Fire Departments Respond To Early Morning Accidents
(Le Mars) — Both the Merrill Fire Department and Merrill Ambulance, as well as the Remsen Fire Department and Remsen Ambulance responded to separate vehicle accidents that happened this morning. The Merrill Fire Department responded to a personal injury accident that occurred at Lake Avenue and 250th Street, at about 7:50 a.m. Meanwhile, about ten minutes later, the Remsen Fire Department was called to an accident scene on Highway 3 about a quarter of a mile west of
Remsen. The names of the victims have not been released, and it is not known the severity of the injuries with both accidents.
Groetken Recently Honored By Cleinman Performance Network
ST. LOUIS, MO — Dr. Liz Groetken, owner of Groetken Family Eye Care in Le Mars, IA, received recognition for her continued commitment to professional development at a recent meeting of Cleinman Performance Network.
Dr. Groetken — celebrating five years in the Network — demonstrates a dedication to creating a healthy and beneficial work environment, as well as to maintaining a high level of patient care and satisfaction. As a member of Cleinman
Performance Network, a wisdom-sharing group of peer optometrists from across North America, Dr. Groetken provides valuable knowledge that highlights and contributes to the best practices in vision care and eye health.
Des Moines Apartment Fire Causes One Injury
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say one person was hospitalized after a fire that damaged an apartment building on the southwest side of Des Moines.
Firetrucks were dispatched a little after 1 p.m. Sunday. Television Station KCCI reports that arriving firefighters saw smoke coming from the third floor of the Wakonda West Apartments and fire and smoke blowing out of the front of the
building.
One person was taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The person’s name hasn’t been released.
The fire cause is being investigated.
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Governor Reynolds Willing To Compromise On Tax Cuts
(Des Moines) — Republican Governor Kim Reynolds says she does not plan to dictate which components of HER tax plan must be included in the final version as she negotiates with Republicans who control the legislative branch of government.
For example, the governor’s original plan included a form of “speed bumps” so a yearly tax cut would NOT go into effect if there’s a downturn in Iowa’s economy.
Those “triggers” are NOT included in two of the three tax plans that have emerged in the Republican-led legislature. Plus, the plan that cleared a House committee last Thursday did not include the governor’s proposal to end a state tax break
for federal taxes. It’s a tax deduction that makes Iowa’s individual income tax rates look higher than they are when compared to other states.
Because of that deduction and because FEDERAL taxes were cut, Iowans will wind up paying more income taxes to the STATE of IOWA if policymakers fail to do something to cut Iowa individual income tax rates. As for the SIZE of the tax cut, House Republicans are aligned with the governor at about 300-million dollars a year, while Senate Republicans are proposing about three-quarters of a billion dollars. Reynolds told reporters today (Monday) the final tally of tax cuts may wind up “somewhere in the middle.”
A “sustainable” plan will leave the state with enough tax revenue to meet on- going commitments to the state’s education system, the Medicaid program and other priorities, according to the governor.
Black Hawk County Considering Wind Turbine Farm
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – A Waterloo zoning board is set to hear a long-running dispute over a proposed industrial wind farm in Black Hawk County.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the county Planning and Zoning board will make its recommendation Tuesday on whether the Washburn Wind Energy should be built south of Waterloo.
Company representative Felix Friedman says the 35 wind turbines would produce 70-megawatts, which is enough to power 26,000 homes. He says the project would also generate more than $35 million in lease and tax revenue to landowners
and local governments over 30 years.
Cedar Valley Citizens for Responsible Wind Energy is concerned about the project’s impact on their health, wildlife and property values.
Wind energy groups say wind turbines have been operating in some areas for more than two decades and don’t have negative health effects.
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Mason City Man Convicted Of Injuring Daughter
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Cerro Gordo County jury has convicted a Mason City man of injuring his infant daughter.
Station KIMT reports that 28-year-old Jeremy Rose was found guilty Monday of child endangerment resulting in serious injury.
Rose was arrested after officers and medics were called the night of June 22 to help the baby, who was having difficulty breathing. Prosecutors say he’d violently shaken the tiny girl.
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