Atmospheric Science

Agri-Business Luncheon morning program features area biotech company (03/05/10)
The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce 16th Annual Agri-Business Luncheon will feature a new biotectechnology company based in Sioux Center. The Agri-Business Luncheon is Tuesday, March 16, at the Le Mars Convention Center, upper level. The morning begins with a 9:30 a.m. Chamber Coffee hosted by the Plymouth County Farm Bureau...

Chamber's Agri-Business Luncheon is March 16 (02/18/10)
The 2010 Chamber Agri-Business Luncheon featured speaker will be Elwynn Taylor, professor of ag meteorology at Iowa State University. The luncheon will be held Tuesday, March 16, at the Le Mars Convention Center, upper level. The day's activities will start with a Chamber Coffee hosted by Plymouth County Farm Bureau from 9:30-10:30 a.m...

Teaming at LCS: What it is and what it will mean to lose it (02/16/10)
A concept that teams middle school teachers at Le Mars Community Schools may be in its last year, due to budget cuts. In 2002, the LCS middle school teachers switched to "teaming." That means the students are divided into teams and each team has its own set of teachers: one each for math, one each for science, etc...

Winter predictions: Plenty of snow, ice ahead (01/25/10)
"Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice..." Le Mars readers of Robert Frost's famous poem might lean toward the latter with the latest bout of freezing rain, ice and blowing snow glazing the region. The predictions for February and March weather seem to pile on more evidence...

Grade school students discover culture through music (01/15/10)
Thursday, Le Mars Community Schools elementary students listened to Lauren Pelon, of Red Wing, Minn., as she played a variety of musical sounds from many countries and cultures. Pelon's collection ranges from the ancient bone flute, gemshorn and lyre to a modern electric wind instrument and vocal processor...

Seven more teacher resignations OK'd at LCS (01/12/10)
The Le Mars Community Schools Board of Education approved seven teacher resignations at its Monday meeting. This brings the total number of resignations to 15 at the end of the 2009-10 school year. Three resignations were listed on the board's agenda Monday, and four more were added at the meeting...

The stimulus dollars and you: Have you been touched by recovery money? (12/10/09)
More than $8 million worth of federal stimulus dollars has been quietly sliding through the IV of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and into Plymouth County's veins. That injection meant some schools could keep a teacher one more year. It meant replacing a worn bridge and repaving some roads. It meant some families will have money to weatherize their homes...

Museum to host 'Tree Skirts and Tea' (12/04/09)
After completing a record-breaking "Great Garage and Bake Sale," the Plymouth County Historical Museum is preparing for its annual holiday open house, "Tree Skirts and Tea," Sunday. The open house at the countywide museum in Le Mars will feature a program at 2 p.m. in the Music Room about historic Christmas tree skirts...

LCS, Gehlen students present holiday music concerts (12/01/09)

Prehistoric people leave footprints in Loess Hills (11/12/09)
Eight hundred to 900 years ago the first corn farmers dwelled in the northern Loess Hills. Evidence of the prehistoric Mill Creek native people, as archaeologists have deemed them, and their villages and cemetery sites have been found in parts of Plymouth County and northwest Iowa...

Reception to look into prehistoric village buried in Plymouth County (11/06/09)
This year, researchers and archaeologists examined a buried village site in Plymouth County dating from the period A.D. 1100-1250 built by early Native American farmers. That site, 8 feet below a western Plymouth County cornfield, and other archaological discoveries will be discussed at a public reception with the University of Iowa's Office of the State Archaeologist...

School's wind turbine's energy production on hold (10/21/09)
Blades the length of almost two school buses from a wind turbine owned by Akron-Westfield School District rest on the ground while repairs are underway. The turbine's gearbox was also brought down using a tall crane to reach the top of the 11-year-old structure's 165-foot-tall tower, which is much higher than people realize, said Dwain Wilmot, A-W technology coordinator...

Station in the sky: How to view the ISS (09/24/09)
Even though it is flying 220 miles above our heads at the speed of 17,000 miles per hour, the International Space Station can still be seen from earth by the naked eye. In fact, through Sunday the International Space Station (ISS) can be seen from our backyards in Le Mars and the surrounding area...

Judge emphasizes design, gain in swine winners (08/03/09)
The term "design" came into play frequently Saturday as exhibitors in the Fair's Swine Show maneuvered their entries before Show Judge Dr. Tom Baas, Ph.D. Baas, a professor in the Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, explained that while the design of a pig "has always been very important" the design of the pig -- its structure and "how it's put together" -- is receiving added emphasis today in light of modern-day options for pork production...

Small portions, big tastes at fair's cooking school (07/29/09)
Ready to try something new in your kitchen and maybe win a prize? Then come out to the cooking school at the Plymouth County Fair at 7 p.m. Friday presented by Wells' Dairy, Inc. culinologist John Kennedy II. What is a culinologist? "It's part chef, part food science," explained Kennedy, admitting he has "one of the coolest jobs in the world."...

