The City of Le Mars Will Pick Up Storm Debris
The City of Le Mars tells the community that city workers will pick up any debris left behind after Sunday morning’s storms, but it must be put on the edge of the road in front of the property in order to be collected.
Straight-line winds went through Le Mars over the weekend, and now many city crews are working on cleanup. Yards were filled with fallen tree branches, some trees falling on top of cars and homes.
Tornado Season Ends, but Caution is Recommended
Peak tornado season is ending, but there’s still a threat.
While tornadoes can strike in any season, any day of the year, Monday marked the last day of what’s considered the peak season for twisters in Iowa.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Jim Lee says Iowa has seen very few tornadoes so far in 2025, after seeing a record 125 tornadoes last year. So far this year, there have been fewer than ten tornadoes confirmed in Iowa. While the main season for tornadoes in Iowa — April through June — is now coming to an end, Lee stresses Iowans should not let down their guard. He says twisters can form anytime, as they did on December 16th of 2021, when Iowa saw 63 tornadoes, the most in any one day in Iowa history.
New Sentencing Date for Le Mars Woman
A new sentencing date has been set for a Le Mars, Iowa, woman who pled guilty in May in the April 2024 death of her two-year-old son. Sexlyn Tataichy is scheduled to be sentenced July 7th at 2:30 p.m. in the Plymouth County Courthouse.
In the plea deal filed May 5th in Plymouth County District Court, 27-year-old Tataichy agreed to plead guilty to child endangerment resulting in death, a class B felony.
Charges of second-degree murder and a second child endangerment count were dismissed. On July 7th, Tataichy will be sentenced to serve not more than 50 years in prison and pay $150,000 in victim’s restitution.
Special Election set to Fill Seat of Woodbury County Lawmaker
A special election has been set for August 26 to fill the seat of an Iowa lawmaker who died last week of pancreatic cancer.
Republican Rocky DeWitt of Lawton was in his first term. The 65-year-old previously served as a county supervisor after working for MidAmerican Energy and the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office.
Governor Kim Reynolds has scheduled the election for Tuesday, August 26th for voters in Iowa’s Senate District 1, which covers a part of Woodbury County and Sioux City.
State Auditor Rob Sand Visits Le Mars Tuesday as part of his Gubernatorial Campaign/Local Democrats to hold Protest
Democratic State Auditor and candidate for governor Rob Sand will come to Le Mars and meet with residents in the Wells Visitor Center and Ice Cream Parlor at 3:45 as part of his 100 Town Halls Tour across Iowa. That visit comes a few hours before the Plymouth County Democrats gather to protest proposed cuts to the medicaid program.
Democrats are inviting all community members to join them for the protest at Foster Park, at 5:15 p.m. to support the Medicaid program and rural hospitals.
Law to Ban Handling a Cell Phone While Driving In Effect Today
Starting today, it is illegal for Iowa motorists to hold a cell phone, scroll through it or watch videos on it while driving. A 2017 Iowa law has banned texting while driving, but been hard to enforce because drivers were allowed to handle their phones to make calls.
Starting January 1st, the fine for handling a cell phone while driving will be 100 dollars. Fines escalate if there’s an accident causing serious injury or death.
There are some exemptions in the bill for people like bus drivers, emergency responders and people driving farm machinery.
New Report Shows Corn is a Powerful Economic Force Worldwide
Corn grower leaders say they could make an even bigger contribution to the U.S. economy through increased sales of ethanol and the cultivation of new foreign markets, according to a new report released Monday by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). The United States is the world’s largest producer and exporter of corn. Corn grower leaders say they could make an even bigger contribution to the U.S. economy through increased sales of ethanol and the cultivation of new foreign markets.
The study noted the contribution of corn farming and its upstream linkages extended across 500 different industry sectors in all 50 states, generating an estimated $123 billion in total economic output in 2024. The report also shows that corn farming supported over 440,000 jobs and provided $29 billion in wages.
Crop Report for July 1 Calls for Good Growing Conditions
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA yesterday. The report is released weekly April through November.
Naig said that Last week brought multiple rounds of rain to much of the state, marking the wettest seven days of the growing season thus far. In addition to benefitting the corn and soybeans, Naig says the moisture helped to replenish streams, pastures and hay fields.
Corn tassels are also just beginning to show after the recent warm weather, signaling crop development remains on track, says Secretary Naig, and as July begins, he notes that Iowans can expect seasonal temperatures and fewer storm chances – pleasant conditions for a festive and fun Independence Day weekend.
