Emergency Rescue Units Rehearse Disaster Drill
(Le Mars) — Rescue units responded to an accident Wednesday evening that occurred on the northeast side of town. The accident involved a passenger car that had struck a pick-up truck towing an anhydrous ammonia tank causing an ammonia leak. Fortunately, the described scenario was just a training
drill, and not an actual emergency. The joint training session involved the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, the Le Mars Police Department, the Le Mars Ambulance Services, and the Plymouth County Emergency Management Services. Although the accident was staged, Plymouth County Emergency
Management Services Director Duane Walhof says it could easily happen in Le Mars.
Walhof says everyone involved with the simulated disaster performed professionally, and admirably. He says he was watching to see if all the involved entities performed the four major objectives.
The County Emergency Management Director says he was impressed with how everyone performed their duties during the simulated emergency.
Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper was evaluating the performance of the fire and rescue team, as opposed to assuming command of the scenario.
Schipper says when rescue units arrive at a hazardous materials scene, they need to act differently than with other vehicle accidents.
The Le Mars Fire Chief says once a victim is removed from the immediate danger zone, then rescue workers will decontaminate the victim before transporting the victim to a local hospital.
To add to the realism of the emergency drill, theatrical smoke was used to simulate ammonia. Firefighters were equipped with hazardous material suits when they approached the scene.
Schipper says the objective for any hazardous materials emergency is to render the victims safe, make certain the immediate area is safe, then to secure the neighborhood and community as being safe.
Schipper says if it had been an actual emergency, police officers would be used to notify people they would need to evacuate their homes. Le Mars mayor, Dick Kirchoff watched the disaster drill demonstration, and thanked each of the Community’s Public Safety members involved with the drill.
Le Mars Water Department To Flush Hydrants
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Water Department wants to inform residents and businesses that the Le Mars Fire Department will be preforming pump test on their fire trucks next week. So, on Monday morning August 20th at 8:00 a.m.
the Water Department will be flushing the main in front of Fire Station #2 at 25 12th St SE. Officials say this could cause the area around the fire station to have discolored water for a short time Monday morning.
Area Crops Look To Be In Good Condition – Maturity Rate On Pace
(Le Mars) — With a few exceptions to those areas hit by flooding, northwest Iowa’s crop conditions are looking good. Iowa State University Extension Crop Specialist Joel DeJong says area crops are making great progress, and are on pace for a normal maturity rate.
Despite last year’s early season dry spell, DeJong says last year’s yield proved to be better than expected, mainly because of low stress conditions from late July on through harvest. Although he expects to see good yields for this year, DeJong says this year’s top corn yield may be a bit lower than last year.
The Iowa State University crops specialist says soybeans are currently at the pod-filling stage. He says farmers have not had to worry much this year about pests invading their soybean fields.
DeJong says soybeans often require the same amount of moisture as does corn, but fortunately, that moisture needs comes later than corn. He says the weather from this point forward will help determine the size of the bean.
Minnesota Family Files Lawsuit Against Hy-Vee For Contaminated Pasta Salad
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Minnesota family sickened by eating pasta salad contaminated with salmonella is suing the Iowa-based grocery store chain that distributed the food.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday against Hy-Vee Inc. The suit alleges a woman, her daughter and her grandson became ill after eating pasta salad bought at a Hy-Vee store in Winona, Minnesota. The lawsuit says the mother and daughter required a doctor’s care.
Hy-Vee issued a recall for the product on July 17. Federal health
officials say 79 people across nine states were sickened, including 18 who needed hospitalization.
A Hy-Vee spokeswoman says food safety is the company’s top priority and that an investigation continues at the Nebraska facility where the pasta salad was made.
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of money for medical costs, pain and suffering, and wage loss.
Council Bluffs Man Pleads Guilty To Sexual Abuse To Children
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A western Iowa man has pleaded guilty in a case in which police say he sexually abused six children all under the age of 12.
The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports that 30-year-old Tony Cue pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of sexual abuse and one count of lascivious acts with a child. Cue was sentenced immediately after his plea to 15 years in prison. He must also register as a sex offender.
Prosecutors say Cue abused children he was babysitting between 2012 and this year at his home and in woods near his home.
Authorities say the mother of two of the victims was told of the abuse, but did nothing to stop or report it. She’s charged with child endangerment and being an accessory. She’s set to stand trial next month.
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Missouri State Trooper Seeking To Re-gain His Peace Officer License
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A former Missouri state trooper who was driving a boat when a handcuffed Iowa man fell out and drowned is suing to get his peace officers’ license back.
Anthony Piercy filed a lawsuit this week against the Missouri
Department of Public Safety and the agency’s director. The Kansas City Star reports he’s asking for a reversal of the decision that revoked his license.
Piercy was sentenced in September for misdemeanor negligent operation of a vehicle after the drowning of 20-year-old Brandon Ellingson, of Clive, Iowa. Ellingson died in 2014 at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Piercy lost his patrol job. But earlier this summer, a Cole County
judge ruled that the patrol’s leader didn’t have the authority to fire Piercy.
Piercy cannot return to the patrol without his peace officer license.
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Davis County Farmers Seek Assistance From Drought
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Farmers and ranchers in southern Iowa’s Davis County who’ve suffered losses and damages from recent drought may now be eligible for federal emergency loans.
The news comes Tuesday as the U.S. Department of Agriculture
announced that Davis County has been designated as a primary natural disaster area.
Producers in the contiguous counties of Appanoose, Jefferson, Monroe, Van Buren and Wapello in Iowa, along with a couple in Missouri, also are eligible to apply for emergency loans.
Producers have until April 1 to apply for emergency loans to help
cover part of their actual losses.
State Fair Attendees Select Favorite New Food
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – People attending the Iowa State Fair have selected the Apple Egg Roll as the best new concession food for 2018.
A panel of celebrity judges named three finalists from which to
choose: the Apple Egg Roll from Applishus, the All Iowa Belly Up Burger from The Rib Shack and the Brown Sugar Pork Belly on a Stick from Iowa Pork Producers.
Fairgoers tried the three and voted from Aug. 9 through Tuesday, and the winner was the Apple Egg Roll.
Apple Egg Rolls are two crispy egg roll wrappers filled with apples and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and served with caramel sauce for dipping.
