavor of ice cream that would appeal to the judge’s taste buds. When it was over, Luke and Stefanie Cargin and their family was awarded the top prize.
Hy-Vee sponsored the event, and store manager Brittany Adams presented gift baskets to the top three winning entries. Photos of many of the Ice Cream Days events can be viewed on the KLEM website at www.klem1410.com.
Hundreds Of People Visit Le Mars Toy Store To Collect Farm Toys
(Le Mars) — Thousands of people came to Le Mars to help celebrate Ice Cream Days, but hundreds of others were here to visit the Le Mars Toy Store. Albert Schultz is the owner of the Le Mars Toy Store and this past weekend they held an open house and customer appreciation days in conjunction 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 the people that purchase farm toys have their favorite color, brand, and model; just like the full-size farm equipment.
Life Skills Training Center To Hold Annual Meeting And Banquet Tonight
(Le Mars) — Life Skills Training Center will hold its annual meeting and client awards recognition program scheduled for this 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 today (Monday) at many local banks.
Sheriff’s Deputy Shot At Convenience Store Robbery
(Coggon) — A Linn County Sheriff’s Deputy has been injured after being shot multiple times while responding to a robbery in Coggon Sunday night. Linn County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an alarm at the Casey’s General Store in Coggon at about 10:19 p.m. Sunday night. Officials say the Sheriff’s Deputy arrived, entered the store, and was met by an armed suspect. Officials say the suspect is a black male in his mid-30’s, about 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 2 inches tall, and weighs about 200 to 220 pounds. He was seen wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt and dark pants. The suspect fired multiple shots at the deputy, hitting him with several rounds. The deputy has since been flown to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for serious injuries. There is no update on the deputy’s condition. The suspect fled in a van heading north of Coggon. He was seen by another responding deputy, who pursued the suspect until the vehicle crashed on the north edge of town. The suspect then reportedly fled on foot. Officials from numerous law enforcement agencies from all over eastern Iowa have responded to the area, and are assisting with the manhunt search for the suspect. The suspect has not yet been found, but law enforcement is continuing the search. Residents are being told to lock their doors and stay in their homes. The name of the injured deputy has not yet been released.
(courtesy of KCCI-TV.)
Explosion In SE Iowa Sends 4 To Hospital – Including 3 Children
(Sigourney, IA) — An explosion in southeastern Iowa has sent four people to the hospital with injuries – three of them children. The blast happened Friday afternoon at 4:00 p-m in Sigourney. The Keokuk Sheriff’s Office reports the cause of the explosion hasn’t been determined. Six-year-old Patrick Otte and three children – ages eight, 11, and 14 – were taken to the
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for treatment of the severe burns they had experience. The F-B-I has joined local officials in the investigation.
Ankeny Man Who Accidentally Shot His Girlfriend to Death Given 10 Years In Prison
(Des Moines, IA) — The Ankeny man who accidentally shot his girlfriend to death has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Donault Logan entered a guilty plea in May to a charge of involuntary manslaughter. He was 18 years old last August when investigators say he accidentally shot 17-year-old Mia Holmes in a hotel room. Logan admitted he was there to sell marijuana. The victim’s unborn child was also killed.
Minnesota Man Arrested, Charged With Stealing Dozens Of Golf Carts In 7 States
(Fargo, ND) — A Minnesota man has been arrested and charged with stealing dozens of golf carts in seven states, including Iowa. Nathan Rodney Nelson has made an initial appearance in federal court. He was reportedly taken into custody in Georgia while trying to steal golf carts there. Investigators say the man took at least 63 golf carts. The investigation reportedly started more than two years ago in North Dakota. The federal authorities got involved because Nelson is accused of transporting the stolen carts across state lines.
Authorities say the value of the stolen carts is more than 280-thousand dollars.
US Senator Ernst’s Approval Rating Rises
(Des Moines, IA) — The approval rating for U-S Senator Joni Ernst is on the upswing. The latest Des Moines Register-Mediacom Iowa Poll gives the Republican a 46-percent job approval, versus 42-percent who disapprove. That
represents a rebound from her March polling numbers. Poll takers spoke to 807 adult Iowans last week. Two-thirds of those polled said it is time to replace veteran Republican U-S Senator Chuck Grassley.
