Erratic Driving Leads To Accident At Merrill
(Merrill) — Reports of an erratic driver heading north on Highway 75 lead to an accident involving a vehicle striking the Lampe Auto Sales of Merrill. At about 12:35 p.m. Thursday afternoon, law enforcement and rescue crews were
summoned to the scene of an accident involving a car that crossed the median, traveled through the ditch, and consequently hit a parked van that was for sale on the
Lampe Auto lot, causing both vehicles to then strike the building. Both the parked van and the vehicle involved, collided with the building doing damage to the corner of the structure. Shortly before the accident was reported, calls to the Plymouth County Communications Center were received regarding an erratic
driver heading north. The driver of the vehicle, a male victim, was transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars. No one inside the Lampe Auto Sales was injured. The Merrill Police Department is investigating the accident. The Merrill Fire Department, Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Le Mars
Ambulance, Merrill Ambulance, Merrill Police, and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office all responded to the scene.
Supervisors Hear About Water Quality Project Slated For Kingsley
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday were told of a proposed water quality project to be implemented near Kingsley. Bridget Durst is the Source Water Community Facilitator with the Conservation Districts of Iowa appeared before the county governing board. She says the effort is to help protect source water.
Although the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have not taken formal action on the proposal, Durst says they were interested in the project. She says through out the state, agricultural organizations, civic groups, and public and
private entities have expressed an interest in assisting with the water quality projects.
Durst says the efforts for the Kingsley project are just getting started.
A meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, December 14th at the Kingsley Community Center in Kingsley beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Iowa State University Professor Arrested For Public Intoxication
AMES, Iowa (AP) – Campus police have arrested an Iowa State lecturer who they say smelled of alcohol in his classroom.
The Des Moines Register reports that Gordon Knight was taken into custody Thursday morning by officers sent to check on his concerning behavior. Campus Police Chief Michael Newton says Knight refused to take a breath test.
The philosophy and religious studies lecturer is charged with public intoxication, second offense. The 56-year-old Knight is scheduled to be in court Thursday.
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Midwest Economic Index Drops Slightly
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Economists say a business conditions index for nine Midwest and Plains states dropped over the past month but also say it still suggests that regional economic conditions continue to improve. A report released Friday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index slipped to 57.2 in November from 58.8 in October. The September figure was 58.2
in September. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the manufacturing sector has reported consistent growth over the past several months. The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging
from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor. A score below that suggests decline. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
University of Iowa Looking For Alzheimer’s Patients
(Iowa City) — Researchers at the University of Iowa are looking for Iowans who are serving as caretakers of a family member or friend who has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. The U-I College of Nursing is in year three of a four year study designed to support those caregivers. The study’s director, Diane
Blyler, says participants need to commit just three months to the study.
A total of 35 families have participated in the study so far and Blyler is hoping they can collect data from at last 25 more. Participants in the study fill out questionnaires and also use an iPAD, provided by the U-I, to record and
share videos with a team of dementia care experts.
Each caregiver enrolled in the study will be paid $225. Iowans who are caring for a dementia patient in their home and want to participate in the study can contact Blyler by email ( diane-blyler@uiowa.edu ) or by calling 319-335-3488.
