Music Festivals

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...

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."...

LCMS students bring musical 'Honk! Jr.' to Le Mars stage (03/10/10)
The Le Mars Community Middle School Vocal Department will present "Honk" Junior," at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday in the Middle School Auditorium under the direction of Nancy Ewing. "Honk! Junior" is a contemporary, comic adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling."...

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...

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...

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...

Wolf to reveal design elements through flower arranging course (02/11/10)
Dennis Wolf has been arranging flowers for over 30 years. As a master level judge for flower arrangements, he used his skills to examine the flower arrangements during the Plymouth County Fair last summer. Wolf's time spent at that fair made him realize there was a need for basic flower arrangement training...

Hotel/motel tax dollars may boost fairgrounds, chalk festival (02/03/10)
Twelve local agencies and organizations and the city are likely to be the beneficiaries of $36,033 in local option Hotel/Motel Sales Tax dollars this year. The Le Mars City Council received the requests for annual allocations of the sales tax revenue from the Hotel/Motel Sales Tax Advisory Board at its Tuesday session...

County budget cutting begins with conservation, sheriff, fair (01/22/10)
The chopping has begun with the Plymouth County Supervisors starting cuts to make the 2011 budget work. Tuesday, the board agreed to trim back dollars from requests made by county conservation, the sheriff, the county fair, the county libraries and the county museums...

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...

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...

Supervisors consider fair, museum requests (01/15/10)
Plymouth County Historical Museum and county fair board officials presented their budget requests for 2010-11 to the board of supervisors Tuesday. Both officials kept their asking amounts the same as those requested for the current 2009-10 fiscal year...

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...

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...

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."...

Six selected for 2009 Drake Honor Band (12/04/09)
Six Gehlen Catholic students are among the 200 musicians from Iowa and Nebraska who will perform this Saturday during the 2009 Drake Honor Band Festival in Des Moines. They include seniors, Sarah Jentz and Josh Schreiner; juniors, Christopher Eral and Matt Klein; freshman, Elisabeth Niebuhr; and foreign exchange student, Yerin Seo...

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...

Fitzpatrick's love of music turned into choir director job (11/19/09)
Little did Marlene Fitzpatrick know when she tagged along with her dad as a child to choir rehearsal at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars, she would one day be the choir's director. Sunday, she will be honored on her retirement after 35 years as choir director and liturgist at St. James Church. The open house will be held from 2-4 p.m. in the St. James parish hall...

Storming the stage: Behind the scenes with Crimson and Black (11/13/09)
Spotlights flare up. Energy hums. Color flashes. Crimson and Black takes the stage -- and once again sweeps the audience to its feet, roaring with approval. This is the Le Mars Community High School show choir, which has built regional fame on hours of sweat and singing...

The young face of Veteran's Day: Sitzmann shares story (11/11/09)
Curtis Sitzmann, of Le Mars, remembers when he was a child thinking that veterans were older guys. "I'm only 22," the Army National Guard member said Monday at the Le Mars armory where he was helping clean up after a weekend of training. But the young soldier is already a veteran...

Gehlen, LCS students selected for Opus Honor Choir Festival (11/09/09)
Students from Le Mars Community Schools and Gehlen Catholic School have been chosen to participate in the 23rd annual Opus Honor Choir Festival. Gehlen Catholic eighth grade student Sara Roder will make her fourth appearance in an Opus Honor Choir. She also received the high honor of being chosen as a solo finalist for the song, "Benedictus" in the 7th & 8th Grade Girls Honor Choir...

What you missed today by not subscribing... (11/05/09)
Upcoming Jazz Band and Symphony concert schedules... Gehlen students helping on annual service day... Students selected for NW Iowa Junior High Honor Band.... ...AND so much more! You can subscribe by calling (712) 546-7031 OR you can subscribe right here online to our e-edition...

Slush Fund Benefit debuts Saturday (11/05/09)
How about a photograph with Le Mars Mayor Dick Kirchoff dressed as Elvis Presley? Or a foot-stompin' good time dancing or listening to country, rock and roll and gospel music? If that gets your blood pumping, the first ever Slush Fund Benefit is the place to be from 6-10:30 p.m. Saturday, according to organizer Tom Mullally...

