Thursday Vehicle Accident Results In A Fatality
(Le Mars) — A two-vehicle accident that happened Thursday afternoon in Plymouth County has now turned into a fatality. Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is reporting 16 year old Daisy Pippet of Le Mars has died from injuries suffered from the accident that happened at about 1:20 p.m. at the
intersection of county road C-38 and Otter Avenue. Pippet was the driver of the Chevy Malibu that failed to make a stop and consequently was struck broadside by a straight truck driven by Scott Rohmiller. Rohmiller and his passenger Nicholas Anthony sustained only minor injuries. There were two other passengers in the Pippet vehicle. A three-year old boy and a five-year
old girl. Both were airlifted to a Sioux Falls, South Dakota hospital where they remain in critical condition.
Clean Up Begins After Central Iowa Tornadoes
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Crews are assessing damage after a surprise swarm of tornadoes swept through central Iowa and damaged numerous buildings. Some buildings at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown sustained roof damage when a tornado hit the city northeast of Des Moines on Thursday.
Commandant Timon Oujiri (TIH’-muhn OH’-jury) says the facility
housing nearly 500 residents lost power, but that no residents or staffers were injured. He says generators are now powering the buildings.
Alliant Energy says more than 5,800 customers remain without power in Marshalltown, and that natural gas service has been shut down in part of the city. Crews have been dispatched to repair damage and assess which areas can have gas service safely restored.
Tornadoes also touched down in at least two other cities Thursday afternoon, injuring at least 17 people, flattening buildings and forcing the evacuation of a hospital.
Governor Reynolds Comments About Central Iowa Tornadoes
(Des Moines) — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is touring areas devastated by Thursday’s tornadoes today. The governor says that it’s a miracle there were no fatalities and the state
has immediately responded to help the storm victims:
Reynolds has issued a disaster declaration for Marshall County:
The governor will be joined by Lt. Governor. Adam Gregg and Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Acting Director Joyce Flinn at the damaged areas. They will be in Bondurant, the damaged Vermeer Corporation plant in Pella and Marshalltown.
Open Class Food Superintendent Expects Good Quality At This Year’s Plymouth County Fair
(Le Mars) — Open class food exhibits for the upcoming Plymouth County Fair should be of good quality this year. That’s the prediction from Carol Scheinder, the Open Class Food Superintendent. People interested in entering produce, preserves, or baked goods in the open class division need to submit those entries either on Tuesday evening between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m., or on Wednesday morning between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Scheinder says the open class building will close at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday morning for the judging to take place. Schneider says exhibitors can enter an unlimited number of entries.
Folks that believe they hold the champion produce in their garden needs to remember some considerations before entering the item for the fair. Schneider says to first refer to the Plymouth County Fair Book, before taking any action.
Schneider says anyone can enter an item for the Open Class Division, including 4-H and FFA members. She says there are two age groups, the junior division and the adult division. Schneider offers some tips as to what judges will be looking for with the open class entries.
She says the produce should be uniform in both size and color. The open class food superintendent says people can also enter baked goods for the Plymouth County Fair.
Fish Kill Reported In Eastern Iowa
GREELEY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa officials are investigating reports that dead fish have been found along nearly 20 miles of a creek in eastern Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says carcasses were found in and along Plum Creek from Greeley to Earlville. They included those of small mouth and rock bass.
Chief investigator Brian Jergenson says the fish likely died during
and after a July 13 rainstorm. He also says it’s difficult to pin down a specific source several days after a pollutant washes into a stream.
Arbitrator Says Rockwell-Collins Violated Union Contract
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – An arbitrator says Rockwell Collins violated a union contract when it outsourced its Cedar Rapids custodial work.
Arbitrator Robert Grey on Wednesday upheld a grievance filed by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, ordering the aviation electronics company to make affected employees whole. He gave both sides 60 days to craft a remedy.
At issue was Rockwell’s December 2016 decision to eliminate 62
custodial positions at its Cedar Rapids plant and hire lower-paid contract workers in order to save $2.5 million annually. About two dozen employees were laid off.
Union lawyer Nate Willems argued the company couldn’t unilaterally eliminate those jobs. He noted the union had previously agreed to concessions on wages and work conditions in exchange for job security.
Grey found that argument persuasive. He says Rockwell had a valid goal of cutting costs but isn’t “free to avoid or unilaterally dismantle its collectively bargained wage obligations.”
Midwest Banks See Lower Economic Conditions
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Weak economic growth is expected to continue in rural parts of 10 Plains and Western states, but all the recent trade disputes may shrink profits.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says the new tariffs are hurting grain prices, which were already weak.
The overall economic index for the region declined to 53.8 in July
from June’s 56.1.
That score still suggests growth because it is above 50, while any
score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy.
Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.
The bankers say they’re concerned about the ongoing trade tensions with China and the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
The confidence index fell to 42.7 in July from June’s 48.8.
