Clark Elementary Student Wins American Legion Essay Contest
(Le Mars) — Last evening, the Le Mars American Legion Wasmer Post #241 handed out certificates to the area’s fifth graders that participated in an essay contest. The fifth graders were asked to write: “What the American flag means to me.” From Clark Elementary school the top three placing winners included: 3rd place was awarded to Brooklyn Bock, 2nd place honors were given to Quentin Ranschau, and 1st place from Clark elementary was presented to Chase Larson. Franklin elementary top three winners were: 3rd place – Ava Mielke, 2nd place was Carter Morris, and 1st place was awarded to Jordan Kopperud. Kluckholn’s essay winners included: 3rd place was Cameron Pauling, 2nd place was awarded to Quinten Howell, and 1st place honors were given to Jonah Roberts. Taking the over-all first place honors, and who will move on to compete in the District level was Chase Larson of Clark Elementary. At an afternoon assembly program held at Clark Elementary school honoring veterans, Chase Larson read his winning essay to his fellow school mates.
Gehlen Catholic fifth graders did not participate in the essay contest this year.
Veterans Day Service at Iowa Veterans Cemetery
(Adel, IA) — There was an in-person outdoor Veterans Day service this morning (Thursday) at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel. Iowa National Guard chaplain Lucas Murphy gave the opening prayer where more than six-thousand Iowa veterans are buried. Murphy said, “to honor our veterans, may each American find reasons to love, not hate and the strength to build, not destroy. Renew our sense of unity through times of testing and difficulty.” As flags flapped in the brisk wind, Taps was played to conclude the service. More than 700 veterans were buried at the cemetery in 2020.
Buchanan County Authorities ID Body Recovered From Wapsipinicon River
(Quasqueton, IA) — Authorities in northeast Iowa are releasing the name of the man whose body was found in the Wapsipinicon River. The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office says the remains of 80-year-old Michael John Wheeler of Quasqueton were recovered from the water Tuesday morning. Fishermen discovered Wheeler’s body.
The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office hasn’t released the official cause of death. Deputies said there was no reason to believe foul play was involved.
Man Accused in Shooting Death of State Trooper Smith Wants Trial Moved
(Waterloo, IA) — The man charged in the fatal shooting of Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Jim Smith wants his trial moved out of Grundy County. Forty-two-year-old Michael Lang of Grundy Center is facing first-degree murder and other charges for shooting Smith and firing at other state troopers in an armed personnel carrier on April 9th. Smith’s attorneys argue it would be difficult to seat an impartial jury in Grundy County. The lawyers say Lang ran for sheriff last November and received 22 percent of the vote.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Smoothly For Commander From Cedar Falls
(Cape Canaveral, FL) — An astronaut from Cedar Falls and three others are now in orbit on their way to the International Space Station. Wednesday night’s launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket went smoothly and Raja Chari and the Crew Dragon capsule will dock at the I-S-S tonight after a 22-hour journey. The nighttime launch lit the sky at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. Chari is commander of the six-month mission — which will have the crew living on the station through April. He’s is only the eighth Iowan to reach space, the first to go aloft since Mount Ayr native Peggy Whiston’s last flight in 2017. Chari, an Air Force colonel, is on his first mission in space, though he’s flown a multitude of aircraft, including F-15-E Strike Eagles during combat over Iraq.
