KLEM OBSERVES IT’S 70TH BIRTHDAY
Radio station KLEM turned 70 years old over the weekend. Bob McKune was the founder and first station manager of the station which was granted a license to broadcast in October of 1954. The station officially signed on for the first time on October 12th of that year.
In July of 1961, Paul and Patty Olson purchased the station. KLEM station manager, Dave Grosenheider, who started working for the station in high school in 1972, recalls memories of the Olson’s.
KLEM now operates 24 hours a day and has an FM translator. In the early days, it was only allowed to operate as a daytime station and listeners became familiar with Paul Olson’s sign-off at sundown that was followed by the Lord’s Prayer.
Over the years many programs have aired on the station including Point of Law, Earl Nightengale and Our Changing World, and Is Anybody Home.
KLEM’s current owner is the Powell Group who purchased KLEM in 1999. Grosenheider says the station operates with the mission of community service, providing local news and high school sports broadcasts. He credits General Manager, Dennis Bullock with continuing the “live and local” mantra.
As KLEM observes this milestone in broadcasting, we would like to thank our many loyal sponsors and listeners. And in the words of Captain Stubby and Charle Homer Bill: (Thanks for listening!)
LCSD BOARD MEETS TONIGHT
The Le Mars Community schools Board of Education meets tonight at 6 p.m. Their agenda includes a presentation of the district’s financial health report. The board will consider approval of an updated video board agreement; two resolutions: one approving a deficit in the district’s Special Education fund, and another recognizing a deficit in the Limited English Proficient fund. These will also direct administration to submit requests for additional spending authority in these accounts. The board will also consider approval of additional members to the district’s Learning and Instruction Impact Team, and to the LCSD Foundation Board of Trustees.
FEENSTRA AND MELTON TALK FARM BILL POLICIES
Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra says the prospects for passage of a five-year Farm Bill are positive — after the election. If no action is taken before the end of the year, the federal farm policies in place decades ago will go into effect — meaning farmers will not get federal crop insurance subsidies, for example.
The Senate Ag Commitee has not passed its own version of the Farm Bill and Democrats who are in the majority in the Senate say the House G-O-P’s proposed 30 BILLION dollar cut in federal food assistance is unacceptable. Feenstra, a Republican from Hull, says funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a stumbling block.
Ryan Melton of Webster City, the Democrat who’s running against Feenstra, says the Farm Bill needs to address water quality. Melton says federal farm policy has to respond to the significant increase in large-scale livestock operations. Melton suggests it’s time to consider federal regulations on how much manure and other farm chemicals can be applied to cropland.
PIGEON ORDINANCE
After pushback on a previously proposed 10 bird limit on the number of pigeons that could be kept at a Storm Lake residence, city officials are considering a 100 bird limit. During a meeting last month, a family that raises and races homing pigeons told the Storm Lake City Council they often have 80 birds on their property. Longtime resident Dan Maier said Storm Lake had problems in the 1980s and ’90s with pigeon and crow droppings — and it will be a problem again if up to 100 birds are allowed at a single property. Daryle Saltzgiver, president of the Missouri River Flyers pigeon racing club, disputed the idea that homing pigeons spread respiratory illnesses. Storm Lake City Council member Meg McKeon said she’s learned a lot about homing pigeons in the past couple of months. Storm Lake officials are preparing an ordinance for pigeons that’s like one Sioux City has had for decades. A public hearing on the ordinance will be held at the next council meeting on November 4.
FLUSHING WATER MAINS
The Le Mars Water Department will be flushing water mains on the North side of town starting today. Monday, October 21st, they will begin flushing the South part of town – which could take up to two weeks. Residents should refrain from washing any clothes or running any more water than needed between the hours of 8:00am-3:30pm on the days flushing is done in your area.
IOWA’S NEWEST PUBLIC SKATEPARK IS IN CHEROKEE
There are over 70 public skateparks in Iowa — and the newest is in northwest Iowa. Sheree Hausmann (SHARE-ee HOWZ-man) served on the committee that raised nearly 390-thousand dollars for construction of a skatepark in Cherokee.
A California company that started building skateboard ramps in 1997 was the contractor for the Cherokee skatepark. Hausmann says unfortunately, the company had all its forms set up and was ready to start pouring concrete when the flooding hit Cherokee in June.
O’Toole park in Le Mars is the site of this city’s skatepark. O’Toole Park is to undergo major improvements as part of Vision 2045, the city’s community development plan.
Cherokee’s skatepark covers about 10-thousand square feet and has typical features like ledges and a big bowl for skateboarders. Construction started in April and a grand opening was held at the end of September.
NEW WOODBURY COUNTY JAIL IN OPERATION
The new Woodbury County Jail is now housing inmates.
Friday night, October 11th, the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Department began moving all 210 inmates from the old downtown jail at 7th and Douglas to the new jail at, 3701 28th Street.
The first inmates were removed from the old jail at approximately 11:15 P.M. Friday and the last inmates were moved into the new jail at 6:15 A.M. Saturday.
The transition into the new jail involved approximately 70 Woodbury County correctional officers, 40 Woodbury County deputies and reserve deputies, and 2 Iowa Department of Corrections prison guards.
There were no incidents to report during the move and calls for service in Woodbury County were handled by the Iowa State Patrol during that time.
As of 8 A.M. Saturday the Woodbury County Jail is fully operational.
Sheriff Chad Sheehan says he couldn’t be prouder of his staff in handling the move and thanked the Iowa Department of Corrections, Iowa State Patrol, Sioux City Police, Sioux City Fire Rescue, the Woodbury County Communication Center, and Woodbury County Emergency Management for their assistance in the move.