Defense

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...

Reflecting on their sacrifice (09/19/08)
A single stone soldier stands at salute. Five black granite slabs, etched with veterans' names, mirror his reflection against the blue sky. After years of planning and work, the Remsen Veteran's Memorial was put up Tuesday in the cemetery on the west edge of Remsen. It will be dedicated in a 1 p.m. Sunday ceremony...

Siouxland veterans flown to memorial in D.C. (09/09/08)
The Honor Flight began as a flicker of light three years ago and has grown into a beacon, thanks to retired Air Force Captain Earl Morse of Springfield, Ohio. It was Morse who flew World War II veterans to see the Memorial, the latter of which was built, completed, and dedicated to them in May 2004. ...

It's 'fair or bust' for the Ludwig family (07/14/08)
(Editor's note: This is the first in a series of stories about families preparing for the upcoming Plymouth County Fair) In less than two weeks the Ludwig's family van will journey to the Plymouth County fairgrounds filled with 4-H baked goods, dogs, a homemade hurdle and coffee table, plus the five Ludwig children and a kitten, if there's room...

Local National Guard unit helps fend off floodwater (06/16/08)
Fifty-five members of the local National Guard unit were working through the night this weekend to help hold back flood water in downtown Des Moines and Burlington. The group from Le Mars' C-Troop 113th Cavalry left Thursday to help sandbag near the rising Des Moines River. This weekend they were called to Burlington to help with sandbagging efforts along the swelling Mississippi River, and they are continuing with that effort this week...

Schipper tells council local diaster plan learning efforts going well (06/06/08)
Le Mars Fire Chief Wayne Schipper put the city council on alert Tuesday. The council members, Schipper said during the group's regular session, are most likely the next to be tested on their awareness and knowledge of the city's disaster plan. "We want everyone," Schipper said, "to be aware of the plan's basics."...

Service honors soldier who fell 40 years ago (05/27/08)
First Lieutenant Corbin Clark Tindall was killed in action on April 12, 1969. He and other members of the Armed Forces were honored Monday at The Avenue of Flags Memorial Day Program, in Le Mars, at the Plymouth County Courthouse. Tindall and his unit's service were recognized during the ceremony as this month is the 40th anniversary of their mobilization, May 13, 1968...

American Legion Auxiliary announce winners of Poppy Poster Contest (05/21/08)
Sixth grade students at Gehlen Catholic School showed their support of veterans of all wars by participating in the American Legion Auxiliary's annual Poppy Poster contest. Poppy Week is usually observed as the week that ends on the Saturday before Memorial Day. However, Gehlen Catholic sixth graders learned about it earlier as part of a unit on good poster design in art class in preparation for the American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Poster Contest, under the direction of Beth Schlichte...

History to send students to Maryland (04/30/08)
Three Le Mars Community Middle School students and nine Akron-Westfield Middle School students are among the 25 Iowa students to earn a trip to the National History Day National Contest June 15-19 at the University of Maryland. They were among the 440 Iowa students in sixth through eighth grade competing in the National History Day Iowa Junior Division contest held Monday at the State Historical Building in Des Moines...

Kooistra advances to state Geographic Bee (03/24/08)
A Le Mars Community Middle School student has advanced to the 2008 Iowa Geographic Bee. Seventh grader Zach Kooistra, son of Marie and Mike Kooistra, will compete at the 2008 Iowa Geographic Bee set for Friday, April 4, at Drake University in Des Moines...