Happy Thanksgiving
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Le Mars area residents gathered in thankfulness for an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Worship Service. Thanksgiving stories opened with Adam Bates who is a 17-year-old member of Le Mars Church of Christ.
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Mike Van Otterloo of Calvin Christian Reformed Church was thankful for friends, family, football, fun, food, forgiveness, fitness, fellowship, finances and freedom.
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Kent Schwiesow of Presbyterian United Church of Christ expressed gratitude to his wife, Pam, his pastor, Janis Christensen, and his church. In speaking of gratitude for God’s guidance during his treatment for cancer, Schwiesow urged gratitude toward others.
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Paul Gengler of St. James Catholic Church drew on Bible verses in the book of Matthew and a question Jesus answered.
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The Le Mars Area Ministerial Association administers the Transients’ Fund for those who are in need of a meal, gas or temporary lodging while traveling through Le Mars. The offering for the Thanksgiving worship service at St. John’s Lutheran Church Sunday replenished the Transients’ Fund. The service will be broadcast on KLEM 1410 AM and 96.9 FM at 1 p.m. today (Thursday)
Family collects memories to send to son in on active duty
(ORANGE CITY) Troop C of the 113th Cavalry left for Afghanistan November 11th…Veterans Day. Families and friends of the soldiers who are now overseas, face the upcoming holidays with a piece missing.
Matthew Dysktra of Orange City, is one of those missing pieces. His parents, Mark and Deb Dykstra, also of Orange City say that when the 113th left the states, they didn’t really say goodbye to Matthew.
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Not being a military family, the Dykstras said that Veterans Day brought on a different set of emotions for them this year.
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Deb Dykstra says while he was at training camp they would hear from Matt by phone at least once a week, but now with the 10 hour time difference, they’re expecting fewer calls. They plan to always have their cell phones ready.
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Mark and Deb Dykstra aren’t sure yet what Christmas will bring for their family. Do they celebrate? Do they wait till Matt comes home? They just don’t know. But they do have a plan for Thanksgiving.
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The Dykstras say there is talk of a two- week leave sometime over the next 11 months for the 113th Cavalry. Their final return is expected in early fall 2011. (Angela Drake, KLEM News)
Tulip Festival is “top event” for 2011
(ORANGE CITY)–An honor valued by staff and volunteers who plan an annual northwest Iowa celebration is being awarded for a third time.
The American Bus Association selected the Orange City Tulip Festival as one of the top 100 events in North America for 2011.
Being included on the list means the Tulip Festival is part of a “Destinations” magazine specialty publication.
The American Bus Association previously awarded the Tulip Festival the honor in 2008 and 1991.
Tulip Festival coordinator Rachel Meekma says the award affirms that a bus tour to the Tulip Festival is convenient, affordable and entertaining.
One overnight visit by a motorcoach group can leave from five-thousand dollars to more than 13-thousand dollars in a local destination’s economy.
Car collides with farm tractor southeast of Westfield
(AKRON)—Two people were injured when a vehicle struck a farm tractor about seven miles southeast of Westfield Tuesday night.
According to the Plymouth County Sheriff’s report, 55-year-old George Rehder of Hawarden was driving north on county road K-18.
Rehder was behind a farm tractor being operated by 28-year-old Clint Hughes of rural Westfield. Rehder told authorities by the time he realized the tractor was directly in front of him, it was too late too brake or take evasive action.
Rehder was taken by Akron Ambulance to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City for non-incapacitating injuries. Hughes was injured but his injuries were not incapacitating.
The accident was reported at the intersection of K-18 North and Echo Road around seven Tuesday night.
Dreckman Memorial helps families with tuition
(LE MARS)–Five families may begin this Thanksgiving holiday with a new sense of gratitude.
The family of a Gehlen Catholic graduate is paying the December tuition through the Tim Dreckman Memorial Fund.
Seventeen families submitted applications for the program. Barb Dreckman and her family selected five families to assist who have a total of 16 children.
The family continues to accept donations to the Tim Dreckman Memorial fund. In addition to tuition, the family’s memorial fund purchased school supplies last August to welcome children of new families enrolling at Gehlen Catholic.
The Memorial Fund was established in December of last year.
Aurelia turkey grower provides birds for pardons
(AURELIA) Governor Culver Wednesday pardoned two Iowa turkeys in ceremony with a little different twist.
