Le Mars Fire Department Issues October Monthly Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department has issued its October monthly report. The local fire fighting unit responded to a total of 11 fires, six rescue calls, nine accident clean ups and investigations, one mutual aid with Merrill, and 29 requests for services, marking a total of 56 calls for October. Fire Chief Dave Schipper reports 465 people attended the fire and rescue pancake breakfast. The fire department held 28 fire prevention talks reaching 492 children, and 33 towns with 53 chiefs and/or officers attended the Iowa Fire Chief Conference held in Le Mars.
Sioux City Man Severly Burned From Home Fire
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City Fire Rescue says a man has been flown to an Omaha, Nebraska, hospital after being burned in a home fire.
Authorities say there were two people in the Sioux City house when the flames broke out on Sunday. They say a woman escaped uninjured but the man was rescued by first responders and suffered unspecified burn wounds. Authorities described the fire as severe.
The man’s identity hasn’t been released. His condition is unclear.
He was taken to an area hospital before being flown to Nebraska.
It’s unclear what started the fire.
Paul Pate Visits Le Mars On Campaign For Secretary Of State
(Le Mars) — Republican candidate for Secretary of State, Paul Pate was in Le Mars last week campaigning. Although there is no incumbent to this year’s Secretary of State election, Pate had previously served as the Iowa Secretary of State. Pate says it is important that voters ask themselves who will bring integrity to the position of Secretary of State. Pate is a strong advocate for photo voter identification.
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Pate also says absentee votes need to be secured and protected. He is advocating scanners to be used to verify signatures.
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Pate was asked if he sees in the future, people will vote from home by means of the personal computer and the internet. He says the military is already doing such voting.
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Pate says most people may not know all the duties of the Secretary of State. He says 70 percent of the duties deal with business services and commerce.
Sioux City Woman Rescued From Underneath RV
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City woman has been rescued from beneath her recreational vehicle.
The accident occurred around noon on Sunday. The woman had been backing her RV into her driveway and got out to see how much room she had left. That’s when it rolled backward and pulled her down beneath a front wheel.
Firefighters soon arrived to pull her out after raising the RV. She was taken to Mercy Medical Center.
State Audit Confirms Misuse Of Funds
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state audit confirms a woman who was elected treasurer in Iowa County twice and later as a county supervisor took more than $60,000 from the county for her personal use.
The state auditor’s office says it has found more than $64,700 improperly used by Kimberly Tanke.
She was appointed county treasurer in 1999 and twice elected before resigning in 2010 to run for county supervisor. She was serving on the board when a county auditing firm reported problems with motor vehicle registration deposits in November 2013.
The irregularities led to an investigation. In January, Tanke admitted to a DCI agent she used funds for personal expenses and resigned.
The 54-year-old Tanke of Williamsburg, pleaded guilty to felony theft in March. She is serving three years of probation.
Fort Dodge Park Catches Fire
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – Firefighters have extinguished a blaze that burned through nearly 5 acres of a city park in Fort Dodge.
The Fort Dodge Messenger reports the two-alarm fire broke out on Sunday at Oleson Park. Fort Dodge Fire Chief Kent Hulett says it took a little more than two hours for 13 firefighters to put out the flames.
No structures were burned and no injuries were reported.
Hulett says city workers still need to cut down some trees.
It’s unclear what started the fire.
