Home News Monday News, February 19th

Monday News, February 19th

Le Mars Police Make Drug Bust

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department, in connection with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, have made a drug bust resulting in the arrest of three people. The arrests were made the evening of Friday, February 9th at about 10:50 p.m. at 238 8th Avenue Southeast. Those arrested include: 35 year old
Julian Paredes-Trejo, 24-year old Ashley Koley, and 28 year old Jackelen Hartsock all of Le Mars. Each of the three were arrested for possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. All three subjects were arrested and transported to the Plymouth County Jail on drug
charges. Julian Paredes-Trejo was additionally arrested for an outstanding Plymouth County mittimus to serve 30 days in jail on an unrelated incident.

 

 

Pierson Man Arrested For OWI

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police also arrested a Pierson man for operating while intoxicated. The incident happened during a traffic stop on Sunday, February 11th at 2:40 a.m. 37-year old Brandon Carley was arrested near the intersection of Highway 3 and Park Lane. Carley was transported to the Plymouth County Jail where his bond was set at $1,000.

 

 

Fire Department Responds To Pickup Fire and Propane Leak

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department had a busy Saturday evening.
The local fire brigade responded to two calls that came within nearly an hour from each other. The first call at 7:45 p.m. was a report of a pickup truck that had caught on fire located on a low maintenance road near 150th and Key Avenue. When firefighters arrived on the scene, the pickup was fully engulfed.
Firefighters were on the scene for approximately an hour. The pickup was listed as a total loss. The second call was received at about 10:03 p.m. and within close proximity of the initial call. This time, a propane tank was seen leaking at 31953 150th Street. Residents nearby said they could detect the odor of
propane, and they witnessed seeing a propane “cloud” form above the tank.
Apparently, a valve was accidentally left on. Firefighters were able to shut off the valve and secured the tank without any further incident. Firefighters inspected buildings within the area to make certain no propane gas had entered any of the surrounding buildings. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department gave the “all clear” signal about 40 minutes after arriving on scene. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department has answered 14 calls in seven days, with three of the calls lasting four hours or more.

 

 

Pork Producers Hold Annual Banquet

(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Pork Producers held its annual banquet Saturday evening at the Le Mars Convention Center. The speaker for the evening was Chef Kang Kuan from Tyson Foods and Paul Connor of Tyson Foods. Both spoke about how changing the cut of pork can add value to the product for a linen table cloth high scale restaurant. Kuan and Connor were very complimentary of the Plymouth County pork producers organization.

Chef Kuan added his words of the local pork producer organization.

The crowning of the 2018 Plymouth County Pork Queen was held during the evening’s event. The new Pork Queen is Isabelle Kessenich, the daughter of Chris and Dawn Kessenich. Two young girls were crowned as Little Miss Pig Tails, they include: Breeana Sheehan, the daughter of Neil and Krystal Sheehan and Allyana Walrod, the daughter of Bobby and Christy Walrod.

Special recognition was given to both Steve Schroeder of Remsen as he was named “Master Pork Producer” at the recent Iowa Pork Congress, and to Ben and Janelle Johnson of rural Ireton as they were named “All American Pork Producers” at the Iowa Pork Congress.

 

 

Lawmakers Trying To Change Language To Aid Crime Victims

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A push to add language to the Iowa Constitution ensuring the rights of crime victims is moving through the Legislature despite opposition from a crime victims group and prosecutors.
The law has bipartisan support and the backing of Gov. Kim Reynolds, but others argue the legislation could ultimately hurt victims by siphoning money away from other programs that now help them.
Critics point to other states with similar legislation, like South
Dakota, where lawmakers are currently trying to alter language added to the state constitution in 2016 to reduce the unintentional burden on county attorneys’ offices.
But supporters of Iowa’s proposal say lawmakers learned from other states and designed the amendment to avoid added burden to a court system facing budget cuts and reduced courthouse staffing.

