RAIL CROSSING PROJECT FINISHED
The rail crossing on Plymouth Street has been reopened today. Department of Transportation employees removed the barriers from the crossing, which had been in place for a couple of months. The crossing was redesigned and reconstructed to enhance safety through the crossing. This included placement of a median to separate lanes of traffic through the rail crossing, and to eliminate the Plymouth Street entrance to the Fareway store adjacent to the road and the rail track. During construction, Highway 3 traffic was detoured a block north along 1st Street.
LE MARS PROPERTY SALE
The Le Mars city council today approved the sale of 3 parcels of city property, totaling 38.1 acres, to Le Mars Business Initiative Corporation, for future residential development. The property is located north of the Parkview Terrace Mobile Home Park. The area is outlines in the Le Mars Development plan as a place to create smaller, more affordable homes. LBIC will sell the property to a developer. The purchase price for the property is 20-thousand dollars per acre.
SUPERVISORS APPROVE SECONDARY CANVASS
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors this morning approved the canvass of 2nd tier races for the recent school and city elections. There was a recount of votes in the Hinton School District, where a vote on public measure RQ ended in a tie vote, 408 yes and 408 no. The measure would have extended the .Hinton School district’s Physical Plant and Equipment Levy for an additional ten years. The hand recount found that there was one less yes vote, so the measure failed 409 to 410. The matter of mayor of Akron remains open. Current mayor Alex Pick did not seek re-election, but received, the majority of write-in votes. He declined to serve. There was a tie between two people for the second write-in mayoral vote. One of the Supervisors last week pulled the name of Joel Higman out of a hat. He, too, declined to serve. So the matter is now before the Akron city council. They will appoint a new mayor. The 2nd tier canvass covered votes cast for elections in the Remsen-Union, and Kingsley-Pierson school districts, where the districts overlapped into neighboring counties.
LE MARS COMMUNITY SCHOOL BOARD
The Le Mars Community School Board meets tonight. Their agenda includes adjournment of retiring board members and administering the oath of office to newly-elected board members. The board will hold its annual meeting, to conduct their business. Action items tonight include resignations and contracts for staff, new board policy concerning student discipline, and recognition of a deficit in the district’s Special Education Fund. This will includes submission of a request for additional spending authority in order to cover the deficit.
REJOICE THANKSGIVING DINNER
It’s become a tradition at Thanksgiving in Le Mars – the 19th annual Thanksgiving Dinner will be put on by Rejoice Church. Margaret Catton says you can enjoy a Thanksgiving meal in several ways.
It’s not just a Rejoice effort.
Takeout orders are welcome, but must be made in advance. (Wednesday noon)
Volunteers have worked for several weeks preparing 75 turkeys for the meal, and getting the church ready for the celebration.
Catton has found the value of building relationships in the community through this meal.
It takes many volunteers to carry off the meal…
…and lots of preparation time.
Rejoice Church is located at 1320 Third Ave. S.E., Le Mars, and the meal will be served Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can dine in, carryout, or arrange to have your meal delivered.
There’s no charge, but free will donations will be accepted. Call the church at 548-4430 by Wednesday, in order to arrange delivery or pickup.
NEW TULIP QUEEN CROWNED
Avery Kelch was crowned the 2024 Tulip Festival Queen last night. Avery will reign over the 83rd annual Tulip Festival, set for May 16, 17, and 18, 2024. A senior at MOC-Floyd Valley High School in Orange City, Avery is the daughter of Reese and Cristi Kelch. Avery is joined on the 2024 Tulip Court by court members Becca Boersma, daughter of Joel and Angela Boersma, Amelia Calsbeek, daughter of Dean and Tina Calsbeek, Kylie Kurtz, daughter of Vince and Laurie Kurtz, and Ella Poppema daughter of Joe and Gina Poppema. A Queen’s Tea with the court members and three pageant judges was held on Monday, November 20. A special crowning ceremony took place on that evening where the Tulip Court participated in introductions, question segments, and presentations, in order to select the 2024 Tulip Festival Queen. Avery and her court will serve as ambassadors for the Orange City Tulip Festival as they travel in the spring, making several media and public appearances.
Shown in image left to right: Rebecca, Kylie, Avery, Amelia, and Ella
