Le Mars, Iowa · Monday, March 22, 2010
[Masthead] Fair ~ 32°F  

Entertainment Industry

Council tables acceptance of Highway 3 project (03/18/10)
The Le Mars City Council put off accepting an engineer's statement to the Iowa Department of Transportation on the completion and owners contract for the Highway 3 widening project. City Manager Scott Langel acknowledged that the city had already, due to state legislative direction, in essence accepted the $721,701 project when the widened portion of the highway was opened last November...
Spaghetti supper, service and quilt auction benefit LCS music students (03/17/10)
Le Mars Community School Music Boosters will hold its annual Spaghetti Supper and Auction Friday, March 19. The spaghetti supper will be served from 5-7 p.m. in the Le Mars Community High School cafeteria. On the menu is spaghetti with choice of sauce: red with meat or without, and alfredo, along with lettuce salad, garlic bread, ice cream and beverages...
MidAmerican customers may help finance nuclear study (03/16/10)
The 7,184 MidAmerican Electric Company customers in Plymouth County may see a monthly increase in their payment due to a proposed law. The increase would come if Iowa Gov. Chet Culver signs a bill to allow MidAmerican to boost electric consumer payments throughout the state by $15 million to study the possibility of bringing a second nuclear plant to Iowa...
Optimist Club impacts 25 years worth of children (03/12/10)
Twenty-five years ago this week, a group of locals came together to make a difference for youth. Since then, thousands of young people in Le Mars have been reached by the Le Mars Optimist Club. "We've made an impact," said Jerry Haack, founding president of the club. "Over the past 20-some years, we've touched every kid in this town in a positive way."...
Gehlen student removed from school after e-threat (03/04/10)
An 18-year-old Gehlen Catholic Schools student who allegedly authored a message threatening other Gehlen students was removed from the school immediately Thursday. The student, an 18-year-old female, sent the alleged message via an electronic communication, according to the Le Mars Police...
Apartments officially on national historic register (03/04/10)
A building which first was home to a hospital and is now apartments is Le Mars' newest listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Floyd Valley Apartments, at 110 Sixth Ave. N.E. has been named to the National Register of Historic Places. That confirmation was made Feb. 3, 2010, according to Iris Hemmingson, president of the Le Mars Historic Preservation Commission...
Man takes grandson's plight to heart in 226-mile horse trek (03/03/10)
A man who's been servicing business phone and Internet lines in Le Mars for years is turning time back to the Pony Express. Steve Van Vliet, a Frontier Communications employee, is planning a 10-day, 226-mile horseback ride halfway across Iowa at the end of March to raise awareness and money for children and adults with special needs...
Auditions for 'The Hallelujah Girls' are next week (03/03/10)
Six women and two men are needed in the next Le Mars Community Theater's side-splitting comedy. Auditions for the "The Hallelujah Girls," are next week from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, March 8 and Tuesday, March 9 at the Postal Playhouse. "The Hallelujah Girls" will run two weekends with a total of seven performances: Friday, April 23 through Sunday, April 25 and Thursday, April 29 through Sunday, May 2...
LCS Winter concert set for Tuesday (03/01/10)
The High School Vocal Music Department will present its annual Winter Concert in the Middle School Auditorium Tuesday. It will begin at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for students and will be collected at the door. In addition, passes will be honored...
Proposed texting and driving ban receives local support, criticism (02/26/10)
As soon as this summer, Iowa drivers who text and drive might see flashing blue and red lights in their rear view mirror. The Iowa House and Senate have both passed their own versions of a bill that would ban texting and driving. However, they have to come to an agreement before the law can move forward...
Work could begin in August on new Hinton elementary school (02/25/10)
Plans for Hinton Community School District's new pre-kindergarten through third grade elementary school are on track. "We would hope physical construction of the building would begin sometime in August with an eye for it being completed a year from then in August 2011," said Larry Williams, Hinton's interim superintendent...
LCHS dance exhibition Friday (02/24/10)
Dozens of dancers will light up the floor in the Le Mars Community Schools Dance Exhibition Friday. The exhibition will be held at the Le Mars Community High School Gymnasium. The show will include performances of the LCS dance team's dances from this year, a co-ed dance with boys from the high school, solos performed at the state solo contest, and dances from four other teams...
