2026 KLEM LAND Community Champions revealed
The KLEM LAND Community Champions recipients for 2026 has been announced, with six individuals having been selected by a panel of judges.
This year’s recipients are:
– Tim Claussen, commercial lender at Primebank
– Maggie Rechtenbaugh, administrative assistant at the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce
– Katelyn Schilmoeller, commercialization associate project manager at Wells Enterprises
– Jordan Sitzmann, vice president at Primebank
– Sophie Arens, accounting at Floyd Valley Healthcare
– Kaleb Koerselman, agronomist at KK Farms
The Community Champions program is an effort to recognize young adults who are making a difference where we live! A vibrant part of that mix is the talented class of young professionals. Nominees were judged in categories including career or education success, mentorship/leadership, and civic/philanthropic activities. Over the next several weeks, KLEM will highlight each recipient and their contributions to the community on KLEM Radio and on our Facebook page.
Sponsors of the Community Champions program include Primebank, The Sitzmann Real Estate Team, Wells Enterprises, Floyd Valley Healthcare, Hy-Vee, Meschers Clothing, and Kemps Dairy.
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Northwest Iowa Community College purchases building for Marcus regional center
Northwest Iowa Community College, based in Sheldon, has successfully purchased a building in Marcus that will serve as the future home of the Marcus Regional Center and Career Academy.
The facility is the former Hometown Guesthouse hotel, located along Highway 3 on the south side of Marcus. With the property now secured, the College will begin the planning, design, and necessary renovations to prepare the facility for its new educational purpose. The Center will offer high-demand pathways in education, welding, healthcare, and design technology, giving students the opportunity to earn valuable credentials and to gain hands-on learning experience.
The initiative is supported by a $1 million Career Academy Incentive Fund (CAIF) grant from the State of Iowa, and builds on the early success of the College’s Career Academy in Sheldon and the Sioux Center Regional Center. The Marcus facility is expected to open for students in the fall of 2027.
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Fire-Rescue shares February reports
Le Mars Fire-Rescue answered 160 calls for service during the month of February, according to their monthly report.
The department responded to 91 9-1-1 calls within Le Mars and the surrounding area. 12 investigation calls were answered, 11 special operation calls were received, and 4 requests for services were made to the department. 11 all staff Fire-Rescue calls were made in total.
During February, the department swore in two new members prior to a Le Mars city council meeting, remodeled a bathroom in Station #1 by adding a shower and washing machine, and did ventilator training with paramedics. Work on the department’s annual awards banquet continued, which will take place on March 28th.
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Creighton survey: Tariffs are hurting agriculture, manufacturing
A survey of manufacturing supply managers in Iowa and eight other Midwestern states finds the tariffs enacted by President Trump last year are causing wide-reaching financial troubles for many American companies. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says even though the nation’s highest court struck down the president’s tariffs in late February, the damage is already done. Plus, Goss says Trump’s response will only continue making things worse.
The president initially enacted the tariffs on dozens of countries, saying they would help to level the playing field for U-S companies to compete, but Goss says it’s clear the move had the opposite effect.
Goss says the monthly survey showed a sharp upturn in new February orders, which pushed the overall economic index for Iowa and for the region into solid growth territory, though he says difficulties persist.
The report says Iowa exported $13.6 billion of manufactured goods for all of last year, compared to $15.0 billion for 2024, for a 9.3% decline. Likewise, Iowa’s importation of manufactured goods fell from $11.6 billion in 2024 to $10.9 billion last year, for a 5.8% decline.
(Story via Radio Iowa)
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