Business

KCs phonothon tops $48,000 (09/04/08)
Plymouth County residents "answered the call" of Knights of Columbus members as the 29th annual KC Phonothon for Persons with Disabilities brought in more than $48,000 in donations Wednesday. Le Mars KC Phonothon chair Dennis Bollin reported a total of $48,467 was raised by the close of the phonothon at 9 p.m. Wednesday...

Convention and Visitors Bureau moves closer to reality (09/03/08)
Le Mars City Council members Tuesday gave their support to the concept of a local Convention and Visitors Bureau. Final approval of the new bureau is pending City Attorney Joe Flannery's legal review of the proposal. Angie Watson, chair of the Hotel/Motel Sales Tax Advisory Board, presented the board's goals for the bureau and said it would mean "more efficient" marketing and planning efforts on behalf of many different groups in Le Mars, a "one-stop shop" for visitors...

No jail time required for Kingsley funeral director (09/03/08)
A Kingsley funeral director will have to pay nearly $180,000 in restitution to a former business partner for money he admitted to stealing, but he faces no prison time. Mark Francis Rohde, 49, who pleaded guilty in August to stealing about $179,000 and to tax evasion, both felonies, was sentenced Tuesday in Plymouth County District Court...

Council delays action on bumpy downtown intersection (09/03/08)
"We've cut $700,000 from the budget, reduced services, cut back on books for the library, and eliminated some mowing of city properties, and cut people's jobs. If we don't have the money, we don't do the project," Le Mars City Councilman Rex Knapp said Tuesday referring to repair of the Plymouth Street/Central Avenue intersection...

Farm Bureau honors Conley with Service to Ag award (09/03/08)
A longtime Le Mars area veterinarian was honored with the Plymouth County Farm Bureau's "Service to Agriculture" award Tuesday evening at the organization's 90th annual meeting. Dr. John Conley and his wife, Barbara, of rural Merrill, were called to the stage by President Mark Loutsch, who explained the award is given to those in Plymouth County who have contributed much of their lives toward the helping and development of agriculture...

Work on GIS website puts Plymouth County on the map (09/02/08)
Plymouth County's success with owning and operating a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) website will soon be known around the world. Autodesk MapGuide Enterprise, owner of AutoCad Map 3D software used on the county's GIS website, wrote a customer success story that will be published in the company's trademark magazines, displayed at GIS conferences and on its website...

Questions answered on school levy issue (08/29/08)
Two public information meetings brought approximately 75 Le Mars Community School District residents out to learn about the Instructional Support Levy (ISL) Wednesday and Thursday evenings. A vote on whether to implement the levy will be held on Sept. 9, the same day as school board elections...

Offices closed for Labor Day (08/29/08)
Americans will celebrate the country's 126th annual Labor Day, the three day-weekend that marks the unofficial end of summer. There will be several closings in Le Mars for the day. The first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882, after the Central Labor Union came up with the idea and planned a demonstration and picnic for that day...

Music festival uses hotel/motel tax grant to bring people to Le Mars (08/28/08)
A Hotel/Motel Sales Tax grant is paying off for Le Mars. More than $6,000 of the 5 percent sales tax revenue from hotel and motel rooms rented in town was given to a group advertising the 33rd annual National Old Time Country and Bluegrass Music Festival, held this year in Le Mars for the first time...

Harker's closes after 100 years in Le Mars (08/27/08)
A century-old Le Mars establishment is folding. Harker's, a food service company that began with a meat market started by George Harker in 1906, will have its last day Friday, according to Harker's president Jim Harker. Cardboard boxes fill the front lawn of the Le Mars corporate headquarters building at 801 Sixth St. S.W...

School board members answer questions about ISL (08/26/08)
On Sept. 9, voters in the Le Mars Community School District will decide whether to approve a tax levy that would raise money for LCS teacher salaries, books, programs and transportation fuel. That Instructional Support Levy (ISL) has proved the source of much debate. Two LCS School Board members -- Patrick Murphy and Mark Stelzer -- sat down with the Daily Sentinel editorial staff to talk through some of the questions about the levy...

Dream Program helps Happy Siesta earn governor's quality award (08/26/08)
A wish to ride in an airplane, watch a play in a theater, take a fishing trip, hear an auctioneer cry -- all came true for Happy Siesta Health Care Center residents. Happy Siesta's Dream Program and other activities earned the center, in Remsen, a Governor's Award for Quality Care in Iowa Health Care Facilities for 2008, presented Monday...

