News

LE MARS — Le Mars Fire and Rescue, along with two other fire departments, responded to a house fire on Monday afternoon. According to Le Mars Fire and Rescue Chief David Schipper the call came in around 4 p.m., Monday, Jan. 20. Upon arrival at 520 2nd Ave. S.W., Schipper’s crew found heavy smoke showing from the home’s attic eaves and soffit...

LE MARS — Primebank’s Doug Downing was recognized as the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce’s First Quarter Boss of the Quarter on Monday afternoon. In nominating Downing for the honor, Primebank Vice President and co-worker Lisa Boehm indicated that being of good character can be defined as possessing and displaying virtues such as honesty, kindness, trustworthiness, generosity and fairness...

LE MARS — The Le Mars Community Schools Board of Education dealt with policy updates and new mandated policies at its Jan. 13 meeting. Superintendent Dr. Steve Webner said, “Every three years we have to review each policy series in our book. Tonight it is the 400 series.”...

LE MARS — The Le Mars-based ice cream manufacturer, Wells Enterprises, Inc., has partnered with a major chain restaurant to launch a new line of cheesecake ice cream. That’s right, Wells and The Cheesecake Factory, are working together to release a line that will encompass seven different pint-sized flavors...

PLYMOUTH CO. — Now in its seventh year, the Plymouth County Conservation Foundation’s Snow Scamper event serves as one of its top fundraisers while giving people an opportunity to enjoy nature at the same time. This year’s event will be held beginning at 9 a.m., Feb. 1, at Hillview Recreation Area, just outside of Hinton...

LE MARS — The Le Mars Community School District’s bargaining team brought its contract proposal for the 2020-2021 school year to the Le Mars Community Education Association’s bargaining team Thursday in a 5 p.m. meeting. Superintendent Dr. Steve Webner spoke for the team, and said the board recognized and considered four points...

LE MARS — A 32-year veteran of the Le Mars Police Department was recently honored as Officer of the Year. Senior Patrolman Mark Reed was presented the award at the department’s Jan. 13 meeting. “It is very humbling to be recognized with this award. We have a fantastic department filled with officers who are equally or more deserving of this honor,” Reed stated...

HINTON — The names of the two Hinton Community School students who died following a two-vehicle accident on Tuesday morning have been released. According to the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Ella E. Holtzen, 18, and Beck Holtzen, 14, have been identified as the victims in the accident...

AKRON — A couple has been left displaced after a fire fully engulfed their home in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 16. According to Akron Fire and Rescue Chief Shane Coyle, they received a call from the Plymouth County Communications Center at 4:06 a.m., of a house fire at 18422 Weber Road in rural Akron...

HINTON — The names of the two Hinton Community School students who died following a two-vehicle accident on Tuesday morning have been released. According to the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Ella E. Holtzen, 18, and Harrison (Beck) Holtzen, 14, have been identified as the victims in the accident...

LE MARS — One family’s gift of a lighted Christmas display from before Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve generated a new record in donations of $17,400 for the Christian Needs Center in Le Mars. Rob and Joyce Scheitler and daughter Shaunna, put up the display for the 23rd year, and the cars and people came...

LE MARS — Eight Le Mars Community High School vocalists will join with others from across northwest Iowa as members of the NWICDA Honor Choir. The choir will perform in concert at 7 p.m., Jan. 20, at the BJ Haan Auditorium, on the campus of Dordt College in Sioux Center. There is an admission charge...

LE MARS — The Le Mars Community School Board has decided to hold one regular meeting per month rather than two meetings which has been done since at least 1984. The idea of changing the time of board meetings first came up following the installation of two new board members in November...

HINTON — Two Hinton Community School students are dead following a two-vehicle accident on Tuesday morning. According to the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, it was at 8:01 a.m., Tuesday, when the communications center received a 911 call of a motor vehicle accident on County Road K-22, near the intersection of Granite Avenue in southwest Plymouth County...

LE MARS — Eight students from Gehlen Catholic will be part of the Northwest Iowa Choral Directors Association (NWICDA) Honor Choir on Jan. 20. The concert will be presented at 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 20, in the BJ Haan Auditorium on the campus of Dordt University in Sioux Center...

LE MARS — Since 2017, the Le Mars Police Department has made a concerted effort to put a leash on the community’s animal control issues. On average, the police department responds to around 150 calls for service a year related to dog issues, according to Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte. Out of those calls, around 80 dogs are picked up as strays each year...

LE MARS — This is your last call to reserve a table for the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce annual dinner. The annual dinner, will be held Thursday, Jan. 23. Social hour begins at 6 p.m. with a program and dinner to follow at 7 p.m. “On behalf of your chamber of commerce, I invite everyone to join us for an evening of celebrating our community; and some of the people that help to make it special,” said Neal Adler, executive director...

LE MARS — Keeping the family of Westmar College informed is a role Carrie Radloff has recently taken on. Radloff, a Westmar graduate, said, “I hope to increase membership and alumni engagement while implementing more efficient and cost effective practices.”...

LE MARS — Get ready to lace up the ice skates and face the cold weather at the Le Mars ice rink in Cleveland Park. Le Mars Fire-Rescue personnel and members of the public facilities crew filled the cement rink located on the west side of the park on Friday morning...

LE MARS — For at least 40 years the community of Le Mars has enjoyed a summer and winter ridiculous days and this year will be no different. Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 15 and extending through Saturday, Jan. 18, patrons will be able to peruse downtown businesses for some one-of-a-kind deals...

LE MARS — The 2019 annual report of the Le Mars Code Enforcement and Building Department showed growth for the city last year. Greg Smidt, Le Mars code enforcement officer/building official, presented his report to the Le Mars City Council at its Jan. 7 meeting...

PLYMOUTH CO. — J.D. Scholten, congressional candidate for Iowa’s 4th district, will host a town hall in Hinton on Wednesday, Jan. 15 as part of his “Don’t Forget About Us” tour. During the tour, Scholten will hold a town hall in a town with a population of less than 1,000 in each of the 4th district’s 39 counties...

PLYMOUTH CO. — Beginning Jan. 28, the Plymouth County Driver’s License office will open on Tuesdays from 12:30-4:30 p.m. This will be in addition to the office being open on Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., according to Plymouth County Treasurer Shelly Sitzmann...

LE MARS — Everything you ever wanted to know about the Chinese New Year will be shared Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Plymouth County Historical Museum by a family of Chinese people who reside in Le Mars — Min Zhang and her sons, Korey, 17, and Kyron, 13. The 2 p.m., program in the museum’s Music Room will include cultural information about the Chinese as well as free samples of Chinese cuisine made by Min Zhang...

LE MARS — A “training” date has been set for receiving information about citizens and businesses, can promote the upcoming 2020 Census.  Linda Rhinehart, partner specialist with the Census Bureau, will present the information to community members as to what needs done...