Annual Christmas Lighted Parade takes place this Saturday
Another Le Mars holiday tradition will be held tomorrow night, when the annual Christmas Lighted Parade takes place along Central Avenue starting at 6pm. Joel Johnson, who has coordinated the parade for the past seven years, told KLEM the tradition was started in the 90’s.
Those showcasing their floats in the parade will arrive at 5pm to line-up; residents do not have to register or pay a fee to be a part of the parade. The route starts at 8th Street South and continues along Central Avenue, ending at 1st Street South. Johnson says he looks forward to seeing new and creative floats each year.
Johnson says the parade is a great way for the community to come together during the holidays.
The parade itself will start at 6pm tomorrow night; for those participating in the parade, line-up will start at 5pm.
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List of future Le Mars Municipal Airport projects submitted to FAA
During the Le Mars city council meeting on Tuesday, the Board approved the submittal of the Federal Airport Capital Improvement Program for the Le Mars Municipal Airport. The city is required to submit the program to the Federal Aviation Administration yearly.
Included in the program is a list of projects planned for the airport within the next five years. During FY 2027, fencing and gate improvements and an expansion of the parking lot is planned, with a total estimated cost of $215,000. Local funding will cover $83,000, while the rest will use state funding. During FY 2028 and 2029, an expansion of the apron is planned for two separate phases, with most of the $1.1 million estimated cost covered by the state. A project to reconstruct the runway edge lighting system is planned for FY 2029, with most of the estimated $475,000 covered by federal funds.
Other planned improvements, including the design and construction of a parallel taxiway and the acquisition of snow removal equipment, are listed as “long-range needs” in the program. The Capital Improvement Program will be submitted to the FFA by December 19th.
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Only about 1 in 5 Iowans have gotten a flu shot this season
Health officials are encouraging more Iowans to get vaccinated for influenza before the year-end holidays arrive. Iowa has few reported flu cases at the moment, and one death, but experts expect the numbers to jump in the coming few weeks. Melanie Wellington, an infectious disease specialist at University of Iowa Health Care, says it’s important Iowans get vaccinated not only to protect themselves, but to protect those around them.
According to state data, only about 20 percent of Iowans have received a flu shot so far this season. Wellington says the more people who get flu shots, the harder it will be for the virus to spread.
Wellington says there are concerns this could be a more severe flu season, but early data from the U-K also indicates the flu shot is good at combatting the dominant flu strains circulating this year.
(Story via Radio Iowa)
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