Basketball on the big screen: Local students play in new movie (02/23/10)
On Thursday, Skyler Higgins suited up for a Remsen St. Mary's district basketball game. On Friday, the RSM senior was shooting hoops on the big screen. "Winning Favor," a movie that captures the story of two Orange City teams and includes a cast of local ball players like Higgins, opened Friday for a two-week run at the Orange City movie theater...
Actor's ghost takes the stage in 'I Hate Hamlet' (02/18/10)
Hollywood actor John Barrymore was known as "one of the greatest" to play Hamlet in the 1920s. Barrymore's ghost will return Friday with the opening of the Le Mars Community Theater's production of "I Hate Hamlet." Actor Andy Linn, of Pierson, has taken on Barrymore's persona which he says is different than delivering lines in a more modern style...
Merrill residents apprehensive on proposed Kissinger closure (02/18/10)
Final decision time is nearing on the question of whether to close Kissinger Elementary School in Merrill. The Le Mars Community Schools Board is holding a special meeting 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday) for public input and comments regarding proposed budget cuts, which include shuttering the Merrill elementary...
County construction means less LOST money for grants (02/16/10)
The Plymouth County Supervisors set aside $100,000 in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) money in their proposed budget to be used for grant requests. That's $80,000 less than last year -- but the county has two new major construction projects to pay for with LOST revenue in the next fiscal year...
Museum plans 'Spring Preview of Authors (02/16/10)
"Spring Preview of Authors" will put the spotlight on Kingsley during the Plymouth County Historical Museum's first 2010 program Sunday, Feb. 21. The book signing and program will begin at 2 p.m. in the museum's Music Room on the main floor. Doors to the museum will be open from 1-5 p.m...
Earth-friendly ECO Center may be finished within year (02/15/10)
The architect for the planned Education Conservation Opportunities (ECO) Center at Hillview Park near Hinton is getting down to the nuts and bolts. With ground-breaking slated for late spring, representatives from M Plus Architects are telling the Plymouth County Conservation Department it could be using the building for meetings, education and other purposes as soon as Jan. 1, 2011...
Local jazz bands qualify for Iowa Jazz Championships (02/12/10)
Jazz bands at Le Mars Community High School and Gehlen Catholic High School qualified for the Iowa Jazz Championships April 13 in Des Moines. Both placed second in their respective classes at the NW Iowa District Jazz Competition in Sioux City Feb. 3. LCS will compete in Class 3A and Gehlen Catholic in Class 1A...
Ten Le Mars scouts honored with Pope Pius XII emblem (02/08/10)
Ten local boys will be receiving the highest emblem in Catholic boy scouting. Michael Brandenburg, Tim Burwitz, Mitchel Christoffel, Preston Freking, Matt Klein, Kyle Mangerson, Zack Nemmers, Jonathan Puhl, Ryan Sitzmann and Andrew Theisen were honored Sunday at a Mass in Le Mars for earning the Pope Pius XII Emblem...
Arts Center hosts tattoo, body piercing artists (02/05/10)
About 20 square feet of skin covers the average human body. And nearly every inch is the perfect canvas for the artists now on display at Le Mars Arts Center. This is the first time the Arts Center has displayed any type of body art. The exhibit includes about 60 drawings, paintings and graphic art pieces from five Sioux City body artists: George Owings, Tim McKenny, Rob Hill, Richard Jenkins and Emily Evans...
Water for Life Honduras (02/03/10)
A local group is about to change the lives of people of five villages, plagued with parasites and other water-borne diseases. The Le Mars Rotary Club spearheaded fundraising for water projects in Honduras, pulling together more than $35,000. That's enough to build a water system in each of those five villages, bringing clean, potable water to more than 1,000 people's homes...
Groomer keeps dogs happy in 'puppy salon' (01/29/10)
Tails wag with happiness as dogs get their pampering trim from Tricia Pippett, owner of Tail Trends, a new dog grooming business in Le Mars. Pippett opened her business Dec. 1, sharing space at Town and Country Veterinary Clinic, but has been doing grooming in Le Mars for 10 years...
