Highway 75 Accident Near Merrill Causes Multiple Injuries And A Fatality
(Merrill) — A two-vehicle accident happened last evening on the north edge of Merrill on Highway 75, near the Liberty Auto dealership, causing multiple critical injuries to five people, including one fatality.
The accident happened at about 8:50 p.m. According to Iowa State Patrol trooper Chad Peters, a vehicle having a family of four, crossed over the center line striking the second vehicle head-on.
Peters says many of the injuries could be considered critical and life- threatening. The southbound vehicle had a family of four consisting of the male driver, a female passenger, and a small child and an baby infant. The second vehicle had a female driver. Many of the injured victims were initially transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars, then transferred to Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls. Peters explains the path of the vehicles
prior to the accident.
Traffic on Highway 75 was detoured away from the accident scene as the highway remained closed for more than two hours while law enforcement officials investigated the accident scene. The names of the accident victims has not yet been released. The Iowa State Patrol trooper recites the entities that responded to the accident.
The Iowa Department of Transportation also assisted with the scene.
Man Rescued From Hog Confinement Manure Pit
(Le Mars) — A 71-year old man needed to be rescued from a hog manure pit after being overcome with the gases. Rescue units consisting of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue, Oyens Ambulance, and the Remsen Ambulance responded to a
call at 35586 county road C-44, approximately seven miles southeast of Le Mars. The incident happened at about 2:20 p.m. Monday afternoon. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the man was fortunate.
Schipper says the gas levels were high, and there was little oxygen in the confined space area.
Schipper says the victim was transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare by the Oyens Ambulance.
Chief Schipper informs farmers to be extra cautious when working around a hog confinement area.
Supervisors and City Council Will Hold Regular Meetings
(Le Mars) — Both the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors and the Le Mars City Council will hold their regular meetings today. The supervisors will convene at 9:30 a.m. at the County Courthouse board room, while the city council will meet at 12:00 noon at the city council chambers.
Plymouth County Extension Services To Celebrate 100 Years
(Le Mars) — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for Plymouth County is celebrating 100 years of existence. Janelle Johnson, co-coordinator with Plymouth County Extension says a celebratory program is scheduled for Sunday at the Plymouth County Historical Museum.
Johnson says many of the past employees of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach from Plymouth County will be present for the centennial celebration.
Johnson says the Plymouth County Extension office got started with many other county extension programs by filling the need to offer assistance to farmers and homemakers.
Today, Johnson says, each of the 99 Iowa counties offers an extension and outreach program through Iowa State University to provide research and resources to the people. The Plymouth County Extension official says the programs now offered through the county extension services have gone way beyond agronomy, animal sciences, horticulture, and home economics.
Johnson says the Plymouth County Extension and Outreach centennial exhibit will be on display at the Plymouth County Historical Museum for a few weeks.
She says there will also be another feature at the county museum on Sunday.
The program is scheduled for Sunday, September 23rd beginning at 1:00 p.m. and continuing through 4:00 p.m.
Le Mars FFA To Collect Food During Homecoming Game For Local Food Banks
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community FFA chapter is taking on a charity cause during Homecoming Week. In an effort to help local food banks, the FFA is asking people that plan to attend Friday’s Homecoming game to bring along some non-perishable food items. The program is entitled: “Hunger is a Factor – Fill the Tractor.” Jaiden Davison serves as the FFA chapter’s secretary. She offers an explanation of the program.
Kirstin Thoms is the Le Mars FFA’s reporter. She says the chapter’s advisor, Danielle James brought up the idea.
Tractors equipped with a front-end loader, provided by AgriVision and Titan Machinery will be placed near the gates to the Jim Lorenzen Field, allowing people to donate the canned goods as they enter the stadium.
Democrats Criticize Governor Reynolds For Accepting Campaign Funds From A Medicare Provider
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Democrats are accusing Gov. Kim Reynolds of a “pay for play” arrangement by accepting campaign contributions from a company that provides Medicaid services under Iowa’s privatized health care program
for poor and disabled residents.
Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price said Monday the Reynolds campaign received $1,000 in December from Anthem, the parent company of Amerigroup, months before the state renewed its Medicaid contract. Another donation of $1,500 was made Aug. 22, two days before the state announced
Amerigroup and UnitedHealthCare would get a $100 million increase in state funding.
Reynolds’ staff spokeswoman Brenna Smith says Medicaid funding is based on recommendations from the Department of Human Services and its independent actuary based on expected medical costs. Selections must be approved by a federal agency.
Campaign spokesman Pat Garrett says accusations the payments were linked to the contracts are “as false as they are desperate.”
The state is dealing with persistent complaints that Medicaid services deteriorated under privatization and the promised millions of dollars in savings haven’t materialized.
Iowa State University Student Found Dead On Ames Golf Course
AMES, Iowa (AP) – A former Iowa State University golfer has been found dead at a golf course, and a man has been charged with murder.
Police said in a news release that 22-year-old Celia Barquin
Arozamena was found dead Monday at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames and officers determined she had died after being assaulted. They said 22-year-old Collin Daniel Richards has been charged with first-degree murder.
Additional details weren’t immediately available.
Barquin Arozamena was the 2018 Big 12 champion and Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year. The university says the native of Puente San Miguel, Spain, was finishing her civil engineering degree this semester after exhausting her eligibility at Iowa State in 2017-2018.
Police said officers were called to the golf course around 10:20 a.m. Monday after golfers found a golf bag with no one around it. Officers found a body some distance from the bag.