LCS musicians selected for All-State Festival (11/03/09)
Thirteen Le Mars Community High School musicians have been chosen to be part of the 2009 Iowa All-State Music Festival with another five chosen as alternates. District auditions were held Oct. 24 at Storm Lake. Four students were selected for the All-State band...

Horn blowing earns student honor of being Marine musician (10/05/09)
Kris Ohrlund began playing the tuba eight years ago. In September that choice paid off when the Le Mars Community High School senior's musical talent earned him a seat playing with the U.S. Marine Corps Band. "They play all over the world," Ohrlund said. "They play for the President, for basic training graduations and the National Anthem at professional games."...

Free strings concert Wednesday (10/05/09)
A free concert involving strings musicians from eight northwest Iowa schools will be filling the Le Mars Community Schools (LCS) auditorium with sound Wednesday. The 4 p.m. concert, open to the public, will involve 27 LCS seventh and eighth grade musicians along with others from around the region...

Families' chalk drawings color downtown Le Mars (09/21/09)
Moms, dads, children, sisters, brothers, grandparents having fun together -- that's what the Le Mars Chalk Art Festival was all about. Families, like the Murphys, were already hard at work Saturday morning, the first day of the weekend festival. "Grandma had a fun idea for us to come down and draw," Mia Tardive said of her mom. "We do a lot of things together as a family."...

Chalk Art Festival this weekend (09/18/09)
The Le Mars Chalk Art Festival will take to the streets for the first time this weekend. Starting at 10 a.m. Saturday and running through Sunday, artists from Le Mars to as far away as Ohio will be chalking up the streets and sidewalks of downtown Le Mars and more...

Le Mars ready for chalk artists this weekend (09/17/09)
Le Mars is gearing up for its first Chalk Art Festival this weekend and conditions seem just right for success. The weather forecast promises sunny weather with only slight chances for rain late Sunday night. Several vendors and restaurants will provide a variety of foods for people to enjoy during the festival...

Scarecrows to take over Akron Park Saturday (09/15/09)
Scarecrows will take center stage at the Eighth Annual Great Akron Scarecrow Festival Saturday at the Akron City Park. The event, hosted by the Friendship & Service Club of Akron, opens at 10 a.m., with judging of the scarecrow contest and runs until around 4:30 p.m...

Presbyterian UCC celebrates 125 years of sharing faith (09/11/09)

Art comes out of the woodwork in local show (09/11/09)
Joshua T. Adair fashioned a wooden desk in the 1830s. His great-great grandson John A. Adair restored the piece, which is currently featured in the "Around Town" exhibit at the Le Mars Arts Center. "I think he had that while he was a magistrate," John said. "He used the desk to do his work."...

Fair results booklet inside (09/11/09)
Check out the second section of the Plymouth County Fair results booklet inside the Daily Sentinel today. Photos and results for 4-H Building exhibit winners and awards for other contests are included. The first section of the Plymouth County Fair results booklet was included in the August 31 issue of the Daily Sentinel...

Chalk festival invites all ages to color downtown Le Mars (09/10/09)
Remember sitting in the driveway and making chalk pictures? The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce's First Annual Chalk Art Festival next week is a chance to relive those childhood moments or create new ones. The chalk art festival will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20 in downtown Le Mars...

Maass honored with Farm Bureau Ag Award (09/10/09)
A retired Remsen farmer is the 2009 recipient of the Plymouth County Farm Bureau's Service to Agriculture Award. The award was presented to Kenneth Maass and his wife, Bethene, at the 91st annual meeting of Plymouth County Farm Bureau Tuesday evening at the Le Mars Community Middle School Auditorium...

Bluegrass festival brings thousands (09/08/09)
A week of gorgeous weather and good music brought about 25,000 people to the Plymouth County Fairgrounds last week, according to Bob Everhart. Everhart is one of the coordinators of the National Traditional Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival that was hosted for the second time at the fairgrounds in Le Mars this year...

