News

LE MARS — It’s time to get orders in for the annual Floyd Valley Healthcare Auxiliary Holiday Cut Out Cookie sale.

LE MARS — The 2019 Key Avenue Recreation Trail took a step forward at the Nov. 6 Le Mars City Council meeting. Council members approved a Federal-Aid Agreement for a Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) project - 2019 Key Avenue Recreation Trail...

LE MARS — This week Kimmes Enterprises, owner of Country Stores convenience store chain, broke ground in Le Mars to expand consumer fuel choice. The store is adding registered E15 (15 percent ethanol, 85 percent petroleum), E85, E30, E50, and B11 (11 percent biodiesel, 89 percent petroleum diesel)...

GUTHRIE CENTER - Four Plymouth County residents were killed in a plane crash, Friday, Nov. 9, in Guthrie County, according to local law enforcement.

GUTHRIE CENTER — A plane that left Le Mars on Friday was found in the early morning hours on Saturday. Three passengers, including the pilot, were found deceased. Names have not been released pending family notifications. Emergency responders from four counties mobilized about 9 p.m. Friday to search for a private plane that was reported missing just before sundown...

LE MARS — Loyalty, the first of seven basic values the United States Army instills in its soldiers, asks soldiers to “bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit and other soldiers.” After 50 years, that value proved true for Vietnam veteran Jim Singer of Le Mars, when he and his family took a road trip to Washington, D.C., to reconnect with old loyalties and a man he’d toured a warzone with 50 years ago...

PLYMOUTH CO. — While Veterans Day falls on Sunday, this year, certain entities will close Monday in observance of paying tribute to past and current military members who fought for the country. Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I...

PLYMOUTH CO. — Sixty-one percent of registered voters in Plymouth County turned out to cast their ballots in Tuesday’s general election. There are 17,636 registered voters in the county and 10,761 cast ballots. Of that total, 4,251 were absentee ballots...

LE MARS — When the cast of “See How They Run” takes the Postal Playhouse stage Monday, Nov. 12, they will be making local history. That’s because this same play was the first production by the fledgling Le Mars Community Theatre (LCT) troupe 50 years ago, in October 1968...

LE MARS — A Le Mars business was named one of 13 recipients of a Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant from the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) on Thursday. One Office Solutions Owners Steve and Heidi Mc Nally, were awarded $75,000 towards its $415,000 project to revitalize the building's upstairs space into three, two-bedroom, and one, one-bedroom apartments...

The MMCRU Royals archery program is once again starting up with a new head coach leading the way. This year’s archery season looks like it will be an interesting one. The MMCRU archery team had their first meeting last week Wednesday at 6:00 to discuss how this year’s season will be laid out. The meeting was held in the MMCRU High School commons in Marcus with new head coach Scott Jones hosting it. Jones will be taking the position of head coach...

LE MARS — Several musicians from Le Mars Community High School’s band program were selected for Northwest Iowa Bandmasters Association’s 64th annual High School Honor Band Festival after auditions, Saturday, Nov. 3. Of approximately 180 students, 16 LCHS students chosen: Katie Cunningham and Amanda Martin on flute; Emily Martin, Luke Geitz and Arlinna Bowen on Bb clarinet; Sarah Meis and Bailey Goodman on horn; Devin Hansen, Reece Spieler and Daniel Vacura on trumpet; Dalton Glawe and Josiah Gonzalez on trombone; Keegan Pippett on bassoon; Drake Oswald on tenor saxophone; Luke Benton on Euphonium; and Anna Vacura on percussion.. ...

LE MARS — The Le Mars City Council set two public hearings regarding city-owned property at its Tuesday meeting. Following a ceiling fire at the Le Mars Senior Center at 110 1/2 Sixth Ave. N.E., earlier this year, the area was vacated and the Senior Center has now moved to a new location...

(Sentinel Photos by Beverly Van Buskirk) The Rock 4 Vets event in Merrill Saturday offered food, music by The Jammers, dancing, and special veteran recognition. Vietnam veterans attending were presented with a Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin in honor, recognition, and thanks for their service...

LE MARS — Students from Le Mars Community Middle School toured Veterans Park, Oct. 30, as part of their eighth grade civics class. “The students learned the history of the park itself as well as the history of the wars the United States have been involved in,” explained LCMS Civics Teacher Greer Milledge. ...

(Photo Contributed) Amelia Davis, Nicole Brandt and Brooke Hessenius prepare to cut the ribbon on The Healing Center, 700 12th St. S.W., at a ribbon cutting ceremony held Friday, Nov. 2. The ladies were joined by members of the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce and the community...

LE MARS — It’s a big, bright, beautiful world for the students of Le Mars Community High School as they open Dreamwork’s Shrek the Musical at 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 8, in the Le Mars Community Middle School Auditorium. Filled with fairytale creatures, maniacal plots and plenty of jokes, the audience won’t want to miss this unique production...

LE MARS — November has arrived and so to has the spirit of the holiday season. The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce is geared up to kick off the 2018 holiday season with its holiday open house, Wednesday, Nov. 7, through Saturday, Nov. 10. “Our holiday open house will be held in downtown Le Mars and throughout the community,” said Main Street Manager Mary Reynolds. ...

The Gehlen Catholic High School volleyball team, along with coach Mike Meyer and assistant coach Kathy Neary, received a commemorative volleyball for earning a spot in the state tournament, from Plymouth County Farm Bureau. The ball was presented by Farm Bureau Regional Director Mark Bohner. ...

Gehlen Catholic School held its annual Veterans Day program Monday. Two elementary students led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance as veterans saluted and others held their hand over their heart. Veterans of each branch of service were recognized, along with Gehlen’s Wall of Honor. Members of American Legion Wasmer Post #241 conducted a flag folding ceremony, with each fold’s meaning explained...

LE MARS — Over the last few months, the Le Mars community watched as Hayden Pippett fought to recover from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident this past July. The five-year-old was life-flighted from the scene to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls while her siblings were taken by ambulance to Floyd Valley Healthcare (FVH)...

LE MARS — Cyclists of all ages are gearing up for the upcoming 2018 Frosty Cross, a two-day cyclocross race held at Le Mars Municipal Park, Nov. 10-11. The first of its kind in northwest Iowa, Frosty Cross offers cyclists the opportunity to try their hand at a unique steeplechase style course, filled with different obstacles to challenge the riders’ skills...

LE MARS — Eighteen eighth graders from Le Mars Community Middle School will join students from across the northwest corner of the state at Storm Lake High School, Tuesday, Nov. 6, for the 42nd annual Junior High Choral Festival, hosted by the Northwest Iowa Choral Directors Association, Inc...

By Beverly Van Buskirk Lifestyles editor LE MARS — The first degree murder trial of Thomas Bibler reconvened Friday, Nov. 2, after a continuance of three months. Bibler, 35, of Le Mars, is charged with first degree murder in the death of Bogh, on June 11, 2016. In addition, he is charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon...

LE MARS — For the first time in 32 years, the auxiliary will suspend its annual Holiday Candy Sale. According to candy sales chairperson, Christena Knapp, this was not an easy decision. “Due to the loss of key personnel and our inability to fill those positions, we felt we had no other choice,” Knapp said. ...