Consumer Product Manufacturing

All aboard: Steam engine roars into Le Mars (10/02/08)
History came to town on the rail Wednesday Chugging and steaming and tooting the whistle, all one million pounds of the steam engine Challenger rolled into Le Mars for a whistle stop on its five-state tour. Dozens of people gathered at the tracks to catch a look at the 1943 Union Pacific (UP) locomotive...

Not just a wash: Groomer gives dogs the royal treatment (10/01/08)
She knows what kind of shampoo works well for your dog. She knows how to make doggie toothpaste from scratch. And she's even trained in pet CPR. Meet Monica Nilles. The Le Mars woman is the new dog groomer on Central Avenue, part of the Bow Wow Pet Shop and Bakery's new addition: Bow Wow Grooming and Day Spa...

Speakers urge local leaders to consider possible threats (10/01/08)
Maybe it will be an ice storm. Maybe a pandemic flu. Or maybe a terrorist strike with chemical weapons. Disaster is always on the horizon -- at least that was the message at a "Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail" videoconference that brought together local leaders from Le Mars and in six other states...

Le Mars Area Dialysis focus is on fundraising, renovation (10/01/08)
Le Mars Area Dialysis Services is stepping up its fundraising efforts. Currently the not-for-profit group has two main focuses -- one is to continue raising money, and the other is to plan renovation of its newly acquired building in downtown Le Mars...

Wells' Dairy pays back $1.2 million to state (09/29/08)
Wells' Dairy has been asked to pay back $1.25 million of a nearly $3 million state award after they missed a job creation and retention goal by about 150 jobs. The debt to the state has already been paid, according to a statement from the Le Mars ice cream and frozen novelty producer's CEO Mike Wells...

Minnesota woman escapes serious injury in truck, building collision (09/26/08)

Steam locomotive to stop in Le Mars (09/25/08)
Union Pacific's "Challenger" No. 3985 will steam into Le Mars next Wednesday for a brief visit The visit comes during the 1940s locomotive's round trip tour from Cheyenne, Wyo. to St. Paul, Minn., and back. People can take a look at the restored train engine during its half-hour stop Oct. 1 along Lincoln Street near the south Wells Dairy ice cream plant at Eighth Street Southwest...

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...

Vintage harvest: Dittmers' vineyard produces juicy crop (09/22/08)
With a juicy plop, a bunch of grapes falls into a heaping pail of the purple fruit. All around, people are talking, laughing, and clipping away at loaded branches of grape vines. It's Sunday and it's harvest time at Barry and Brenda Dittmers' vineyard in Hinton...

Negotiations begin on new Wells' Dairy labor contract (09/22/08)
Negotiations are underway on a contract that impacts about 1,400 hourly manufacturing employees at Wells' Dairy in Le Mars. "A corporate team is sitting down and meeting with an employee team," said Dave Smetter, spokesman for the ice cream and novelty company...

Supervisors delay decision to repair floors at Pride Group home (09/17/08)
The Plymouth County Supervisors put the matter of restroom floor repairs at a residential facility operated by Pride Group Inc. on hold Tuesday. The supervisors directed Mike Porter, CEO of Pride Group, to obtain a firm cost estimate to fix floors in four showers and two bathrooms at the residential care facility (RCF) on Highway 3...

Landfill amnesty days set for next weekend (09/12/08)
The City of Le Mars is offering three more days of free dumping for certain items at the Plymouth County Landfill next weekend Sept. 18, 19 and 20. For these days, the city is declaring an amnesty from the landfill disposal cost for up to 1,000 pounds per household of "throw away" material...

IML Container to expand in industrial park (09/09/08)
A Le Mars manufacturer that makes plastic containers for products like ice cream and butter will have its own permanent home in the industrial park. IML Containers Iowa, which has been leasing space in Le Mars since it began operation in 2006, is planning to build a 63,000-square-foot facility...

City works with IML Container to prepare for expansion (09/05/08)
The Le Mars City Council approved buying a piece of railroad equipment to assist an expanding Le Mars business that relies on rail for shipments. IML Containers is currently depending on rail to bring in materials for their planned expansion in southern Le Mars, according to City Administrator Scott Langel...

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...

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...

Users need to protect computers against security threats (08/29/08)
Experts say there are no foolproof methods to keep home or corporate computers safe from security breaches, but taking precautions helps deter attackers. "The best practice is to keep everything up to date, anti-virus and anti-Spyware programs, and use it (computer) responsibly," said Jerry Christiansen, owner of Computer Crossing. "That's not a hundred percent guarantee that it won't get hit with something, but it does decrease the odds."...

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...

Cell phones beat landlines in Iowa (08/21/08)
Will cell phones eventually replace landline telephones? In Le Mars, store managers from Verizon Wireless/Wireless World and Frontier Communications, are on opposite sides of the debate. "The future is wireless," said Steve Harrington, Verizon manager. "People now are carrying cell phones. They all say this is their main form of communication."...

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...

Japanese students learn Iowa life from local families (08/13/08)
Brian and Sarah Kehm have an extra sister in their house for a month. She's 16. She likes to shop. She likes pop music and video games. And she's a black belt in karate. Shoko Harashima, a Japanese teen, is living with the David and Janet Kehm family for most of August. She's part of a group of 26 Japanese students living with 4-H families in Iowa from July 24 to Aug. 21. Five of those 4-H families are in Plymouth County...

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...

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...

