Dr. Dan Bowers named a LCSD Distinguished Alumni
A 1969 graduate of Le Mars Community High School has been named the LCSD 2026 Distinguished Alumni. The Le Mars Community School District Alumni Association and Foundation boards have announced that Dr. Dan Bowers will be honored with this award at the foundation’s annual banquet on April 15th.
Dr. Bowers graduated from Stanford University in 1973 and earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa in 1977. His residency in family practice was completed at the University of Minnesota in 1980. He joined a small family practice in Como Park, Minnesota and continued to teach at the University of Minnesota Medical School. During that time, he began seeing and treating those affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In 1989, he moved to California and joined the Pacific Oaks Medical Group, the largest private practice in the country specializing in HIV.
Dr. Bowers moved to New York City in 2005, working in a private medical clinic and later joining the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. Bowers has a love for singing which started in his high school days in Le Mars.
He continues to perform with the Choral Society of Grace Church, a 175-voice ensemble. He told KLEM that he was surprised to hear the news of the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Bowers and his husband have a son and live in New York City. He retired in 2022.
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Not guilty plea entered in Plymouth County child endangerment, animal neglect case
A Le Mars man has pled not guilty to 24 counts of child endangerment and animal neglect. 53-year-old Rick Reifenrath entered the pleas on Friday ahead of his arraignment that was scheduled for yesterday, while also waiving his right to a speedy trial. No trial date has been set as of Monday.
Reifenrath was taken into custody on January 16th during a traffic stop, when authorities learned he had several valid warrants for his arrest. Reifenrath is facing 3 counts of child endangerment, 1 count of child endangerment with injury, 19 counts of animal neglect, and 1 count of animal neglect with injury. The arrest was in relation to a September search by authorities of a Plymouth County property, after reports of unsafe living conditions for three children and numerous dogs.
Court documents allege that Reifenrath failed to provide basic nutrition, water, sanitary conditions, and ventilated shelter to at least 20 dogs, with Reifenrath neglecting to provide veterinary care to one dog. The child endangerment charges involved actions against three children from July 1st to September 17th, 2025. During a search of the property on September 23rd, the children were removed by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, and 111 dogs were rescued by the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and the Siouxland Humane Society.
Reifenrath is currently free after posting $10,000 bond back on January 20th.
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Plymouth County Sheriff’s move over project results in stops, violations
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic project focusing on enforcing Iowa’s move over law last Friday. The project took place on US Highway 75 between Le Mars and Merrill between 3pm and 5pm, and resulted in 43 traffic stops.
Alongside violations of the move over law, 6 drivers failed to provide insurance, 3 drivers did not have a driver’s license, and 2 drivers were pulled over for speeding. 1 car was found to have an open container of alcohol inside, and another car had an underage passenger in possession of tobacco.
Iowa law requires motorists to change lanes or slow down when approaching a stationary vehicle with their flashing lights activated. This applies to any vehicle, including emergency and passenger vehicles. Violating the move over law will result in a fine of $135; if a violation caused property damage or injury, the violator’s driver’s license could be suspended for up to a year.
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