Home News Friday News, March 18th

Friday News, March 18th

Wells Enterprises To Assist With 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 Places Le Mars Site On Priority List

(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.

 

 

 

Firefighters Respond To Barn Fire On Vacant Farm

(Le Mars) — Firefighters were called to a reported barn fire that occurred at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday morning.  The fire was at a vacant farm at the intersection of 200th Street and Nobel Avenue, approximately five miles east-southeast of Le Mars.  Upon arrival, thick smoke could be seen.  Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the initial fire at a small shed was spreading to other nearby barns and structures.

Schipper called for mutual aid from neighboring fire departments in order to help transport water to the fire scene.

Schipper says all the firefighters were tired after battling the blaze for nearly two hours, but he is appreciative of the work and efforts of all the surrounding communities, and since the firefighters were able to save three buildings including a grove of trees from being destroyed by the fire.  The fire remains under investigation.  However, Schipper admitted since the farm is vacant and there isn’t any electrical power to the farm, the origin of the fire is suspicious.

Firefighters were on the scene for more than two hours.

 

 

 

Dry Conditions Linger In Western Iowa

(Des Moines) — Parts of western Iowa are again in “severe drought” and extremely low soil moisture levels may linger even longer, as the National Climate Prediction Center is now forecasting the current La Nina will last well into summer. Meteorologist Dennis Todey (TODD-ee), director of the U-S-D-A’s Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, says that could extend a serious worry for Iowa farmers as planting season nears.

Todey says much of the region is heading into spring with very dry soil and the C-P-C is forecasting drought areas may expand across the Central Plains into spring.

The latest map from the U-S Drought Monitor shows roughly 45 Iowa counties are in the category of abnormally dry, with about 36 counties in moderate drought. Large sections of Monona and Woodbury counties are now listed as “severe drought,” while there are only around 16 counties where soil moisture levels are considered normal.

 

 

 

Ernst Leads Bipartisan Delegation On Trip To Poland-Germany

(Washington, DC)  —  U-S Senator Joni Ernst will lead a bipartisan delegation of nine of her colleagues on a trip to Poland and Germany this weekend.  The senators issued a joint statement before leaving saying the visit “proves the U-S Senate stands united in its support for Ukraine.”  The Iowa Republican says the group will have the opportunity to learn more about the U-S and NATO response through discussions with top military leaders.  That will help them learn how Congress can support the Ukrainian people and NATO allies.  Due to security concerns, no further details of the Congressional delegation’s visit will be released.

 

 

 

Iowa Murder Suspect Awaiting Extradition From Texas

(Arlington, TX)  —  An Iowa murder suspect has been taken into custody and is awaiting extradition from Texas.  K-C-C-I , T-V reports Miguel Ibarguren was the subject of a multi-state manhunt.  The search began after a national trucking company reported one of its drivers was missing after his rig was found abandoned in Cedar Rapids.  The body of Aristide Garcia was found by a cleaning crew in a ditch in White County, Indiana.  Authorities in that state found out that another man had been riding with Garcia and he was tracked down to Arlington, Texas.  Ibarguren faces a murder charge in Iowa.

 

 

 

SE Iowa Couple Charged With Animal Neglect

(Argyle, IA)  —  A southeast Iowa couple has been charged with seven counts of animal neglect after dozens of dogs and hamsters were rescued from their home last month.  The Animal Rescue League of Iowa says the smell of urine was overpowering inside the Lee County home.  Forty-two dogs and 40 hamsters were rescued three weeks ago.  The Lee County Sheriff’s Office says David and Gina Sams were told to clean up and organize their property last month.  They were arrested after a welfare check this week.

 

 

 

Eastern Iowa Head-On Collision Leaves 4 Dead

(Clinton, IA)  —  An eastern Iowa head-on collision has left four people dead.  No names have been released.  The Iowa State Patrol reports a car and a minivan were involved in the crash northwest of Lincoln just before 5:00 p-m Wednesday.  K-C-R-G, T-V reports the driver of the car, the driver of the minivan, and two minivan passengers were killed.  A third passenger in the minivan suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital in an ambulance.