SENTINEL SOLD
For the second time in a month, Le Mars’ daily newspaper has new ownership. The Le Mars Daily Sentinel and Shoppers Guide, and the Remsen Bell, was sold to Iowa Information Media Group, effective May 1.
The company owns several northwest Iowa newspapers, including the Northwest Iowa Review, papers in Sheldon, Sibley, Hawarden, and Sioux Center. They also own the shoppers associated with those publications. On April first, the three publications were acquired by Hallmark Media II, based in Spencer.
The new owners say the Sentinel’s operations will continue with current personnel, and the newspaper’s website will also continue.
HABITAT GROUNDBREAKING
Siouxland Habitat for Humanity will break ground today on their 75th home project, this one in Alton in Sioux County. Project manager Kurt Franje says this will be the 12th habitat home planned for Sioux County, and the second for Alton.
The location is one where the city of Alton wants to improve the housing stock.
Franje says the City of Alton is helping with plans for the home.
Habitat for Humanity is now interviewing applicants who want to own the home. The family that is chosen will provide sweat equity in the project by helping build the home.
The groundbreaking is this morning at 10 am at the site – 712 Park St. – in Alton.
Siouxland Habitat for Humanity serves 5 counties – Woodbury, Plymouth, and Sioux in Iowa, as well as Union County, SD, and Dakota County, NE.
IOWA DEMOCRATS RALLY
The Iowa Democratic Party’s candidates for governor, U.S. Senate and congress rallied with about 600 activists at a party fundraiser this weekend. The three Democrats vying for their party’s U.S. Senate nomination shared their biographies and their plans for defeating Republican Senator Chuck Grassley in November. Former Iowa Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer of Ceder Rapids touted her 2018 race to defeat Republican Congressman Rod Blum of Dubuque.
Mike Franken of Sioux City, a retired Navy admiral, told the crowd he’s running to dial down the political temperature in the country.
Glenn Hurst, a physician from Minden, said if Democrats want to beat Grassley, they need to nominate a prairie progressive like former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin.
Candidates in all four of Iowa’s congressional districts spoke to the crowd. Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines, who is seeking a third term in the House, was the closer for the group.
Some of the evening’s loudest applause came when speakers praised teachers — and criticized Republican Governor Kim Reynolds for proposing to send state tax dollars to parents who enroll 10-thousand children in private or religious schools. Deidre DeJear is the Democratic Party’s candidate for governor.
House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst was more blunt. Konfrst used the words petty and vindictive to describe Reynolds.
A spokesman for the Republican National Committee says Iowans know who really represents their values and beliefs, and who’s pushing a far-left agenda.
TRUMP RALLY
Former President Donald Trump is showing his support for Nebraska Republicans. Trump spoke at a “Save America Rally” Sunday at the I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska, in support of Nebraska candidate for governor Charles Herbster. Trump told the crowd that he believes Herbster will do very well as governor and make Nebraska an even more prosperous state. Herbster told supporters that he plans to cut taxes and take sex educati
