Shop for a Cause to help two local non-profits
Starting this week, shoppers in Le Mars are able to get deals at local businesses and support two local non-profits at the same time. Shop for a Cause, organized by the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce, will run from now until December 13th. Maggie Rechtenbaugh, the administrative assistant for the Chamber, explained Shop for a Cause to KLEM.
The two organizations shoppers can chose from are the Le Mars Public Library and the Plymouth County Historical Museum.
Rechtenbaugh says that Shop for a Cause is a great way to promote local non-profits and local businesses.
For a full list of participating businesses, click here. Shop for a Cause will run until December 13th.
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Winter storm results in accidents across Iowa
The Iowa State Patrol responded to numerous accidents across the state as a result of the winter storm that occurred over the holiday weekend.
State troopers responded to 856 calls across the state from Friday morning to noon on Sunday, according to posts on their social media accounts. 210 of those calls was in response to vehicle crashes, with 20 of those crashes resulting in injuries, and 190 resulting in just property damage. No fatalities from the storm were reported across the state this weekend. State troopers also provided assistance to 646 motorists over the weekend.
Both Le Mars and Sioux City received around six and a half inches of snow, while areas to the north, including Estherville, had roughly 10 inches of snowfall.
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Central Valley Ag reports strong financial performance during annual meeting
Central Valley Ag hosted their annual meeting last week in York, NE, where the cooperative reported a strong financial performance and future reinvestment during the past fiscal year.
During the 2025 fiscal year, ending August 31st, CVA achieved $35.2 million in total profit, including $19.1 million in local profit, from total sales of $1.93 billion. The cooperative also returned over $15.3 million in cash to its members through equity redemptions and patronage dividends. In addition to the financial success, the cooperative also invested $106.3 million in capital expenditures during fiscal year 2025, which funded significant improvements and expansion projects for member-owners.
In a press release, Nic McCarthy, CEO of CVA, says that the cooperative results this year “reflect the strength of our members and the dedication of our team,” and that CVA “remains committed to delivering the products, services, and innovation that help our producers succeed.”
During the meeting, CVA also announced the results of their Board of Directors election, which was conducted through mail-in ballots. Mark Philips, of Akron, was voted to represent Region 8 on the board, and was also elected to serve as vice chairman of the board.
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Fire-Rescue shares November reports
Le Mars Fire-Rescue answered 117 calls for service during the month of November, according to their monthly report.
The department responded to 86 9-1-1 calls within Le Mars and the surrounding area. 18 investigation calls were answered, 17 special operation calls were received, and 7 requests for services were made to the department. 6 all staff Fire-Rescue calls were made in total.
During November, the department provided CPR training for Merrill Fire-Rescue and the Le Mars Police Department, prepped equipment for winter weather, did two controlled burns of tree piles, taught an AED class at the Senior Center, conducted the final storm siren test of the year, and met with city administration on budget and wages.
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‘Walking in Antarctica’ exhibit at Sioux City Public Museum
An exhibit that opened this month at the Sioux City Public Museum focuses on the South Pole. Museum curator Matt Anderson says “Walking in Antarctica” features the work of artist Helen Glazer (GLAY-zer) who visited several research stations on the continent in 2015.
In addition to the photos and sculptures, Glazer’s recorded voice is part of the exhibit.
Anderson says the artist had access to protected areas of Antarctica that may only be entered if a person has a government permit or is guided by a skilled mountaineer.
That wind makes the majority of the continent a polar desert.
While most of Antarctica is covered in ice, there are some valleys with exposed soil.
Visitors at the Sioux City Museum will be able to navigate through what appear to be a walk over frozen lakes, around towering glaciers, into an ice cave and through a colony of nesting penguins. The exhibit will be at the museum until March 9th.
