Kemps employees donating $25,000 to local organizations
Thousands of dollars will be given to several local organizations in Le Mars from funds raised by past and present employees of Kemps. Bill Fischer, a current employee at Kemps, told KLEM that the funds donated had been collected for almost two decades.
About $25,000 will be donated to five community organizations and groups in the area: the Wet Nose Rescue will receive $10,000, the Rejoice! Food Bank, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and the American Legion Post 241 will each receive $4,000, and the Remsen St. Mary’s girl’s basketball team will receive $3,000. Fischer says their goal was to keep the funds local and in support of the community.
The funds were given to the organizations yesterday afternoon.
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Suspects arrested in Lyon County Courthouse burglary over the weekend
The two suspects accused of burglarizing the Lyon County Courthouse were taken into custody over the weekend in Spearfish, SD.
According to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, the suspects, 39-year-old Brandon Lyle High Pipe and 18-year-old Luciano Eliseo Sanchez, were arrested early Saturday morning in Spearfish, following a multi-day search involving local, state, and federal authorities. Nationwide arrest warrants were issued for the two suspects on Thursday afternoon, with charges against the pair including third degree burglary, first degree criminal mischief, willful disturbance, conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony, and reckless use of fire, explosives, or a destructive device.
Authorities say that the suspects broke into the courthouse early on December 17th, and moved throughout the building, causing extensive damage. Investigators found broken glass, knocked down Christmas trees, items thrown around, and writing on the walls of the courthouse. No county employees were in the building at the time.
According to the Lyon County Auditor, the courthouse will reopen to the public for regular hours starting today. The building had been closed since the incident occurred last Wednesday.
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Sioux Honey plans major local expansion
The Sioux Honey Association is expanding and will build a new $130 million dollar facility in Sioux City. The project was approved by the Iowa Economic Development Authority board last Friday in Des Moines.
Authority director Debi Durham calls it a legacy project for the company.
Siouxland Chamber president Chris McGowan told the board the site includes the purchase of an existing warehouse at 2501 Expedition Court and adjacent property north of Sioux Gateway Airport, and that the city is investing in the project.
The Sioux City council formally voted to approve the project on Monday. The IEDA board unanimously approved a $2 million forgivable loan and $2.3 million in tax credits for the project. The company intends to renovate the office space in the existing warehouse on Expedition Drive and construct a new processing plant and raw goods warehouse on the adjacent property. Sioux Honey will also relocate its Anaheim, California operations to Sioux City, creating 39 new jobs and retaining 75 existing jobs.
Sioux Honey was founded in Sioux City over one hundred years ago and has grown to become the largest beekeeper co-op in the world.
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