Newscast for Tueday, June 3, 2025

 Storm Damage

Strong thunderstorms with hail and straight-line winds rumbled through the Tri-State area late Monday afternoon and evening, causing damage in many communities.

The City of Vermillion had numerous buildings damaged by straight-line winds and many trees toppled.  Elk Point and areas of Union County also suffered damage.

Around 400 people in the North Sioux City area and Union County lost power to their homes.

Storms also rumbled through Sioux County.  Highway 75, near 300^th Street, 2 miles North of Perkins Corner, was flooded by heavy rain and the Northbound lanes near mile marker 26 on Highway 60 North of Hospers were temporarily blocked by an accident.  Log Avenue, a half mile North of Hospers, had downed power lines across the highway.

The Ponca, Nebraska area unofficially received around four inches of rain.  Here at KLEM we recorded 1.4 inches of rain in Le Mars.

 

Sioux City Honor Flight

85 Military Veterans and their guardians left Sioux City early Tuesday morning, headed to Washington D.C. on the 26^th Midwest Honor Flight.  The veterans visited military memorials throughout the day.  The Honor Flight Veterans will be welcomed home tonight at Hawthorne Global Aviation at Sioux Gateway Airport.   The Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. with the flight returning around 9 p.m.

 

Air Quality

Iowa DNR has issued a statewide Air Quality Alert through 6 a.m. Thursday morning, June 5. The Air Quality Index (AQI) may reach the red or unhealthy category in affected areas.

Thick smoke from Canadian wildfires was pulled down to the surface early Tuesday morning and levels in northwestern Iowa were measured in the unhealthy category for several hours. Sensitive groups of people as well as the general public may experience health effects at this level.

Intermittent thick smoke can be expected over Iowa with the heaviest band stretching across the state from the southwest through the northeast. This band will move south across the state today and tonight. Elevated levels of fine particulates may be a concern over the next several days as the smoke continues to move through the state.

The DNR recommends that people reduce long or intense activities, and take more breaks during outdoor activities until air quality conditions improve. This recommendation is especially pertinent to individuals with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, and outdoor workers. People in these categories should consider rescheduling or moving outdoor activities indoors.

Second Chapter Gently Used Books will open next week on Thursday, June 12^th from 3 till 7 p.m.   The store, located in downtown Le Mars, between Habitue Coffeehouse and the Blue Tequilla Restaurant, at 104 Central Avenue Northeast,  will be managed by the volunteer efforts of the Friend of the Library Organization. Coordinator Mary Albrecht says the space is being made possible by Mike and Cheryl Wells.

Abrecht says the used bookstore has beautiful, stained wood shelving and offers a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere.  She says one of the unique features is a conveyer belt system that goes to the basement.

Second Chapter is implementing an inventory system for its books.

Books will sell from one to four dollars each and proceeds will support library programs.

After opening day on June 12, the store will have regular hours of Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays,   Thursday from 3 till 7 p.m.; Friday from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. ; and Saturday from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m.

Those wishing to donate books or volunteer to work at  Second Chapter can call 712-305-2233.

Le Mars Fire-Rescue has issued the department’s monthly report.  During the month of May, the Fire-Rescue answered a total of 145 calls for service.    Calls last month included 105 9-1-1 calls including city, rural, and mutual aid.  The report also cited 18 calls for investigations such as odor investigations, illegal burning, and alarms. Trainings were listed on the report including a Haz-Mat Operations refresher, head and neck injury EMS training, the testing of large diameter hoses; along with Paramedic intubation training at Floyd Valley Healthcare and training for Wells first responders. May activities also included hosting the Community Coffee for EMS Week,  hosting the Town Hall Meeting, and an Oath of Office ceremony for four members.

The deadline is this Friday to sign up to be in this year’s Ice Cream Days Parade in Le Mars.  The parade will start at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 21 with line-up starting at 7 a.m. on 8th Street South.  Entries received after this Friday will not be accepted, due to parade preparation.   Detailed information, including your line-up number, will be emailed to you by Friday, June 13.  The entry fee is $25.   Contact the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce if you have any questions.

Sioux City will once again have their Mardi Gras Parade next month, leading up to the Saturday in the Park Concert that weekend.  The Mardi Gras annual event returns for its 31st anniversary in downtown Sioux City on Thursday, July 3rd at 6 p.m.  The parade has a new route this year, taking place along the riverfront. As is a tradition, tens of thousands of beads will be thrown into the crowds that line the parade route.

Iowa Air Guard Colonel Adam “Ace” Carlson will be installed as the 185th Air Refueling Wing Commander at a formal change-of command ceremony during the unit’s June training weekend.  Carlson will take over as the Wing Commander from Colonel Sonya Morrison.   The ceremony will take place this Sunday, June 8, at 1 p.m. at the Sioux City National Guard Base.  Carlson returns to the 185th to assume command after having been the Director of the National Guard Bureau’s Joint Action Control Office at the Pentagon.