Firefighters Respond To House Fire
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a house that was on fire Friday afternoon at about 3:30 p.m. The house is located on the east side of town at 1205 1st Street southeast. Upon arrival, smoke could be seen coming from the house. Fire Chief Dave Schipper explains…
A few firefighters returned to the home Friday evening to conduct an investigation of the origin and cause of that fire.
Wet-Nose Animal Rescue To Hold Open House Saturday Afternoon
(Le Mars) — Wet Nose Animal Rescue will be holding an open house this afternoon at their newly acquired facility located near the Le Mars Municipal Airport. The open house will be from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wet-Nose Rescue voted unanimously on Nov. 1 to rent a building on the south edge of Le Mars for a county-wide animal shelter. At the open house, children will have a chance to bring their dog or cat and sit with Santa for a photo. Santa’s friend, Snowflake, also will be on hand. Parents are urged to bring their cameras to capture the moment. Free food and fun will fill the afternoon for all ages. The Wet-Nose Gift Shop will make its debut.
Tours of the shelter are planned.
The organization will begin renting the building this month, December, but the shelter will not open to homeless cats and dogs until sometime after state requirements are met. The shelter is to serve homeless animals throughout the county.
A large grassy area on the south side of the shelter will allow for an exercise area for dogs. The building, located at 1327 Hawkeye Ave. SW, south of the former Hobby Haven, is a former airport hangar.
All Saints Parish – St. Joseph Church Holds Goodie Sale And Candy Walk
(Le Mars) — If you are looking for some holiday goodies, you may want to stop by the All Saints Catholic Parish – St. Joseph Church this Saturday morning. The goodie sale will begin at 8:00 a.m. Melissa Galles is one of the organizers of the annual cookie and candy walk and she tells what people can expect at the holiday sale.
Le Mars Home School Students Hold Entrepreneur Expo
(Le Mars) — Another opportunity to select some holiday goodies, plus stocking stuffers, and gifts would be at the Plymouth County Historical Museum where the Le Mars Home School students are having their Christmas Kid Entrepreneur Expo. The event started at 10:00 a.m. this morning and is scheduled to continue through 1:00 p.m. Organizers say the expo is a great chance to do some Christmas shopping as the Le Mars and surrounding area home school students show their business skills. Elisa Zabel is one of the organizers of the home school expo.
Zabel says the Christmas Kid Entrepreneur Expo will feature baked goods, jewelry, wooden toys, signs, gifts, and even fresh eggs will be for sale. In addition, attendees can shop for cookie cutters, cookie decorating kits, bath items, and art. Lunch will be available for sale. The event is being held inside the Old Central gymnasium at the Plymouth County Historical Museum.
Nonprofit EveryStep Recovers From Theft of Vehicles and Gifts
(Des Moines, IA) — A central Iowa organization that saw thieves steal its vehicles and holiday cheer boxes just as it was getting ready to deliver them has rebounded. EveryStep C-E-O Tray Wade, says they got a lot of help and sent out Cheer Boxes to those who have lost a loved one — including some people on a waiting list. Wade said, “thanks to the wonderful support from the community, all the hard work, we were able to actually take those folks off the waiting list and get them cheer boxes as well.” The two trucks that were taken were recovered and will need some repair work. He says one of their board members and his company F&G also donated a new van. They didn’t have a lot of success recovering many of the other items stolen. Urbandale police say 36-year-old Alan Michael Ward-Well is charged with three counts of second-degree theft and third-degree burglary in the case. They also arrested 55-year-old Christina Marie Davis on those same counts along with drug charges.
Racing & Gaming Commission Will Be Involved in Iowa Greyhound Park Redevelopment
(Dubuque, IA) — Greyhound racing is scheduled to end in Dubuque next spring and Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission Administrator Brian Ohorilko (oh-RILL’-koh) says the commission will be involved in deciding what’s done with the Iowa Greyhound Park property . Ohorilko says “the commission would, ultimately, have to approve or reject any type of capital improvement project, and at this point I know there are discussions and I expect that we probably will see some plans in the next year or two.” The license for racing in Dubuque has been held by the Iowa Greyhound Association, representing kennel owners, but Ohorilko says the track’s property is owned by the City of Dubuque and leased by the Q Casino. The Iowa Greyhound Park in Dubuque is currently scheduled to hold an 18-day spring racing season and close in May.
Annual Blue Christmas Service in Carroll
(Caroll, IA) — A coalition of churches in the Carroll area is hosting its annual “Blue Christmas” service this weekend. Reverend Terry Plocher of the United Methodist Church in Carroll is hosting the event at 4 p-m Saturday. Plocher says anyone might find themselves in a place where they’re grieving during the holiday season, where they find that they’re sad or blue and this is for everybody. Plocher says the service aims to provide a quiet time of reflection for people experiencing a loss. He says the holiday season can be difficult for people who are grieving or have been diagnosed with a mental illness and we want to let them know that it’s okay to feel however you feel at Christmas time. The Carroll County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and two funeral homes in Carroll are co-sponsors of what has become an annual event.
Investigators ID Man Fatally Shot by Police in Iowa Falls
(Iowa Falls, IA) — The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is naming the armed suspect fatally shot by police in Iowa Falls on Wednesday. The man is identified as 35-year-old Jared Risius of Eldora. Officers responding to a call from a woman reporting her ex-boyfriend was stalking her with his vehicle say Risius hit her car. Video taken by neighbors shows officers taking up positions while trying to get the man into custody. Investigators say Risius displayed a shotgun and was shot by officers while trying to get away and died at the scene. The names of the officers on leave have not been released.
Fort Dodge Sex Offender Gets 5 Years in Prison For Failing to Register
(Sioux City, IA) — A Fort Dodge man will spend more than five years in federal prison for failing to register as a sex offender. Thirty-six-year-old Duane Levering was sentenced to 65 months Thursday after pleading guilty. The U-S Attorney’s Office says Levering was convicted of sexually abusing a minor in 2005 and is required to register and update his residence information. He was caught living in the attack of a Fort Dodge from the spring of 2020 until he was arrested last December. Levering has two prior convictions for failing to register as a sex offender along with convictions for assault, theft, failure to obey police and eluding.
American Red Cross Needs Blood Donations
(Des Moines, IA) — The year may be winding down, but the demand for blood from Iowa hospitals is rising while the number of donors is dwindling. Josh Murray with the Iowa-Nebraska Region of the American Red Cross says the agency is making an appeal for everyone who’s able to give a pint. He says people have been kind of slow coming back after the pandemic to give blood. Several blood drives are planned in Iowa during December, which Murray says is a welcome change since so many had to be called off during the pandemic. The holidays are usually a tough time to collect blood. Blood can be safely donated every 56 days and Murray says donors can feel good knowing that by donating through the Red Cross, they may be helping patients not only in their community but also others across the nation.
Suspect Arrested in Des Moines For Stealing Car With Child Inside
(Des Moines, IA) — Des Moines police report a suspect is under arrest for stealing a car with a small child inside. Officers say the suspect stole an S-U-V that was idling at the Git N’ Go gas station Thursday night. The vehicle had a four-year-old in the backseat. Police say the driver let the child out shortly after stealing the car. After officers spotted the stolen vehicle, the driver crashed into a light pole on south M-L-K Parkway. The suspect was arrested while running from the crash.