New library director could be reading in Le Mars by Nov. 1 (08/26/08)
The hunt for a Le Mars Public Library director is moving ahead full steam as officials now have a handful of applicants to consider. The personnel committee met Monday to shorten that list even more, said Randy Becker, president of the library's board of trustees...

'Pride Night' promotes school activities Monday (08/22/08)
"Pride Night" will be shining with school colors Monday as students, parents, and fans from Le Mars Community and Gehlen Catholic Schools celebrate their schools and extra-curricular activities students participate in. "Pride Night will kick off the new school year and promote school unity. Pride Night is a great way for Le Mars area residents to show their support for Gehlen Catholic and Le Mars Community students," KLEM Radio operations director Dave Ruden said. There is no admission charge...

Council moves ahead four street project plans (08/20/08)
Le Mars City Council members Tuesday gave their approval to a professional engineering services agreement for four Le Mars highway and street projects. On the agenda are widening Highway 3 near Floyd Valley Hospital, improving Business 75 from Highway 3 to Airport Drive, curb and gutter work on Seventh Avenue Southeast (K-49), and curb and gutter work on Sixth Avenue West...

Hinton School Board looks into legal options to obtain land (08/19/08)
Hinton Community School Board members discussed Monday the possibility of using eminent domain to obtain land on which to construct a new elementary school and gymnasium. The school board decided to find out more about steps necessary to obtain 8 acres adjacent to the current school from property owners, Kevin and Annette Held, through eminent domain...

Kingsley funeral director pleads guilty to theft (08/19/08)
A Kingsley funeral director pleaded guilty to stealing about $175,000 and avoiding paying taxes Monday in Plymouth County District Court. Mark Francis Rohde, 49, pleaded guilty to theft in the first degree and tax evasion as part of a plea agreement...

Get ready to 'Scoop da Loop' (08/18/08)
For those who like classic cars, trucks and cycles, downtown Le Mars is the place to be Wednesday evening for the annual Scoop da Loop fun. People may gather at Olson Cultural Event Center at the corner of First Avenue and First Street Northeast for some good food starting at 6 p.m...

Wind blows Texas oilman in to Le Mars to talk energy (08/15/08)
He may be 80 but an audience member still called T. Boone Pickens a "rockstar." The Texas oilman and billionaire landed his jet at the Le Mars airport Thursday afternoon to spin to Iowans his plan for reducing U.S. dependency on foreign oil. His idea: shift to using more wind energy and natural gas -- two things in which the nation is rich...

Volunteers needed for sprint to triathlon finish line (08/15/08)
Swim. Bike. Run. Get ready for the Le Mars Sprint Triathlon Saturday, Sept. 6. "Last year we had 120 participants from about six states," said Angela Loutsch, Le Mars aquatics director. "It's another form of introducing and encouraging multiple sport athletics."...

Construction marches forward on new Remsen Medical Clinic (08/13/08)
June rain delays can't stop construction of the new Remsen Medical Clinic. The clinic on Second Street west of the post office is expected to be completed Dec. 1, said Daryl Friedenbach, director of financial services at Floyd Valley Hospital (FVH)...

Remsen urban renewal district in the works (08/11/08)
Creation of an urban renewal area in Remsen could generate money to extend public utilities to a new business and tear down old buildings in its downtown. An urban renewal area is a district which designates where Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue can be spent. TIF is created based on taxes from designated structures built within the district. Those taxes can be collected for 20 years...

Building on education: LCS addition nearly complete (08/07/08)
With only two weeks until school starts, teachers and staff at Le Mars Community High School and Middle School are busy putting the finishing touches on moves to new classroom space and computer labs and looking forward to the new middle school gymnasium...

Street closings approved for Scoop da Loop event (08/07/08)
The Le Mars City Council on Tuesday granted the request by the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce/Main Street for closing streets for the 11th annual Scoop da Loop event set for Aug. 20 in Le Mars. The areas to be closed for the event are the Olson Cultural Event Center and Postal Playhouse parking lots and First Street and First Avenue surrounding the cultural center. The closings will be effective from 5 p.m. to 10 p. m...

Sign-up deadline nears for new disaster program (08/07/08)
Sign-up for the SURE, the new USDA disaster program, is underway, and the deadline to participate in this year's program is Sept. 15. SURE is a permanent disaster program that will be specific to each farmer. Unlike previous USDA disaster programs, this one does not require an Act of Congress for it take place...

