Propane Gas Explosion Injures Two People
(Kingsley) — A propane explosion happened this morning on a farm in the southeast area of Plymouth County. The Plymouth County Communications Office received a 911 call about a propane explosion that had occurred at about 7:15 a.m. The Remsen, Kingsley, and Pierson Fire Departments, along with the Remsen and Kingsley Ambulance and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office all responded to that propane explosion. The propane explosion happened at the 27552 Polk Avenue between Remsen and Kingsley. Two people have been severely injured as a result of that explosion. One was airlifted by Mercy Air Care helicopter and taken to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, the other was
transported to Mercy via the Remsen Ambulance. One hog barn, a nursery hog barn has been completely destroyed as a result of the propane explosion. Hanna
Monsent lives at the residence and heard the explosion.
Fire fighters are still on the scene. Smoke could be seen from several miles away while coming to the scene.
Le Mars Police Arrest Merrill Man For Burglary
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department arrested a Merrill man yesterday afternoon for a burglary, as well as for two outstanding warrants. The Le Mars Police received a complaint from a subject on Thursday afternoon from a subject that lives at the 400 block of 2nd Street southwest about some items missing from his residence. During the investigation, it was determined that 33 year old Brandon Sherlock of Merrill was the individual who had taken the items from the subject’s residence. Sherlock was subsequently located at 208 1st Avenue Northeast, apartment C and was arrested on two warrants that had been issued out of Plymouth County. One warrant was theft in the 2nd degree and unauthorized use of a credit card with the bond at $7,500, and the other warrant was for escape
from custody as a felon with a bond of $5,000. Sherlock was also charged by the Le Mars Police Department for Burglary in the 2nd degree, a Class C felony.
Sherlock was taken to the Plymouth County Jail.
Holz Talks About Bills Passed In Iowa House
(Des Moines) — The Iowa Legislature completed its eleventh week, and one of the major bills to emerge was dealing with the right to bear arms, and to place it as part of the state’s constitution. Le Mars Republican House Member Chuck Holz
says the issue met with controversy.
Holz says it will take a simple majority of the people’s vote, which is one vote above half of the number voting. Holz says the Iowa House also adopted a bill introduced in the Senate by State Senator Jim Carlin of Sioux City, and in the House by Orange City Republican Skylar Wheeler, that asks schools to have a plan
of action in place for if ever a possible shooting incident were to happen.
Of course, the Iowa House also dealt with the state’s budget this week.
Holz says there was no committee action this week, other than the Ways and Means
Committee, as legislators spent the entire voting on bills.
Chamber To Hold Trivia Night
(Le Mars) — If you have an interest in trivia you may want to participate in the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Trivia Night fundraiser scheduled for this coming Tuesday. Mary Reynolds says this is a new idea for the Chamber of Commerce.
Reynolds says the questions will be across the board with many different types of categories.
Reynolds says the teams will compete against each other, but individuals are also welcomed.
The Le Mars Chamber official says unlike the March Madness NCAA Basketball Tournament, there are no brackets, and no team will be eliminated.
People interested in participating with the Chamber Trivia Night need to contact the chamber office at (712) 546-8821 in order to register.
Rock Valley Man’s Trial Is Delayed
ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) – Trial has again been delayed for an Iowa man charged in the stabbing death of his 84-year-old grandfather.
A judge on Friday agreed to give the defense team of 20-year-old Santos Rodriguez Jr. more time for evaluations and investigation. Rodriguez’s new trial date is May 1.
Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and arson. He’s accused of stabbing Luis Luevanos in his Rock Valley home on Oct. 29 and setting the man’s house on fire. Firefighters found Luevanos’ body later that
day.
Police say Rodriguez was later arrested in Utah. Iowa investigators say Rodriguez admitted during a police interview to stabbing his grandfather and setting the fire.
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Man Accused Of Stabbing College Basketball Player Says He Was Defending Himself
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) – A man accused of killing a college basketball player in Oskaloosa says he was defending himself.
Twenty-three-year-old Luke VanHemert is charged with second-degree murder, accused of stabbing to death 22-year-old Marquis Todd earlier this month.
Todd played for William Penn University.
The Des Moines Register reports that VanHemert says in court documents that the stabbing of Todd “was an act of self-defense” but doesn’t provide more details.
Authorities think a car carrying Todd and two friends returned to the scene of a car crash outside VanHemert’s Oskaloosa house three times on the night of March 1, and that a fight broke out on the third trip back.
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Eastern Iowa Power Plant To Shut Down
CLINTON, Iowa (AP) – Officials say an eastern Iowa power plant will be closed six years earlier than scheduled.
Alliant Energy said in a news release its M.L. Kapp Generating Station in Clinton will stop operation June 1. The plant was converted from a coal facility to natural gas in 2015. Its 2024 closing date was announced at that time.
Company spokesman Mike Wagner says the plant was being used only during peak energy demand. Last year it generated power for just 11 days. He says two reviews showed it was in the customers’ best interest to move up the closing date.
Wagner says the plant’s 21 workers were informed Wednesday of Alliant’s decision.
