Home News Saturday News, November 27th

Saturday News, November 27th

Hometown Christmas In Le Mars Is Scheduled For Today (Saturday)

(Le Mars) — Hometown Christmas in Le Mars is scheduled for this weekend with many activities being planned for the entire day, leading up to the Christmas concert and lighting of the Christmas tree at the Olson Cultural Events Center on Saturday evening.  Maggie Catton is assisting with the coordination and organization of the day’s events.  She says Hometown Christmas in Le Mars will become a new holiday tradition for the community that refers to itself as the “Ice Cream Capital of the World.”  Catton tells of the many daytime events scheduled for Saturday.

Catton says children and families can start their day with breakfast with Rudolph at the Central Avenue Events Center.

Speaking about Rudolph…there is a reindeer roundup that will be on First Street northeast featuring live reindeer.  New this year as part of the Hometown Christmas celebration is the 5K and 10K Santa’s Fun Run.

Catton reminds us that Saturday will be a great time to do your holiday shopping.

If you are wanting to get a real Christmas tree for your home to decorate, Catton says the Hometown Christmas celebration can assist you.

The Hometown Christmas celebration reaches its pinnacle Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. at the Olson Cultural Event Center with the lighting of the Christmas Tree.

For a complete schedule of all the events associated with the Hometown Christmas in Le Mars, you can follow on Facebook at Christmas in Le Mars, or on Instragram at Christmas in Le Mars, or look at the website: www.christmasinlemars.com.  Brochures of the event can also be found at various downtown businesses.

 

 

 

American Legion To Hold Annual Shoe Party

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars American Legion Wasmer Post #241 will be holding its annual shoe party and bingo night scheduled for Saturday evening.  Dan Plueger is the past post commander of the legion and tells us more about the traditional event in which the legion members offers assistance to local low-income families in need of purchasing shoes.

Plueger says vouchers issued by the American Legion will be distributed to the area families, allowing them to select a pair of shoes.  The shoe party will immediately follow the monthly American Legion steak night, which Plueger says will start at 5:00 p.m.

Plueger explains as to how many area children will benefit from this program.

Plueger says the help with the fund raising of the event, the Legion will hold a night  of Bingo.  He says often times businesses help contribute by giving funds or gift cards.

Door prizes will be given during the bingo-shoe party. The American Legion official says the local schools offer assistance in helping identify those children of lower income families, and of need of new shoes.

 

 

 

Minnesota Man Reported Missing In Iowa Located Safe in Missouri

(Manchester, MO)  —  A Minnesota man with Alzheimer’s missing since Wednesday from an I-35 rest area in Ankeny was located safe on Thanksgiving Day near Saint Louis.  Authorities say 81-year-old Mitchell Riley was driving a U-Haul truck from Minnesota to Missouri with his wife following in their vehicle.  Investigators say Riley couldn’t find his wife while at the rest area, she saw him leaving in the truck and checked several exits in Polk County before notifying law enforcement.  Deputies say Riley is in good health and officers are working to reunite him with his family.

 

 

 

Algona Police Officer Fires at Suspect Leading to High Speed Pursuit

(Algona, IA)  —  Authorities in northwest Iowa are investigating after an Algona police officer fired at an alleged suspect early Thanksgiving morning.  Police responded to a disturbance at a Super 8 motel and one officer discharged his firearm.  The suspect then led patrol cars on a high-speed chase before losing control of his vehicle.  No officers were hurt in the incident.  The one who fired his gun was placed on administrative leave.  No word yet on charges against the suspect.

 

 

 

Additional Sex Charges Filed Against Former Pleasantville Police Officer

(Norwalk, IA)  —  The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has filed at least four additional sex charges against a former Pleasantville police officer.  Twenty-four-year-old Alec Veatch was first charged in Warren County with sexual abuse, lascivious acts with a minor, and enticing a minor.  The alleged victim was 15 years old.  Now, the D-C-I has charged Veatch with similar offenses in Marion County.  Investigators say some of the crimes were committed inside the Pleasantville police station.  Veatch was taken into custody Tuesday.

 

 

 

Governor: Documentation Will Provide Justification For Spending $450K On Salaries

(Des Moines, IA)  —  Iowa’s governor says her staff is getting the documentation together to justify spending 450-thousand dollars of federal COVID relief funding on salaries last spring.  Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand released a report last week accusing the Republican governor of using the federal funds improperly.  Governor Kim Reynolds counters by saying it was an allowable expense and the documentation will prove that.  She says her office was making sure Iowa had all the ventilators, supplies, and tests needed last spring – and that took all of their time.

 

 

 

Economist Doesn’t See Food Prices Falling In The Near Future

(West Des Moines) — Iowa Farm Bureau economist, Sam Funk, doesn’t expect all the logistics and other issues to be sorted out and bring food prices down as we move into a new year.

Fertilizer prices have been rising — and he says the cost of all other inputs used by farmers are unlikely to drop.

He says demand certainly won’t drop.

Higher energy prices also figure into the equation.

He says those issues will go along with the logistical problems the country is facing in getting the inputs in and the products out.

 

 

 

Shop Small Businesses On Saturday

(Des Moines) –– Now that Black Friday is over, it is time to support small businesses during Small Business Saturday. Jayne Armstrong, director of the U-S Small Business Administration’s Iowa District Office, says when you buy an item at a brick-and-mortar store, there’s no worry about it being delayed or lost during the shipping process.

An economist predicts year-end holiday sales in Iowa will be up ten-percent compared to last year, and it’s easy to believe as so many people were still staying home in 2020 due to the pandemic. Armstrong says COVID-19 may still be keeping some Iowa shoppers from in-person buying, but far fewer than a year ago.

Sales during the final weeks of the year may often mean the difference between turning a profit and ending the year in red ink, so Armstrong urges Iowans to “Be Loyal, Buy Local.”

While the pandemic spelled the end for some Iowa businesses, she says it’s been welcome news to see so many new small business start-ups in Iowa succeed in 2021. Armstrong says 97-percent of the businesses in Iowa are small businesses.  https://www.sba.gov/

 

 

 

Iowa Community Colleges Compete For Award

(Des Moines) — Community colleges in Estherville, Mason City and Sheldon have been notified they’re among 150 U.S. community colleges that can compete for what a former president has called the “Oscar” for achievement and student performance. The Aspen Institute’s one-million dollar prize is handed out once every two years to just one of the country’s more than one-thousand community colleges. Robert Leifeld, Iowa Lakes Community College vice president for administration, says the Aspen Institute evaluated publicly available data to come up with its list of 150 schools.

North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City and Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon are the other two Iowa colleges on the list. Leifield says the next step is to fill out an official application. It’s due in early December and the Aspen Institute will then select 10 finalists.

The next Aspen Institute Prize for Community College Excellence will be awarded in early 2023. Three community colleges in Florida and one in California have been recognized since the award was established. Leifeld says it’s an acknowledgement that a community college is accomplishing its mission.

The Aspen Institute is an international non-profit that hosts an annual Ideas Festival that draws well-known participants like former presidents, Supreme Court justices and leaders from other countries.