Afternoon Rollover Accident Occurs On Business Highway 75
(Le Mars) — Shortly before 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, the Le Mars Ambulance, Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, and the Le Mars Police Department responded to a roll-over vehicle accident that happened on Business Highway 75 at the curve next to Premier Communications and Family Table Restaurant. From his own admission, apparently, the driver, an elderly male in his 70’s, was heading northbound, and had fallen asleep and overshot the curve, striking the barrier, then having his car rollover landing on the landscape blocks beneath the
billboards. The car had landed right side up. The driver did not appear to have suffered any injuries, but was transported via private vehicle to Floyd Valley Healthcare to be checked by medical staff. The car had sustained some major damage, mainly in the front end. Emergency crews placed traffic cones to
reduce the traffic from four lanes down to two lanes while they continued to work the accident scene. The accident scene was cleared within 45 minutes.
The Le Mars Police Department is investigating the accident.
County Communications Office Releases 9-1-1 Tally
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Communications office, as part of the county sheriff’s office, has released the tally of emergency calls that were received during 2017. Total Ambulance calls numbered 1,628 calls with Le Mars leading
the county with 964 calls. Akron received the second highest number of ambulance calls with 196, followed by Remsen with 147 responses, Kingsley ambulance had 168 calls, Hinton with 94, Merrill with 52, and Oyens with seven emergency calls for the ambulance in 2017. As for the number of fire calls for
the county, there were a total of 472 with Le Mars having nearly half of the fire calls at 217, then Hinton with 64 calls, Akron with 57, Remsen had 43 calls to the fire department, Kingsley with 41 times responding to a fire, Merrill responded to 29 calls, and Oyens with 21 fire calls.
Holz Previews Upcoming Legislative Session
(Le Mars) — Next Monday, January 8th, the state lawmakers return to Des Moines to begin work during the next General Session. State House Representative Chuck Holz of Le Mars believes the state’s budget will be the first and foremost issue
to face the legislature. Holz says the state’s Revenue Estimation Commission has said the state will see another shortfall on revenue.
The Republican lawmaker says school funding will need to be handled within the first month. Holz, who is a member of the House Agriculture Committee, is hopeful the state legislators can come to an agreement with a water quality
bill.
As you know, the U-S Congress and U-S Senate adopted a tax reform package prior to Christmas. Holz says legislators will look at how the Iowa tax code may be revised.
Holz offers some clarification on tax reform, as opposed to tax cuts.
Holz says other issues that likely will be debated at the state capital will include the privatization of Medicaid and mental health.
Casey’s General Stores To Expand Headquarters
ANKENY, Iowa (AP) – Convenience store chain Casey’s General Stores Inc. plans to expand its Ankeny headquarters.
Casey’s senior vice president Brian Johnson told The Des Moines Register that the company had run out of space in its building. The company recently opened its 2,000th store, and more growth is expected.
Johnson also says the company is seeking tax credits from the city and state.
Nearly 900 people work at the Ankeny location, not counting warehouse employers or truck drivers. Johnson says the expansion could lead to Casey’s hiring at least 80 more office workers there over the next five years.
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Cold Temperatures Blamed For Dead Body Found At Iowa City
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa City police suspect dangerously cold weather played a part in the death of a man whose body was found Tuesday.
Officers were sent to area around 2 p.m. Tuesday after 24-year-old Paul Biagas was found dead in the snow near the Robert A. Lee Recreation Center.
Police say foul play in not suspected.
Police Lt. Zach Diersen says investigators believe Biagas may have been walking home on New Year’s Eve to his apartment near downtown Iowa City. The wind chill overnight in Iowa City dropped to as low as 20-below (-28.9-Celsius).
Diersen says Biagas was not appropriately dressed for the extreme cold, noting he was not wearing a heavy coat.
An autopsy has been ordered.
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Salvation Army To Offer Shelters For Homeless
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Salvation Army in Omaha has announced it will open several locations in the city and nearby Council Bluffs, Iowa, for people to escape the bitter cold that has gripped much of the nation.
The group says its Kroc Center in southeastern Omaha, North Corps Community Center in northeast Omaha, Citadel Corps in midtown Omaha and Council Bluffs location across the Missouri River will serve as warming centers through Friday. The Kroc Center will be open from 5 a.m. through 9 p.m. The other two
Omaha locations open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Council Bluffs center opens from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Salvation Army opens warming centers when the wind chill dips below freezing or air temperature drops below 15 degrees (-12.22 Celsius).
Livestock Producers Concerned About Extreme Cold Temperatures
FARLEY, Iowa (AP) – Frigid temperatures are creating challenges for Iowa farmers who say animals can endure cold winter conditions but need extra attention to stay healthy and productive.
Iowa entered 2018 with subzero temperatures. The National Weather Service reported a Jan. 1 record temperature in Dubuque of 21 degrees below zero (-29 Celsius). And wind chills on the first two days of the year reached negative 30 degrees (-34 Celsius).
Dairy farmer Wayne Kramer tells the Telegraph Herald that his livestock needs to be partially protected from the frigid conditions. He says the cold weather can make cows uncomfortable and cut into productivity.
Livestock farmer Craig Recker says the wind poses a threat to his cattle. Recker uses corn stalk fodder for his cattle’s bedding, which he says helps them generate heat.
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Powerball Lottery Continues To Climb As No Winner Announced
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – No winning tickets were sold for the $460 million Powerball drawing.
The winning numbers selected Wednesday night were 2, 18, 37, 39 and 42, and the Powerball number was 12.
The jackpot jumps to an estimated $550 million for Saturday’s drawing.
That would make it the nation’s 8th largest lottery prize ever.
Powerball is played in 44 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The odds of winning are one in 292.2 million.
The $550 million prize refers to the annuity option, paid over 29 years.
The cash prize would be almost $348 million.
Lottery players also can vie for another giant prize, as the Mega
Millions game’s grand prize will be $418 million in Friday’s drawing.
