FIREWORKS IN LE MARS
Fireworks sales in Le Mars has been going on for much of June, but residents only have a narrow window to use them within the city limits.
This is Le Mars Fire Rescue Chief Dave Schipper
There’s a narrower window for discharging fireworks in Le Mars (July 3, 4, and 5, from noon to 11 p.m.).
Chief Schipper explains the why behind the fireworks rules…
Adults must be present when fireworks are discharged. Chief Schipper says it’s also a good idea to have an extenguisher or a hose or a bucket of water available to put out hot items.
Schipper says they’ve had instances of fires from bottle rockets to disposal of hot materials in trash cans which later caught fire.
FEMA OPENS TWO MORE DISASTER RECOVERY CENTERS
The Federal Emergency Management Agency plans to open two disaster recovery centers in northwest Iowa this week.
The agency says one center will open tomorrow, July 2, in Spencer, at the Clay County Regional Events Center.
Another will open Wednesday, July 3, in Rock Valley. This center will be located at the city park shelter house. Both centers will open on their first day from 1 to 6 pm. Then daily from 8 am to 6 pm every day, until further notice. The includes the 4th of July.
LE MARS NURSING HOME ACHIEVES SILVER RATING
The Good Samaritan Society locations in Le Mars and Jackson, Minnesota, is recognized with a National Quality Award. The two won Silver awards from the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living.
Silver winners are long-term care locations with the best quality metrics and survey results in the nation
The National Quality Award Program has Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. Le Mars and Jackson have already met criteria for the Bronze award. The next goal is to attain the Gold – Excellence in Quality award.
The National Quality Awards will be presented during Delivering Solutions 24, the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo, October 6-9, 2024, in Orlando, Florida.
HOTEL/MOTEL SALES TAX FUNDING AWARDED TO PLYMOUTH COUNTY CYCLISTS
The Plymouth County Cyclists put their share of Hotel/Motel sales tax receipts to use last month. One thousand dollars was granted to the club through the tax proceeds.
The funds were used to help the club put on their 17th annual Tour de Plymouth ride on June 8.
Club Treasurer Mark Sturgeon is grateful for the funding. He says it allows the club to raise funds that can be used to promote cycling safety in the Le Mars community. This includes installing bike racks and share the road signs, hosting bicycle safety events and helmet giveaways, and supporting the PlyWood Trail Project, and Le Mars Police Department’s Trail Safety Patrol.
Tour de Plymouth attracted cyclists from 12 cities and three states. The tour included a short, medium and long-range route, and an all-gravel route. Plymouth County Cyclists has a Facebook account, and a website: plymouthcountycyclists.org.
IOWANS URGED TO BE CAUTIOUS WHEN HIRING CONTRACTORS TO REPAIR FLOOD DAMAGE
As some Iowans are bracing for flood waters to arrive, others are working to clean up their homes and properties from the recent record high water, and those folks are being warned to be on-guard for con artists. Bao Vang, a spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau, urges Iowans who are facing restoration work due to a flooded basement, for example, to watch for certain red flags when hiring a contractor.
Not all storm chasers are scammers, Vang says, but some may lack the proper licensing for the area. She recommends looking at locally-based, accredited contractors, which can be found on the B-B-B’s website. While local contractors will likely be fielding plenty of calls, Vang says don’t get desperate with your hiring, as the agency can aid you in your search.
Before having any work done, she urges homeowners to contact their insurance company first and confirm what their policy covers, along with the filing requirements. She recommends looking at locally-based, accredited contractors, which can be found on the agency’s website, B-B-B-dot-org.
IOWA’S SPRING OF 2024 IS 8TH WETTEST ON RECORD
State Climatologist Justin Glisan says the spring of 2024 has been the eighth wettest spring in Iowa since 1872 — the first year weather records were kept for the State of Iowa. Glisan says it’s been a rollercoaster of weather for the past six months. A warmer than normal winter — and especially January’s blizzard — had a role in setting the stage for a wet spring. Glisan says the epic snow pack insulated the surface, so the arctic air didn’t penetrate, so the melting snow sank into the soil and early spring rains were able to soak in as well. The combination ended drought conditions throughout the state — after 204 consecutive weeks of drought.
FOURTH OF JULY MAY BRING A RECORD NUMBER OF VACATIONERS
Record numbers of travelers in Iowa and nationwide are expected to venture at least 50 miles from home over the long Independence Day weekend, according to Triple-A. Brian Ortner, the motor club’s Iowa spokesman, says it’s a happy coincidence that as the number of travelers is rising by about seven-percent, the price of travel is falling by about two-percent. Triple-A projects almost 71-million people will be vacationing during the Fourth of July holiday, including more than five-million people in the seven-state region that includes Iowa. The majority of travelers — about 60-million nationwide — will be going by motor vehicle, as Ortner says gasoline prices are down 17-cents a gallon in Iowa from last year.
PERRY LOOKS TO FILLING VOID FROM TYSON SHUTDOWN
The Tyson Food plant in Perry shut down Friday and local economic development, municipal and business leaders have a plan in place for moving forward. Perry City manager Sven Peterson says they now want to find a way to keep the workers in Perry. Peterson says the plant had some 13-hundred employees and it is estimated that 800 live in Perry and there are 300 kids in the school system with parents at the plant. Peterson says part of the effort is to get another business into town with jobs for those workers.
IOWA WILD TURKEY SURVEY BEGINS TODAY
All Iowans are being recruited to help count the state’s population of wild turkeys. Whether driving, cycling, or hiking through the woods, if you spot one of the big, black birds, take note. Jim Coffey, a forest wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says the agency could use a hand getting a handle on our turkey numbers. The survey is done every July and August, as wild turkey sightings are recorded to estimate this year’s nesting rates and nest success. To report a sighting, Coffey says to visit Iowa D-N-R-dot-gov, and under the Turkey tab, there’ll be a button to click asking what county you’re in, the number of turkeys you’ve seen, whether they’re male or female, and the number of poults– or baby turkeys.