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Supervisors to take on mailbox versus road debate (03/18/10)
Are mailboxes sitting too close to county roads? The Plymouth County Supervisors decided Tuesday to look into the matter more thoroughly, after hearing concerns from local farmer Del Kellen. Kellen, who lives and farms south of Le Mars, said there's a problem with sight distance when it comes to rural mail carriers stopped along the K-49 and other county paved roads...

Weinrich Truck Lines turns 50 (03/15/10)
Odds are you've bought or eaten something transported by Weinrich Truck Line. The Hinton trucking company turns 50 this year, marking half a century of transporting everything from oats for race horses to syrup for Coca Cola. The business started out with an agricultural focus and grew to meet needs with a fleet of 50 trucks, both dry vans for hauling dry goods and tankers for liquids...

Neither sleet, snow, or police prevent Milne from walking to work (02/17/10)
The postal service isn't the only thing that keeps going through all the winter elements. Nothing, not even traffic or police, keeps Richard Milne, of Le Mars, from walking to work. At age 62, Milne chooses to lace up his walking shoes to transport him on the nearly 3-mile one-way route to his job as engineering technician at the Plymouth County Engineer's office just north of Le Mars...

Potholes open up challenges for crews, drivers (02/17/10)
Warm winter weather does more than melt snow -- it helps create potholes. And they multiply every time the ground freezes and thaws creating more this year than ever. That's what makes it hard for street crews like Le Mars and the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) to keep up with temporary pothole repairs...

Le Mars KCs celebrate 100 years of service (01/18/10)
A Le Mars organization with a history of service in the community will observe its 100th anniversary this month. The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic, family fraternal organization which support services programs in their churches and community. The Le Mars council, Trinity Council 1466, was instituted Jan. 23, 1910, with the first meeting held Feb. 4, 1910, in the office of Dr. Fitzgerald in Sioux City. Sponsoring council was Epiphany Council in Sioux City...

Highway 3 west widening, city signs on 2010 project list (01/08/10)
Adding a lane to Highway 3 west of Le Mars will likely be one of the City of Le Mars' top projects in the works in the new year. Le Mars City Administrator Scott Langel sketched out the 2010 priority projects with the Daily Sentinel this week, noting the finalized list is yet to come...

LCS board appoints negotiating team, purchases vehicle (11/13/09)
Opening negotiation sessions between teachers and the Le Mars Community School District will be held in December. In a letter to the school board president, the Le Mars Community Education Association (LCEA) notified the board of its intent to bargain, with the first bargaining session for the 2010-2011 master contract to be held at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7...

Couple plans to build semi trailers at former grain site (11/10/09)
A Le Mars couple will be transforming a former grain mill site west of Le Mars into a manufacturing business for semi trailers. Clint and Leslie Chapman, now owners of the 3.59-acre property about 2 miles west of Le Mars on Highway 3, received approval Monday from the Plymouth County Board of Adjustment for a conditional use permit to manufacture live-bottom trailers at the site...

Moving house: Rectory leaves churchs ground for new home (11/05/09)
It's a strange feeling watching your house move down the road. That's what Donna Bliek said Wednesday after seeing her new 220,000 pound home lumbering down Highway 3. In August, she and her husband Ken Bliek purchased the former St. Joseph Church rectory -- a massive brick house located in northeastern Le Mars -- with plans to move it to land near Hinton and make it their family home...

Council approves work on Business 75 north, Blue Diamond Drive (09/16/09)
Le Mars City Council members continued with the next step for two city road projects: curb and gutter along Business Highway 75 north and the creation of Blue Diamond Drive. The first project, improving current curb and gutter problems along Business Highway 75 from Highway 3 north to the Floyd River Bridge, is scheduled to get underway next year...

Locals would pay price if Cherokee MHI closes (09/15/09)
Closing the Cherokee Mental Health Institute (MHI) would be damaging for Plymouth County, according to area mental health professionals. Transportation costs for both the county and patients having to travel greater distances to other facilities to receive treatment and related agencies that rent space on the institution's campus could face hardships...

