Firefighters Respond To Hog Confinement Fire
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department answered a call at around 3:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon for a hog confinement barn that was on fire. Firefighters responded to 22356 Nature Avenue, about four miles southeast of Le Mars. Fire Chief Dave Schipper explains the structure had what was determined as a “flash fire.”
At the time of the fire the hog barn facility did not have any hogs inside.
The pork producer was getting the barn ready to receive hogs today. Schipper says since it was a flash fire, there was minimal damage to the structure.
Schipper says residents of the homestead farmhouse noticed smoke coming from the building, and alerted the fire department. Firefighters were on the scene for approximately 45 minutes.
Gehlen To Present Veteran’s Day Program On Monday
(Le Mars) — Gehlen Catholic school will host its annual Veteran’s Day program this morning at the Deb Campbell Memorial Gym, beginning at 8:45 a.m. Following the Veteran’s Day program, Gehlen Catholic will hold a special rally acknowledging the success of their fall sports programs,
including the cross country teams and the volleyball team. The Gehlen Catholic volleyball team has again qualified for the state tournament.
Political Science Professor Comments On Upcoming Elections
(Le Mars) — Election day is tomorrow. So, what issues are on the minds of voters as they go to the polling place? Jeff Taylor, Political Science professor with Dordt College of Sioux Center says it all depends upon the person’s political preference.
It has been said that voters will vote based on their pocketbooks. Aside from agriculture, the state’s economy has been doing well. Taylor comments on how the economy will affect this year’s balloting.
Several newspapers throughout the state have given their endorsements to candidates, but do those endorsements actually benefit a candidate, and do voters make their decision based on the endorsements. The Dordt College political science professor doesn’t believe newspaper endorsements carry the weight that they once did with past elections.
Leading up to the election day, people are constantly informed of the latest polling numbers indicating how certain demographics are likely to vote.
But, often polls are incorrect. The best example may be with the last presidential election. Polls prior to the election day had shown that Democrat Hillary Clinton was leading the polls over Republican Donald Trump.
Taylor explains why polling is sometimes misleading.
Taylor says there may be some instances when potential voters don’t necessarily reveal to pollsters all the information.
Election day is scheduled for Tuesday, November 6th.
Republicans To Rally In Sioux Center
(Le Mars) — Republicans have scheduled a rally this evening to be held at the Dean Holdings Classic Cars located at 2856 Saint Andrews Way at Sioux Center. Iowa Congressman Steve King and Governor Kim Reynolds are both scheduled to make appearances at 7:00 p.m. Senator Joni Ernst is also scheduled to appear at that Republican rally.
Inmate Dies At Correctional Facility
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa authorities say a man imprisoned for sexual abuse has died in a hospital.
The Iowa Corrections Department said Sunday that 65-year-old Russell Fidler was pronounced dead at 12:37 a.m. Saturday at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. The department says he died of natural causes.
He’d been imprisoned for committing sexual abuse in Audubon County.
The department says his prison term began Feb. 4, 2004.
Couple Facing Child Endangerment Charges After Leaving Baby At Home While They Attended A Bar
URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) – A central Iowa couple face charges after police say they left their 9-month-old baby home alone to go to a bar.
Television station KCCI reports that police arrested 22-year-old
Bryan Austin McCrea Bozarth and 20-year-old Ashley Lee Routh King on Friday.
Police say officers were sent to the couple’s Urbandale home around midnight Thursday for a welfare check after someone reported the baby home alone.
Officers say they found the baby in a crib, and no one else was home.
Police believe the baby was left alone about three hours. Police say both McCrea and King were drunk when officers questioned them. Each has been charged with child endangerment, and King also faces an underage drinking charge.
The baby, who was unharmed, was placed with a family friend.
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Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Basketball Coach
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A lawsuit has been filed seeking to represent hundreds of victims of a former Iowa youth basketball coach now facing 15 to 180 years in prison for sexually exploiting them.
The lawsuit seeks class-action status and was filed Friday in state court by law firm Grefe & Sidney on behalf of an unnamed victim. It names as defendants former Iowa Barnstormers coach Greg Stephen, the Barnstormers organization and its supervising organization, the Amateur Athletic Union.
The lawsuit accuses Stephen of intruding on the privacy of more than 400 boys by secretly or deceptively recording them undressing, showering and performing sexually explicit acts. It accuses the sports organizations of negligence by employing Stephen and not protecting the boys.
Stephen pleaded guilty last month to sexually exploiting minors and possessing and transporting child pornography. He hasn’t been sentenced yet.
Marshalltown Hospital To Make Staff Layoffs
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) – UnityPoint Health in Marshalltown says it’s eliminating several positions and closing its intensive care unit and a cafe.
The company cited financial struggles and low usage of the care unit.
UnityPoint Health regional marketing director Laura Rainey says the Marshalltown operation is running a $7 million deficit.
The closure of the ICU and cafe will affect 15 employees. The hospital says the 15 may be able to find employment elsewhere within the UnityPoint system.
Rainey says the closest intensive care units after the Nov. 30
Marshalltown closing are in Ames and Waterloo.
