Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department Gets A New Truck
(Le Mars) — Spectators of Saturday’s Ice Cream Days parade may have noticed a new fire truck that has been added to the fleet. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department rolled out its newest truck that serves as both a pumper and as a tanker. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says it is nice to have a truck that serves two functions.
Schipper says the city was able to save some money when purchasing the new truck.
Schipper says the truck was built at Breda, Iowa, and the city was able to save additional money since the company used the truck for demonstration purposes.
The Le Mars Fire Chief says the two fire trucks that were sold to other communities were past 20 years old.
Schipper says the two communities were needing to update their equipment, and that is why they were interested in purchasing Le Mars Fire Department’s used vehicles.
The new combination pumper and tanker truck is capable of hauling 2,000 gallons of water, and if needed, it can pump 750 gallons in one minute.
Graphics on the new fire truck have been designed and created by the former Old School Signs, now currently, Total Motors Graphic Solutions of Le Mars.
The new fire truck will officially be put into service on July 1st, the start of the fiscal year.
Governor Reynolds Says Federal Government Should Not Separate Children From Illegal Immigrants
MITCHELLVILLE, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says the federal government should stop separating children from their parents when they enter the country illegally.
The Des Moines Register reports that Reynolds said on Tuesday that “it’s just horrific” that children are used as “pawns” in an immigration policy dispute. The Republican governor called on Congress to come up with a solution this week that stops the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Reynolds says the U.S. should provide “stability” to families instead of separating them from their children.
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, a Democrat, also announced Tuesday that he has joined 20 other Democratic attorneys general in calling for the policy to stop. In a letter, the state attorneys general say the policy runs “contrary to American values.”
—
Flash Flooding Still Happening At Central Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Heavy rain in central Iowa has prompted flood warnings for the Raccoon River.
Nearly 2 inches (5 centimeters) fell in the Perry area on Monday,
causing road and field flooding. The river was more than 2 feet (less than a meter) below flood stage Tuesday morning but was expected to rise above flood stage Wednesday morning and crest nearly 2 feet above flood stage by Thursday evening.
However, the National Weather Service also says more thunderstorms are forecast through Friday.
The service says a flood warning is continuing until Friday for the
Wapsipinicon River near DeWitt in eastern Iowa. Moderate flooding already is occurring at less than a foot above flood stage and could imperil residences between Calamus and Wheatland if the water were to reach a foot above flood stage.
Omaha Dentist Sentenced To Prison For Filing Fraudulent Claims
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A Nebraska dentist has been sentenced to 10 months for submitting fraudulent bills to Nebraska and Iowa Medicaid programs.
Authorities say 59-year-old Gregory Garro, of Omaha, was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Omaha. He was ordered to pay restitution of more than $82,500 to the Nebraska Health and Human Services Department and more than $4,700 to Iowa’s Inspections and Appeals Department.
Garro pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud. He originally was indicted on 24 counts.
Authorities say Garro provided dental services at several nursing
homes in Omaha and in Iowa and submitted false claims between Feb. 12, 2013, and Jan. 22, 2016.
Two Brothers Estates Donates Land For Wildlife Management Area
THOR, Iowa (AP) – A prairie and wetland in northern Iowa are flourishing a few years after two farming brothers donated the land following their deaths.
The Des Moines Register reports that Palmer Larson and Roger Larson both died in 2012. The brothers donated 150 acres of land in Humboldt County to the state, which was turned into the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area.
Bryan Hellyer is a wildlife supervisor with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. He says the brothers weren’t openly conservationists, but arranged a meeting with him in 2001. He says they spoke about the goals of the agency, but that he didn’t hear about the donation until after their deaths.
Hellyer and wildlife technician Rob Patterson have spent five years restoring the land to its native condition.
—