A male turkey named Giblet and a female named Feathers were turned loose inside the state capitol building as freezing rain forced the pardoning ceremony indoors. It’s an annual event the Culver and other Iowa governors have held for years. Culver said it might be the first time the pardoning has been held indoors. He then read the proclamation releasing the turkeys.
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(as he says) “I Chester J. Culver, the governor of the great state of Iowa, do hereby pardon our two turkeys that are with us, Feathers and Giblet, today,” Culver read. The turkeys were well behaved, and walked around close to their cages in the capitol rotunda before and during the ceremony. They also refused to gobble for the microphone. Grower Cody Simonsen of Aurelia in western Iowa says they didn’t have any special training for the event. Simonsen raises 150-thousand turkeys annually in an operation with his brother.
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(as he says) He says turkey production has been great for them, with the high grain prices having some impact on costs, but otherwise he says they are “doing great.” You are more likely to find one of Simonsen’s turkeys in a sandwich than in a traditional Thanksgiving day meal.
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(as he says) He says the majority of their turkeys get processed into lunch meat for the Jimmy Johns fast food restaurants. It’s estimated Iowa will produce 10-and-a-half million turkeys this year — 9th in the nation. (News report by Radio Iowa)
Spencer man indicted on child pornography charges
(SIOUX CITY)–A Spencer man is accused of receiving and possessing child pornography.
Twenty-six-year-old Justin Funck was indicted in federal court in Sioux City on Tuesday.
According to the U-S Attorney’s office, Funck received and possessed child pornography between October of 2008 and May of last year.
A judge ordered Funck to be held without bond. His next court date is for trial on the charges on January 3rd.
Estherville woman wins appeal
(DES MOINES)–The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling that threw out evidence in an Estherville woman’s drunk driving conviction.
A Estherville police officer saw a car making a u-turn on Central Avenue just before one a-m on May 25th of 2008. The officer pulled over the car as Estherville has an ordinance that prohibits u-turns on that street. The officer suspected the driver of the car, Donna Louwrens, was drunk and she did fail an alcohol breath test. Louwrens asked that the breath test be thrown out as she said the officer had no probable cause to stop her car.
Her defense stated that state law requires cities to post signs indicating that u-turns are prohibited before the ordinance can take effect and there were no such signs in Ethsterville. The district court ruled it was a mistake of law and could not provide probable cause for the traffic stop and agreed to Louwrens’ motion to suppress the breath test. The Iowa Supreme Court ruling said the court record provided no testimony from the officer to show the issue was anything but a mistake of law and said such a mistake could not be used as probable cause for the traffic stop. (News report by Radio Iowa)
Jurors won’t need to report
(LE MARS)–Plymouth County Jurors do not need to report on Tuesday, November 30th. The clerk of court thanks the jurors for their availability during the month of November. They will not be asked to report again for November.
Happy Thanksgiving; business office is closed
(LE MARS)–The KLEM business office is closed today, Thanksgiving. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. The KLEM Radio Auction will be broadcast beginning at 8:05 a.m. Black Friday, November 26, 2010 on KLEM 1410 AM and 96.9 FM.
For Road Surface Condition Reports:
**In Iowa
511
www.511ia.org
**In Minnesota
(800)542-0220 or 511
www.511mn.org
**In South Dakota
(866)697-3511 or 511
www.sddot.com
**In Nebraska
(800) 906-9069 or 511
www.511nebraska.org
**In Missouri
(800)222-6400
www.modot.mo.gov
**In Illinois
(800)452-4368
www.gettingarondillinois.com
“In Wisconsin
511
www.511wi.gov
Source: Iowa State Patrol
Freezing rain, sleet causes crashes around Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Dozens of accidents are being reported across the state as freezing rain and drizzle leaves roads with a light glaze.
In central Iowa, at least 40 accidents were reported in Des Moines and Polk County within an hour Wednesday morning after a band of sleet and freezing drizzle moved across the area. Most are fender benders with a couple of rollover crashes also being reported.
The Polk County sheriff’s office says a serious crash occurred on Iowa Highway 17 north of Grimes. The Iowa State Patrol is also reporting several accidents.
The Iowa Department of Transportation says many northern Iowa roads are covered with ice. Travel isn’t advised on I-35 north from U.S. Highway 20 to the Minnesota border.
