Le Mars Police Department Release Accident Information
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Police have released additional information regarding the rollover accident that occurred Wednesday afternoon, shortly before 3:00 p.m.
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. The driver, 79 year old Michael Gengler of Le Mars was heading northbound, and had fallen asleep and overshot the curve, striking the guard rail, then having his car rollover landing on the landscape blocks beneath the billboards. The car had landed right side up. The airbags had deployed within
the vehicle and Gengler 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.
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department has also released information regarding the four-vehicle accident that happened on Tuesday, December 26th at the exit #116 off of Highway 75. That accident was reported at about 4:35 p.m.
Scott Jones, age 20 of Sioux City was traveling northbound following too close on the exit ramp 116 in a 2015 Kia Optima. Jean Leonard, age 52 of Sutherland was traveling northbound slowing to a stop on the exit ramp in a 2014 Ford
Escape. Ruby Mendoza, age 33 of Sioux City was traveling northbound on the exit ramp also slowing to a stop in a 2006 Subaru Impreza. Pauline Brown, age 79 of Cherokee was northbound on the exit slowing to a stop in a 2007 Ford Taurus. As Jones was too close to Brown, striking Brown and Brown then struck Mendoza, who then struck Leonard in a chain reaction.
Leonard was uninjured and wearing their seatbelts.
Mendoza complained of pain and was transported to Floyd Valley Hospital.
Brown complained of pain and was transported to Floyd Valley Hopsital.
Jones was uninjured and wearing his seatbelt.
Jones was cited for OWI 1st Offense, Following too Close and Failure to Provide proof of financial liability.
Leonard’s vehicle sustained approximately $100.00 in damages.
Mendoza’s vehicle sustained approximately $200.00 in damages.
Brown’s vehicle sustained approximately $500.00 in damages.
Jones’s vehicle sustained approximately $2,000.00 in damages.
Attempted Burglar Gets Stuck In Window
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Police say a man suspected of threatening a Sioux City resident and trying to break into the victim’s house had to be rescued from a window well in the home.
Police were called to the house after 1 a.m. Thursday and arrested 51-year- old Levin Nichols on a charge of attempted burglary. Police say Nichols had threatened to kill a resident of the home, then kicked out a basement window to the bedroom of the person he had threatened. Police say when he tried to enter through the broken window, he became stuck in the window well.
Police say Nichols was still stuck when officers arrived, and firefighters had to remove him.
He’s being held in the Woodbury County Jail on $52,000 bond.
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Small Boy Found In Stolen SUV
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 4-year-old child has been found safe inside a sport utility that had been stolen in Sioux City.
The owner told police that the child was inside the running SUV when it was taken early Friday morning near Briar Cliff University. The vehicle was soon found abandoned, and the child was returned home.
No arrest has been reported. The child’s name hasn’t been released.
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Museum To Host Epiphany Concert
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Historical Museum will be hosting an Epiphany Concert this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. featuring music by Father Paul Eisele. The concert will take place in the “Study Hall” of the former Central High School building. Come celebrate the end of the Christmas season and the arrival of Epiphany. Piano sounds and a sing-a-long amid the nativities of the Museum Manger. Refreshments will also be served.
Reynolds Says She Followed The Law When Transferring Funds From Reserve Account
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Kim Reynolds says she followed the law when she tapped emergency funds last year to offset a budget shortfall.
Reynolds said “yes” to reporters Thursday when asked if she followed the law as written in transferring $13 million from a reserve fund. The move avoided a special session.
Democratic Rep. Chris Hall claims in a lawsuit the Republican governor and her budget aide illegally transferred the money because certain emergency conditions weren’t met. Reynolds says the lawsuit is politically motivated, but adds the law should be updated.
Republican House Speaker Linda Upmeyer said earlier Thursday that Reynolds complied with the spirit of the law but maybe not the exact law. Upmeyer also called for a legislative update.
Reynolds and Upmeyer spoke at a legislative forum hosted by The Associated Press.
Community Water Tower No Longer Frozen
EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) – Officials say the water tower in the Waterloo suburb of Evansdale is functioning again after a suspected ice blockage melted.
Officials also lifted the boil order after tests showed Thursday that the water was safe for consumption. Residents and businesses lost water service for a time Monday, regaining it at lower pressure when well water was redirected
into the system, bypassing the tower.
Water plant and system manager Mike Ellison suspects that ice had blocked a standpipe. Mayor Doug Faas (fahs) says the rising temperature let the tower cure itself.
The National Weather Service says the temperature at the Waterloo airport got down to 20 below zero (minus 29 Celsius) Monday morning.
Not Much Of A Tax Break If You Win Mega Millions and Powerball Lotteries
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – With Powerball and Mega Millions lottery games offering huge jackpots, some winners will also soon face enormous tax bills.
Lowered federal income tax rates offer some relief, as the top rate would drop from 39.6 percent to 37 percent. But in most states, those changes are offset by limits on deducting state tax from federal taxes.
As Steven Rosenthal, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Tax Policy Center, puts it, “The new tax bill will not give any benefit to most lottery winners.”
There are exceptions, as 10 states don’t tax lottery winnings. But in the others, the newly rich won’t get much of a break.
The jackpot in Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing is $445 million. The Powerball game’s top prize has reached $550 million for Saturday night’s drawing.
