Authorities Release Identities Of Explosion Victims
(Kingsley) — Authorities have released the names of the two victims from last Friday’s propane gas explosion that completely destroyed one hog barn and burned three other buildings. Plymouth County Sheriff’s office have identified the
victims as 47-year old Pedro Trelo Gallegos of Jefferson, South Dakota, and 45- year old Pedro Martinez Alvarado of Remsen. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office says that approximately 1200 head of feeder pigs weighing between 30 and 50
pounds had died as a result of the surrounding hog barns that caught on fire following the explosion. Kingsley Fire Chief Paul Huth has reported that the investigation into the cause of the explosion is now complete. Huth stated that there was a faulty propane pipeline that supplied a heater in one of the hog
confinement buildings. When the two employees arrived at work, they entered the building and turned up the heat. The building was filled with propane from the faulty line and ignited when the heater was turned on, causing the explosion.
There are seven hog buildings on the farm where the explosion occurred. Three of those buildings were completely destroyed by the explosion and fire.
No Meeting For County Supervisors Today
(Le Mars) — Due to a lack of agenda items, the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will not be meeting today.
North West Rural Electric Cooperative Has A Good Year
(Le Mars) — Members of Northwest Rural Electric Cooperative held their annual meeting last evening at the Le Mars Middle School. Lyle Korver, the utility cooperative’s Executive Director informed the members that 2017 was a good year.
Korver says the power utility cooperative saw some previous restrictive regulations have now become less restrictive, and more relaxed under the Trump administration.
Korver says North West Rural Electrical Cooperative has expanded its services, and has assisted with economic development opportunities, especially with providing broadband internet services to otherwise isolated rural areas.
Korver says the the utility cooperative hit some milestones and the future looks strong for the power cooperative.
The North West Rural Electrical Cooperative serves members in Ida, Sioux, O’Brien, and Plymouth Counties.
School Board and Education Association Reach Tentative Agreement On Salary Increase
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education approved the terms of the collective bargaining contract with faculty members. The agreement allows for a 1.5 percent salary increase or $556 for every faculty member. The proposal will
increase the cost of salary to the Le Mars Community school district by $227,970 for the 2018-2019 school year.
Congressman Steve King Facebook Comments Regarding School Shooting Survivor Comes With Criticism
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A comment on an Iowa congressman’s campaign Facebook page about one of the survivors of a Florida school shooting has prompted
hundreds of comments, many met by mocking replies from the campaign.
U.S. Rep. Steve King’s campaign Facebook page on Sunday featured a picture of Emma Gonzalez as she gave a speech at Saturday’s “March for Our Lives” rally in Washington. Alongside a photo of Gonzalez, who wore a Cuban flag patch, the page noted Gonzalez’s Cuban heritage and stated her “ancestors fled the
island when the dictatorship turned Cuba into a prison camp, after removing all weapons from its citizens.”
Hundreds responded with outrage and blasted King for criticizing a young student who had survived a school shooting. The campaign repeatedly defended the initial statement, and in response to one comment wrote it was “just pointing out
the irony of someone wearing a communist flag while advocating for gun control.”
A call to his campaign rang unanswered.
Parents Of Dead Girl From Bus Fire Are Upset At School Officials
OAKLAND, Iowa (AP) – The parents of the 16-year-old girl who died in a school bus fire in western Iowa last year are critical of school officials and the 74- year-old bus driver who also died.
Glen and Natalie Klindt told The Des Moines Register they hope Iowa will strengthen school bus regulations because of the December 12 fire that happened right after Donnie Hendricks picked up Megan Klindt.
The Klindts say Hendricks couldn’t walk without a walker and had back surgery scheduled the week of the fire, so the couple says he wasn’t physically fit to drive the bus.
School bus drivers in Iowa must have physicals, but endurance isn’t measured.
Federal investigators have said the fire began in the engine compartment after the bus backed into a ditch and became stuck.
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