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...

Smoother ride ahead for rough railroad crossing (07/27/09)
Help is on the way for the Highway 3 railroad crossing next to Fareway. "Rough Crossing" signs went up recently to warn drivers. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad Company (CC) are aware of the situation and working together on a solution...

2009 fair truck recognizes fair board and swine show (07/27/09)
The 10th annual edition of the Plymouth County Fair collectible truck recognizes the swine show judging and members of the Plymouth County Fair board. The series of trucks is designed to recognize activities and scenes that make up the Plymouth County Fair...

City seeks grant dollars for road to truck wash (07/22/09)
Blue Diamond Drive might appear on your next Le Mars street map. The drive, a connecting road between Business Highway 75 and Holton Drive to allow traffic into Blue Diamond Truck Wash, moved a step closer to reality Tuesday. The Le Mars City Council approved submitting a RISE local development grant application to help pay for the project...

It's finished...almost: Manager gives nod to CAT grant completion (07/20/09)
The manager for the program that granted the City of Le Mars $650,000 in 2005 gave her stamp of approval Friday to the completed recreation updates. Alaina Santizo, program manager for Vision Iowa/CAT (Community Attractions and Tourism), said the multimillion dollar project, as proposed in the grant application, is finished...

Highway 3 work to close main hospital entrances (07/10/09)
The two main entrances to Floyd Valley Hospital will be closed during Highway 3 road work likely starting Monday. To get in and out of the hospital, as well as Medical Associates, Park Place Estates and Park Village, traffic must come from the south...

What's open, what's not this weekend (07/01/09)
Closed: All City of Le Mars offices will be closed Friday, July 3, for the 4th of July weekend holiday. The Grass and Twig dropoff site north of the Riverview Complex will not be open Saturday. Regular hours resume 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 11...

Oyens centennial: A big hairy deal (06/08/09)
Bill Loutsch has lived near Oyens for nearly 50 years. But lately, he hasn't been looking like himself. That's because Bill, along with about 30 other men from the community, loves Oyens so much he was willing to grow out his beard six months to help celebrate the Oyens Centennial...

Dull has passion for community theatre (05/27/09)
One might say that Bonnie Dull has a love affair with the Le Mars Community Theatre. The 87-year-old Le Mars resident has been involved with the local theater group since its inception more than 40 years ago and just completed directing the latest production, "The O'Conner Girls."...

Fighting fires whets the appetite of five generations (05/15/09)
Fighting fires has been in Wayne Schipper's blood more than 100 years. The Le Mars fire chief's great-grandfather Henry Schipper started the tradition in the 1890s with his great uncle Hy (Harold) Schipper following in the early 1900s. "They just came and participated in the fire department to help citizens," Wayne said of his ancestors. "We just continue that tradition they established."...

Work on Highway 3 and Business 75 move forward (05/07/09)
Moving ahead on roadwork projects this week, the Le Mars City Council members set public hearings on two of them: the widening of Highway 3 East near the Floyd Valley Hospital and curb, gutter and sewer improvement of Business Highway 75. The hearings have been set for noon June 2...

Like father like daughter (05/07/09)
This week, Staff Sgt. Steve Dolph is heading to training for his third tour of duty in Iraq. His daughter, Morgan, a senior at Le Mars Community School, doesn't want to say goodbye. She wants to go with him. The only thing that's standing in her way: basic training...

New postage rates start May 11 (05/04/09)
There's only one week left before the price increase for postage stamps and other mailing services. Starting May 11, it will cost 44 cents to mail a first-class letter. That's a 2 cent increase over the current 42 cents. Le Mars Postmaster Dan Kelly said he has ordered a large number of new stamps in preparation for the increase...

