(REMSEN)–An investigation determined lightning is the likely cause of a fire at a rural Remsen home Monday morning.
Remsen and Oyens Firefighters responded to the fire at the Scott and Jennifer Goeken residence at 19374 Highway 140, about three miles south of Remsen.
Remsen Fire Chief Doug Owens says no one was home. Damage from the fire was described by Owens as pretty extensive with a lot of smoke and heat damage. The Goeken family was not able to return to their home due to the extent of damage.
The cause of the fire was investigated by a deputy state fire marshal who determined the probable cause of the fire was lightning. The fire was reported just after nine Monday morning. Firefighters completed the call about two hours later.
Deer on roadway causes one-vehicle accident
(HAWARDEN)–Two people were taken to the hospital in Hawarden after a driver swerved to miss a deer one mile east of Hawarden.
According to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, 43-year-old Patricia Downey of Hawarden was driving her car south on Cherry Avenue Friday night when the deer ran onto the roadway.
Authorities report Downey swerved to miss the deer and lost control. The car rolled into the east ditch. Downey and her passenger, 46-year-old Edwin Duncan of Hawarden, were transported to the Hawarden Hospital by Hawarden Ambulance.
Union Pacific begins crossing project at Onawa
(ONAWA)–A railroad crossing project will affect travelers on Highway 175 beginning today (Tuesday).
The Iowa Department of Transportation reports the Union Pacific Railroad will replace the crossing on Highway 175, between Sixth Street and 10th Street, in Onawa.
Weather permitting, the project will be completed August 17th. Traffic will be detoured during the crossing replacement.
9 people rescued from flooded homes in Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Authorities say emergency crews used boats to rescue two families from their flooded homes near Oskaloosa after a night of heavy rain.
Mahaska County Sheriff Paul DeGeest says four children and five adults and an “armload” of pets were put into boats early Tuesday after creeks inundated a house and a nearby mobile home on the east side of the city.
DeGeest says an elderly woman was taken to the hospital with unknown problems. He believes the woman was bedridden and was carried out of her home.
The sheriff says the house and mobile home were under several feet of water when emergency crews arrived and boated the families to higher ground around 4:30 a.m.
More storms and more flooding in Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Another round of thunderstorms continues to cause flooding problems across Iowa.
The National Weather Service says heavy rain up to 7 inches fell overnight into Tuesday morning from Des Moines to Oskaloosa, closing roads and swamping basements.
In Oskaloosa, authorities used boats to rescue two families from their flooded homes.
In Grimes, near Des Moines, authorities say several homes were inundated by a creek, which surged over its banks and was 10-feet deep and 75-feet wide.
In Carlisle, also near Des Moines, a basement wall collapsed because of the rain.
The weather service says storms will diminish on Tuesday, but more storms are possible on Wednesday and Thursday. The hot and muggy weather will also linger.
4 motorcyclists killed in Iowa accident
LITTLE SIOUX, Iowa (AP) Authorities say four motorcyclists have been killed in a head-on collision on Interstate-29 in western Iowa.
Iowa Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Courtney Greene says the accident happened Monday evening when a pickup truck crossed the center line in a construction zone and hit four motorcycles.
Greene says the accident happened along a section of I-29 near Little Sioux where lanes were separated by orange cones. Little Sioux sits along the Nebraska, about 40 miles north of Omaha.
The motorcyclists’ names have not been released.
Greene says they were traveling together. All four were men in their late 50s and early 60s. Three were from Iowa and one was from Nebraska.
Greene says one was wearing a helmet.
Iowa teen convicted of murder seeks new trial
CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) A Charles City teenager convicted of killing his 3-year-old cousin wants a new trial.
Fifteen-year-old Edgar Concepcion Jr. was found guilty as an adult in June of first-degree murder, first-degree sexual abuse, second degree-sexual abuse and child endangerment resulting in bodily injury.
He was accused of sexually abusing and killing Krystel Banes at his family’s home in Charles City in 2009.
Concepcion’s attorney, Judy O’Donohoe, filed a motion last week asking for a new trial. A hearing is set for Aug. 23 in Floyd County District Court in Charles City.
Concepcion was to be sentenced on Aug. 23. That has been continued until a later date.
No injuries in backhoe accident in Iowa City
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Officials say no one was hurt when a backhoe fell into a hole during a demolition project in Iowa City.
The accident happened on Monday when crews were clearing debris from the Dubuque Street Armory, the longtime base for the Iowa Army National Guard in Johnson County.
The armory was demolished last week.
Johnson County spokesman David Kempf says crews probably pulled onto a concrete slab that was covering a shallow basement and the backhoe, which weighs 70,000 pounds, tipped into the hole.
Kempf says a crane was called in and removed the backhoe. The project wasn’t affected.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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