Filmmaker turns Westfield into the Bible's ancient lands (07/22/09)
Last week, Noah was cutting down trees near Westfield to build his ark. And David, not yet a king, was tending his sheep in a nearby pasture. It's not time travel, it's the makings of a movie. Rural Westfield native Josh Martyn was back in his neighborhood 5 miles south of Westfield to film scenes for "The Greatest Gift Ever," a 20-minute Christian film to be released before Christmas...

LCS class of '69 will hold reunion July 3 (06/30/09)
Has it been 40 years since the Le Mars Community High School class of 1969 graduated? Yes, it's been 40 years since the class of 1969 showed their success in NHS, academics, golf teams, music All-Staters, science, ag, languages and much more. Forty years since the moon landing and cultural school trips to Europe, college jobs and now kids and grandkids...

LCS board OKs gym doors, freeze superintendent's salary (06/10/09)
There will be new doors at the entrance of Carey Gymnasium this fall. The Le Mars Community School Board of Education conducted a bid opening and hearing on the project at the start of its Monday meeting. It also accepted the low bid of $61,000 from L & L Builders of Sioux City...

Seven LCS seniors recognized at Foundation Honors Banquet (04/22/09)
Seven Le Mars Community High School seniors, the top 5 percent of the graduating class of 2009, were recognized for academic excellence at the 14th Annual Foundation Honors Banquet April 17. Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt made the presentation of the students, who he said are not only outstanding students, but also involved in so many activities that make Le Mars Community, in his opinion, one of the the top high schools in the area...

LCS grad soars at NASA, retires after 38 years (04/21/09)
A man who started his journey in the math and science classrooms of Le Mars Community High School finished his career this month at the top of NASA's center for experimental flight research. Kevin Petersen, a 1969 LCS grad, retired from Dryden Flight Research Center as the director after serving nearly 38 years...

Rexwinkel is 2009 Iowa Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher of the Year (04/01/09)
A Le Mars Community Middle School teacher has been named the 2009 Iowa Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher of the Year. Lorene Rexwinkel received the honor at the 2009 Iowa Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (IAFSC) state meeting in Cedar Falls March 27...

Gehlen students earn first place in math contest (03/26/09)
Math. That's what earned a team of five sixth graders from Gehlen Catholic School a trip to Fort Dodge this May. Gehlen's sixth grade math team earned first place at the Area Education Agency (AEA) Math Competition in Sioux City Tuesday, advancing to the state contest in Fort Dodge May 1...

The science of triple fudge sundae and rocky road (03/16/09)
Seventh graders from Le Mars Community School had a whole new world of science opened to them Friday...inside a box of ice cream. More than 150 seventh graders visited Wells' Dairy's research and development labs for a taste of how science fits into frozen treats...

LCS board cuts $208,500, approves Cash Reserve Levy (03/10/09)
Decisions impacting students and district taxpayers were approved by the Le Mars Community School District Board of Education Monday night. The board approved a total of $208,500 in budget cuts and made the decision to implement the Cash Reserve Levy (CRL) to bring in $500,000 for the fiscal year 2010 budget...

Pheasants Forever to offer scholarship (02/24/09)
At the Pheasants Forever annual banquet April 4, a new $1,000 scholarship will be announced. The scholarship is open to Plymouth County graduating senior's with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. Applicants must be pursuing a career in conservation, natural resources, environmental education, conservation law enforcement, biology or related field...

Coaches earn recognition for 'Coaching Boys into Men' (02/23/09)
During last year's football and cross country season male athletes learned not only how to throw a ball or run a mile but how to respect girls. Le Mars Community Schools' Jim Boyd, head football coach and counselor, and Al Engebretson, head cross country middle and high school coach and a math teacher at LCMS, participated in a nationwide program "Coaching Boys into Men."...

Doctor recruitment efforts plow forward (01/22/09)
It's no secret. There is a shortage of family medical doctors in Le Mars. Medical Associates -- the local clinic -- and Floyd Valley Hospital are in the midst of recruiting at least two doctors to bring to Le Mars. "There are doctors on the schedule for the next couple of weeks to visit Le Mars; meet, greet, learn and explore Le Mars," said FVH Administrator Mike Donlin...

LCS students compete in national quilt block challenge (01/19/09)
Students in the textile arts class at Le Mars Community High School put their skills good use as they designed quilt square for the National Quilt Museum: Museum of the American Quilter's Society/Moda School Block Challenge Contest 2009. LCS family and consumer sciences instructor Rosemary Cronin obtained the entry information for the contest, based in Kentucky, and had the students put their creative energy to work in creating the 16-by-16-inch square blocks using the paper piecing method of construction.. ...

