News

LE MARS — The Le Mars City Council approved the sale of property in the Le Mars Industrial Park South Addition following a public hearing at its Jan. 19 meeting. Offers for the property, described as Lot Four (4) of Replat of Lot Three (3), Part of Lot Five (5), and Lots Six (6) & Seven (7), Le Mars Industrial Park- South Addition, City of Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa, were to be received by 5 p.m., Jan. 13...

SIOUX CITY — A Le Mars man who stole government funds using a COVID-19 unemployment scheme was sentenced Jan. 19, to 3 months in federal prison. Dennis George Chinn, 55, from Le Mars, received the prison term after a Sept. 25, 2020 guilty plea to theft of government funds...

SIOUX CITY — A man who enticed a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and was stopped outside Le Mars was sentenced on Jan. 14, 2021, to 12 years in federal prison. Sean Matthew Williams, 25, from Edgerton, Wisconsin, received the prison term after an Aug. 27, 2020, guilty plea to one count of Coercion and Enticement...

AMES — Due to restrictions related to COVID-19, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association hosted six policy committee meetings on Zoom reaching over 300 producers throughout December and January. Attendees discussed, debated, and voted on expiring and new policies and directives...

DES MOINES — Iowa Workforce Development announced it will reissue new 1099-G tax forms to all claimants on Jan. 25. After recently mailing the 1099-G forms, IWD discovered the forms may not have included all of the benefits received by claimants in 2020. The form is used to report unemployment compensation, and state and federal taxes withheld. The reason for the error has been identified and corrected...

LE MARS — A new budget year for the City of Le Mars will also bring with it a combined department of Le Mars Fire-Rescue and Le Mars EMS. The merger was first announced at the end of Tuesday’s city council meeting when City Administrator Jason Vacura informed council members they would notice a change to the General Fund line item that would reflect the two departments now as one operating unit...

LE MARS — The Le Mars Community School District Board of Education bargaining team gave its opening proposal to the Le Mars Community Education Association for the master contract for 2021-2022. The meeting was at 5 p.m., Wednesday at the Education Services Center...

DES MOINES — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced an update to the Group 1B eligibility groups for the COVID-19 vaccination during her Thursday press conference. While the recommendation from the Iowa Infectious Disease Advisory Council for Group 1B listed the age group of those 75 and older as eligible to receive the vaccine, Reynolds updated that tier to make more older adults eligible...

PLYMOUTH CO. — A status hearing on the upcoming trial of Thomas J. Knapp of Merrill was held Jan. 19 in Plymouth County District Court with Duane E. Hoffmeyer, Chief Judge, Third Judicial District of Iowa, presiding. Knapp is charged with first degree murder following a shooting incident resulting in the death of Kevin Juzek on May 11, 2020. ...

LE MARS — Plans for the next phase of the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine are being put into place by Floyd Valley Healthcare under guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). Phase 1B is set to begin Feb. 1 with a broader reach of those who will qualify for receiving the vaccine...

LE MARS — Le Mars City Council members had a discussion about the 2021 RAGBRAI plans, for which Le Mars is slated to be the starting point on July 25. City Administrator Jason Vacura said questions from the Community Services Committee arose about if the ride was still a go, and concerns if Le Mars still wants to be a part of it...

LE MARS — Three Plymouth County Sheriff's Deputies were sworn in to new positions on Tuesday by Judge Dan Vakulskas at the courthouse in a ceremony.

PLYMOUTH CO. — Three Plymouth County entities are part of a total of 267 cultural organizations and 152 artists serving 118 Iowa communities which received a share of $7 million in grants announced Dec. 22 by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs...

MARCUS — The MMCRU building in Marcus was on a lockdown during the late morning and early afternoon hours on Tuesday, Jan. 19, following the finding of a .22 caliber bullet laying in the hallway of the high school. According to a release signed by Superintendent Dan Barkel and Principal Travis Sprague that was sent out following the lockdown, the building went into a lockdown as law enforcement were called to the scene. ...

PLYMOUTH CO. — Anyone wishing to foster cats and dogs in Plymouth County is invited to attend the volunteer meeting of Wet-Nose Rescue Tuesday, Jan. 26, at the Eagles Club in Le Mars. Two meetings will be offered — one at 6 p.m. and one at 7 p.m. to allow social distancing and cleaning between meetings...

DES MOINES — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced two Future Ready Iowa grant opportunities totaling $1.2 million. The Future Ready Iowa Employer Innovation Fund is designed to expand opportunities for Iowans to earn post-secondary credentials leading to high-demand jobs and encourage Iowa employers, community leaders and others to collaborate to support regional workforce talent development...

DES MOINES — On Dec. 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021, reauthorizing and extending the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program, and the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program. ...

The Le Mars Eagles Club recently donated $2,500 to the Le Mars Backpack Program. Money raised from bingo in Le Mars, and by other clubs in west central Iowa and Nebraska, funnel funds through the Grand Aerie to be available for donation to worthy causes. The donation will help fill backpacks with food for children in the Le Mars area...

LENEXA, Kan. — January marks National Radon Action Month. Every January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urges everyone across the United States to test their homes for radon gas. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can seep into homes from the ground and, in some cases, well water supply...

Carol Ehlers Human Sciences Specialist, Family Finance AMES — Research conducted by the National Endowment for Financial Education in April and September found that over 80 percent of Americans reported feeling financial stress. Top financial stressors included amount of emergency savings, job security, retirement savings, income fluctuations and paying different types of household bills...

LE MARS — What is the lure of ice fishing? Just ask David Skou, owner of Beginner’s Luck Tackle & Supply in Le Mars. “The experience, the challenge,” he said. “Ice fishing isn’t for everybody. You’re out braving the elements in all types of weather when you go out there. It’s a lot more challenging. And if you’ve never done it, it’s an awesome experience.”...

LE MARS — The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner is set for Thursday, Jan. 28. This year, people will be able to gather around their own dinner table as the event will be released as a video. “On the 28th of January, we will release a video that will be honoring all the different people that have won awards for the year. ...

LE MARS — The Main Street Iowa Open 4 Business competition is now taking applications for the 2021 awards. According to Le Mars Main Street Manager Mary Reynolds, this is the fifth year local businesses are able to apply for the competition. Deadline for the local competition is Jan. 27...

LE MARS — When Carolyn Bickford first became involved with Gehlen Catholic Mission Honduras, she didn’t imagine how it would change her life. Now as Gehlen Catholic’s Mission Honduras leader, she prepares for her final mission trips in 2021, leaving an opening for a new mission trip organizer...

SIOUX CO. — On Thursday, Jan. 14, at 4:51 p.m., the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office investigated a fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred on Highway 10 (460th Street), three miles east of Alton. Josiah Gonzalez, age 18, of Granville, was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Malibu westbound on Highway 10. Barry Galles, age 45, of Remsen, was driving a 2019 Ford F-250 eastbound on Highway 10. Gonzalez lost control of his vehicle, entered the eastbound lane and the two struck...