Are you missing anything? Yes you are! (01/28/10)
The answer to the question is yes you are! Only the brief highlights of news and activities are published. You are missing pages of news and information on local awards and recognition, business events and advertiser discounts and sales. Every page of the Daily Sentinel can be viewed by buying a newspaper or subscription and this can be done online!...
From biomedical engineering to watercolors: Artist's journey winds its way to Le Mars (01/26/10)
A teacher told Jean Weiner she was born to paint. This affirmation came not during the Le Mars woman's high school career or even her college or graduate studies. It came after Weiner was in her early forties, had worked successfully in biomedical engineering, had two children and had battled a rare form of cancer...
MidAmerican Energy calls for safety, continues storm restoration (01/26/10)
MidAmerican Energy reminds customers to take additional safety precautions as work continues to restore service to thousands of customers impacted by this week's ice storm. Today (Tuesday) MidAmerican Energy reported only one outage in Plymouth County...
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...
Practice, practice, practice for LCS large group speech students (01/21/10)
The winter weather has not been kind to Le Mars Community High School's large group speech students. "Given the number of times we've had to cancel for weather, I feel the kids have come through wonderfully, stepping up and practicing outside of our time together," large group speech coach Erin Ohrlund explained...
Adults play BINGO, win prizes for library reading challenge (01/21/10)
BINGO: that's the name of the game for the second annual Adult Winter Reading Challenge, which begins Monday, Jan. 25 at the Le Mars Public Library. The challenge, which ends on March 28, is open to ages 18 and older. "We wanted to provide a challenge for people during the winter; we wanted to have them do something they don't normally do," said Sue Kroesche, Director of the Le Mars Public Library...
Kingsley author to share at cowboy poetry event (01/19/10)
A Kingsley man will be taking the stage at a free cowboy poetry and western music event at the Stockyard Heritage Days in Sioux City. Rich Krosch, of Kingsley, author and retired teacher, will be sharing some of his cowboy poetry at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Tyson Events Center/Gateway arena...
Locals urge legislators to watch medical, school bills (01/18/10)
Plymouth County residents concerned with proposed Iowa laws impacting everything from school dollars to anesthesiology in rural hospitals spent Saturday morning bringing questions before the local legislators. At the Le Mars Public Library, Republicans Sen. Randy Feenstra and Rep. Chuck Soderberg held their first public forum of the year, outlining the beginning of the legislative session and hearing citizens' concerns...
Le Mars Area Dialysis plans Valentine's Day Dance (01/18/10)
Get ready for music and fun at the Le Mars Area Dialysis Services Third Annual Valentine's Day Dance set for Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Le Mars Convention Center upper level from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. "The Magnificent Board of Directors" return this year as the featured entertainment...
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...
Riding the air waves: Boehm connects to the world through radio (01/13/10)
It doesn't look like a hub of international communication. But that's exactly what Donald and Harriet Boehm's cozy green house, tucked into the quiet streets of Merrill, is. Don has spoken with people from every state in the nation and on all seven continents...
Akron senior living apartments to close (01/12/10)
An eight-plex of senior living apartments in Akron is closing. The Senior Village North Apartments, under the umbrella of the Akron Care Center, will be closed by the end of February due to a lack of interest and the money it would take to upgrade it for assisted living...
Horse tales: Krosch goes from riding to writing (01/06/10)
Driving by Rich Krosch's farm, people might have noticed what looked like a zebra grazing in the pasture. They weren't too far from the truth. Krosch's son Scott wanted to be chosen for the reality TV show "Survivor: Africa." In an effort to get noticed on his video application, Scott borrowed a white mare and painted the horse striped with livestock paint to look like its wild African cousin...
Chamber, Museum offer New Year's Eve entertainment (12/29/09)
Two New Year's Eve events will offer area residents an opportunity to ring in the new year and also raise money for comunity projects and the preservation of the area's history. New this year is the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce New Year's Eve Dance at the Le Mars Convention Center upper level...
