Home News Monday Afternoon News, July 2nd

Monday Afternoon News, July 2nd

City Street Crews Close Lincoln Street Southwest For Repairs

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Street Department has announced the closing of Lincoln Street Southwest between 18th Street southwest and 19th Street southwest for some street repairs. City officials hope to have the street repaired and open for traffic by Wednesday, July 4th.

 

 

Firefighters Respond To Sioux Center House Fire Caused By Fireworks 

(Sioux Center) — Fire departments from three communities responded to a house fire in Sioux Center that happened last evening at around 1:00 a.m. Sioux Center Fire Chief Dave Van Holland says a roof was on fire, and he is attributing the start of the fire to fireworks.

Van Holland says Orange City and Ireton assisted with the house fire located at 243 19th Street southeast. Fire officials were able to quickly contain
the fire to the roof area. Van Holland says firefighters were on the scene for approximately an hour and a half. The Sioux Center fire chief says the fire works were discharged by someone within the neighborhood. He says the Sioux Center Police Department is investigating to see who was discharging
fireworks at that time. Van Holland says there were no injuries associated with the house fire, and the residents of the home were able to return to their home.

 

 

Le Mars Fire Department Issues June Monthly Report

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department has issued its June monthly report. The local fire department responded to a total of 34 calls during June. There were ten fire calls, nine rescues, eleven calls involving investigations and accident clean-ups. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department did not have any mutual aid calls during the month of June, but
they did have four requests of services. During June, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department took possession of their new tanker/pumper combination truck.

 

 

“Move Over” Law Now Takes Effect 

(Le Mars) — Several new laws began as of Sunday, July 1st. One of those laws is the the “Move Over” law that applies to motorists. Iowa State Patrol Trooper John Farley says the law used to include only emergency vehicles, but now it has been extended to cover all emergency, utility, road department, or
even stranded motorists.

Farley says most people would move over to the other lane as a means of courtesy, but now, legislators have included it as the law.

 

The Iowa Highway Patrol trooper reminds motorist to not only to move over into the other lane, but to also slow down when entering a construction zone, or an emergency zone.

 

 

 

Heavy Traffic Anticipated For Independence Day Holiday

(Le Mars) — The Independence Day holiday, has over the years, proven to be a deadly holiday in terms of fatal traffic accidents. Trooper John Farley with the Iowa State Patrol believes this year’s holiday, even though it is during the middle of the week, will still have heavy traffic on Iowa’s roads and highways.

Farley says many of the accidents that happen during the Independence Day holiday are attributed to impaired driving through intoxication of alcohol or drugs, distracted driving, and higher speeds. Farley says the Iowa State Patrol, along with other law enforcement agencies, will be out in force
watching the holiday highway traffic beginning on Tuesday evening. Farley says the fatalities reported during the July 4th holiday has remained consistent through the years.

Farley says the Iowa State Patrol wants people to celebrate the nation’s holiday, but to celebrate responsibly.

 

 

 

Medicaid Management Company Found To Have Several Faults

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A newspaper investigation finds that a company chosen to manage Iowa’s newly privatized Medicaid system has a history of alleged mismanagement and at least $23 million in fines in more than a dozen states.
The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa Total Care, a Centene
subsidiary, was awarded a state Medicaid contract in May despite scoring nearly 14 points lower on its evaluation than when Iowa rejected its application in 2015.
The newspaper found that at least 300 sanctions were levied against Centene and its subsidiaries since 2013, including failing to promptly pay medical claims.
A federal lawsuit filed this year also alleges Centene has failed to
provide adequate access to doctors in at least 15 states.
Centene spokeswoman Marcela Hawn says the company knows it must earn Iowa residents’ trust and develop partnerships with providers and the community.