Remsen Emergency Personnel Respond To Two-Vehicle Accident
(Remsen) — Emergency rescue crews from Remsen consisting of the Remsen Fire Department and the Remsen Ambulance were dispatched to the intersection of county road C-38 and Highway 140, about four miles south of Remsen for a two-
vehicle accident.
The accident was reported to the Plymouth County Communications Center at about 6:40 a.m. this morning. Law enforcement officials also responded to the accident scene. Two people were transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le
Mars. Mercy Air Care helicopter was notified to transport one victim to Sioux City. His condition is critical with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the other vehicle is being treated at Floyd Valley. Preliminary investigation by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol indicates that
a white 2010 Ford pickup was northbound on Highway 140 when a white 2017 Ford Escape traveling west on C-38 failed to yield at the stop sign. The names of the injured drivers is not being released at this time due to pending notification of family members.
School Board Proposes No Salary Increases For Teachers
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education offered its initial proposal for the collective bargaining contract to the Le Mars Community Educational Association during a special meeting held Thursday evening. You may recall the faculty association had requested an increase of salary amounting to
3.08 percent. The counter proposal by the school board is to hold off on any salary increase for the next school year, there by maintaining the base wage at the current level of $37,085. The school board says they have contributed point six percent for the IPERS retirement fund amounting to $54,406 for 2018 to 2019.
Both sides will now have to wait for the state legislature to decide how much money will be allocated to educational funding, before any further negotiations can take place.
Marty Kurth To Be Inducted Into High School Coaches Hall Of Fame
(Le Mars) — Good news is coming from Gehlen Catholic schools today. It was announced that Gehlen Catholic baseball coach Marty Kurth will be inducted into the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday evening at Cedar Rapids. Kurth has coached the Gehlen Jays for 31 years. Kurth has more than 500 career victories. His coaching record stands at 522 wins against 335 losses. Marty Kurth has achieved 4 War Eagle Conference titles, eight district titles, eight substate appearances, one state runner-up trophy, and two state championship titles.
KLEM’s Sports Director Denny Callahan will have more about this story during his sports report on Saturday morning. Our congratulations go to Marty Kurth for being named Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Gehlen Catholic High School Jazz Band Earns 3rd Place At Jazz Contest
(Le Mars) — While we are talking about Gehlen Catholic, we want to mention the Gehlen Catholic High School Jazz Band brought home 3rd place for class 1A Iowa Lakes Community College Jazz Contest. 1st place was awarded to Central Lyon,
and 2nd place was awarded to Woodbury Central.
Department of Natural Resources Fines Wells Enterprises For Fish Kill
(Des Moines) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is assessing a fine amounting to $4,500 penalty and fish restitution, along with an investigative costs of $980 to Wells Enterprises of Le Mars. The consent order is from an incident when a discharge of a pollutant was spilled into a storm drain, and consequently reached a tributary of the Floyd River, then ultimately reaching the Floyd River, resulting in a fish kill. The incident happened on August 31, 2017. A consent order is issued as an alternative to issuing an administrative order. A consent order indicates that the DNR has voluntarily entered into a legally enforceable agreement with the other party.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach To Host Crop Advantage Seminar
(Le Mars) — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Plymouth County will host a Crop Advantage seminar on Tuesday at the Le Mars Convention Center.
Crops specialist Joel DeJong says the seminar will feature speakers that will look at the weather outlook and potential weed problems
DeJong says he hopes the federal government doesn’t shut down operations, because that could affect the morning speaker’s appearance.
DeJong says 2017 was an interesting year with delayed planting due to cool and wet conditions, followed by a period of dry conditions for June and July, then moderate temperatures and timely rains in August and September. All in all, the
Iowa State University Extension crops specialist says farmers and crop researchers were able to learn a great deal from last year.
DeJong says this crop year is shaping up pretty nice as we will start with adequate to surplus moisture levels.
The Crop Advantage Seminar will feature two key-note speakers in the morning, and it will have nine different break-out sessions for the afternoon. DeJong says registration is $60. The popular farmer-focused program will get started at 10:00 a.m.
Lawmaker Arrested For OWI Driving Charge
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa state lawmaker has been charged with drunken driving and possessing a firearm while under the influence.
Online records show Rep. Chip Baltimore, a Republican from Boone whose legal first name is Frances, was booked Friday into the Story County Jail. The jail is about 35 miles north of the state Capitol.
The 51-year-old Baltimore faces charges of first offense operating while intoxicated and possession or carrying a firearm while under the influence. He remained jailed late Friday morning on $2,000 bond.
A phone number listed as Baltimore’s home is not accepting messages. A message to Ames police, the responding law enforcement in the area, was not
immediately returned.
Baltimore is serving his fourth term as a state representative. He is chairman of the House judiciary committee.
Dubuque Woman To Face Trial After Her Children Were Found In Unfit Conditions
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – A trial has been scheduled for a Dubuque woman accused of letting her seven children live amid what police say was garbage, rotted food and feces on their home’s floor.
Court records say 34-year-old Tiesha Martin pleaded not guilty Tuesday to seven counts of child endangerment. Her trial is set to begin March 19.
Thirty-three-year-old Jermaine Watson, who police say is the father of the youngest child, also has pleaded not guilty. Court records don’t yet show a trial date for him.
The records say police and a social worker checking on the children at Martin’s residence Jan. 2 found the squalid conditions and say the children were sharing just one bedroom and bed.
Martin has said officers lied about the conditions.