Many northern Iowa schools also closed early because of the weather.
New trial ordered in Iowa drunken driving case
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The Iowa Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of drunken driving because police didn’t let him call his mother.
The court ruled Wednesday that police violated Scott Hicks’ right to a phone call after his 2008 arrest in Maquoketa.
Court records show Hicks smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and failed sobriety tests when he was stopped by police.
At the police station, Hicks asked to call his mother but the court says the officer continued with the booking process, violating Hicks’ right to a phone call
Hicks’ attorney, David Lemanski, says he’s pleased with the decision. Iowa attorney general spokesman Geoff Greenwood says the ruling changes the law on defendants’ right to phone calls and the state will follow the ruling.
Filmmaker pleads guilty in Iowa tax credit scandal
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A Minnesota filmmaker charged with theft for allegedly mishandling tax incentives to lure movie makers to Iowa has pleaded guilty.
Matthias Saunders, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty earlier this week to first-degree theft, a charge that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The Des Moines Register is reporting that Saunders agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in their case against another filmmaker and the former director of the Iowa Film Office.
His plea means two of the three filmmakers charged in the case have agreed to cooperate with the Iowa attorney general’s office. Charges against Zachary LeBeau were dropped last month in exchange for his cooperation and testimony.
Trial for the third filmmaker, Wendy Runge, of St. Louis Park, Minn., is scheduled for Jan.10.
Jury finds Iowa man guilty in 2 deaths, arson
CLINTON, Iowa (AP) A jury has found a Clinton man guilty in the deaths of a 22-year-old woman and her two-year-old son, whose bodies were found in a fire-damaged apartment last year.
The Clinton Herald reports the jury on Wednesday found Dameon Tucker guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Angel Herman and her son, Cyrus Shoup and first-degree arson.
The 23-year-old Tucker, who had denied involvement in their deaths, faces a sentence of life in prison without parole.
The jury had started to deliberate on Tuesday after hearing several days of testimony.
Police say Tucker beat Herman to death, slashed her throat and then used alcohol to set her body on fire. Her son had been sleeping in the apartment and died of smoke inhalation.
2 fired Clinton officials to be reinstated
CLINTON, Iowa (AP) A commission has ordered the city of Clinton to reinstate its former fire chief and emergency medical service director, who were fired after the city agreed to pay millions to settle a lawsuit over billing irregularities.
The Clinton Civil Service Commission on Tuesday ruled Mark Regenwether and Andrew McGovern should be reinstated, with back pay, to civil service jobs.
Regenwether, the former fire chief, could receive another job with the department since the chief’s position is not in the civil service.
The Clinton Herald reports that a paramedic filed a lawsuit in 2008 alleging the city was overbilling Medicare and Medicaid. The city in September agreed to pay $4.5 million to the federal government over the next 10 years and then fired Regenwether and McGovern, who appealed their dismissals.
Clear Lake door maker to close shift, lay off 60
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) A storm door manufacturer has announced it will close its second shift at its factory in Clear Lake and eliminate 60 jobs because of the lagging economy.
The Globe Gazette in Mason City reports that Brookings, S.D.-based-Larson Manufacturing will shut down the shift at the northern Iowa plant indefinitely on Jan. 3. The plant currently employs 210 people.
Larson Chief Executive Officer Jeff Rief says the economy has not shown clear signs of improving and the downsizing is needed to reduce production to meet decreased demand.
The company says it will work with state and local officials and area agencies to help the affected employees.
Des Moines zoo announces hatching of rare pigeon
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Officials with the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines are announcing the hatching of a rare pink pigeon.
The chick hatched in mid-October and the zoo announced Wednesday that the bird has left its nest and can occasionally be seen flying in the Discovery Center Aviary. After about a year, the bird will turn a pinkish color as its adult feathers grow.
The zoo says only about 500 of the birds exist in the wild, and another 84 are in zoos. The pigeon comes from the Mauritius Islands off the coast of Africa.
The Blank Park Zoo acquired a pair in early 2009.
Animal curator Chad Comer says he hopes the pair will produce many more chicks.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Submit your news release, confidential news tip or news idea by email klemnews@lemarscomm or by calling 712.546.4121 or 712.546.9672 fax.