Loess Hills' recreation opportunities to be studied (08/06/08)
A $60,000 grant will help pay for a Loess Hills Recreation Plan Study that could be used to develop new recreation activities like biking and hiking trails, boating, golfing and fishing, wetlands and wildlife watching in that area. The Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) will provide the grant throughout two years toward the study, which is expected to start later this year and be completed by the end of 2009...

City accepts fee increase for emergency medical services (08/06/08)
Some ambulance fees are going up but most users won't feel the impact. Le Mars City Council members Tuesday, on recommendation from Bill Rosacker, Le Mars ambulance director, authorized city acceptance of a Wellmark-introduced change in payment for emergency medical services (EMS)...

Convention bureau to be topic of Hotel/Motel Sales Tax meeting (08/06/08)
A proposed convention and visitor's bureau is the main item of a Hotel/Motel Sales Tax advisory board meeting Thursday. The meeting, open to the public, will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. During the meeting, the board will review public comment from its meeting last week, review its plan to present the concept to the city council at its Sept. 2 meeting and review applications for upcoming openings on the Hotel/Motel Sales Tax advisory board...

Branching out: Hinton couple goes vintage with planned winery (07/31/08)
Tuscany. Napa Valley. Hinton? If Barry and Brenda Dittmer have their way, yes -- their sloping vineyard on a Plymouth County hillside will be not only an agricultural plot but a destination winery. An Iowa winery isn't as surprising as people think, Barry pointed out...

Fairgoers rate economy first in election (07/31/08)
Presidential candidates better know more about money than how to spend it, according to a survey conducted at the Plymouth County Fair. In a questionaire given to 500 voting-age fairgoers at the Plymouth County Republicans' booth, responders solidly placed "The Economy" as the leading issue that would influence their vote...

Life Skills quilt auction sets new record (07/30/08)
A new record, both number of quilts and dollars raised, was set at the 12th annual Life Skills Foundation Quilt Auction Saturday in Century Hall at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. The 56 items on the auction block raised $11,805 for the Life Skills Foundation...

Help ahead for 102-year-old Akron opera house (07/29/08)
Akron's opera house has weathered many changes since it opened in 1906. Now another phase is planned for the building that towers over the town's main street. "My head spun for two weeks just thinking about this," Akron Community Theater President Doug Olson said Monday evening while discussing upcoming plans for the theater...

Samantha Tentinger takes top dairy prize (07/25/08)
The name was a familiar one as the championship awards went out Thursday at the Plymouth County Fair's 4-H dairy show. Samantha Tentinger, Remsen, a Union Livewires 4-H member, not only exhibited the grand champion dairy heifer but also walked out of the ring as the champion junior dairy showman. Her grand champion heifer also took the purple ribbon in the Jersey division. Samantha, also had the reserve champion heifer in the show, winner of the heifer competition in the Ayshire judging...

Senior Services Directory aims to aid senior citizens (07/24/08)
After several years of planning and hours of work, the dream of a comprehensive guide for services available for senior citizens in Plymouth County has become a reality. The Plymouth County Fair marks the launching of the long awaited Plymouth County Senior Service Directory. Free copies may be picked up during the fair at the Floyd Valley Hospital Auxiliary Booth in the Commercial Building...

2008 fair truck recognizes Belgian owners and beef show (07/23/08)
The ninth annual edition of the Plymouth County Fair collectible truck recognizes the beef show, a longtime tradition, and Dr. John and Barbara Conley and their team of Belgian draft horses. The series of trucks is designed to recognize activities and scenes that make up the Plymouth County Fair...

Local Pork Producers will donate to flooded hog farmers (07/23/08)
A group of northwest Iowa pork producers are coming to the aid of southeast Iowa pork producers who were hit hard by the June floods. The Plymouth County Pork Producers Association will once again operate its Grandstand Pork food stand during the Plymouth County Fair. The producers have decided to donate the entire day's proceeds from the stand on Friday, July 25, to help their flooded brethren in southeast Iowa...

Ahlers anticipate upcoming Plymouth County Fair (07/22/08)
As the prize hopeful pumpkin bread bakes in the oven and the sheep are led around the farm one last time, John and Debra Ahlers' four children Jill, Rebecca, Kristen, and Daniel, are busy putting the finishing touches on livestock entries and 4-H exhibits for the upcoming Plymouth County Fair...

