Children

Grant will help provide sexual abuse education (07/13/09)
The Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (CSADV) Plymouth County outreach shared its message of sexual abuse prevention with more than 500 children this past school year. A $6,500 grant received this month from Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) Iowa will help CSADV Plymouth County outreach continue educating elementary, preschool and daycare children...

Local man charged with sexually abusing minor (05/26/09)
A Le Mars man faces a sexual abuse charge for allegedly having sexual contact with a 12 year old. Richard W. Shade, 31, was charged with sexual abuse in the second degree and booked into the Plymouth County Jail on Friday after an investigation by the Department of Human Services and the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office...

Rural Le Mars man arrested for possible sexual abuse (05/07/09)
A 31-year-old rural Le Mars man was arrested Wednesday for possible sexual abuse against a child younger than 12. Patrick Elmer Klein faces two counts of sexual abuse in the second degree, class B felonies. Sexual abuse in the second degree involves sexual abuse in which the victim is under the age of 12...

Cell phone photos could make teens sex offenders (04/28/09)
A Florida teen faces charges of child pornography. A district attorney in Pennsylvania threatened a group of high schoolers with the same charges. All because of photos on their cell phones. Teens who take or send nude or revealing pictures via cell phones could be in deep water. This practice, dubbed "sexting," isn't just hitting the coasts...

What do babies and teaching a language have in common? Read on (04/03/09)
Would you make your baby diagram sentences? Or would you expect your 1 year old to order his or her own food at a restaurant? Not likely. That's why Elizabeth Rogers, or Señorita Eli as her students know her, is using the Total Physical Response (TPR) method to teach high school Spanish at Gehlen Catholic Schools...

LCHS students take top spots at technical skills competition (04/03/09)
Twenty-eight Le Mars Community High School students took part in the sixth annual Technical Skills Competition Day for high school students Wednesday, with 10 placing in the top three in their skill area. "All the students did good," said Paul Fischer, LCHS Trades and Industries instructor, who took 11 T&I auto and welding students to the contest at Western Iowa Tech Community College...

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...

Children to learn about sexual abuse prevention (03/30/09)
Happy Bear will visit Le Mars Public Library this week to teach children about good, bad and mixed-up touch. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The panda mascot, sponsored by the Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (CSADV), will lead a sexual abuse prevention and safety program 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 1...

LCS, Gehlen students ready for All-State Speech Festival (03/27/09)
Five Le Mars Community High School students and one from Gehlen Catholic High School will take part on the Iowa High School Speech Association's All-State Individual Speech Festival Monday, March 30. The Festival opens at 8:30 a.m. in the McLeod Center next to the UNI Dome at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls...

City gets good news on rec. trail, 7th Avenue bids (03/23/09)
City Administrator Scott Langel told the Le Mars City Council last week that bids submitted to the state for two city project appear to be comfortably under engineers' estimates. T. R. Harris Construction, Inc. , Homer, Neb., contractor for several earlier Le Mars projects, is the apparent low bidder on both the Sixth Avenue West sidewalks near Le Mars Community School and the Seventh Avenue East project...

Program focuses on raising resilient children (03/23/09)
A national and international lecturer, Dr. Robert Brooks, will present a program "Raising Resilient Children and Adolescents" in Le Mars Wednesday, March 25. The program will be held at the Le Mars Community Middle School Auditorium from 6 to 8 p.m. and is sponsored by Floyd Valley Hospital...

Clover Kids learn about 4-H traditions (03/13/09)
Children in first through third grades can get an early jump on 4-H when they participate in the Clover Kids program. "Clover Kids is a pre-4-H program," explained Rose Weber, who is directing groups in four Plymouth County communities this year. This is her first year with the program in Plymouth County...

Seek nominations for LCS 'Teacher of Year' honor (03/13/09)
The Le Mars Community School District Foundation and Alumni Association are seeking nominations for the "Teacher of the Year" award for 2009. The two organizations jointly sponsor and select a "Teacher of the Year" to "represent the many great teachers who exemplify our school district and its educational goals."...

