“Bike Safety Fair” to be held next month
The Plymouth County Cyclists, in partnership with the Le Mars Area YMCA, will host a “Bike Safety Fair” next month for young riders, to take place in the YMCA’s parking lot.
Attendees will participate in bike-riding activities designed to help riders learn the rules of the road, build confidence, and practice real world biking skills in a safe, controlled environment. Riders will learn skills such as proper hand signals for turning and stopping, navigating intersections and obstacles, and basic traffic rules. Bicycle inspections, helmet fitting, and free giveaways will be also available for attendees, as well as the chance to register bikes with the Le Mars Police Department.
The fair is put on by the Plymouth County Cyclists and the Le Mars Area YMCA in partnership with Bike Central, the Le Mars Police Department, and the Optimist Club. The “Bike Safety Fair” will take place on Thursday, May 14th from 4:30-6:30pm.
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Le Mars man pleads not guilty to child exploitation, grooming charges
A Le Mars man that was arrested in a sting operation earlier this month has pleaded not guilty to charges of child exploitation and grooming.
22-year-old Jorden Lee Berkenpas was taken into custody by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, April 3rd, and charged with one count each of sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class B felony, and grooming, a Class D felony. Along with the not guilty plea, Berkenpas has waived his right to a speedy trial. His jury trial is currently scheduled to start on Tuesday, September 1st in Sioux County District Court.
According to authorities and court documents, Berkenpas had allegedly been engaging in explicit conversations with an undercover Deputy posing as a 15-year-old juvenile female over the course of several weeks. Berkenpas was taken to the Sioux County Jail, but was released after posting $25,000 bond.
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Violins of Hope help teach tolerance to students
Nearly 200 eighth-grade students heard the Sioux City Symphony perform “Violins of Hope” Wednesday on restored violins from Holocaust victims of World War Two. Jerry Weiner organized the event as part of Tolerance Week activities.
Weiner says each of the violins were tracked back to their owners, and each has a story.
All of the violins have been played by musicians all over the world, except for one that is kept without strings.
The Sioux City Symphony played a free concert on the violins Wednesday night at the Orpheum Theatre for the public and the violins were played before that at the Holocaust Rails exhibit at the Sioux City Railroad Museum.
(Story via KSCJ)
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