Yahsu Le Mars -- that's Greek for 'Hello' (09/04/09)
The men leap and shout and whistle. The ladies shyly lift dainty ankles and move in graceful circles. Dressed from head to toe in red, black, white and gold, a group of Greek dancers from Hungary are bringing a new heritage to the 34th Annual National Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival this week in Le Mars...

Swatzells keep dobro tradition alive (09/03/09)
Each day Bertha Swatzell and Mary Nell Swatzell Eidson open the doors of the Dobrotorium at the 34th Annual National Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival to a steady stream of performers. More than likely, many performances will include a dobro, also known as a slide or acoustical guitar...

Country music veteran earns spot in Hall of Fame (09/03/09)
Razzy Bailey came all the way from Georgia to accept his induction into America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame Wednesday. The induction took place during the 34th Annual National Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival in Le Mars...

Free soup: Tradition lives on in Tipi Village (09/02/09)
In the 1840s, when people pulled up to a fur trading camp, they'd be sure to find a pot on the fire. "Whoever had been on the trail could always depend on a hot meal," said Catfish Grinstead, stirring a pot in his tent in the Tipi Village at the National Old Time Country, Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival in Le Mars...

Singer, songwriter's career grows during CIA service (09/01/09)
Francis Hahn has worn many caps in his lifetime from CIA operative to shoe store repair owner to airport manager. His most fulfilling career -- his music. "I've enjoyed song writing more than anything I've ever done," Hahn said. The Mapleton man sang his tunes on the Church of Jesus stage at the 34th Annual National Old Time Country Bluegrass and Folk Music Festival Monday afternoon...

Music festival ready to go back to the roots (08/31/09)
On a park bench, two men pluck strings and tune guitars. On stage, a Johnny Cash tribute artist belts out the man in black's hits. This was the scene at the Olson Cultural Event Center in Le Mars Sunday. Only the two men tuning up were from northwest England. And the Johnny Cash artist was from Slovakia...

Teen realizes dream of auditioning for television show (08/31/09)
Cole Barbee, a Hinton Community School sophomore, has wanted to audition for American Idol since he was 9 years old. His dream became reality this past summer when he participated in American Idol tryouts in Denver, Colo. July 11, 12 and 13. "It was my first chance to get in because I had to be 16," Barbee said. "I knew about them from the very first season (2002) and I've been waiting ever since."...

Final bids Saturday on chair art (08/07/09)
Final bidding on "Sittin' Pretty" chairs at the Arts Center will be held Saturday. The 46 chairs, painted by local artists for the annual fundraiser for the Le Mars Arts Council, will be handed to the highest bidder at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. The chairs have been on exhibit at the Arts Center and then the Plymouth County Fair through July and early August...

Le Mars to serve as international hub for music (08/06/09)
Skip New York. Le Mars will be an international junction Aug. 31-Sept. 6 when musicians from as far as Greece, New Zealand and the country of Georgia will be taking the stage. This is Le Mars' second year hosting the National Old-Time Country and Bluegrass Festival at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds...

Nicholson touts 4-H as important life experience (08/05/09)
A family reunion brought former Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson back to his hometown and an opportunity to visit the Plymouth County Fair last Friday. "I can't believe how much its grown. It's spectacular," Nicholson said during an interview at the 4-H Food Stand, indicating his last visit to the fair was about 10 years ago...

Live music, dancing at farmer's market (08/05/09)
Wednesday's farmer's market will continue a tradition of live music at Olson Cultural Event Center. This week's free show, from 5-6 p.m., features the Rejoice! Community Church's praise band singing live on stage. Next week's show is a free square dance, and all are invited...

Brink inducted into fair's Hall of Fame (08/04/09)
The 2009 Plymouth County Fair Hall of Fame inductee grew up east of Merrill and has a long history with the Plymouth County Fair. Darwin Brink, now of Bronson, Iowa, received the honor Wednesday prior to the crowning of fair royalty. "Darwin has been walking or riding the Plymouth County fairgrounds for the past 70 years," said fair board president Terry Reuter...

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