News

DES MOINES — The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs announced it has awarded $90,000 to 10 Iowa communities for historic preservation projects. The funds were awarded through the Certified Local Government program. The list of grants follows: Adel Historic Preservation Commission, Dallas County...

SIOUX CITY — The Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is offering several winter activities. Preschoolers with an accompanying adult guardian are invited at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 10, for a special story time about Animal Tracks. Weather permitting, a hike on the trails will also take place. Come enjoy a new tale, learn about squirrels, and join us for an adventure...

SHELDON — Village Northwest Unlimited in Sheldon, has announced Bob Stewart is among the 2019 inductees into the Special Olympics of Iowa (SOIA) Hall of Fame. Stewart was inducted at a ceremony in Des Moines Monday, Dec. 2. SOIA created a Hall of Fame in 2018 as a way to recognize longevity and achievement of athletes and volunteers with the organization...

LE MARS — In the Catholic Church, Advent is a period of preparation for the coming of Christ’s birth at Christmas. During Advent, Gehlen Catholic’s Instrumental and Vocal Music Department will hold three different concerts. The Advent journey begins with Christmas Vespers. Vespers, a musical journey from Advent to Christ’s birth, will be celebrated on Thursday, Dec. 12...

AMES — Women landowners, farmers and ag retailers will have the opportunity to meet again this fall and winter to learn more about agronomy and related agricultural topics through distance-learning sessions of Agronomy in the Field. This is the fifth year Agronomy in the Field for Women has been offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach at several locations across Iowa...

ORANGE CITY — Northwestern College has received official approval to offer a master’s degree in athletic training from the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Classes for the first cohort of students will begin June 1, 2020...

LE MARS — The Christmas Tour of Homes sponsored by St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars will will be held from 4:30-7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8. The tour will feature four homes decorated for the holidays and families willing to share their love for Christmas...

(Photos Contributed) The Auxiliary Candy Committeee and over 40 community volunteers were busy making and packaging over 200 pounds of pre-ordered candies on Tuesday and Wednesday. All proceeds from the candy and pre-ordered cutout cookie sales will go towards purchasing IV smart pumps...

LE MARS — Le Mars Community School District Superintendent Dr. Steve Webner presented a picture of the district’s financial health to board members at their Nov. 25 meeting. He targeted five areas in his report on FY19. The first is unspent authorized budget balance, which measures the amount of total spending authority not utilized during the fiscal year...

LE MARS — A second floor renovation of the One Office Solution building at 36 Central Ave. N.W. in Le Mars is slated to be completed by the end of December. What was once empty space with no stairway access will now become four apartments. Steve and Heidi McNally of Norfolk, Nebraska, have owned the property since 2013...

LE MARS — Four homes decorated for the holidays will be on the Christmas Tour of Homes sponsored by St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars. The tour will be from 4:30-7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8. This is the event’s third year, which is a fundraiser for the youth of the congregation. Money raised this year will go to aid the students who are attending the summer service trip to Pine Ridge, South Dakota in June 2020...

LE MARS — Plans are moving forward for a renovation and addition to the Community Wellness Center. At its Tuesday meeting, the Le Mars City Council looked at plans which call for a two-story addition to the front or south side of the building, which will add space for a larger reception area and offices, and cardio area on the lower level and a cycle area on the upper level...

LE MARS — A new business in town is hoping to help community members become relaxed in the moment with their skin and soul. Angela Laughton opened Zenergy Skin and Soul Studio, 115 Plymouth St. N.W., at the end of October, offering customized spa facials, back facials, warm gemstone crystal facials and chemical peels. In addition, Zenergy offers an array of energy healing treatments with Vibrational Sound Therapy, crystal healing, Reiki, and chakra balancing sessions...

LE MARS — It’s that time of year for tasty goodies and what better place to get some than at the Floyd Valley Healthcare’s Holiday Goodie Sale. This year’s event will run from 2-6 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 11, at the hospital’s lower level Conference Room. Those attending should use the lower level north doors...

LE MARS — St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars will once again hold a Christmas Tour of Homes, this year from 4:30-7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8. This is the event’s third year, which is a fundraiser for the youth of the congregation. Four homes are on the tour for visitors this year...

LE MARS — The Le Mars Community School District’s Board of Education said welcome to two new board members and farewell to two others at its Nov. 25 meeting. After review of the official election results from the Nov. 5 election, Board President Todd Lancaster indicated Angela Catton and Jane Arnold were re-elected to their respective seats representing an at-large position and District 3...

LE MARS — Five Gehlen Catholic students are amongst 200 musicians from Iowa and Nebraska who have been selected for the 2019 Drake Honor Band Festival, Dec. 6-7 in Des Moines. They include: senior Christopher Holzman, son of Kevin and Mary Holzman, trumpet; senior Wyatt Tesch, son of Kelvin and Bridget Tesch, percussion; senior, Anthony Vera, son of Hugo Vera and Maria Sanchez, flute; junior, Patricia Sitzmann, daughter of Curt and Marlene Sitzmann, trombone; and sophomore McKenzie Larson, daughter of Steve and Michele Larson, clarinet.. ...

LE MARS — St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars will once again hold a Christmas Tour of Homes, this year on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 4:30-7 p.m. This is the third year for the event, which is a fundraiser for the young of the congregation. Four homes are on the tour for visitors this year...

LE MARS — There’s a new face at the Le Mars Arts Center. Annie Laursen is the center’s new program director. She started her position in mid-November. “I am a little bit of everything right now,” Laursen said. “I am trying to get all the programs going, am involved in all of the events and in the day-to-day paperwork.”...

LE MARS — There’s just something magical about Christmas time and those who attend the annual Le Mars Lighted Christmas Parade get to experience first-hand a small part of what makes this time of year one of a kind. Since 1997, the lighted parade has put smiles on faces of children and adults, as well as created lasting holiday memories...

(Sentinel Photo by Beverly Van Buskirk) While many people were wielding snow shovels and running snow blowers, these two girls found the perfect spot in the front yard to work on building a snowman. Le Mars received 6 inches of wet snow from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning, causing slick roads and difficult travel throughout the area...

LE MARS — The holiday season is bigger and tastier than ever at the Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor. Following the completion of an extensive remodel in June, visitors will enjoy holiday events and special menu items in the newly renovated space...

LE MARS — While members of the Le Mars Police Department have been walking the halls at buildings of Le Mars Community Schools and Gehlen Catholic School, a new venture began this fall with a full-time School Resource Officer (SRO). John Vickery took on that role last fall and finds himself in classrooms throughout the week...

LE MARS — Pioneer Village Christmas Wonderland brings a colorful and fun experience to Le Mars for two weekends in December. The wonderland opens at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, and will be open those hours Sunday, Dec. 8, and Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14 and 15...

LE MARS — A Sioux City man involved in the robbery of the Iowa State Bank in Le Mars in December 2018, has been sentenced to spend time in federal prison. Phillip White, 33, from Sioux City, received the prison term after a June 13, guilty plea to one count of bank robbery, and one count of interference with commerce by robbery (for the robbery of a Sioux City cab driver)...