Plymouth County declares October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors has declared October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The proclamation was made during the Board’s regular meeting yesterday.
Stephanie Pickinpaugh, executive director of local non-profit Safe Place, spoke to the board about the importance of honoring domestic violence survivors.
Chairman Don Kass made the proclaimation shortly afterwards. The Board discussed other agenda items during yesterday’s meeting, including setting a date and time for a public hearing on a proposed budget amendment for fiscal year 2025-26. The next Board meeting is currently scheduled for next Tuesday.
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Le Mars City Council approves new solid waste contract, Centennial Building demolition contract
The Le Mars City Council met yesterday afternoon to discuss several agenda items, including approving a new solid waste collection contract, and selecting a bid for the demolition of the Centennial Building.
With the city’s current solid waste collection contract expiring at the end of the year, the Public Utilities Committee and the city negotiated a renewal with Van’s Sanitation. The new contract will last three years, with the new per unit rate set at $8.25 a month. This figure represents an increase from the current contract, but the new contract’s term is shorter and includes yearly reviews.
The Council also approved a bid from from DeCarlo Demolition, based out of Des Moines, for the demolition of the Centennial Building for $197,275. Other agenda items the Council discussed included approving services agreements with ISG for the extension of Central Avenue and renovations to Municipal Park, and approving a new liquor license for The Bar downtown.
Two public hearings for the Southwest Commercial Development Project and the 18th Street SE Drainage Repair Project will be held during the Council’s next meeting on October 21st.
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Schuster Co. vice president elected Iowa Motor Truck Association chairman
The Iowa Motor Truck Association has elected Jeff Arens, from Le Mars, as their new chairman.
Arens, who is the vice president of Schuster Company, has more than 20 years of experience in the trucking industry. He officially took on the position during the IMTA’s annual conference in Des Moines.
In a press release, Arens says his focus will continue to be on advocacy, stating that the IMTA “continues to be an essential voice for the industry” and that “IMTA members are the true leaders who keep Iowa trucking moving forward.”
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Democratic U.S. House candidate to speak in Le Mars
A candidate looking to represent Iowa’s 4th congressional district will be speaking in Le Mars this month.
Former Iowa state representative Dave Dawson will speak at the monthly meeting of the Plymouth County Democrats on Monday, October 20th. The meeting will take place at Lally’s Eastside Restaurant in Le Mars, with dinner starting at 5:30 p.m., and Dawson speaking at 6 p.m..
Dawson is one of seven candidates looking to represent Iowa’s 4th congressional district; incumbent Randy Feenstra will run for governor in 2026. Dawson previously spoke in Le Mars during a dinner held by Northwest Iowa Democrats in September, alongside other candidates.
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