Senator sees issues with law to put more parents on abuse list (03/12/09)
A bill that could put parents or guardians on the child abuse registry if they allow a child to view pornography is working its way through Iowa legislature. Both the Iowa House and Senate are working on versions of the bill. However, Sen. Randy Feenstra, of Hull, is worried that if this became a law, it might be abused...

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...

Rock and roll: Don't mess with the Roller Dames (03/09/09)
Someone's been skating in the basement of the jail. Stephanie Hoppe, married and the mother of two, works as a Plymouth County jailer. But in her off time, the Le Mars woman laces up her rollerskates and becomes one bad dude. Hoppe skates with the Sioux City Roller Dames, a full-contact roller derby team. Her skating name: Felony Convixen...

Grant provides big step to improve Remsen water (03/09/09)
The City of Remsen received a $160,800 grant from the Watershed Improvement Review Board to help improve the town's water quality. The money will be used to purchase an additional 21 acres east of the city's well No. 8 as part of a project that will turn a total of nearly 90 acres north of Remsen into habitat...

State funding uncertainties plague LCS budget process (03/06/09)
Even as the City of Le Mars council members and Plymouth County Supervisors certify their budgets, the Le Mars Community School officials, along with districts across the state of Iowa, are faced with the task of preparing a budget for April 15 certification when they don't know how much money they have to work with...

Goodwill begins to restock kids' items (03/06/09)
Goodwill Industries' racks and bins for kid's clothes and toys are no longer empty. In early February, 16 Goodwill Industries stores in four states pulled children's toys and clothes off shelves to make sure those under the age of 12 are protected from any items with lead or lead products in them...

Local students' art chosen for Youth Art Exhibition (03/03/09)
Artwork of four Le Mars Community Middle School students has been chosen for display in the Sioux City Art Center's 20th Annual Youth Art Exhibition. The four students and their artwork are: Taylor Clarey, sixth grade, metal Tribal Mask; Rejoice Peraza, seventh grade, metal Repousse' Fish; Emily Corbin and Lindsay Meylor, eighth grade, Cubism Cubes...

LCHS, Gehlen students take I's at State Individual Speech Contest (03/03/09)
Students from Gehlen Catholic and Le Mars Community High School took home a bundle of Division I ratings from the Individual Events (IE) Speech District contest Feb. 28 at Woodbury Central School in Moville. Le Mars Community students competed in 46 events, with 36 performers earning Division I (excellent) ratings and the opportunity to advance to the state contest March 14 in Fort Dodge...

This IS your grandma's Internet (03/02/09)
Generations are often defined by what music they love or how they view work. But more and more, young and old are coming together in one place: the Internet. Since 2005, the biggest increase in Internet users was in the 70-75 year-old age group, according to a study by the Pew Internet and American Life project...

New S.D. law keeps door open for Greater Hoyt (02/27/09)
A bill currently making its way through the South Dakota Legislature will assure that students from the Greater Hoyt and Greater Scott School Districts in South Dakota will be able to attend school across the state's border in Iowa at Akron-Westfield and West Sioux Community Schools respectively...

College planning session set at LCS (02/26/09)
High school juniors, seniors and their parents can find help at a free presentation on college planning at the Le Mars Community High School Commons at 7 p.m. Monday, March 2. The event is hosted by the Le Mars Community Schools guidance office and will be presented by a representative of the Iowa College Access Network (ICAN)...

LCMS, Gehlen Catholic students selected for BVU Honor Band Festival (02/25/09)
Students from Le Mars Community Middle School and Gehlen Catholic Schools will take part in the 28th Annual Buena Vista University Honor Band Festival this Saturday, Feb. 28, in Storm Lake. The following students from Le Mars Community Middle School have been selected to perform in the festival: Ben Meis, oboe; Yashila Permeswaran, bassoon; Emily Ellefson, clarinet; Zach Kooistra, trumpet; Rodrigo Cobian, trumpet; Evan Richards, trombone; Karter Ewing, trombone; Tim Fett, baritone and Rebecca Luksan, percussion. ...