 

 

Saturday Early Morning Snow Causes Multiple Vehicle Accidents On Interstate Highways

HUXLEY, Iowa (AP) – Police have reopened a stretch of Interstate 35 in central Iowa following a massive pileup involving more than 50 vehicles and injured several people.
Police believe the Saturday pileup near Huxley was caused by a quick-moving winter storm that swept the area, causing slick roads and low visibility. Cars, trucks and semitrailers were caught up in the chain-reaction pileup. The Iowa
State Patrol responded to numerous crashes Saturday on the Interstates due to a quick moving snow system that caused roads to become snow covered and icy.

I-35 near the 100 mile marker southbound (Polk Co.) near Huxley was closed for 2 hours for a 70 car pile-up. Approximately 11 people were transported to local
hospitals for injuries.

I-80 near the 158 mile marker westbound (Jasper Co.) was temporarily closed for approximately 20 vehicles that had crashed.

I-80 eastbound at the 208 mile marker (Iowa Co.), up to 30 vehicles were involved with 3 minor injuries reported. Eastbound lanes were closed for less than an hour.

A majority of these crashes were caused by motorists travelling too fast for conditions and not allowing enough following distance.

Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Nathan Ludwig says multiple people were injured and taken to hospitals, including one who had to be flown from the scene in a medical helicopter.

 

 

Botanical Gardens Ask City of Des Moines For Assistance

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden officials are looking for Des Moines’ help to protect the garden’s valuable indoor collection of exotic plants.

The officials say the facility’s 39-year-old heating and cooling system barely functions and needs replacing.

The nonprofit wants the city to cover half the $3 million cost to replace the HVAC system, although the lease agreement says the city is not responsible for maintenance.

Des Moines City Manager Scott Sanders told The Des Moines Register that it might be in the city’s interest to work with the nonprofit. He says that if the nonprofit has to raise contributions for the full $3 million, that could harm the garden’s programming. He says turning the property back over to the city
would be worse.

 

 

Construction Worker Dies From Trench Collapse

COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa (AP) – Police in southeastern Iowa say the owner of a construction company has died after an excavated area where he was working caved
in.
Columbus Junction police say 52-year-old Anthony Hills, owner of Hills Construction, was working on a sewer repair when the collapse happened Friday afternoon.
Ten agencies from the area responded to the scene.
Police say an investigation by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been launched into the death.

 

 

ADM To Invest $196 Million For Grain Processing Plant At Clinton

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) – Archer Daniels Midland plans to invest $196 million in its grain processing plant in Clinton, Iowa.
The Quad-City Times reports the project will update the machinery inside the plant and expand the facility.
ADM spokeswoman Jackie Anderson says the mill produces a variety of corn products, including corn sweeteners, beverage alcohol, ethanol and animal feed.
The plant employs more than 750. The project will receive more than $8 million in state and local tax credits.
Work on the expansion is expected to begin this year and continue into 2022.


 

 

Fatal Fires At Cedar Rapids and Knoxville

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a man died after a fire at his Cedar Rapids apartment.
A city news release says the fire was reported around 9:40 a.m. Saturday at the Shamrock Apartments. The release says neighbors alerted by smoke alarms saw smoke escaping from the apartment’s front door, so they gained access and
used extinguishers to knock down the flames.
Arriving firefighters and medics then took over, and the man was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Officials say the man died there Saturday afternoon.
The release says he’s been identified as 57-year-old Thomas Jones.
The fire is being investigated.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities are trying to determine what caused a house fire in central Iowa that caused a 70-year-old woman’s death this weekend.
The Knoxville Police and Fire Departments said crews responded to a fire shortly after midnight Sunday, and found a home filled with smoke and two adults sitting on the front porch.
The two victims were placed in a police car to get them out of the weather, and then the woman became unresponsive.
The woman was taken to a nearby hospital where she died. Her name wasn’t immediately released.
Authorities are working to determine the cause of the fire.