Home News Monday News, July 10th

Monday News, July 10th

Warm, Dry, Conditions Continue For Plymouth County

(Le Mars) — Warm temperatures and dry conditions have dominated the weather pattern for the last few weeks, causing farmers to be concerned as crops are nearing the critical pollination stage. The recent dry conditions is also a concern for area fire officials as they contemplate whether or not to impose a
county-wide burn band. Several grass and ditch fires have been reported during the last couple of weeks, some were caused by the misuse of firecrackers.
Although Le Mars has received trace amounts of precipitation, including sprinkles that fell on Saturday morning, you need to go back to May 20th since the “Ice Cream Capital” received a substantial amount of rain. At that date, KLEM recorded eight tenths of an inch had fallen in the rain gauge. Since that
time, Le Mars has received rainfall amounts of only about a tenth or two tenths of an inch. According to information provided by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Le Mars is currently running at about the same level for received precipitation compared to 2012, the last time the area had a dry spell.
Normally for this time of year, this region would receive nearly 7 1/2 inches of rain since May 1st. So far, Le Mars has received only about five inches of rain. The U-S Drought Monitor says 50 percent of Iowa is now considered at least “abnormally dry” and about nine percent falls into the “moderate dry” category. Most of northwest Iowa, including Plymouth County, falls into the
“abnormally dry” region. Reports of hit and miss rains have occurred throughout the region. When visiting with area farmers, some will say they received a couple of tenths of rain, while neighbors living a short distance away say they received nothing.

 

 

Le Mars Fire and Rescue Respond To Five Calls On Saturday

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department had a busy Saturday, responding to five different calls. Firefighters were first called to a hit and run accident at about 12:30 a.m. The back-end of a parked vehicle was smashed when an unknown vehicle had struck the parked vehicle causing enough severe damage to sever the gasoline tank of the parked vehicle. The firefighters used an absorbent to help clean up the spilled fuel. Early Saturday morning, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department received a phone call from a Le Mars resident
indicating their carbon monoxide detector was sounding. When firefighters investigated, they learned the house did have elevated levels of carbon monoxide. Firefighters ventilated the building and notified Mid-American Energy of the situation. Shortly before noon on Saturday, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue
Department was called to the Floyd Valley Apartments for an alarm. Fortunately, there was no fire. Later, in the afternoon, the Le Mars Fire Department responded to two separate grass fires that happen almost simultaneously, the first was reported across the street from Lambert Lumber, and the second was reported on county road C-38. It was determined that both grass ditch fires were started from firecrackers.

 

 

Police Chief Candidates Complete Interviews With City Leaders

(Le Mars) — It may be Wednesday before Le Mars learns who will be the next Police Chief. Each of the five final candidates had a series of interviews that were held on Friday. However, city officials indicated before any announcement can be made, the list first needs to be submitted to the Le Mars civil service
board. The civil service board will meet on Wednesday. Following the civil service board, the name will go before the city council on July 18th. Mayor Dick Kirchoff says all the interviews went well.

Each police chief candidate met with three groups of interviewers. The city council members were split to have representation on each group. Kirchoff says all three groups agreed upon the same top candidate.

Kirchoff says he is hopeful the new chief may be able to start his duties by August 15th, or perhaps even earlier.

 

 

School Board Scheduled To Meet This Evening

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education is scheduled to meet this evening. It will be the first meeting for newly appointed Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Steven Webner, in his new position. The school board will receive a report from Amy Hogrefe, Kelly Collins, and Tina Gray regarding adoption of textbooks for the middle school English-Language Arts classes. The school board will be given a report from Dr. Webner regarding the student growth on the Iowa Assessment tests. The school board will also act upon a resignation request from Nicki Addison as she has submitted her resignation as a high school guidance counselor effective immediately. The school board will appoint a member to serve as the Iowa Association of School Boards legislative action network representative for the 2017-2018 school year.

 

 

Cherokee County Sheriff Involved With Stand-off Incident

(Cherokee) — Cherokee Sheriff’s Office was involved with a stand-off incident that occurred Friday evening at about 10:40 p.m. The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office received a call from a citizen saying that 42-year old Todd Brown was fighting with another person in the street near the citizen’s residence. Upon arrival at
209 West Grace Street in Cleghorn, officers were confronted by Brown with an AR-15 assault rifle. Brown refused officer’s commands to drop his weapon.
Brown made several threatening statements towards the officers. Brown had retreated to his back yard and continued refusing orders from officers to drop the weapon. After a perimeter was setup a short standoff occurred. Brown surrendered his weapon and was taken into custody without any further incident
at around 12:38 a.m. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol, Aurelia Police Department, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Ida County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee Police Department, Cherokee Regional Medical Center Ambulance, Cleghorn Fire Department, Meriden Fire Department, and the Cherokee County Emergency Management.

 

 

Tyson Foods Lists Former Cherokee Plant For Sale

CHEROKEE, Iowa (AP) – After nearly three years of sitting vacant, a Tyson Foods plant in the northwestern Iowa community of Cherokee could be showing signs of
life.
The Des Moines Register reports (https://dmreg.co/2ttanCD ) that the property owner recently listed the site with Chicago-based Global Food Properties. Local leaders hope that means a new occupant for the 250,000 square-foot plant will be found.
Tyson, once Cherokee’s largest employer, closed in September 2014, taking 450 jobs with it. Since then, Tyson has held onto the lease. Last July, the company offered to buy out its lease, which doesn’t expire until 2020. But the offer went nowhere, as the property owner feared taking over the costs of security, maintenance, utilities and property taxes.
The plant and its 45-acre site are listed for about $2.5 million.

 

 

Plane Crashes In Southern Iowa

CORYDON, Iowa (AP) – Two people have been injured in the crash of a small plane in southern Iowa.
Des Moines television station KCCI reports (https://bit.ly/2sWe8BP ) the crash occurred Sunday afternoon near Corydon. Wayne County authorities say one of the people was taken to a Des Moines-area hospital and the other taken to a Wayne County hospital. Their names haven’t been released.
The crash cause and other information haven’t been released. Federal safety officials will be investigating.

 

 

Iowa Communities Upset With New Fireworks Law

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – Some Iowa communities are considering new restrictions on fireworks after the state started allowing them for the first time in decades.
Republican Gov. Terry Branstad signed a bill in May that allows the sale of fireworks in the state from June 1-July 8 and Dec. 10-Jan. 3. The law prevents the ban of fireworks sales, but allows limits on their use.
After giving the new state law a trial run, Davenport is looking to
reinstate a ban on their use within city limits.
Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott is expected to propose restrictions for his city. He says he may support council action to cut down the number of days fireworks can be lit.
Sioux City police have received more than 150 calls reporting fireworks violations since June 25.

 

Deer Tags To Be Lowered Next Year

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa is reducing the number of tags it gives deer hunters as part of an effort to maintain the state’s deer population while combatting animal diseases.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources approved the move and it was finalized at a legislative rules meeting this month. It should not result in a reduction in the number of antlerless deer hunted in the state. Department officials note roughly 10,000 deer tags were not claimed in 2016.
The change will ultimately decrease available deer tags from a little over 74,500 to just over 72,100. It will be in effect for antlerless deer hunting that begins in September and runs through early next year.Officials say the setup should help combat reported cases of chronic wasting disease.