VISION 2045
A comprehensive Le Mars development plan was presented to the city council this afternoon. Danielle Propst, with the consulting firm ISG presented the document to the council. The plan is called Vision 2045, and lays out the potential development of Le Mars to the year 2045. It addresses housing, economic development, quality of life, tourism, and downtown design.
City Economic Development Director Mark Gaul says the council will prioritize the ideas set forth in this plan.
The top priority is housing
There are other priorities, including downtown businesses; Senior housing – a key element to residential plan; and even segregating truck traffic into the industrial park. The Iowa Department of Transportation has studied ways to develop the busines 75 corridor and retail growth
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
Reminder! National Night Out is this evening (Tuesday) from 5:00-7:00pm at the Le Mars Police Department. The Le Mars Police Department hosts the annual event on the alternative date which is the first Tuesday in October. Local first responders will have their equipment and vehicles on display and WINGS will be dropping in to display their helicopter (weather permitting). Food and ice cream will be served during the event. Stop in and enjoy some free fun and meet several of your local first responders!
MARCUS DRINKING WATER ADVISORY – UPDATE
The city of Marcus says this morning that the drinking water advisory that was enacted Saturday has now been lifted.
– – –
The drinking water advisory continues in the city of Marcus today. A power outage caused the city’s water system to lose pressure last weekend. While pressure was restored, the water has to be sampled for any bacteria that might have invaded the system. The water department recommend Marcus residents not drink the water without boiling it first. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further note. Test results could be known as early as today.
SUPERVISORS
Safe Place Iowa made a presentation to the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors today. Safe Place is based in Sioux City, and provides safety, advocacy and Support to adults and children who have experienced domestic violence. Executive Director Stephanie Pickinpaugh and Kathy Van Maanen that their work in the area is vital to the lives of women and children, particularly girls, face a loss of human rights and human dignity. Later in the meeting, the Supervisors gave approval to a proclamation that designates October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Plymouth County.
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors heard a report from the Judicial District Department of Corrections this morning. Director Maureen Hansen described the operations and service offered in Plymouth County, and the entire third Judicial District. Hansen was joined by Probation officer Jason Nelson and Probation/Parole Supervisor Adam Timmins. Hanson says their service keeps track of those in the state prison system. There are currently 207 Plymouth County residents under court supervision. These include 176 on probation, 16 on parole, and the rest under special sentence or pretrial release. They also keep up with 138 who are living outside the county. Correctional Services is based in Sioux City,and serves 16 northwest Iowa Counties, including Plymouth. They maintain residential facilities for those inmates leaving the prison system. They also offer anger management and domestic violence classes, as well as drug courts and veterans courts.
DOWNTOWN DETOUR
Traffic has been detoured off Plymouth Street in downtown Le Mars for a railroad crossing project.
Barricades have blocked the rail crossing along Plymouth Street at the Fairway Grocery, as construction crews prepare to rebuild the site.
This is a federal project that will improve safety factors for traffic crossing the rail line at that location.
Until the improvements are completed, highway traffic will be diverted along 1st Street between Business 75 and 5th Avenue NE in Le Mars. The project should take a month to complete.
4H WEEK
During an interview with KLEM Monday, Kerstin Thoms 4H youth leader for Plymouth County, said most of their remembrance of National 4H Week is being done through their Facebook page, with a daily remembrance.
It’s a great way to stay in touch with former 4Hers.
One of the key parts of the celebration is their annual fundraiser.
The 4H Foundation funds activities for 4H clubs, and scholarships for 4Hers who are moving on to college.
Thoms says individual clubs also have their own activities during National 4H week.
GEHLEN CATHOLIC HOMECOMING
“Once Upon A Homecoming” is the theme for this year’s Homecoming activities at Gehlen Catholic School. Amy Jungers tells KLEM that activities include different “dress up” days all week, culminating on Friday with events starting with an “all-school homecoming mass.”
The 1:45 Friday afternoon parade begins at the 8th Street boulevard and travels north on Central Avenue through downtown Le Mars up to 2nd Street North. The 7 p.m. football matchup against South O’Brien includes a tailgate meal before the game.
