GENGLER NAMED KLEM STATION MANAGER
Powell Broadcasting has announced that Nick Gengler of Le Mars has been named KLEM Radio Station Manager effective April 1, 2025. Gengler began his career at KLEM in 2019 as an account executive and has risen through the ranks, serving as sales manager for both KLEM and Classic Rock 99.5.
Powell Broadcasting General Manager Dennis Bullock commented “this is a well-deserved promotion. Nick has worked tirelessly in his various roles for our group of stations. As a hometown Le Mars native, Nick’s knowledge of the community and surrounding area, makes him the perfect choice for this leadership position in the company.”
Gengler stated “My thanks to my mentor Dave Grosenheider who has been teaching me since day one. I feel ready to move forward as the KLEM Station Manager. I’m excited to lead the team in Le Mars and continue the KLEM tradition of local news, sports, and community involvement.”
He takes over the position from long-time KLEM employee Dave Grosenheider who will remain on the staff on a part-time basis, working in sales and focusing on the online Christian station Spirit 712.
Powell Broadcasting has five radio stations in Sioux City, along with KLEM and Spirit 712 broadcasting from Le Mars.
GROSENHEIDER TO BE HONORED BY LSCD ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
KLEM’s own Dave Grosenheider has been named the 2025 Le Mars Community Schools Distinguished Alumni.
Grosenheider graduated in 1974. Two years prior, he began work at KLEM as a part-time DJ. He continued here after graduation. Over the years, he has been a news reporter, account executive, sales manager, Director of Sales for Powell Broadcasting, and KLEM station manager. He most recently transitioned to a part-time position here at KLEM.
Dave married his high school sweetheart, Robin Nielsen, class of 1974, on Valentine’s Day, 1976. They purchased Hotopp Jewelry and Gifts in 1978, which they own and operate today.
Dave has been an active member of the Le Mars community. He was named “Citizen of of the Year” for 1986 by the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce and was inducted into the Plymouth County Fair “Hall of Fame” in 2008. Grosenheider has served on the boards of the Le Mars Arts Council, Le Mars Chamber of Commerce, and was a past fundraising chair for the Le Mars United Way. He’s emceed events and benefits, judged cook-offs, and used his musical talents with the Notables jazz band, and at his church, Living Faith Lutheran Church.
The past few years, Grosenheider has been advocate and supporter of Alzheimer’s research.
Dave will be honored at the LCSD Foundation banquet on April 23.
HEARING SET FOR LE MARS BUDGET
There will be a public hearing later this month on the city of Le Mars fiscal 2025-26 budget. The hearing will be April 15 at 12 pm. The new budget includes total refvenues of over 95 million dollars, and expenditures of 64 million dollars. It also includes the budget of Floyd Valley Healthcare, of 65.5 million dollars. The tax levy for fiscal 2026 will be 11 dollars, 87 cents per thousand. The current levy is nearly a dollar higher, at 12.78. While the levy is lower, revenues will be higher, because of higher property values. Total property taxes will be 7.77 million dollars, up from 6.3 million this year. A hearing will held before today’s regular city council meeting. State law requires a levy hearing be held separate from the city council’s regular meeting, for transparancy purposes.
SUPERVISORS AWARD PAVING CONTRACTS
Contracts were awarded for paving projects on two Plymouth County roads. One contract is for C44, east of Merrill, to K49. Another is K42, from K42 south to C60;. Knife River Corporation won both contracts, with low bids totaling 2.9 million dollars. The asphalt surfacing projects are to take place in late July and early August.
The Supervisors also reached a detour agreement with the Iowa DOT. They close part of U.S. 75 at Merrill in order to replace a railroad crossing there. Northbound traffic on 75 will be detoured on C60 east to K49, then north to C38. South bound traffic will be detoured along city streets in Merrill The work on the crossing will take two weeks.
SUPERVISORS HOLD LEVY HEARING, SET BUDGET HEARING
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors held a hearing this morning on their proposed tax levies for the next fiscal year budget. The new levy is 7 dollars, 32 cents per thousand, split between General services and Rural services. The levy is up slightly from last year, but valuations increased by 275 million dollars, so total tax dollars increased in both General and Rural services.
The Supervisors later approved the date of a public hearing on the FY 20265 Plymouth County budget for April 22, at 10 a.m. before the board.
JENEARY SEES TWO BILLS THROUGH TO THE SENATE
State Representative Tom Jeneary of Le Mars, a retired dentist, helped bring two bills relating to dental issues before the Senate last week.
Rep Jeneary says both bills are now in the Senate, and have advanced out of committee.
Rep Jeneary doesn’t see much opposition to the bills in that chamber.
One bill allows more flexibility for dental assistants without registration. This is aimed at addressing a shortage of dental assistants, particularly in rural areas. The other bill allows dentists to hire properly approved anesthetists to administer moderate sedation of dental patients.
LIFE SKILLS DAY PROM
It’s was prom day Monday at Life Skills Training Center in Le Mars
Missy Coffee-Gengler said Life Skills clients had their very own prom yesterday afternoon spent the afternoon at their Adult Day Habilitation Center downtown.
There were 25 clients, and a number of volunteers and staff members joined in.
Coffee-Gengler says the Day Prom began a month ago when Missy put it on the activity calendar. Then there was a discussion with herself and a co-worker…
The prom was held at the Adult Day Habilitation Center downtown. There was a Grand March, a photographer, a live DJ, dancing, and food…most of it donated.
Missy yesterday was caught up in the excitement while preparing for the event.
This is the first of what Coffee-Gengler wants to become an annual event.
REALTOR SURVEY SHOWS FARMLAND VALUES ARE FLAT
The recently REALTORS Land Institute survey shows the south-central district was the only one reporting a farmland price increase. Spokesman Matt Vegter (Vector) says the state average value didn’t change much.
The south-central market was up two tenths of a percent, the north-central was down two-point-one percent, for the largest drop. Vegter says better commodity prices kept things from moving too much.
New tariffs have gone into effect, but Vegter says it’s hard to tell right now how they may end up impacting land values.
Vegter says he seen some changes that may be an indication of the emotional toll could have an impact.
He says one area of the survey was a surprise.
Vegter says that’s probably a holdover from the pandemic when people looked to get out away from the cities more and the rec ground became more popular.