City must backpay for signs (04/23/09)
"We're going to have to pay or remove the signs." That was the comment Councilman Ken Nelson offered when Le Mars City Council members agreed this week to reimburse the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) for the Business Highway 75 signs posted just off the Highway 75 bypass...

LOST money to renovate storefronts, new firehouse (04/22/09)
Four community projects are in line for Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) dollars as a result of action Tuesday by the Le Mars City Council. Council members approved the following: Prior to this, the council had planned to use LOST dollars to first repay debt for the new jail (the reason the LOST was put into effect) and for bonding to pay for the earliest LOST projects, according to City Finance Director Bill Cole...

Drive to repair county roads, bridges continues (04/20/09)
Resurfacing four county roads and replacing nine bridges is expected to cost about $3.4 million this construction season. Plymouth County Supervisors Tuesday approved a road repair and maintenance budget for fiscal year 2009-10 and a five-year construction plan presented by Tom Rohe, Plymouth County engineer...

Dropping day of mail a 'last resort,' local USPS man says (04/10/09)
Earlier this year the United States Postal Service's postmaster general caused a stir when he told Congress the USPS may temporarily drop one day of mail delivery. But the likelihood of going from six-day delivery to five days is slim, according to Barry Snyder, supervisor at the Le Mars Post Office...

New caf� offers a hub for Merrill (03/27/09)
Almost every table is packed. The clanking and sizzling sound of cooking spills out from the kitchen. Laughter and chatter fills the room. Smiling servers glide by carrying plates loaded with roast beef sandwiches and steaming burgers. Pretty good for day four of Emma Rae's Caf�. Especially considering the fact there's no sign outside, except for "Open."...

They're back: Bald eagles showing their faces around Le Mars (03/23/09)
Last week, Le Mars' airport manager Earl Draayer spotted seven bald eagles perched in the same tree. A driver reported seeing a dozen of the birds in trees along the Floyd River. We shouldn't be too surprised, according to Plymouth County Naturalist Victoria Shamblen...

Students say FFA keeps modern edge (02/26/09)
The Le Mars FFA chapter was chartered in the 1940s. But today's members say the club is far from outdated. "We're still a growing organization, making updates as we go," said Shawn Oetken, a junior at Le Mars Community School and officer in the local FFA chapter...

Dust, noise, concern neighbors about proposed gravel mining (02/24/09)
A proposed gravel mining operation near where Highway 75 hits the southern Plymouth County line is one step closer to digging up sand after a close vote by the county zoning board. About 20 members of the public came to the meeting to hear Mel Crawford, of Sioux City, request to rezone 62 acres just east of Highway 75 from commercial to industrial so he can open a gravel mining operation...

Le Mars United Way Campaign exceeds $85,000 goal (02/11/09)
The Le Mars United Way annual campaign has exceeded their goal this year by raising $92,200. "We are extremely happy with the community support we have been given. After raising nearly $70,000 last year we are thrilled to have raised $92,200 in a year filled with economic challenges," stated Kathy Bartelli, Le Mars United Way Board Chair. "This goes to show the true commitment of the Le Mars community."...

The doctor is in: Remsen welcomes new clinic (01/19/09)
The new Remsen Medical Clinic, located west of the Remsen Post Office received an official welcome with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on Friday, Jan. 16. Members of the Remsen community, FVH board of trustees, Ply. Co. Board of Supervisors, a representative from Senator Grassley's office, and members of the North West Rural Electric Cooperative (NW REC) joined Remsen city officials who attended the ribbon cutting ceremony held in the lobby of the Remsen clinic...

Think safety when snowplows are out (12/26/08)
Plowing snow, whether on city streets, highways or county roads, is no easy job, and drivers need to take safety precautions for both themselves and the snowplow drivers. "Keep back and give us some room," advised Steve Hansen, Le Mars public works director...

Clearing snow and ice from mailbox ensures delivery (12/22/08)
Remember the saying that starts out "Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow . . ." and continues with the theme the U.S. Post Office will always deliver? If the way to the mailbox, whether by vehicle or by foot, isn't safe, there may not be any mail delivered...

