News

(Sentinel Photo by Kim Fickett) Tim Britt, president with the Le Mars Eagles Club, presented Le Mars Fire and Rescue Chief David Schipper with a check for $500 on Thursday morning. Pictured from left are, Michael Hargens, firefighter, Lieutenant Ethan Mitchell, Britt, Schipper and Assistant Fire Chief Mike Wise...

SHELDON — Several computer classes will be offered this fall for area residents to expand your computer skills. These classes can be taken individually or combined into a group to earn a Computer Skills for the Workplace certificate. The Level 1 classes will be “Windows 10 and the Internet,” “Microsoft Outlook,” “Microsoft Word,” and “Microsoft Excel.”...

SPENCER — Thirty-two different sponsored items for blue ribbon winners and cash prizes are just some of the things waiting for you and your kitchen creations to win in the Oven Products Department at the 2019 Clay County Fair, Sept. 7-15. Besides classic categories like chocolate chip cookies, pies, and other baked goods, there are several other contests for exhibitors to enter, including the $1,000 Cinnamon Roll Contest. ...

LE MARS — Apiphobia is the irrational fear of bees. Regardless of whether an individual has been stung by a bee, is allergic to bee stings, and/or have been to movies with killer bees, apiphobia is believed to be one of the most common specific animal phobias...

SIOUX CITY — Morningside College will offer its first doctoral program this fall, a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) featuring tracks in Direct Patient Care and Transformative Leadership. The 30-credit program will be delivered online and is designed for working nurses seeking advancement as leaders in health care...

SIOUX CITY — The Sioux City International Film Festival has received major funding from the Gilchrist Foundation, Humanities Iowa, the Iowa Arts Council, and Missouri River Historical Development (MRHD) for this year’s artist-in-residence program titled, “The Influence of Women in the Film Industry.”...

LE MARS — In February 1999, five families met in a home with the idea to start a church, with the assistance of Don DeKok, a church planter with the Reformed Church in America. Today that church is Rejoice! Community Church, with a membership of about 430 people of all ages...

LE MARS — Le Mars Community School District Board of Education member Angela Catton was appointed to serve as the Iowa Association of School Boards legislative action network representative for the 2019-20 school year. As a representative, Catton will keep herself and board members informed about legislative issues which concern schools and education, and be an advocate for education. While the appointment is not a requirement, board members felt it would be beneficial to have a representative...

LE MARS — This year’s Iowa SIDS Foundation “Walk for the Future” will have an extra special meaning as the 2019 event will celebrate 20 years. On Saturday, Aug. 24, the community of Le Mars will hold their own walk in recognition of the cause at the Willow Creek Golf Course and Walking Trail...

AKRON — In a week, students and teachers will be back in the classroom at Akron-Westfield Community School. The first full day of school is Friday, Aug. 23. A-W preschool-6th grade Principal Michelle Henrich is new to the district and has been busy working with teachers on curriculum...

LE MARS — Le Mars Main Street Manager Mary Reynolds brought two items to the Le Mars City Council at its Aug. 6 meeting. The first was asking for a $37,500 match for a Main Street Challenge Grant. In the last six years, the Main Street program has received five grants. All those grants received matching funds from the city of Le Mars...

LE MARS — Le Mars Community Schools Board of Education members got a firsthand look at the LCS stadium complex construction Monday evening before their regular meeting. Weather delays earlier this spring and summer have put the project behind schedule...

LE MARS — Friday, Aug. 23, marks the start of the new school year, and teachers, staff and administrators at Gehlen Catholic Schools are busy preparing for the new year. Amongst the highlights of the school year will be the school’s newest academic offering, Environmental Science...

LE MARS — There will be another new face on the Le Mars Community School District’s Board of Education. Fred Zenk, who represents District 5, the rural area west and north of Le Mars as well as around Merrill, has announced he will not seek re-election to the seat...

LE MARS — In less than two weeks, classes will start at Le Mars Community Schools. The first day of school is Friday, Aug. 23. Superintendent Dr. Steve Webner said it’s been a busy summer for staff. “Several of our teachers went to a Professional Learning Communities training earlier this summer. This training has been a staple for our teachers for several years; they learn basic, best-practice principles for working collaboratively to improve student learning,” he said...

LE MARS — There’s a lot to do at the Pioneer Village Country Store at the Plymouth County Fair. Just ask Delores Burkard, who has worked, and later managed the store for more than 30 years. During the fair on Aug. 25, museum volunteers hosted a coffee in Pioneer Village to honor Burkard for her years of service...

LE MARS — The Le Mars City Council heard a request for funding to help put on the first NW Iowa National College Invitational and College/Amateur Golf Tournament in Le Mars in September. Nancy Thoma made the presentation on behalf of tournament founder Dan Gray. Both are former Le Mars residents who moved back last August...

HINTON — After years spent trying to make his way back to Iowa, Todd Meyer has finally achieved that goal. Meyer was named the new superintendent of Hinton Community Schools in February following a couple month search by the school board. A native of Spencer, Meyer has spent the past 11 years serving as the superintendent for Jackson County Central School District in Jackson, Minnesota...

LE MARS — The Le Mars City Council has set a public hearing for noon, Tuesday, Aug. 20, to receive public comment on a proposed fireworks ordinance. In the spring of 2017, passed a bill the Iowa Legislature allowed the sale and discharge of fireworks in Iowa...

(Sentinel Photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) Work on the skateboard park in the northeast corner of O’Toole Park on First Avenue Northeast is on schedule, City Administrator Jason Vacura told city council members Aug. 6. The project is one of the CBP II projects the Le Mars Area Betterment Foundation is assisting in funding. ...

PLYMOUTH CO. — Travelers of Highway 75 are being reminded that beginning today (Monday, Aug. 12), the Iowa Department of Transportation will be closing Hwy 75 between Hinton and Sioux City to make repairs to the southbound lanes. According to Dean Herbst, Sioux City resident construction engineer for Highway Administration, District 3, Sioux City, RCE Office, the closure is expected to take five nights...

REMSEN — The Remsen Public Library will host a program “D-Day, the Landings in Normandy,” presented by Michael Eckers, at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 13. Michael Eckers is the author of several books on American military history. His public speaking focuses on the contributions and sacrifices made by people in defense of our freedoms...

(StatePoint) — You don’t have to pick between form and function when gearing up for the new school year. Make the grade with these stylish back-to-school must-haves: • Going green: One easy way for students to accessorize while going green as a family, is to pack lunch with reusable containers and wrapping. These days, it’s easy to find cool designs made from eco-friendly, healthy materials, such as silicone, stainless steel, cloth and even rice paddy fiber...

REMSEN — The Remsen Demolition Derby Association will be sponsoring its 42nd annual Remsen Demolition Derby Saturday, Aug. 17, in the Jaycee Arena, 2 1/2 blocks north of the Remsen Cemetery corner, off Highway 3. Start time is 6 p.m. Tickets for the event will be available at the main gate behind the Mid-Sioux office and a secondary gate on the west side at the top of the hill near the golf course. Please note there is no parking at the golf course. Gates will open at 5 p.m...

LE MARS — On Wednesday, July 31, families from All Saints Parish and Gehlen Catholic School served dinner during the annual Tri-State Drive-In Cruisers Car Show at Total Motors in Le Mars. The families were members of the joint parish and school Hispanic and Latino Outreach Subcommittee...