The Mighty Nish guarantees to keep dancers on their feet (12/28/09)
Thursday, Le Mars will bring in the new year to the sound of rock 'n roll with guitars, drums and an accordion. That's right, an accordion. Hailing from Harlan, Iowa, the Mighty Nish Band will be playing its show from 9 p.m., New Year's Eve, to 1 a.m., New Year's Day for the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce New Year's day celebration...
Museum ball tickets now on sale (12/23/09)
Tickets are now on sale at Lally's East Side Restaurant in Le Mars for "New York! New York!," a New Year's Eve Ball sponsored annually in "Old Central" gym by the Plymouth County Historical Museum in Le Mars. Tickets also can be purchased at the museum during open hours, every day from 1-5 p.m. except Mondays. Tickets are available at the door on the night of the dance...
LCS board proposes no teacher salary increase for 2010-11 (12/22/09)
No increase in base salary. No step movement on the salary schedule. No changes in contract language other than date changes. That's the opening proposal put forth by the Le Mars Community Schools board of education negotiating team in response to contract talks with the Le Mars Community Education Association (LCED) for the 2010-11 teachers' contract...
Try out for "I Hate Hamlet" comedy next week (12/21/09)
Auditions for the Le Mars Community Theater's production of "I Hate Hamlet" are next week. Tryouts are from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 28 and 29 at the Postal Playhouse, 105 First St. N.E., Le Mars. Three women and three men are needed for the cast, and no preparation is needed prior to auditions...
A story of dots and dashes: Navy radioman's story began with Morse code (12/11/09)
When Tom Leaverton was a boy, he and his friend used to follow that friend's older brother-in-law -- a telegrapher -- around and watch him send Morse code messages. When he gave the boys each a telegraph key, Leaverton and his buddy strung a wire down the one-block alley between their houses in Sioux City and tried their hand at Morse code...
Le Mars Chamber plans New Year's Eve dance (12/11/09)
Live music, dancing, snacks, noisemakers and fun -- that's what awaits the people attending the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce New Year's Eve Dance. The Main Street Organizational Committee will be hosting a New Year's Eve dance Thursday, Dec. 31, in the upper level of the Le Mars Convention Center...
Westfield filmmaker's Christmas work debuts (12/10/09)
A movie that involved dozens of volunteers, scenery in four U.S. states and Scotland, 120 bible verses and a herd of sheep near Westfield is hitting screens across the nation. Westfield native Josh Martyn, director of the film, has finished his work on "The Greatest Gift Ever."...
Museum plans New Year's ball (12/10/09)
"New York! New York!" once again will be the theme for the New Year's Eve Ball at the Plymouth County Historical Museum Thursday, Dec. 31, in Le Mars. This year's ball is being billed as a family event. The evening will include a children's movie in the Music Room for those wishing to bring children or grandchildren...
Change from basketball to baritone a blessing, Embree says (12/08/09)
"I am so very grateful for the life I have been able to have. I am indeed one really lucky man," says singer Marc Embree. "I could not have imagined, not in my most extravagant dreams the great experiences and extraordinary people that have touched my life."...
Free H1N1 vaccination clinics scheduled (12/08/09)
Floyd Valley Community Health Service will be offering free public H1N1 influenza vaccination clinics from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17 and from 3:30 -- 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22 in Floyd Valley Hospital's Conference Center. These clinics are open to anyone that is in one of the following priority groups only:...
When life was simple: Fitzgerald recalls pony carts and hand-me-downs (12/03/09)
Editors Note: This story is the first in a weekly series looking back at life decades ago and remembering a time when people's lifestyle was very different than today. Was life simpler when $1 bought four gallons of gas or during the Great Depression when it cost less to use corn as fuel than sell it or when children played baseball instead of computer games?...
LCS, Gehlen students present holiday music concerts (12/01/09)
Remsen native propels Osmond to the top (12/01/09)
"Hamster, we did it!" That's the text message Donny Osmond sent Remsen native Adam Gentz after taking home the Dancing with the Stars trophy Nov. 24. Gentz, Osmond's personal trainer, had been working with the singer for three months in Las Vegas to build the strength, agility and endurance to dance his way to the top in the TV competition...