Christmas crunch: Postal Service sorts through busiest time (12/16/08)
It may be 10 degrees below zero Wednesday but you'll be seeing U.S. Postal Service workers out on the streets. Dec. 17 is predicted to be their busiest delivery day. That comes two days after their busiest mail sorting day. "The Postal Service will handle 960 million cards and letters today," said Le Mars Postmaster Dan Kelly on Monday. "That's nearly double the average daily volume."...

Council members commended for work on bus route (12/03/08)
John Leonard and Ken Nelson received a pat on the back from the other Le Mars City Council members Tuesday for their efforts to help start a city public bus route. Nelson, meanwhile, praised cooperation of Siouxland Regional Transit System (SRTS) staff and bus drivers on the project...

Gravity can't hold him down (12/02/08)
Cruising at about 400 miles per hour, Steve Schultz looks to his left and sees the sun glinting off another fighter plane soaring nearly wingtip-to-wingtip with his. And he's not surprised. Since he was 3 years old, the former Le Mars man knew this is where he wanted to be...

Rail project costs jolt city council members (11/19/08)
Le Mars City Council members wore sticker shock expressions after getting their first look Tuesday at a nearly $1 million cost for new rail spur track extensions in Le Mars Industrial Park. The council earlier this year gave its commitment to add the rail extensions to IML Containers Iowa, which is constructing new facilities in the industrial park...

Vehicle title fees increase soon (11/14/08)
The cost of titling your vehicle will increase Jan. 1, 2009. As part of a state law designed to raise more money to pay for roads and road improvements, vehicle title fees and registration fees for trailers and trucks will rise starting at the beginning of next year...

Future vehicle ban planned for city rec trail (11/07/08)
The banning of vehicle access to city rec trails and the rec trail tunnel and possible $500 fines for violators was approved Tuesday by Le Mars City Council members. City Administrator Scott Langel was authorized to proceed with steps to institute a ban...

Courthouse shuffle begins (11/05/08)
The Plymouth County Supervisors took the first step Tuesday toward rearranging the courthouse to make more room for crowded offices. The main push was to make more room for the cramped Juvenile Court Services. The supervisors approved moving the Veterans Affairs office, currently on the main floor of the courthouse in the northeast corner, to the lower level. There that office will share the space with the Zoning and Sanitation offices, which are only used one day a week...

Mail processing center stays in Sioux City (11/04/08)
Sioux City will keep its U.S. Postal Service mail processing center. That announcement came Monday afternoon following nearly three years of studying the possibility of consolidating that center with Sioux Falls. "There were cost savings to be had, but none worth the consternation in the community and among customers," said Richard Watkins, spokesman for the U.S.P.S. Des Moines-based Hawkeye district...

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...

Minnesota woman escapes serious injury in truck, building collision (09/29/08)
A medical condition caused Stephanie Kay Allen to lose control of her pickup and crash it into the Meylor Chiropractic building Friday afternoon, police said. The 39-year-old woman, of Silver Lake, Minn., who was wearing her seat belt, suffered non-life threatening injuries during the 12:45 p.m. accident...

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

Construction marches forward on new Remsen Medical Clinic (08/13/08)
June rain delays can't stop construction of the new Remsen Medical Clinic. The clinic on Second Street west of the post office is expected to be completed Dec. 1, said Daryl Friedenbach, director of financial services at Floyd Valley Hospital (FVH)...

Street closings approved for Scoop da Loop event (08/07/08)
The Le Mars City Council on Tuesday granted the request by the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce/Main Street for closing streets for the 11th annual Scoop da Loop event set for Aug. 20 in Le Mars. The areas to be closed for the event are the Olson Cultural Event Center and Postal Playhouse parking lots and First Street and First Avenue surrounding the cultural center. The closings will be effective from 5 p.m. to 10 p. m...

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...

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