“Wildly in Love” first in new series of events for Le Mars Arts Center
The Le Mars Arts Center will host “Wildly in Love” on Valentine’s Day this weekend, the first in a new series of events under the Center’s 2026 theme, The Gilded West. Rather than celebrating the arts on a single night, Saturday’s event will be the first in an expansion of the Center’s annual fundraiser into multiple experiences throughout the year.
Executive director Draven Haefs explained more about the evening to KLEM.
The theme selected for the year, The Gilded West, ties in motifs from the Gilded Era and Western expansion, according to Haefs.
Haefs says the changes in the annual fundraiser for the Center came from several different factors.
Haefs says that future events that are being planned include private viewings of exhibitions, pop-up events, open mic nights, and more. “Wildly in Love” will take place tomorrow evening starting at 4:30pm, with tickets available online at lemarsarts.com and at the door.
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One dead after bus crash involving Iowa Lakes Community College baseball team
One person is dead and several others are injured after a bus crash in northwest Iowa involving the Iowa Lakes Community College baseball team.
The team was on their way to a game in Arkansas when their bus went off the road Wednesday morning and flipped over into a ditch near Twin Lakes in Calhoun County. There were 33 people on the bus at the time of the crash.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports the injured were either taken by ambulance or flown to area hospitals. Helicopters based in Sioux City helped transfer the injured.
A statement from Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville requests “privacy and compassion for all those affected.” The college cancelled classes yesterday and today, and a candlelight vigil was held on campus Wednesday evening. Counselors have also been made available for students.
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Iowa soldiers welcomed home from Middle East duty
An army of family, friends, and well wishers gathered near the runway of Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City Wednesday afternoon to welcome home 59 members of the Iowa Army National Guard from the Middle East. The soldiers were part of “Operation Inherent Resolve.” who served with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division in Syria and Iraq.
First Sergeant Cole Cooley from Spencer was among the Guard members receiving a rousing welcome home.
Cooley serves with the 194th Field Artillery in Iowa and was stationed in Iraq for this mission since last July.
Sgt. Cooley says it’s emotional for the unit to be back home after losing two soldiers who were killed in a terror attack in Syria late last year.
Cooley says he is looking forward to reconnecting with two members of his family that he couldn’t talk to while overseas.
Two other Welcome Home ceremonies took place in Des Moines on Wednesday.
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