Put your child on the cover (02/25/09)
The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce is accepting children's photos for the Le Mars Visitors Guide and Business Directory cover photo contest. Children must be 3 to 6 years old and live in Le Mars or the surrounding rural area. To enter the contest submit one color 5x7 photo of the child...

Potential cuts at LCS include teachers, coaches and services (02/24/09)
Potential budget reductions totaling $268,000 for Le Mars Community Schools 2009-10 school year were presented to the board of education Monday night by Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt. The potential cuts and savings are: "In our estimation, there's not anywhere to cut to generate the type of money you talked about a year ago," Wendt told the board. The reductions come from consulting with building administrators and suggestions received from board members...

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."...

Bill would close four Plymouth County schools (02/20/09)
An Iowa senator plans to introduce a bill that would force school districts with less than 750 students to consolidate. Senator Matt McCoy, a Des Moines Democrat, is pushing to introduce the bill, which would cut two-thirds of Iowa's school districts...

Teen's unique hobby of fire breathing entertains (02/20/09)
Edgardo Ruedas has an unusual hobby -- fire breathing. Ruedas, a junior at Le Mars Community School, said he learned the skill of blowing torch oil onto a stick to create a fire plume about three months ago after seeing the lead in his favorite band "Immortal" do it...

OdysseyWare gives alternative high school students new class options (02/19/09)
A new software program, OdysseyWare, is helping students make huge strides at the Le Mars Community Alternative High School. Julie Theisen has led the Alternative High School, formerly known as the Individualized Learning Center (ILC), for 19 years and is excited about the software program and what it means for her students. The classroom is located in the Education Service Center at 940 Lincoln St. S.W...

Former Le Mars man beats cancer, gets back on the beat (02/19/09)
Many Mapleton residents are starting to recognize that a familiar face is back among them. Mapleton Police Chief John Holton -- formerly of Le Mars -- has returned back to work after a five and a half month bout with cancer. The chief is glad to be back on his feet and serving the citizens of Mapleton once again...

Art equals self discovery for artist, viewers (02/16/09)
Painting. That's all Kim Strohbeen, a part-time elementary art teacher at Le Mars Community's Kissinger and Franklin schools, thought about in high school. "I don't remember anything but painting," Strohbeen said. "I just painted all the time." Strohbeen, of Sioux City, will show her paintings starting March 1 at the Le Mars Arts Center...

Goodwill stores empty shelves of kids' toys, clothes (02/13/09)
A youngster's trip to Goodwill to get a toy as a reward for good schoolwork ended in tears Wednesday night when he arrived at the store's toy bin. It was completely empty. But what he didn't know was that those toys, along with children's clothing, are being pulled from the shelves of Goodwill Industries for his own protection...

LCS Quiz Bowl team competes in KTIV tournament (02/13/09)
Four members of the Le Mars Community High School Quiz Bowl team will compete in the KTIV Quiz Bowl program Saturday, Feb. 21. The show airs at 5 p.m. on Channel 4. The team of senior Anna Powell (captain), juniors Chris Clay and Tim Burwitz, and sophomore Will Becker will face the team from Galva-Holstein. Luke Bendlin and Becca Clay are alternates for the KTIV competition...

Le Mars United Way seeks funding requests (02/13/09)
Groups interested in receiving money from the Le Mars United Way can apply now. The Le Mars United Way is ready to begin the allocations process for local agencies serving the Le Mars and Plymouth County area. The Le Mars United Way board encourages all non-profit agencies interested in applying for funds in either of our two granting categories, "Ensure children grow into successful adults" or "Provide for 'Safety Net' services to those in need," explained Kathy Bartelli, Le Mars United Way chair.. ...

Heyderhoff reappointed as county assessor (02/12/09)
Plymouth County Assessor Bob Heyderhoff was reappointed for another six-year term as assessor. The Plymouth County Conference Board met Tuesday to consider the reappointment. The board is comprised of the five county supervisors, representatives of each school board and each mayor in the county...

