Fatal Auto Accident Near Akron
(Akron) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an accident reported on Sunday morning at about 7:41 a.m. regarding a vehicle in the ditch along Highway 12, a few miles north of the Woodbury/Plymouth County line. A caller contacted the Plymouth County Communications Center stating there were
two individuals injured from the accident , with one of which may be deceased. A preliminary investigation at the scene has been able to determine a 2003 Black Mitsubishi was northbound on Highway 12, when the driver lost control of the vehicle causing it to enter the west ditch. The vehicle rolled several times before coming to rest. The driver was extricated from the vehicle by the Akron Fire Department and taken to Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars. It is unknown at this time why the driver lost control of the vehicle. It is suspected that alcohol may have been a factor in the accident. A female subject was deceased at the scene. The Plymouth County Medical Examiner along with the State Medical
Examiner’s Office are assisting with the investigation. No information regarding the injured, or the deceased, is being released at this time, until the next of kin have been notified. The other person in the vehicle was a male individual who was in need of immediate medical assistance. He was transferred
to Mercy Medical Center by the Akron Ambulance. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol are continuing their investigation in to the single vehicle crash. Assisting at the scene were the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputies, Iowa State Patrol, Akron Fire Department, Akron Ambulance and Siouxland Paramedics.
Floyd Valley Announces New Year’s Baby
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare is reporting that the New Year’s Baby has arrived. Henry Matthias Wagner was born on January 1st at 12:01 p.m. He weighed seven pounds and 14 ounces. Little Henry measured 18 and a half inches long.
The parents are Erik and Samantha Wagner of Le Mars.
Sheriff’s Office Hires New Deputy
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office has hired a new deputy. Beginning January 1, 2017, Pat Heissel will assume responsibilities and duties as a full-time sheriff’s deputy with Plymouth County. Heissel was selected from the certified list of candidates approved and authorized by the Plymouth County
Civil Service Commission. Heissel has been working for the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office since 2007. He has been a part of the Reserve Unit, earning his State of Iowa certification. He worked in the Plymouth County Jail for three years and is also the Captain of the Plymouth County Dive Team. Heissel
is a Le Mars native where he currently resides with his wife, Cheryl.
Nitzschke Retires From Vander Meer Bakery After Working For 55 Years
(Le Mars) — After making donuts, pastries, and loaves of bread for 55 years with Vander Meer Bakery, Dorothy Nitzschke worked her final day with the bakery on Saturday. Friends, relatives, and long-time faithful customers gathered at the bakery Saturday morning for a surprise retirement party for Nitzschke to
wish her well during her retirement. Nitzschke says working at the local bakery was the only job she had held, and the baker remembers her first day of work at Vander Meer Bakery when she was just 19 years old.
Nitzschke says in years past, Vander Meer Bakery was a busy work place.
Nitzschke says at one time Vander Meer Bakery had over 30 employees.
She says she has no idea how many donuts and loafs of bread she helped make during the 55 year tenure of work. However, she believes she made more than a thousand cakes, which at one time was her favorite activity at the bakery.
The long-time bakery employee says the largest cake she helped decorate was a wedding cake that had eight layers. However, not all the cakes were perfect, and on occasion some mishaps would happen.
The 55 year baker recalls the many changes that occurred while she was employed at Vander Meer Bakery.
Although other bakeries have entered the Le Mars market place, Nitzschke doesn’t believe the added competition has hurt Vander Meer’s business.
Des Moines Police Investigates Year’s First Homicide
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines Police are investigating the death of an 18 -year-old man who was fatally shot in a dispute at a downtown nightclub.
Police were called to the 508 nightclub around 3:30 a.m. Sunday to investigate the altercation.
Police Sgt. Paul Parizek says Des Moines resident Frederico Thompson Jr. died at the scene after he was shot.
The shooting is Des Moines’ first homicide of 2017. No arrests had been made as of Sunday afternoon.
Waterloo Police Dog To Receive Protective Vest
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s department’s newest police dog will soon have his own protective vest thanks to a roughly $2,000 donation.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports (https://bit.ly/2hHfPgW ) Dan and Teresa Kalianov decided to donate after they heard about a case last summer when the K-9 Jarvis and his handler, Deputy Chad Chase, were chasing someone who had
a gun.
The Kalianovs heard about the problem because Chase’s wife is their financial adviser.
Teresa Kalianov says she and her husband want Jarvis to have the kind of protection police officers have. The couple is related to Sheriff’s Capt. Rick Abben, who worked with the department’s first K-9.
Jarvis’ vest has been ordered through a nonprofit called Vested Interest in K9s Inc. It should be ready in about two months.
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Des Moines Woman Injured After House Fire
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines firefighters are investigating what caused a house fire and possible explosion that injured a woman.
Station KCCI reports (https://bit.ly/2hJwZub ) that fire crews were sent to the scene north of Lincoln High School around 1:30 a.m. Monday. The burned woman was found outside the house. Her name hasn’t been released.
Firefighters say the house interior sustained significant fire and smoke damage.
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Wallet Returned After Being Missing For Four Years
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A wallet lost on a Cedar Rapids school bus has been returned four years later.
Alex Fernandez tells Cedar Rapids television station KCRG
(https://bit.ly/2iGTM6T ) that he thinks he lost it on the bus while going to a pep rally. He remembers panicking about the loss because the wallet contained his driving instructional permit.
His family recently received a notice from the school district that a mechanic had found it. Frank Stephenson says he was fixing heaters on the bus when he found the wallet wedged under one of the heaters.
Fernandez says the wallet contains only the old permit and seven dollars, but he’s grateful. He says its return shows there are still “some honest people out there, I guess.”
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