Plymouth County answered the call. The 45th Annual Knights of Columbus Phonathon held yesterday surpassed their $57-thousand challenge goal. Donations as of last evening totaled more than $63-thousand, with that total expected to grow.
Knights Co-Chair in Le Mars, Andy Ruden expressed his appreciation.
Over the last 45 years the K.C.’s have raised more than $1,962,000 with the first fund-drive in 1980 raising $4,200.
Life Skills Executive Director Jessica La Fleur says this outpouring of support from the entire county means so much.
Andy Ruden said there’s another opportunity to support Life Skills with their upcoming broasted pork chop dinner.
Pledges can be dropped off at all Plymouth County Banks or send them to LSTC 1510 Industrial Road SW, Le Mars, Iowa 51031. Checks should be made out to Life Skills Training Center, with all pledges due by October 31st.
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New Exhibit
There’s a new exhibit in the gallery at the Le Mars Arts Center. Photographer/Artist Mike Jones collection, titled “Over/Under, is on display.
Arts Center Executive Director Draven Haefs explains the unique artwork.
There will be an opening reception Today (Thursday) from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Le Mars Arts Center.
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Hospital Acquisition in Sioux City
UnityPoint’s acquisition of the MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center in downtown Sioux City this week has started a new era in medical care in the Siouxland area.
The acquisition, which started in May and was formally completed on Tuesday, won’t have an effect on patient care, according to UnityPoint Health – Sioux City Market President Jane Arnold.
Arnold says that she’s hopeful that improvements in staffing and retaining team members will occur with the merger.
With the merger, she says that patient care will be the same at every facility, and that UnityPoint is looking to review and improve services.
The acquisition includes the main campus in downtown Sioux City, as well as several related facilities. The new name of the downtown facility is “UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s – Downtown”.
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Blue Bunny is the Most Loved Brand in Iowa, Survey Shows
When Iowans think of the homegrown brands they love the most, they think of Blue Bunny. That’s according to MarketBeat.com, surveying Iowans who said the Le Mars-based ice-cream brand is Iowa’s most-loved homemade good.
The survey included over three thousand respondents in the state, with Blue Bunny coming in first. Other Iowa products that Iowans love include Maytag Blue Cheese, Casey’s General Store Pizza, and Templeton Rye Whiskey.
Matt Paulson, founder of MarketBeat.com, says that a state’s favorite good represents more than the product, and that it’s about pride in where people are from and a part of their identity.
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Souper Cause
The Le Mars Chamber of Commerce is collecting cans of Cream of Mushroom soup. Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lori French says all donations will go directly to the Food Bank of Siouxland to help provide Thanksgiving meals for families in need.
French says you can drop off the soup to the Chamber office all this week, from 2 until 4 p.m. She says this is a friendly competition between the Le Mars Chamber and Siouxland Chamber of Commerce, to see which of the two organizations can collect and donate the most cans. But most of all, she says it’s another opportunity to show the generosity of the community.
This is the second year for the competition between the two Chambers, with Le Mars coming out on top last year.
