Major fundraiser for Remsen St. Mary’s girl’s basketball team Saturday
A major fundraiser for members of the Remsen St. Mary’s Girls Basketball team will be held Saturday, January 10, at the Wheelhouse Bar & Grill on Southern Hills Drive in Sioux City. Speaking on KLEM’s What Now program, Larry Ellis, one of the organizers of the event, said all proceeds will help with expenses resulting from the tragic traffic accident that happened in November.
The event will feature a silent auction from 2 until 5pm, and a live auction with auctioneer Jim Klein at 6pm. Ellis says there will also be a special buffet offered.
Ellis told KLEM that he and his wife Tami have a special connection to this cause.
The Saturday fundraiser is organized by the Wheelhouse Bar and Grill and Ellis Mobile Home Transport.
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Board of Supervisors receives funding requests from local organizations
Several local organizations requested funding from the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors during their meeting on Tuesday.
Plymouth County Historical Museum administrator Jennifer Scholten gave a presentation to the board, and requested $20,000 in funding, the same amount as was given last year. During her presentation, Scholten went over her first year in charge of the museum, keeping exhibits relevant to the county, and where the museum could see future improvements.
Wet-Nose Rescue executive director Angel Anderson also gave a presentation, requesting $9,500 for the organization. The funds would cover a month of medical expenses during 2026. Anderson highlighted the 333 animals that Wet-Nose was able to adopt out, and the rise in expenses for medical care and medicine, which jumped from $5,100 in 2024 to nearly $9,800 in 2025.
Stephanie Pickinpaugh, the executive director of SAFE Place, presented information about the organization and it’s work in Plymouth County, and requested $25,000 in funding for the next fiscal year.
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Fire-Rescue delivers annual report to city council
During the Le Mars city council meeting on Tuesday, fire chief Dave Schipper delivered the Fire-Rescue Department’s annual report to city officials.
Over the past twelve months, the department responded to 2,010 calls for service, with 620 of those calls concerning fires. Fire-Rescue responded to 9 structure fires, 3 vehicle fires, and 33 grass and tree fires within their coverage area, while assisting with other agencies on 317 calls. The total number of fire calls has increased over the past five years, with the department responding to 532 calls in 2024, and 488 calls in 2021. Reported losses from fire damage during 2025 was $994,350, with losses in city areas at $812,825.
In 2025, the 37 members of the department conducted over 150 inspections and held 50 training sessions. Firefighter Tony Rolfes, who served with the department for 15 years, was the only retirement in 2025.
During the year, the department trained over 650 members of the public, and gave fire prevention talks to nearly 400 area students. Fire-Rescue also hosted their annual pancake breakfast and awards banquet, participated in 5 parades, and assisted with local events such as Ice Cream Days and Hometown Christmas.
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