Home News Thursday Afternoon News, Dec 6

Thursday Afternoon News, Dec 6

City Officials Worried About Burdensome Government Regulations

(Le Mars) — Le Mars City officials expressed their concern to State Representative Chuck Soderberg and State Senator Bill Anderson about mounting regulations, and how it is costing the city thousands of dollars.  Le Mars City Administrator Scott Langel says there is often a goal expressed by lawmakers to reduce unfair and burdensome regulations, but many times it is all talk and no action. 
Listen to
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Representative Soderberg asked the group on Wednesday whether unneeded regulations were from the state or from the federal level.  He says the state legislature should be able to lift many of the state regulations to better assist businesses and communities.  Langel says many of the regulations are from the environmental standpoint.

Listen to
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Bodies Found in a Wildlife Refuge Area

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A sheriff says hunters discovered the bodies believed to be two missing cousins in a secluded wildlife area about 25 miles from where they vanished in July.
Bremer County Sheriff Dewey Hildebrandt said Thursday the bodies were found in Seven Bridges Wildlife Area, a park along the Wapsipinicon River that is popular for hunting and fishing.
Hildebrandt says investigators from his office, the FBI, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and other agencies are processing the crime scene.
Authorities said hunters Wednesday discovered bodies believed to be Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook. Elizabeth was 8 and Lyric was 10 when they vanished while bike riding in Evansdale on July 13.
The bodies have been sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Ankeny for identification. Authorities will release more information Thursday.

 

Arnold’s Park Roller Coaster Undergoes Renovation

ARNOLDS PARK, Iowa (AP) – The mild fall weather has let workers begin the $250,000 restoration of the 85-year-old Legend Roller Coaster at Historic Arnolds Park amusement park in the northwest
Iowa town of Arnolds Park.
Work had been scheduled to start this coming spring.
Workers are replacing 575 feet of track and catwalks, along with making other improvements. They also are replacing steel supports added to reinforce old wood about 25 years ago. The steel didn’t
flex, which is contrary to the characteristics of a wooden roller coaster.
Park officials say the nearly 1,500-foot ride, built in 1927, is the 13th-oldest operating wooden roller coaster in the country.

 

State Democrat Top Officials Resign

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Democratic Party’s top two leaders are stepping down.  The Des Moines Register reports Sue Dvorsky and Norm Sterzenbach will leave their positions soon to pursue other interests. Dvorsky has been party chairwoman since June 2010 and Sterzenbach has been executive director since December 2006.  The newspaper reports the pair is stepping down for personal and professional reasons.  The Democratic state central committee will choose replacements in January.  The 2010 election secured Republican leadership in the governor’s office and the House.
Democrats have a slight majority in the Senate.

 

Egg Farm Catches Fire

STUART, Iowa (AP) — Authorities in central Iowa say several fire departments were called in to help battle a blaze at an egg production facility.  The Adair County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the Wednesday afternoon fire at Rose Acre Farms in Stuart. Chief Operating Officer Tony Wesner says all company staff has been accounted for following the blaze. Wesner says the fire was contained to just one building, and no chickens were inside the building.  Rose Acre Farms has 16 facilities in six states.
Stuart is located about 40 miles west of Des Moines.