Gehlen TK program making a difference (02/12/09)
A pilot program for transitional kindergarten (TK) is in its second year at Gehlen Catholic Schools and is giving children the boost needed to prepare them for kindergarten. "This is something that has been requested by parents for more than 15 years," said Gehlen Catholic Elementary principal Lorie Nussbaum said. School officials decided to do a three-year pilot program to see how it would work...

Author shares memories of German childhood (02/11/09)
"Growing Up German" portrays parts of a young girl's childhood as the daughter of a German immigrant. Author Arlene Walker, of Sanborn, shared her story, which was published among 29 others in a book entitled "Walking Beans Wasn't Something You Did With Your Dog," Tuesday with a handful of people at the Le Mars Public Library...

Contest may put your child on the cover of Le Mars magazine (02/11/09)
Is your youngster Le Mars' next top model? A contest to find a cover child for the 2009 Le Mars Visitors Guide and Business Directory is on, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Parents of children 3-6 years old can enter their child in the contest with a photo...

ISL will not go to third vote for LCS (02/10/09)
There will not be a vote in the Le Mars Community School District on the Instructional Support Levy (ISL). The Le Mars Community School Board of Education unanimously approved a motion to accept Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt's recommendations and abandon the election process on the ISL...

LCMS presents winter band concert Feb. 12 (02/10/09)
The Le Mars Community Middle School Music Department will hold its winter band concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in the middle school auditorium. The middle school Jazz Band participated in the NWIBA Jazz Festival last week and it will open the program with "Live A Little," "Back and Forth," "Every Sunrise is a Bonus," "Senorita Fajita" and "Carry On Wayward Son."...

Museum's 'Milestone Memories' to honor couples (02/10/09)
"Milestone Memories," a program to honor couples who have been married 50 years or longer, will mark Valentine's Day weekend at the Plymouth County Historical Museum in Le Mars. Several Plymouth County couples who have been married for at least 50 years will participate in the wedding program at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 15, in the museum's Music Room, on the main floor...

Officials say booster clubs free to donate (01/23/09)
The booster clubs that support both the athletics and music at Le Mars Community Schools have faced some criticism recently about where they made donations. Dollars from both groups were used to help pay for flyers and other promotional items in favor of the Instructional Support Levy (ISL)...

LCS students gear up for large group speech contest (01/23/09)
Le Mars Community High School is one of 16 schools across Iowa serving as a district site for the Iowa High School Speech Association Large Group Speech Tournament Saturday, Jan. 24. Le Mars Community High School students have been preparing for this tournament since mid-November, according to coach Erin Ohrlund...

Greater Hoyt continues fight to keep district (01/22/09)
An open enrollment agreement between Iowa and South Dakota doesn't solve the Greater Hoyt and Akron-Westfield School districts' problems, the Greater Hoyt board president said this week. "A lot of people have been misled by this cross border agreement, thinking that it is going to be a good solution for us, when in fact it is an agreement that is doomed to fail," Greg Heeren said...

Lending a hand in Peru: Locals aim to rebuild with more than bricks (01/21/09)
A 2007 earthquake rocked the mountainside village of Lucumo in Peru. Homes and lives were shaken apart, and the local church was reduced to a pile of rubble and a tile floor. That collapsed church is symbolic, according to local student Ellie Hemmingson...

Benefit for fair board member exceeds expectations (01/19/09)
Akron-Westfield FFA Alumni members hoped for a good turnout at their benefit for fellow member Jeff Klemme on Saturday night. The results far outweighed their expectations. "We raised more than six times what we hoped for," Randy Kroksh, one of the benefit organizers said...

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.. ...

Goodchild does more than sing a sleighing song (01/16/09)
"Dashing through the snow in a one horse open sleigh." You might see Clark Goodchild doing just that this winter. For the Le Mars man, it's not just a song. It's a horse training tool. Goodchild, a real estate man who works with horses in his free time, built an open sleigh to be pulled by his palomino quarter horse Twister...

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