Bortschellers to attend Obama swear-in (01/12/09)
After Sen. Barack Obama was elected in the 44th president of the United States in November, Fred and Colleen Bortscheller of Le Mars knew they wanted to be present for the historic inauguration on January 20. "It's one of those 'where were you when' moments and we'll be able to say that we were there," said Colleen, a calculus teacher at Le Mars Community High School...

Schools prepare for Iowa Core Curriculum (01/06/09)
Action by the 2008 Iowa Legislature will have all schools in the state of Iowa following the Iowa Core Curriculum at the high school level starting in the 2012 school year. The Iowa Core Curriculum identifies essential concepts and skills for literacy, mathematics, science and social studies, as well as 21st century learning skills (civic literacy, financial literacy, technology literacy, health literacy and employability skills), that all students will be taught before they graduate from high school in Iowa.. ...

Le Mars pets will soon need to be collared with a new license (12/03/08)
Boxer, Bright-Eyes, Rover and Lily best be ready. Come Jan., 1 Le Mars dogs and cats over 6 months old will need a license and a metal identification tag. Le Mars City Council members gave a new city pet ordinance its final approval Tuesday with a 4-1 vote...

Kingsley rock hound's collection dates to prehistoric times (11/26/08)
Dr. Robert Powell fell in love with science as a boy. The Kingsley man later became a rock hound, someone interested in rocks, minerals and fossils. "In junior high I was interested in minerals, florescent rocks," Powell said. "I became fascinated with museums."...

Le Mars native earns an Emmy (11/03/08)
A Des Moines television station's newscast in October 2007 has won the station a Best Newscast Emmy and the 10 p.m. newscast had a touch of Le Mars. Former Le Mars resident and Le Mars Community High School graduate Jason Parkin, a meteorologist with KCCI-TV in Des Moines, was working the 10 p.m. Oct. 29 newscast and was one of several members to receive the Emmy award...

Students use five senses on area farm tour (09/23/08)
They came by the busload. Students from area schools experienced fun on the farm last week during the annual Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agricultural Tour. Children from Le Mars Community, Gehlen Catholic, Remsen-Union and Remsen St. Mary's had a chance to visit four farms to learn about agriculture in Plymouth County. The students were from the third or fourth grades, depending on which school they attend. They were divided into four groups that traveled from one farm to the next...

Hinton School Board steps closer to using eminent domain (09/22/08)
Last week Hinton School Board members moved forward to possibly try to obtain agricultural land through eminent domain by scheduling a public hearing in November. "It's a necessary step before we would be able to actually pursue the possible use of eminent domain," said Robert Held, Hinton School Board president...

Le Mars native to speak on behalf of National Education Association (09/19/08)
A Le Mars native who is now president of the National Education Association will be speaking in West Des Moines at the end of this month. Dennis Van Roekel, who was elected to the position in July, will be talking at an IowaPolitics.com forum about the November election and answering questions educational issues...

Cloudy weather may affect Perseid meteor shower show (08/08/08)
Weather conditions in the area may not be ideal when the Perseid meteor shower makes its big show during the evening and early morning hours of Aug. 11 and 12 in the local area. A look to the northeast sky on the late evening of Monday, Aug. 11 and the early hours of Tuesday, Aug. 12 will give area residents the best time to view the famous Perseid meteor shower at its peak. After the moon sets around 2 a.m., meteors should be more easily visible until dawn...

Feller's hard work yields promising future (06/05/08)
This is the third story in a series looking at what plans and dreams local members of the graduating class of 2008 hope to pursue. At 6:30 in the morning, most high school graduates are only concerned with one thing -- sleep. While they study the inside of their eyelids, Brandon Feller is hitting his alarm clock and getting dressed for a full day of work on the farm. ...

Teacher's actions credited with saving student's life (05/28/08)
Vicki Borchers saved 7-year-old Andrew Cummings life. That's what Andrew's parents, Colleen and Gary Cummings believe. When the Le Mars boy was admitted to St. Luke's Hospital in Sioux City May 19, Andrew's blood sugar had spiked into the 500s -- normal blood sugar levels are between 75 and 110...

LCS middle school principal hired (05/16/08)
The Le Mars Community Schools board of education approved the hiring of a new middle school assistant principal for the 2008-09 school year. Christopher Schmit, a middle school instructor at Waterloo, was recommended from the candidates interviewed for the position. He will replace Amy Johnson, who resigned the position this spring...

High-tech eye image machine way of keeping 4-H'ers honest (04/29/08)
A new retinal image machine that takes a picture of an animal's eye made identifying lambs easier as 4-H'ers prepared for this year's Plymouth County Fair. On Saturday about 46 4-H exhibitors brought their lambs to the fairgrounds to be identified, weighed and tagged...

Related subjects