Home News Thursday Afternoon News, March 17th

Thursday Afternoon News, March 17th

Wells Enterprises To Offer Assistance For Ice Cream Days

(Le Mars) The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce announces a “double scoop” for the 2022 Ice Cream Days Festival! Continuing to build on the successful transition of events to a centralized downtown location, the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce is moving to a more permanent Ice Cream Days committee structure that includes the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and with Wells Enterprises, Inc. taking the leadership role. This progression in growth and expansion will propel the Ice Cream Days festival into a major community celebration, tourism attraction, and major tri-state event. Wells Enterprises, Inc. will be the Presenting Sponsor, providing a dedicated team with critical skill sets including communications, design, marketing, project management, and strategy. The Chamber, as the leading sponsor, will focus on its role to promote members and Main Street businesses as an integral part of the festival. The Convention and Visitors Bureau will market and promote Ice Cream Days to tourist markets and tour groups.

Michaela Brown, president of the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, said “As I travel the country, people always light up when I say I am from the Ice Cream Capital of the World. Ice Cream Days is our chance to celebrate a treat loved by all and show off our thriving town, our Historic Main Street, our businesses, our food, and our hospitality to not only neighboring communities, but surrounding states and beyond. I’m excited for the leadership, organization, and marketing expertise the Wells team will bring to help deliver a first-class event.”

As in past years, the many organizations and volunteers who sponsor activities and events during Ice Cream Days will continue to be part of the larger festival planning team. Events and activities will focus on ice cream, families, and children.

Spoiler Alert: For the first time in Ice Cream Days history, the city will welcome a carnival. The Ice Cream Days festival will take place Thursday, June 16 through Saturday, June 18. Information will soon be available at icecreamdays.com, facebook.com/IceCreamDaysFestival, and @IceCreamDaysFestival on Instagram.

 

 

 

Environmental Protection Agency Lists Le Mars Site On Priority Listing

(Undated) — The U-S Environmental Protection Agency has proposed adding a superfund site in Le Mars to the national priorities list.  The E-P-A says the area is the Highway 3 PCE site where releases of contamination pose significant human health and environmental risks.  The Highway 3 PCE site is located southeast of the intersection of Plymouth Street, which is Iowa Highway 3, and Central Avenue in Le Mars.  The site is the for dry cleaners building.  The E-P-A discovered the site in April of 2008 during an investigation conducted for the nearby Le Mars Coal and Gas plant site.  Groundwater sampling identified the presence of tetrachloroethene, known as PCE, and its breakdown products.  Those contaminants were determined not to be associated with the Le Mars Coal and Gas Plant site.  Before E-P-A adds a site to the priorities list, the site must meet E-P-A’s requirements and be proposed for addition to the list in the federal register, subject to a 60-day public comment period.

 

 

 

Potential Pitfalls for Iowa as Economic Recovery Moves Forward

(Des Moines, IA) – Iowa’s road to pandemic recovery will have a few potholes, according to the state’s chief economist. Robin Anderson is a former Principal Financial global economist. He says he’s worried most about how inflation and the Russian invasion of Ukraine will impact food and gas prices. But he also says Iowa’s manufacturing sector, which had been sluggish before the pandemic, has bounced back – and the number of Iowans without a job has dropped as well to 22 hundred. Anderson says the Federal Reserve’s move to slightly increase interest rates probably won’t have much of an impact on the job market.

 

 

 

Proposed moratorium on eminent domain requests from pipeline developers

(Des Moines, IA) — The full Iowa House may soon debate passing a year-long moratorium that would block carbon pipeline companies from seeking eminent domain to seize property and build new pipelines. The proposal has passed out of a House committee, with all but one Republican voting for it. House Speaker Pat Grassley says pipeline companies would still be able to negotiate easements with landowners, but it also would let the legislature weigh in next year if companies seek mass condemnation of land. Democrat Mary Mascher (MASH-er) of Iowa City doesn’t object to the idea but voted “no” because the proposal was added onto an unrelated bill. She says the move makes the whole process less transparent to the public.

 

 

 

St. Patrick’s Day Parades Return

(Sioux City, IA) — Those who are Irish — and those who celebrate with them every year on this day — are preparing for the return of the St. Patrick’s Day Parades. Sioux City’s parade is back after a two-year absence brought on by the pandemic. Spokesman Kelly Quinn says a lot of people have signed up to participate, and he expects a big turnout for those watching the parade as well. The parade begins at six p-m and will travel the length of historic 4th Street through the downtown area. Quinn says many local people of Irish heritage will be taking part in the parade, by walking or riding on floats.