Le Mars Municipal Band announces new music director, schedule for summer 2026
The Le Mars Municipal Band announced this week that Dr. Christopher Brandt will become the group’s next musical director.
A native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Dr. Brandt brings a wealth of experience as an educator, conductor, and performer. He currently serves as Director of Instrumental Activities at Morningside University and is the Music Director of the All-America Concert Band, Siouxland Wind Ensemble, and Siouxland Youth Wind Ensemble. He is also a former instrumentalist and associate conductor with the 451st Army Band.
A press release from the Band states that “Dr. Brandt is widely recognized for his commitment to musical excellence and community engagement, and we are excited to welcome his vision and leadership to our ensemble.” Dr. Brandt will replace former musical director Jerry Bertrand, who retired last July after 38 years at the helm of the Municipal Band.
The Band has also announced dates for their summer 2026 concerts, starting with a special performance on Memorial Day, May 25th, at the Plymouth County Courthouse, and concluding with a performance on July 15th. All concerts other than the Memorial Day concert will take place at Foster Park. Full list of performances:
– May 25 – Memorial Day Ceremony (Plymouth County Courthouse)
– June 10 – Under the Stars | 7:30 PM
– June 17 – From Far Away Lands | 7:30 PM
– June 24 – Under the Big Top | 7:30 PM
– July 4 – America 250 | 7:30 PM
– July 8 – Bon Voyage | 7:30 PM
– July 15 – Sea to Shining Sea | 7:30 PM
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Le Mars spring clean-up details announced
The city of Le Mars’ spring clean-up will take place next month on May 9th, and from May 11th-15th.
The city is declaring an amnesty from the landfill disposal cost, so up to 1,000 pounds per household of certain items can be delivered to the Plymouth County Landfill at no cost. Eligible items include furniture, wooden items, and metal items. Couches, chairs, mattresses, scrap lumber, bikes, mowers, bed frames, and similar items can be brought to the landfill for free.
Items not included in the amnesty include normal household garbage, TV’s, hazardous waste, appliances, tires, and recyclable goods. A full list of items not included in the amnesty is available on the city’s website.
The landfill will be open on Saturday, May 9th from 8am until noon, and from May 11th-15th from 8am until 4pm.
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Iowa’s snow plow drivers rank the winter of 2025-26
Snow plows, salt spreaders, brine sprayers and other machinery the Iowa DOT uses to keep our roads clear is being cleaned up and put away. Winter operations administrator Craig Bargfrede says the winter season officially ends for the DOT on April 15th. Bargfrede says this just-concluding winter was pretty mild overall, as they’ve created a Winter Severity Index, based on things like storm duration and amount of precipitation, whether it’s snow, sleet, rain or ice.
A less severe winter means giant stacks of leftover sand and salt, which can be saved for next winter. While the winter of 2025-26 wasn’t as severe as in past years, Bargfrede says certain events in the past few months truly do stand out.
Bargfrede says the DOT consulted with the Iowa State Patrol and it was decided to shut down I-35 preemptively, based on the forecast and before the worst of the storm hit. He says the results were very favorable in the corridor with fewer crashes and fewer stranded vehicles.
(Story via Radio Iowa)
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