GIANT ICE CREAM CONE
Muddy Bites, a snack invented by two former Le Mars residents, celebrated its launch at Walmart Stores Thursday by creating the world;’s largest waffle cone. A 100 pound waffle cone was filled with 1-thousand pounds of vanilla ice cream and 300 pounts of chocolate. The event took place at a Walmart Supercenter in Englewood, Colorado. The World Record Academy was on hand to measure and verify a potential world record.
Muddy Bites is the invention of Le Mars area resident, Jarod Steffes, and his business partner Tyler De Vos.
COMMENCEMENTS
Sunday was Commencement day in Le Mars, as back to back ceremonies were held for Gehlen Catholic, and Le Mars Community High School graduates. There were 38 Graduates from Gehlen Catholic, and 161 graduates from Le Mars Community High School, including 30 from the alternative High School. There were 5 co-valedictorians at Gehlen – Addison Arens, Cadence Goebel, Leah Langel, Sophie Ruden and Corra Yockey. There were six valedictorians at Le Mars – Meredith Arnold, Elijah Dougherty, Brock Feldman, Michael Meis, Abigail Tilberg, and Payton Wright. Both events were livestreamed by KLEM Radio.
EL NINO LOOMS
The weather experts say we’re fully out of the La Nina pattern now but haven’t yet transitioned into El Nino, which could gradually bring about significant changes in Iowa’s seasonal temperatures, rainfall and snowfall. State climatolgisist Justin Glisan says an El Nino Watch is now posted and sea surface temperatures are near-normal, but changes are coming.
An El Nino pattern typically means Iowa sees more moderate temperatures and better chances for precipitation. Glissan says the computer models show it will arrive soon, perhaps within weeks.
Glisan says forecasters are getting a better idea of the intensity of the incoming El Nino.
Past El Ninos have led to cooler and wetter summers, with milder and less snowy winters in the Northern Plains. Glisan moderated this month’s North Central Regional Climate update for the National Weather Service.
TAX INCENTIVE
A Le Mars construction firm is remodeling the former Plymouth County Home, with the help of the city of Le Mars. Galles Construction, Inc. plans to create 23 one and two-bedroom apartments from the building, The company obtained the property for 300-thousand dollars, and plans a renovation project of over 1.1 million dollars. The building housing the nursing home is 12-thousand, 750 square feet. There are four other buildings connected to and separate from the main building. Total square footage is over 17-thousand square feet. The contractor asked the city to help them apply for a Workforce Housing Tax Incentive Program from the Iowa Department of Economic Development. Under this application, the city would provide a property tax incentive for the project. The tax incentive would amount to 166-thousand dollars over seven years. This would allow for an exemption of taxes on the increased assessed value for the property.
INJURY ACCIDENT
Two people were injured Saturday morning in a two-vehicle accident northwest of Ireton. The Sioux County Sheriffs Office was alerted to the accident at the intersection of two county roads. The collision occurred when one driver, 20 year old Miranda Bloemendaal of Hawarden, failed to yield at a stop sign, entered the intersection, and struck an oncoming vehicle driven by 28 year old Megan Ciampo of Sioux Falls. Both drivers were injured. Bloemendaal was taken to Orange City Area Health Systems. Ciampo was transported to Hawarden Regional Healthcare. Bloemendaal was cited for failure to obey a stop sign.
IOWA LAKES DROWNING
There was an accidental drowning Saturday at the Iowa Great Lakes. The Arnold’s Park/Okoboji Dive Team says the accident occurred at Miller’s Bay just before 1-30 pm. Authorities say the victim, 21 year old Alexander Glover , was on a boat with family members when he jumped off the boat to swim. The boat started to drift away, and he tried to swim back to the boat before becoming fatigued and slipped underwater. Family members attempted to rescue him and a kayaker, Charles Anderegg, was able to dive down from his kayak and get Glover back to the surface. Glover’s family members immediately started CPR and the fire rescue team arrived and continued resuscitation efforts and rushed him to Lakes Regional Healthcare, where efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. Glover was recovered in 13 feet of water.
SPENCER BAND DIRECTOR
A Maquoketa native who’s composed music for symphony orchestras in Boston and New York has written two pieces for the instrumental music programs in Spencer. John Frantzen says he rarely writes for school age musicians.
One piece, titled In The Mix, was performed by the 7th and 8th grade band in Spencer last week. Frantzen was there for the debut.
Frantzen’s other piece was played at the Spencer high school band concert last week. The directors of both Spencer bands are retiring and Frantzen says his compositions celebrated two wonderful music educator.
STATE TAX REFUNDS
A report on tax collections since July 1st of 2022 shows state revenue is up nearly two percent compared to the previous 10 month period. The uptick in tax receipts happened despite the state paying out 107 million dollars MORE in state income tax refunds than it did through the end of April last year. Jeff Robinson of the Legislative Services Agency says there’s been a bit of a slow down in overall state tax collections since April 3rd, though. That includes a dip in sales tax payments to the state. Iowans who filed their 2022 STATE income tax returns by May 1st and are owed a refund should get it within the next two weeks according to Robinson.