City searches for solutions to indoor pool problems (08/06/08)
alse alarms on the fire alarm system. Temperature spikes. Ventilation system running non-stop. Computer lock ups. Since it opened in March 2007, the Le Mars Indoor Aquatic Center has been plagued with heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) problems...

SRTS will offer rides to country music festival (08/06/08)
Those attending the country and bluegrass festival later this month can catch a ride with the Siouxland Regional Transit System (SRTS) at its regular fee rate. Supervisor Don Kass told the Plymouth County Supervisors Tuesday a SRTS bus will be available within Le Mars to take people to and from festival, which will be at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds...

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...

Le Mars composer makes musical notes come alive (07/30/08)
David Moore began writing melodies as a teenager. "I started dabbling when I was in high school just kind of messing around," the Le Mars man said. "I actually did a couple of arrangements for my jazz band experimenting a little bit." Since then, a band instructor by day, Moore has composed full concert band and smaller solo, piano and ensemble pieces...

Landfill amnesty days added this weekend (07/28/08)
The City of Le Mars is offering two more days of free dumping for certain items at the Plymouth County Landfill Aug. 1 and 2. For these days, the city is declaring an amnesty from the landfill disposal cost for up to 1,000 pounds per household of "throw away" material per household...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Local author featured at book signing (07/09/08)
Local author Sam Pelelo-Ray, of Le Mars, will be on hand at Barnes & Noble booksellers in Sioux City from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, July 12 for their regional authors signing day. Pelelo-Ray, who will be a junior at Le Mars Community High School, penned the science-fiction novel "Athenrei," which started as an assignment for his English class...

Hinton celebrates 125th birthday with weekend fun (07/08/08)
The weekend of July 11-13 is sure to be a fun time for Hinton's 125th Birthday celebration. Festivites begin at 5 p.m. Friday evening in the City Park with Carnival Fun. There will be free fun and games for the whole family with inflatable rides suitable for all ages. This event is sponsored by the City of Hinton and various Hinton area businesses. The carnival will be open until 9 p.m. The carnival fun will re-open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday...

Grassley gives his take on fuel crunch at Le Mars meeting (07/01/08)
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley praised ethanol and drilling for more oil in the United States during his stop at a Le Mars town hall meeting where concern about energy and food prices was the prevailing mood. Speaking to a crowd of about 50 people at the American Bank Monday, Grassley responded to questions about fuel prices by presenting his idea for an energy program...

After 30 years: Meyer will pass torch to new auditor (06/19/08)
Mentor, friend, boss, elected official, community leader. K. Kae Meyer has carried a variety of titles throughout her 30 years in the auditor's office. That will come to an end Dec. 31 when she hangs up her hat as Plymouth County auditor and passes the torch to the next person elected...

SRTS considering 'fuel -saving' designated bus routes for Le Mars (06/18/08)
Le Mars residents could, if interest warrants, find themselves with a new fuel-saving transportation option in the future. Bill Cole, assistant city administrator, Tuesday shared with city council members that among "new ideas" under discussion by the Siouxland Regional Transportation System (SRTS) is the consideration of possible designated routes throughout the city. Such routes, Cole said, is being looked at as a means of continuing to increase SRTS usage...

LCS administration makes the move (06/17/08)
Now there's a cornfield between the Le Mars Community Middle and High Schools and the district's new central office. The LCS administrative staff moved last week to the former Wells' Dairy headquarters on Lincoln Street Southwest. Along with the district superintendent's office and business office, the schools' technology and printing will also be based there...

Hold the tomatoes (06/11/08)
Salmonella scare makes tomatoes scarce in Le Mars

Delivery pains: Trucking industry crunch hits home (06/05/08)
High fuel prices are taking semis off the road. With diesel surpassing $4 a gallon, trucking operations as small as one person and as large as 1,000 drivers are closing down and parking their semis. "In the first quarter of 2008, more than 1,000 companies declared bankruptcy," said Steve Schuster, the president of trucking company Schuster Co. in Le Mars...

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. ...

Landfill amnesty days this weekend (06/03/08)
The City of Le Mars is offering a free dumping for certain items at the Plymouth County Landfill June 5, 6 and 7. For these Spring Clean Up days, the city is declaring an amnesty from the landfill disposal cost for up to 1,000 pounds per household of "throw away" material per household. The garbage must be delivered to the landfill. The City of Le Mars will pay the bill for that garbage, and it will not billed to the household...

Reining training: Manthe develops new techniques (06/02/08)
Brette Manthe shows reining horses, something she's done since fourth grade. To hone her skills Manthe, 18, of Merrill, participated in a Reining Working Cow Horse Clinic Saturday and Sunday sponsored by Pam and Greg Wells, owners of Windy Hill Ranch, Le Mars...

Feenstra says focus on results would drive his work as senator (05/29/08)
Randy Feenstra traces his path to politics back to selling candy. Feenstra, of Hull, is running unopposed in the June 3 primary for the Republican nomination to the Iowa Senate seat vacated by Dave Mulder. The Dordt College graduate, now the Sioux County Treasurer, worked seven years as the head of sales at the Foreign Candy Company...

Group looks at making Le Mars healthier (05/05/08)
A garden where people from the community can come grow their own vegetables and fruit. More bike racks around town. A website that lists recreation options and local food venders around the area. These were just three of the ideas a community group is throwing around as possible additions to Le Mars through a program called Iowa Fit for Life...