Home News Saturday Morning News, January 7th

Saturday Morning News, January 7th

Le Mars Police Department Investigating ATV Accident

The Le Mars Police Department investigated an ATV injury accident at around 2:15 Friday afternoon. The accident occurred in the 2400 block of Key Ave in Le Mars. As a result of the accident, the victim was transported to Floyd Valley Health Care by Le Mars ambulance. No other information is being released at this time. The Le Mars Police Department was assisted by the Plymouth County Sherriff, Iowa State Patrol, Le Mars Ambulance and Le Mars Fire Department.

 

Natural Gas Leak Near Godfather’s Pizza

(Le Mars) — Le Mars Fire and Rescue members and Mid-American crews battled the extreme dangerous frigid cold temperatures and winds last evening for a duration of four hours as they worked to repair a natural gas leak that was reported near the Godfather’s Pizza restaurant.  A passer-by was able to smell the foul odor of the natural gas shortly after midnight, and reported the gas leak.  Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the smell of gas was detected for several blocks.

 

Schipper says at some isolated locations, close to the gas leak, the situation could have been quite dangerous.

Schipper says electrical power to the area was able to remain operative, and
there was no need to conduct any residential evacuations. However, fire fighters constantly monitored the situation as they assisted with the repairs.  The Le Mars Fire Chief says the problem was a frozen regulator.

Traffic was closed within a three-block area while crews worked to repair the gas leak.

 

Special Election Set For Iowa House Seat

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A special election has been scheduled for a House seat that was vacated by an incoming state senator.

Gov. Terry Branstad signed a proclamation Friday that directs a special election be held Jan. 31 for House District 89, which includes parts of Scott County in eastern Iowa.

The House seat was held by Democrat Jim Lykam, who resigned after winning a special election on Dec. 27 for the Iowa Senate.

The outcome of the race will not affect Republican majorities in either state chamber. The Iowa Legislature convenes Monday.

 

Man Found Guilty Of Murder In Dubuque

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – A judge has found a man guilty of murder in the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend in Dubuque.

The judge on Friday found 28-year-old Eddie J. Hicks guilty of first-degree murder in the June 2015 death of Kahdyesha J. Lemon.

Prosecutors say Hicks stabbed his girlfriend more than 100 times in her Dubuque home.

Hicks will be sentenced Jan. 23. First-degree murder in Iowa carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

Hicks had earlier waived his right to a jury trial.

 

Iowa Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees To Be Released

The names of the inductees into the 2017 class of the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are being released. The Arnolds Park-based music association pays tribute to those groups and people who have influenced Iowa’s rock-and-roll music scene. The hall’s John Senn says six Iowa bands are on the list of honorees.

Many of the bands will be performing at the annual Hall of Fame concert at the Roof Garden Ballroom in Arnolds Park from September 1st through 3rd. That concert series has run two decades now.

Individual performers being inducted include: Angelo Doud and Craig Erickson, while Spirit Awards are going to: Surf Zombies, Merle and Jan Wiese, Greg Miksich and Bruce Cameron. Tickets for the reunion concert go on sale June 1st. For details, visit: www.iowarocknroll.com.

 

Branstad: Make State Employee Firings Public Record

Governor Terry Branstad says recent employee misconduct at the state-run facility in Glenwood for patients with profound mental disabilities highlights the need for a law change. Six employees at the Glenwood facility were fired, six quit and five others were disciplined after an investigation found 20 residents had been physically and verbally abused by the staff.

The Republican-led Iowa House passed a bill on the subject, but Democrats in the Iowa Senate were able to block it, arguing the move would expose the state to defamation lawsuits. Now that Republicans have majority control of both the House AND the Senate, Branstad hopes a bill will be passed that would make records about government employee firings open to the public.

would like the law changed to apply to the firing of employees in city and county government in Iowa as well as firings in the state’s schools.