Home News Thursday News, June 21st

Thursday News, June 21st

Flood Warnings Issued For Area Rivers

(Le Mars) — Many of northwest Iowa’s rivers, including the Floyd River at Le Mars and Alton are under a flash flood warning from now through Saturday. The National Weather Services has posted the warning to include the Big Sioux River at Hawarden and at Akron, the Rock River at Rock Rapids, Rock Valley,
and Luverne, Minnesota. Also included is the Little Sioux River at Milford, Spencer, Linn Grove, and Cherokee. The flood warning extends into neighboring states of South Dakota and Minnesota and includes the Vermillion River near Parker, Davis, and Wakonda. The Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls, Brandon, and Canton. When you notice water crossing a roadway, remember the phrase: “Turn around and don’t drown.”

 

 

Authorities Searching For Hit-and-Run Vehicle

(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a vehicle that was involved with a hit and run accident. Authorities were called to the intersection of Highway 75 and county road C-60 Wednesday evening at about 10:00 p.m. for a vehicle collision with injuries. When deputies arrived at the scene, one of the drivers stated an unknown vehicle was traveling northbound on Highway 75 and failed to slow down through the town of Hinton, and ultimately rear-ended a car driven by Tyren Rushing of Sheldon.
Rushing’s vehicle then entered the opposite lane of traffic and struck another vehicle head-on driven by Teresa Peters of Hinton. The third unknown vehicle continued on and failed to stop after the accident. It is believed the third vehicle will have front-end damage, and is being sought by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with possible knowledge of the
driver, or vehicle causing the accident is encouraged to call the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers. The two victims in the vehicles were transported to Mercy Medical Center with suspected injuries. The Hinton Fire Department and Hinton Ambulance assisted the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office at the scene.

 

 

Postal Service To Unveil New “Frozen Treats” Stamp At   Le Mars

(Le Mars) — The United States Postal Service is set to unveil a new type of stamp, and they will do so today at the Le Mars Postal Office. The new stamp is entitled: “Frozen Treats” and will feature the first of its kind of scratch and sniff stamps. The stamps appear to look like ice cream bars or Popsicle. Several officials with the United States Postal Services and government representatives, along with Le Mars mayor Dick Kirchoff and Wells Enterprises Communications Director Leslie Bartholomew will be at the Le Mars post office during a small unveiling ceremony scheduled at 11:30 a.m. The stamps are the “forever” stamps as issued by the United States Postal Service. The stamps feature illustrations of frosty, colorful, icy pops on a
stick. The booklet of 20 stamps showcases the work of Margaret Berg of Santa Monica, California, depicting whimsical watercolor illustrations of frozen treats. Each of the ten stamp designs includes two different treats. The words “Forever” and “USA” appear along the bottom of each stamp. The “Frozen Treats” stamps are being issued as First-Class Mail Forever stamps which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one ounce price.

 

 

Mad Scientist Camp Offers Students Opportunity To Make Discoveries

(Le Mars) — Nearly a dozen children were learning by discovering during the “Mad Science Camp” held this week and sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Plymouth County and Floyd Valley Healthcare. Ann
Schoenrock with Plymouth County Extension Services says the Mad Science Camp helps younger students make discoveries through scientific experiments.

 

Schoenrock says the camp is designed to offer 3rd through 5th grade students “hands-on” work and introduce them to science and technology through various means.

Once a student completes the first part of Mad Scientist Camp, Schoenrock says they have the option to return the following year for an advance version.

The Extension Official says often times she has witnessed children being wide-eyed and enthusiastic about conducting the experiments.

Schoenrock says the Mad Scientist Camp has been popular over the years it has been offered. She says the camp helps prepare the students for science, technology, and mathematics classes that they will encounter at school.

 

 

Lottery Officials Want To Coordinate Sports Betting

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Lottery officials are looking at how they could offer sports betting if Iowa lawmakers legalize it next year.
The Iowa Lottery Board discussed sports betting Wednesday at a meeting in Clive. The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for states to expand sports betting last month, and Iowa lawmakers will likely consider legislation next year to bring sports betting to Iowa.
Lawmakers declined to approve a bill last session to allow sports
betting at Iowa casinos, including online wagers.
Lottery spokeswoman Mary Neubauer says several large retailers expressed interest in offering sports betting options. Delaware is allowing limited sports betting through its lottery. Neubauer says offering convenient access would help reduce illegal gambling.
Lottery officials will continue researching sports betting, but board members didn’t indicate if they’d support expanding into sports betting.

 

 

Tornadoes Spotted In Central Iowa

SCRANTON, Iowa (AP) – At least a couple of tornadoes have been spotted in Iowa as storms rake the state, including one near the west-central Iowa town of Scranton.
Des Moines television station KCCI reports that spotters captured
video of a tornado Wednesday afternoon touching down in a rural area near Scranton. And the National Weather Service says law enforcement reported a tornado near Eldora in north-central Iowa.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
News of the tornadoes came as the service issued a tornado warning for the area. The service also issued tornado watches for a swath of the state from around Fort Dodge southeast to the Illinois border.

 

 

Industrial Fire Injures One Victim

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a man has been injured in a fire at a northern Des Moines industrial park.
The Des Moines Register says the fire broke out Wednesday at an area containing tanks of diesel and gasoline held by fuel and trucking company Keck Energy.
Des Moines Fire Department spokesman Brian O’Keefe says a man injured was taken to a hospital. No other information about the man, including his name or medical condition, was released.
The fire was quickly extinguished, but a small structure used to load and unload fuel and several vehicles were damaged in the fire.
O’Keefe says an investigation has been launched into whether the company was at fault.

 

 

Cedar Rapids Apartment Fire Injures Four People

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say four people suffered minor injuries in a fire at a Cedar Rapids apartment complex.
Firetrucks were dispatched around 5:25 p.m. Wednesday to the 12-unit complex. The Cedar Rapids Fire Department says firefighters used a ladder to rescue one person. The fire was brought under control within 10 minutes of firefighters’ arrival.
The department says two of the injured were sent to a hospital and two declined hospitalization.
The fire cause is being investigated.

 

 

Pedestrians Killed During Accident

JANESVILLE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in northeastern Iowa say a woman has been killed and her daughter injured when they were hit by a pickup truck as they walked on a rural road at night.
The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office says 52-year-old Kristine
Martinson and her adult daughter were walking on a graveled section of Mark Road about six miles southwest of Janesville when the pickup crested a hill around 9 p.m. Tuesday and hit them.
Officials say Martinson was taken with severe injuries to a hospital, where she died. Her daughter suffered minor injuries when she was hit by a side mirror on the pickup.
Investigators say a 22-year-old Cedar Falls man was driving the
pickup. The incident remains under investigation.

 

 

Omaha Man Faces Life In Prison For Kidnapping

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A man from Omaha, Nebraska, faces life in prison if he’s convicted of kidnapping and other charges after police say he held several people at gunpoint and beat some of them inside a Council Bluffs apartment.
The Daily Nonpareil reports that 36-year-old Derrick West-Jones has been charged with six counts of kidnapping, three counts of aggravated assault, domestic abuse and other drug and weapons counts.
Police say he pulled a gun early Monday after a disturbance in the apartment and would not let anyone leave. Police say he also pistol-whipped and beat some of them with a wrench. Police say the people were held captive about two hours.
Two people were taken to hospital for their injuries.
West-Jones is being held on $1 million bail in the Pottawattamie
County Jail.