Gehlen Homecoming Recap
Gehlen Catholic School held several events Friday as part of their weeklong homecoming celebration.
At noon, coronation was held, where the Homecoming king and queen were crowned. Congratulations to the King: Dane Lehmann, son of Dan Lehman and Mel Anderson, and Queen: Grace Kellen, daughter of Eric and Christina Kellen!
After coronation, the annual Homecoming parade took place in downtown Le Mars, starting at 1:45 p.m.. The parade route ran along Central Ave, starting on 8th Street and concluding at the corner of 2nd Street, in front of the Wells Ice Cream Parlor. The parade featured floats from school clubs and local businesses, as well as marching bands and appearances from Homecoming royalty. The full parade can be streamed on KLEM’s YouTube page.
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Chop for a Cause Broasted Dinner
The Knights of Columbus are hosting a broasted pork chop dinner tomorrow starting at 4:30 p.m.. This “Chop for a Cause” dinner is being held in support of Life Skills Training Center and in support of their new Day Habilitation Facility.
The dinner is drive-thru only at the KC Hall in Le Mars. Menu items include broasted pork chops, cheesy potatoes, macaroni salad, and a dinner roll. Each meal costs $13, and the dinner runs until 7 p.m..
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Dordt University, Northwestern College Achieve Record Enrollment Numbers
Two Northwest Iowa colleges have set new enrollment records.
For the fifth year in a row, Dordt University in Sioux Center has recorded a record-high in student enrollment. This fall, 2,077 students will take classes, including 540 new undergraduate students. Dordt has set new enrollment records continuously since 2021.
Robert Taylor, Dordt’s vice president for student success, said in a statement that Dordt was committed to supporting their student’s growth and well-being, while Dr. Erik Hoekstra, president of Dordt, said it was “heartening” that students were entrusting Dordt “with one of the most life-defining decisions they’ll ever make”.
Northwestern College in Orange City has also exceeded their enrollment goals, with 1,665 students enrolled for the fall semester. That figure is Northwestern’s fourth-largest, but the number of transfer students (37) and the percentage of international undergraduates (5.5%) are the highest in several years. 354 new undergraduate students will start classes this fall.
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SmithCo Trailer Named to Top 50 New Products of 2025
SmithCo’s The BRUTE CP30 side dump trailer has been named a Top 50 New Product of 2025 by Equipment Today magazine.
The Top 50 New Products designation is a prestigious annual award, determined by Equipment Today staff and readers by ranking products based on quality, efficiency, and jobsite productivity. SmithCo, based in Le Mars, introduced The BRUTE CP30 earlier this year in March.
In a statement, SmithCo said it was a “true honor” to receive the award, and that it was a “reflection of the industry’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in construction technology and equipment”.
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Harvest Festival
Today is the last day of the annual Harvest Festival at the Heritage Village in Sioux Center.
The two-day festival provides a look at everyday life in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Demonstrations of frontier living are provided, such as apple pressing, butter churning, rope making, and cast iron cooking. Antique machinery and musical instruments are on display, and a petting zoo is open both days. Lunch is available at Doc’s Cafe from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring Maid Rite sandwiches.
This event is free to attend, and runs today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m..
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