FUNERAL HOMES MERGE IN LE MARS AND REMSEN
(Joel and Nikki Johnson, Dan Rexwinkel)
As of January 1, Two funeral services in Plymouth County have purchased neighboring operations.
In Le Mars, Dan and Lori Rexwinkel purchased Mauer-Johnson Funeral Homes from Joel and Nikki Johnson.
Rexwinkel says the transition went smoothly.
Joel Johnson says when his father acquired the Luken Funeral Home in 1967. At the time, it included the city’s ambulance service.
Dan says he’s been familiar with Maurer-Johnson since high school.
Joel Johnson says he has a similar continuity story.
Dan Rexwinkel says both funeral services will be operating at their present Le Mars locations, under their current names. He says the purchase also includes locations in Kingsley and Marcus. They will continue under their current names, Johnson-Earnest in Kingsley and Earnest-Johnson in Marcus. Rexwinkel also has a funeral service in Akron.
In Remsen, David Fisch announced that Fisch Funeral Home and Monument, LLC, has purchased Rohde Funeral Home in Kingsley from Mark and Tami Rohde. The Kingsley location will be known as Kingsley Funeral Home and Monument. David is the third generation of his family to offer funeral services at Remsen.
LCSD FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCED
Today, the Le Mars Community School District Foundation announces a new scholarship fund in memory of Don and Joyce Lake. A donation from the Lake family has created the Donald Lake Family Scholarships. It’s aim is to support LE Mars Community students pursuing higher education.
Don and Joyce spent their entire lives in the area. They lived on a farm near Merrill, where they raised their family, including four children. The two retired to Le Mars in 1983. Joyce was a former teacher in the Merrill public schools, and was an active 4-H, church and educational leader.
Both were involved in the Le Mars Community School District. Don was a director on the school district board, and was a long-time member of the LCSD Foundation board.
The Donald Lake Family Scholarships will be awarded annually to students who demonstrate a commitment to furthering their education.
Contributions to the scholarship fund can be made directly through the Foundation’s website, or by contacting the Foundation office.
SUPERVISORS MEET
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors this morning will consider several appointments to county Zoning Board and Compensation Commission. Later, representatives of the Secondary Road Bargaining Unit will present their wage increase request for the next fiscal year. The Supervisors will later go into closed session to discuss their bargaining position. The Board will also begin their review and discussion of the fiscal year 2025-26 county budget.
LE MARS COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
The Le Mars city council will hold their first session of 2025 today. Their agenda includes setting a special meeting to consider a bond purchase agreement for water plant improvements. A consultant’s contract for upgrades to O’Toole Park will be acted upon. The council will also take action on a plan to assure non-discrimination in federal and state-funded transportation projects.
CARBON MONOXIDE A DANGER, ESPECIALLY DURING AN IOWA WINTER
Frigid wintery weather has moved in and Iowans are now at much greater risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. As we fire up the fireplace to take off the chill, or warm up the car in the garage, the dangers of poisoning from the potentially-deadly gas can mount. Janna (JAN-ah) Day, a nurse at the Iowa Poison Control Center, says carbon monoxide can be generated in multiple ways, including with furnaces, stoves and anytime a carbon-containing fuel is burned. Day recommends mounting a C-O detector outside all rooms in your home where someone sleeps. Signs of poisoning can include headache, nausea, tiredness, or dizziness. For questions about this or any other poisons, call the Sioux City-based Iowa Poison Control Center anytime, any day, at 800-222-1222.
BBB TOP FRAUDS
The Better Business Bureau highlighted the most common scams at work across its five state service area, including Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska.
In all five states, the most common scam in 2024 was online purchases, roughly one-third of the reports received by the Better Business Bureau. Phishing, employment debt collections, and sweepstakes or lottery prizes were among the top five in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.
The Bureau advises people to be cautious with your e-mail; never send money to strangers; research online retailers before making purchases; safeguard your personal information, and create strong passwords for your online accounts.
SINGLE VEHICLE PROPERTY DAMAGE ACCIDENT
Saturday morning, at 06:45 hrs., the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a vehicle that was in the cable barrier facing northbound in the southbound lane of Highway 75 and Kern Drive, south of Le Mars. The 911 call went out at 6-45 am. Upon arrival a Plymouth County Deputy did observe the vehicle stuck in the barrier and facing to the north. The driver was identified as Angelina Nelson, age 18 of Le Mars. Nelson was traveling southbound on Highway 75 when she went over the rumble strips and steered out of control. Ms. Nelson did strike the cable barrier causing an estimate of $2,000 of damage to the barrier. Her vehicle was totaled by the accident.
