County Emergency Services Had A Busy February
(Le Mars) — It was a busy month for emergency responders in Plymouth County during February. Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a total of 36 calls, of which 14 were fires, and seven rescues. The fire department conducted
three investigations and were called to four mutual aid calls, twice with Merrill and twice with Oyens. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department had eight different request for services. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says five of the 14 reported fires were after midnight and involved multiple hours at the scene. 22 firefighters assisted with school threat situation. Schipper reports Le Mars
insurance rating (ISO) maintained at a 3, which is in the top 4 percent in the United States.
The Plymouth County Communications Services released the monthly statistics for all community fire and ambulance calls. Akron Ambulance was called 12 times during February, while the Akron Fire Department had two calls. The Hinton Ambulance responded to 13 different emergencies, and the fire department acted on five separate calls. Kingsley’s ambulance was called ten times, and the Kingsley Fire Department responded to two fire or accident calls. The Merrill First Responders acted on six calls and the Merrill Fire Department had three calls, with one being a home that was totally destroyed by a fire. Oyens
ambulance and fire department had three calls each, and Remsen responded to 15 ambulance calls and the Remsen Fire Department were called three times. The Le Mars Ambulance responded to 92 emergencies during February, while as we
mentioned, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department had a total of 21 calls that were either a fire or a vehicle accident. For the entire county, there were 151 ambulance calls and 39 fire calls. The Plymouth County Communications Office also reported they acted on 419 complaints.
Aalfs Manufacturing Sold To Mexico Company
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A family owned textile business in Sioux City has been sold to a Mexican-based company.
Jean and denim producer Grupo Siete Leguas closed on its deal Feb. 8 to acquire Aalfs Manufacturing Co. Siete Leguas is based in Lerdo, Durango, Mexico.
One of Aalfs’ managing partners, Alex Rodawig, says that Aalfs will be a subsidiary of Siete Leguas and that Aalfs’ employees will
continue doing what they’re doing.
Aalfs has a U.S. workforce of about 100 – 40 of them in Sioux City. The combined company will employ more than 10,000 in the United States, Mexico and Nicaragua, produce up to 20 million pairs of jeans a year and export to more than 40 countries.
Rodawig described the companies as friendly competitors over the years.
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Authorities Identify Man In Burned Vehicle
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City authorities have released the name of a man whose body was found inside a burned sport utility vehicle.
Police identified the man Thursday as 41-year-old Matthew Fisher, who lived in Sioux City.
The fire was reported the evening of Feb. 18 in a SUV parked outside a residence.
The fire and death are still being investigated.
Developer Wants To Restore Historic Homes In Waterloo
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – A developer is moving forward with plans to restore four historic homes in northeast Iowa even as state lawmakers consider curtailing historic preservation tax credits that are essential to the project.
JSA Development is counting on state historic preservation tax credits to help offset the cost of repairing four historically significant houses in Waterloo. But the Iowa Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would cut $10 million worth of funding for the tax credit program next year and eliminate it by 2025.
Contractors already have begun working on one of the homes.
JSA official David Deeds tells the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier that historic renovations aren’t feasible without the tax credits, which help close financing gaps.
Waterloo City Council members voted Monday to pass a resolution encouraging state lawmakers to preserve the tax credit program.
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Man Arrested After Police Standoff
CRESCO, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a man suspected of killing a woman in northern Iowa has been taken into custody, ending his standoff with officers.
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt (MORT’-veht) said Thursday that an Iowa State Patrol SWAT team sent to the Cresco home early Thursday morning negotiated a peaceful surrender.
Cresco officers had been dispatched around 1:30 a.m. to check a report of gunshots. Mortvedt wasn’t sure how long the man kept officers at bay, nor could he say whether any shots had been exchanged.
The woman’s body was found inside the home after the man gave up. Mortvedt says he can’t yet release any names or provide other details.
Law enforcement had asked local schools to delay classes two hours as a safety measure.
