Plymouth County Fair Ends On A High Note
(Le Mars) — “The Five Best Days of Summer” have come to a conclusion as the Plymouth County Fair ended on Sunday. Attendance at this year’s fair started a little slow due to the excessive heat on Wednesday and Thursday, but despite the rain on Friday the daily tally began to pick up through the weekend and by Sunday evening, the attendance was on par with previous fairs.
Fair officials peg the attendance at 110,350. Loren Schnepf, the president of the Plymouth County Fair says this year’s fair was a good fair.
Schnepf says the attendance level was consistent with other county fairs.
Covid-19 prevented the fair from happening a year ago, and the Plymouth County Fairboard president believes a part of the good attendance was due to people were wanting to get out. Schnepf reflects upon Saturday evening’s attendance.
Schnepf says fairboard directors will gather a week from Thursday and will review the fair’s performance. Schnepf calls the August meeting the most important meeting of the year.
Schnepf says it was great to see all the people make a return to the Plymouth County Fair.
Quilts Of Valor Presents Quilts To Six Veterans
(Le Mars) — Prior to the start of the Plymouth County Fair auction on Sunday, six patriotic themed quilts, all of them with the colors of red, white, and blue were presented to veterans. It was all part of the Quilts of Valor program. Ginny Freyermuth and Geri Dreckman, along with Freyermuth’s granddaughters presented the quilts. The recipients of the “Quilts of Valor” included Patrick Halter, Air Force; Richard Halter, Navy; David
Ladenthin, Army; Jack Frus, Air Force; Mike Donlin, Navy; and Terry Reuter, Navy. Each of them had the quilt draped over their shoulders and wrapped around them as a gesture of protection.
Schultz and Brock Named To Fair Hall Of Fame
(Le Mars) — Two long-time supporters of the Plymouth County Fair were named to the fair’s Hall of Fame Sunday afternoon. Loren Schnepf, president of the Plymouth County Fairboard named the latest two honorees of the Plymouth County Fair Hall of Fame. Albert Schultz of the Le Mars Toy Store was the first inductee from the 2021 fair. Schultz has for years had collectible toy trucks with a fair connection that were made available. He has been a longtime supporter of the Plymouth County Fair.
The second Hall of Fame honor was presented to auctioneer, Bruce Brock. Brock, for several years has helped the fair as the auctioneer for the annual woodcarvings auction fund raiser. In addition, Brock has volunteered to assist with the 4-H and FFA premium ribbon auction, and he has lent his talents for the Life Skills Training Center annual quilt auction.
Annual Fair Auction Raises More Than $41,000
(Le Mars) — The annual Plymouth County Fair auction held Sunday afternoon resulted in raising $41,500 for the fair. The auction started by selling the first of 150 belt buckles featuring the famous round barn. The final bidding price was $1,500 and was sold to Jerome Dreckman. Two quilts created by Geri
Dreckman and Ginny Freyermuth were donated for the auction this year.
Dreckman’s quilt sold for $6,000 to Greg and Pam Wells, and the quilt made by Freyermuth sold for $4,100 to Bob Campbell.
Dave and Pat Lehner purchased the number one collectible toy truck featuring employees of Agri-Vision and
the Boy Scouts of Le Mars. Only 150 trucks have been made. The selling price for the toy truck was listed at $1,000. Albert Schultz with the Le Mars Toy Store, purchased the grilling event as donated by the Plymouth County Pork Producers with a winning bid of $2,600. There were 18 different wood carvings made by Scott Tobin and Lynn Anderson.
Life Skills Training Center Quilt Auction Fetches More Than $33,000
(Le Mars) — 71 quilts and 20 silent auction items were sold Saturday during the Life Skills Training Center’s annual quilt auction. Shelly Thomson says due to the COVID-19 virus, the quilters had extra time to create and sew the quilts.
Thomson says the quilt auction set a new record for Life Skills Training Center. Thomson says having the quilt auction in person, as opposed to being on-line, is better as the live auction generates more excitement.
Another fund raiser held at the Plymouth County Fair for Life Skills is the Cow Chip Bossy Bingo event. Thomson says this year, each of the small land parcel squares were sold.
Thomson says the Bossy Bingo event generated $4,000 for the organization. Next up for Life Skills Training Center will be the annual phone-a-thon in connection with the Knights of Columbus scheduled for September 8th. Thomson says Life Skills was excited to be back at the Plymouth County Fair, saying “there is nothing better than to be back here at the Plymouth County Fair.”
Governor’s Lawyers Say Iowa Open-Records Law Isn’t Well-Recognized Public Policy
(Des Moines, IA) — Lawyers for Governor Kim Reynolds say the Iowa open-records law isn’t considered a “well-recognized public policy.” That means it doesn’t provide job protections to state employees who fulfill public information requests. The state is asking a judge to dismiss a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by the former communications director for the Iowa Department of Public Health, Polly Carver-Kimm. She says she was forced to
resign last year because she released records and data about COVID-19 – even the governor’s office wanted the free flow of information about the state’s pandemic response to be stifled.
Ames Police Investigate Discovery Of Body
(Ames, IA) — The Iowa State Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy on a man’s body that was found in a shack in Ames last Friday. The person hasn’t been identified yet. Officers were called to the dilapidated shack a little after 6:00 p-m by the person who had found the body. The officers who responded to the location canvassed the area and conducted interviews.
Police haven’t released a cause of death. Ames police and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are handling the case.
Congresswoman Miller-Meeks Co-Sponsors Bill For US Veterans
(Washington, DC) — A bill co-sponsored by Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks would give all military veterans and Gold Star families free access to national parks for life. The Alexander Lofgren Veterans in Parks Act passed on a bipartisan vote Thursday. The Iowa Republican is a veteran who served 24 years in the military. Access to federal recreational lands is
part of the package. Miller-Meeks’ legislation has 150 co-sponsors and has been endorsed by 60 organizations.
Death Of 5-Month-Old Infant In Daycare Investigated By Newton Police
(Newton, IA) — Newton police are investigating the death of a five-month-old infant in a home daycare operation last week. Officers were called Friday at about 11:10 a-m. The child had been sleeping before it was discovered to be unresponsive. No names have been released. An autopsy will be conducted to determine an official cause of death. The Iowa Department of
Human Services has been contacted. Daycare employees sent the remaining children home with their parents.
