Local sixth graders participate in American Legion Poppy Poster contest
Starting the week of May 14th, windows along Le Mars’ business district will be decorated with patriotic posters created by sixth grade students from Gehlen Catholic School, as part of the Le Mars post of the American Legion’s Poppy Poster contest.
35 different entries were made in the contest, with Legion Auxiliary members judging the posters based on appeal, artistic ability, and neatness. Congratulations to Harper Gries, who came in first place and was the overall winner of the contest! Savannah Hitchler also came in first place, while Kalen Paulson and Ady Blair came in second place, and Carson Loutsch and Bryce Thoms came in third place. Gries’ winning poster is currently in competition at the district contest.
Poppy Day, to be celebrated this year on May 14th, is a day designated to honor the men and women who have served or are serving in the United States armed forces. Since 1921, the poppy has been the memorial flower of the American Legion Auxiliary. It was on the French battlefields that many poppies bloomed; it was here that it became a symbol of the tragedy of war and renewal of life following World War I. According to the American Legion, the red on the flower stands for courage and the green leaves remind us of the torn bodies.
Gehlen Catholic School said in a press release that the students were glad to show their support and express their gratitude to all veterans for the sacrifices they made and continue to make for our country.
++++++++++
Marcus daycare accused of child endangerment
A Marcus woman has been arrested on child endangerment charges following an alleged incident of shaken baby syndrome at a in-home daycare she operated. 57-year-old Teresa Kay McDaniel was taken into custody earlier this month after a warrant for her arrest was issued on April 9th, and has been charged with one count of child endangerment causing serious injury, a Class C felony.
According to the complaint, a 2-month-old boy was dropped off at McDaniel’s home on December 7th, 2023. After being picked up later in the day, the baby showed signs of shaken baby syndrome and was first taken to the Cherokee Regional Medical Center, then transferred to the Avera Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls. The baby had suffered severe injuries including seizures, hemorrhages, and internal bleeding in the brain, with doctors opinioning the injuries were consistent with shaken baby syndrome.
McDaniel had denied wrongdoing but admitted to being the only adult caring for the baby at the time the injuries occurred. The parents of the baby, Sean and Bailey White of Cleghorn, filed a civil suit against McDaniel in July of 2025 alleging negligence, assault, fraudulent misrepresentation, and loss of consortium. The family is demanding a trial, which will take place on Tuesday, October 27th at 9:30am in Cherokee County District Court.
McDaniel was taken to the Cherokee County Jail on the child endangerment charge, but is currently free after posting $10,000 bond on April 10th.
++++++++++
Temporary peak demand limits for regional water system in northwest Iowa
A major regional water project serving northwest Iowa communities is moving closer to completion, but operators say there will still be limited water supplies during peak demand. The third phase of an expansion of the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System is about halfway done. Executive Director Troy Larson says the system won’t be able to deliver 100 percent of every community’s reserved water at the same time until it’s done.
Larson says that hasn’t been an issue so far, but the expansion will improve long-term reliability.
The project will cost over 700 million dollars, with about 80 percent funded by the federal government and the rest split between the states and local member communities. Once complete, the project will allow communities to fully access their reserved water supply. The system serves Sioux Center, Sheldon and Sibley and 17 other communities across northwest Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota.
(Story via Radio Iowa)
++++++++++
