Firefighters Respond To Two Alarms Involving Unattended Cooking
(Le Mars) — For the second time in two days, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department have responded to calls to multiple resident complexes because of food that had been left unattended on the stove, or in the oven.
Firefighters were called to the Prime Living Apartments at 1st Avenue northeast on Sunday at around 11:15 a.m., and again on Monday, at the Midtown Apartments, formerly the Abbey nursing care facility, located at 320 1st Street Southeast at 1:25 p.m. In both instances, smoke could be seen coming from the residence. Upon investigation, unattended food was the culprit for creating smoke, and causing fire alarms and smoke detectors to be sounded.
Firefighters were able to use industrial fans to help ventilate the smoke from both premises. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says unattended food left cooking on a stove is a cause for many home fires. He reminds people during this October Fire Prevention Month, to always be mindful while preparing
food.
Fire Department Issues September Monthly Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a total of 52 calls during the month of September. According to the monthly report, the Le Mars firefighters acted on 17 fire calls, 13 rescues, 11 investigations, ten requests for services, and one mutual aid call to Merrill. Fire Chief Dave Schipper reports during the Month of September, 31
members were re-certified in confined space rescues, six firefighters attended the annual State Fire Convention at Waverly, and the department handled six emergency calls in 45 minutes during the storm that struck Le Mars on the afternoon of September 20th.
City Council To Discuss Ice Cream Days-Sesquicentennial Celebration
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars city council is scheduled to convene at noon today inside the city council chambers. The council will hold a public hearing on the proposed Prairie View Addition Utility Improvement Project. The council has only two agenda items for action items. The first is to discuss the Ice Cream Days-Sesquicentennial celebration scheduled for next June, and the
second is to discuss the city administrator and staffing positions.
Plymouth County Supervisors To Hear Report On Domestic Violence
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors are expected to name several people to positions during their weekly meeting scheduled for this morning at the County Courthouse Board Room. The supervisors will appoint Chris Vondrak as a Hancock township trustee, as well as Brenda Ericson will
be appointed as an Elgin township trustee. The supervisors are expected to approve the contracts with the libraries for the county to administer funding for 2018-2019 fiscal year. The supervisors will approve a partial tax abatement on Plymouth County land purchase. Cathy Van Maanen with the Council on Domestic Abuse will appear before the supervisors to share the
statistics regarding domestic abuse. The supervisors will approve a proclamation stating that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Joanne Easton will appear before the supervisors to seek approval of a minor subdivision located in Remsen township. Surveyor, Dave Wilberding will also appear before the county governing board seeking approval of Freking Barns,
a subdivison in America township. County engineer Tom Rohe is scheduled to appear before the supervisors. Rohe will submit a permit for Wes-tel Systems to work in Fredonia and Union townships. Rohe will also submit a request from Premier Communications to conduct work in Plymouth township and
Washington township. Rohe will submit a resolution that would change the speed limit on 330th Street and Quest Avenue at Kingsley.
Agriculture Officials Speak Favorably Of New Trade Agreement With Mexico and Canada.
(Le Mars) — A new trade agreement has been signed by U-S, Mexico, and Canadian officials. It will replace what was referred to as the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. Now referred to as the USMCA, the agreement will go back and eliminate any tariffs between the three nations.
Agriculture officials are pleased with the new trade agreement and say Iowa farmers will benefit.
That is Mike Naig, Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture. Naig says under the new agreement egg and dairy producers will be able to open additional markets.
Pork producers are also elated over the trade agreement. Greg Hora is the president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. He says pork producers have been anxiously awaiting an agreement.
The new trade agreement will also mean good news to Iowa’s soybean growers. Lindsey Griener of Keota, Iowa, is the president of the Iowa Soybean Association. He says Mexico is one of the top buyers of U-S soybeans and soybean meal.
The Iowa Soybean Association president says soybean growers will benefit from an indirect manner through the marketing of hogs and pork products.
Midwest Economy Is Slowing Down
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A new survey suggests the economy remains strong in nine Midwest and Plains states, but business leaders are concerned about the ongoing trade disputes.
The overall economic index for the region slipped to 57.5 in
September from August’s 61.1, but it remained in positive territory.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says he expects business will slow down but continue growing in the next few months because of the trade concerns and rising interest rates.
The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth.
A score below that suggests decline.
The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
Special Education Teacher Given Probation
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A judge has sentenced a former Sioux City special education teacher to probation after she admitted to stealing from a school account for Special Olympics and other programs.
District Judge Steven Andreasen on Monday sentenced 49-year-old Melissa Dickerson, of Sioux City, to five years
of probation. She also must repay $5,063 to the Sioux City school district and complete 100 hours of community service.
Dickerson pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree theft. Court records show that for nearly a year beginning in August 2016, she withdrew money from accounts she set up under the names of East High School Special Olympics and the Friendship Connection. She acknowledged Monday using the
money to pay personal bills.
Dickerson later resigned from her teaching position.
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White House Press Secretary To Speak At Reynolds Fund Raiser
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Kim Reynolds says White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the special guest speaker at her annual campaign fundraiser Harvest Festival scheduled for Oct. 13.
Reynolds says the festival will be a family-oriented event
celebrating “the progress we are making across the state of Iowa.”
She is running for her first full term as governor against Democrat Fred Hubbell.
The festival which costs $50 per ticket will feature live music,
pumpkin decorating, balloon animals, and a barbeque.
The three-hour event is scheduled to be held at the Iowa State
Fairgrounds.