Plymouth Oil may receive $1.2 million in tax benefits (07/22/08)
The State of Iowa pledged about $1.2 million in tax incentives to a plant near Merrill that will make corn oil for food and cooking. The $30 million Plymouth Oil plant is planned next to the 50-million-gallon Plymouth Energy LLC ethanol plant near Merrill. The projected completion date is July 31, 2013, according to an Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) spokesperson...

From field to shelf: Local stores sell local foods (07/21/08)
Right now, Le Mars' grocery stores boast a few shelves of ripe red tomatoes grown only a couple dozen miles away. Later in the summer, shoppers might be able to fill their carts with sweet corn, green beans and other produce that were grown locally...

New first aid booth turns the page of history (07/21/08)
First aid at the Plymouth County Fair got a whole new look this year. The aging first aid booth was replaced by a new building just in time for the fair this year. "Last year there were concerns about the booth -- it was aging," said Tim Paul, chief engineer at Floyd Valley Hospital...

Increase of fuel theft at the pump not prevalent in Le Mars (07/18/08)
Throughout the country, high gas prices have caused the theft of gasoline at the pump to skyrocket. With prices around $4 per gallon, people around the nation are more tempted to bolt after filling up. Thankfully this trend in crime has not gripped Le Mars for the most part. But "drive-aways" from the pump do still happen...

Galles recovering from Alton fire explosion (07/18/08)
The Remsen farmer that was burned when a blast started the Alton grain elevator on fire is on the mend. Matt Galles, who was rushed to a medical center in Lincoln, Neb. to be treated for burns July 9 said his skin is healing well. "In a week's time it can change a lot," he said...

Hinton residents debate future home for new elementary (07/17/08)
By a show of hands the majority of more than 100 Hinton residents expressed a desire Tuesday to build a new elementary adjacent to the town's existing school. The Hinton School Board met with the public Tuesday to receive comments from the people as to their thoughts concerning the district's plans to construct a new pre-Kindergarten through third grade elementary school and competitive gymnasium...

Farrer says fair is five best days of summer (07/16/08)
When you think of livestock at the Plymouth County Fair, rabbits and poultry may not be the steer or swine you were imagining. Thirteen-year-old Grady Farrer would disagree. The owner of rabbits, chickens and pheasants, Farrer believes that poultry and rabbits are where the real livestock shows occur...

Supervisors appoint new conservation board members (07/16/08)
Chris Beeck and Troy V. Hemmelrick are the two newest members on the Plymouth County Conservation Board. The Plymouth County Supervisors on Tuesday appointed Beeck and Hemmelrick to replace members Ron Wilmot, who died in June, and Eric Julstrol, who recently resigned...

Advisory board seeks new members with vision for visitor bureau (07/15/08)
The Hotel/Motel Sales Tax Advisory Board is on the verge of shifting directions, and the members are looking for people to fill two open seats. The board, which guides the distribution of about $100,000 a year in hotel/motel sales tax revenue, is considering the creation of a Convention and Visitor Bureau...

LCS board sets July 25 hearing on ISL resolution (07/15/08)
The Le Mars Community School Board has set a public hearing on their intent to participate in the Instructional Support Program, a tax levy which would raise money for salaries, supplies and program costs for the school. The hearing will be noon on Friday, July 25, at the Education Service Center located at 940 Lincoln St. S.W...

Remsen man injured in grain explosion in Alton (07/10/08)
ALTON, Iowa (AP) -- One person has been injured in a fiery explosion at a grain elevator in Alton in northwest Iowa. Officials say Matthew Galles, 31, of Remsen, was unloading grain at the Midwest Farmers Cooperative on Wednesday when the explosion occurred about 3:15 p.m...

School's out forever (07/10/08)
A Le Mars landmark for more than a century was demolished Wednesday. St. Joseph School, completed in 1905, was torn down to make way for a new Catholic church. A handful of the more than 2,000 students that studied in the building's classrooms gathered Wednesday to take pictures and watch the school be reduced to a pile of rubble...

Officials say crippled highway system won't affect northwest Iowa (07/09/08)
The closest northwest Iowa got to this summer's flooding was photos and video clips in the news. But this region of the state is linked to the flood ravaged areas via a vital connection -- the state highway system. Now the already financially strapped Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) is hustling to fix the bridges and roads destroyed by floodwaters in central and eastern Iowa...