Monthly Northwest Iowa Genealogical Society meeting to cover famous Iowan Grant Wood
The monthly meeting of the Northwest Iowa Genealogical Society will take place next Saturday, July 18th, where society president Iris Hemmingson will give a program on famous Iowa painter Grant Wood.
Wood is best known for his iconic painting from 1930, American Gothic. Portraying a stoic Iowa farm couple, complete with rick rack trimmed apron, overalls and pitchfork, it has been the subject of numerous parodies over the years. Additionally, Wood’s landscapes featuring the Hawkeye State’s rolling hills and fields with his distinctive style continue to mesmerize devotees of his works.
Hemmingson developed a keen interest in the applied arts while studying at Iowa State University, and became immersed by Woods’ many works after being struck by his wall-size murals at the school. Hemmingson moved to Le Mars with her husband Les in 1965 and says she’s “enjoyed every minute of the privilege” of being the society’s president.
The public is invited to attend this event, and there is no charge for admission. The meeting will take place in the fourth floor Study Hall of the Plymouth County Historical Museum next Saturday, July 18th at 1:30pm.
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Fire-Rescue shares June reports
Le Mars Fire-Rescue answered 151 calls for service during the month of June, according to their monthly report.
The department responded to 68 9-1-1 calls within Le Mars and the surrounding area. 16 investigation calls were answered, 31 special operation calls were received, and 9 requests for services were made to the department. 9 all staff Fire-Rescue calls were made in total.
During June, Chief Dave Schipper received the Community Leader Award from SIMPCO thanks to his work with the Local Emergency Planning Commission. The department also hired two new full-time staff members, received grants for new EMS equipment and AED’s, assisted with the Frozen Fun Run 5K, and participated in the annual Ice Cream Days parade.
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Up to a foot of rain fell in parts of Iowa over the holiday weekend
Some Iowans are still dealing with the aftermath of flash flooding in central and eastern Iowa that struck during the Independence Day holiday period. Grundy Center got five-and-a-half inches of rain Thursday night into Friday morning — and the National Weather Service estimates an area that includes Ankeny and Ames got between eight and 12 inches of rain from July 2nd through the morning of the 4th. Andrew Ansorge is a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Johnston.
On Friday night, 10-thousand MidAmerican customers in the Quad Cities lost power when a storm rolled through and Saturday’s 4th of July fireworks show along the Mississippi River was cancelled. About 400 residents of a Des Moines apartment complex who were evacuated due to Thursday night flooding won’t be able to return to their homes for weeks, or in some cases several months, due to the damage. Ansorge says there is some relief in the upcoming forecast.
The National Weather Service says there’s a chance for thunderstorms in western Iowa tonight, while showers are likely later in the week here in northwest Iowa.
(Story via Radio Iowa)
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