Water main break on Central Ave causes shutoffs, flooding
A water main break that occurred Tuesday afternoon affected multiple businesses and residences along Central Ave in Le Mars, causing flooding and water to be shut off for over eight hours.
The break occurred at 17 Central Ave NW just before 2pm on Tuesday afternoon. Crews from the Le Mars Water Department worked for nearly eight hours to fix the leak, shutting off water access on Central Ave from Plymouth St to 3rd St NW for most of the evening. The leak itself was confirmed to be fixed just before 11pm, with crews flushing water from multiple directions for two hours afterwards. The break affected multiple businesses along Central Ave, including Bling-N-Fashions, which suffered flood damage to the basement of the store.
KLEM will continue to update this story if more information becomes available.
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Le Mars Arts Center to host “Wildly in Love” as first in series of new events
Cupid may have taken an art class this year. The Le Mars Arts Center will host “Wildly in Love: Social Hour & Arts Benefit” on Valentine’s Day, the first in a new series of events under the Arts Center’s 2026 theme, The Gilded West.
Rather than celebrating the arts on a single night, the Arts Center is expanding its annual fundraiser into multiple experiences throughout the year, each designed to highlight artists, exhibitions, and the creative energy that flows through the building every day. Designed as a relaxed social hour before evening plans, the February 14th event will feature wine and light hors d’oeuvres, live music, live painting, candle pouring, a private gallery viewing, and a local art
auction.
Guests will also enjoy exclusive access to Biophilia by Shelby Prindaville, the Arts Center’s current exhibition exploring nature-inspired works across painting, ceramics, and mixed media.
In a press release, Arts Center leadership stated that “Wildly in Love” is their “first step into a season of gatherings that invite people to connect more deeply with artists, creativity, and one another.”
Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Arts Center’s exhibitions, arts education programs, and community outreach efforts, helping sustain its mission to engage the mind and inspire the spirit through the arts. Tickets for the evening, starting at 4:30pm on February 14th, are available now at lemarsarts.com.
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Wait for flood buyouts in Northwest Iowa continues
Residents of nine communities hit by historic flooding in northwest Iowa in 2024 are still waiting for FEMA to buyout 267 homes, totaling more than 53 million dollars. Almost half are in Rock Valley, but 41 are in Spencer where City Administrator Kevin Robinson says he’s frustrated.
Robinson says FEMA has been good to work with, but the buyouts for more than 40 homes were requested more than a year ago.
FEMA spokesperson Michael Cappannari says the cost analysis continues, but approval takes time.
Cappannari says once the funding goes through, the homes will be torn down and replaced with green space, which could include parks and ballfields.
(Story via Radio Iowa)
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LCS Employee of the Month named for January
Le Mars Community Schools has named Franklin Elementary 4th grade teacher Kennedy Candor as their Employee of the Month for January.
Candor was nominated by her peers for “being the true definition of a team player,” for “her outstanding teamwork and collaborative spirit,” for “bringing a positive, can-do attitude that uplifts everyone around them,” and for “consistently going above and beyond to support her colleagues, always bringing a positive attitude and a willingness to help wherever is needed.”
Congratulations to Kennedy Candor for being named Le Mars Community Schools’ Employee of the Month for January!
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