Union Pacific Train Collides With School Bus – No Injuries Reported
(Sioux City) — Woodbury County authorities are investigating an accident involving a Westwood school bus and an Union Pacific train. The accident happened this morning (Wednesday) at about 7:30 a.m. near the intersection of county road K-45 and 275th street, or on the south edge of Salix.
Apparently, the school bus was crossing the railroad tracks on 275th Street and heading westbound when the school bus stalled, and was unable to move off the tracks. The driver of the bus, and one occupant exited the school bus prior to the southbound train striking the bus. The bus was struck near
the rear-end and spun around approximately 180 degrees. The driver and occupant of the bus, along with the conductor fo the train were uninjured.
The Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, and Sergeant Bluff Police all responded. The Iowa State Patrol is conducting the crash investigation.
Fire Destroys Machine Shed Located In Sioux County
(Rock Valley) — A machine shed, located three and a half miles west of Rock Valley on 320th Street, has been destroyed by fire. The blaze was reported Monday morning at about 11:46 a.m. The Rock Valley Fire Department was the first to respond to the fire, but upon arriving on the scene, they noticed the structure was fully engulfed. Additional assistance was provided by the
Rock Valley Ambulance, Hull Fire Department, Sioux Center Fire Department, Hudson, South Dakota Fire Department and the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office.
Firefighters used approximately 22,000 gallons of water, but were not able to save the structure. The machine shed contained several pieces of farm machinery that were also destroyed. There were no injuries with the fire, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
photo contributed.
Jeneary and Carlin To Hold Town Hall Meetings
(Des Moines) — State House Representative Dr. Tom Jeneary along with State Senator Jim Carlin have announced they will hold town hall meetings scheduled for Saturday, February 23rd. The two lawmakers will be at Joe’s Cafe in Akron beginning at 9:00 a.m. They will also hold a second town hall meeting at Le Mars at the Floyd Valley Healthcare conference room #1 located
on the lower level of the hospital. The Floyd Valley town hall meeting will begin at 11:00 a.m. The lawmakers will discuss legislation that has been introduced in the general session. The public is invited to attend either town hall meeting.
Reynolds Appointed To Serve On National Workforce Policy Advisory Board
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Kim Reynolds has been appointed to a national advisory board on worker training led by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Ivanka Trump.
The American Workforce Policy Advisory Board is a 25-member panel designed to develop strategies for worker training and education “that will equip them to compete and win in the global economy.”
Members of the board were announced Wednesday.
Other board members include Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, Apple CEO Tim Cook and chief executives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Home Depot and IBM.
Board members are appointed to serve until July 2020.
The board was created by an executive order President Donald Trump signed last July that created the National Council for the American Worker. The advisory board is to provide information and recommendations to the council.
Two Dead Bodies Found In Home After Fire
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a second body has been found inside the charred remains of a home on the north side of Des Moines.
A Polk County Sheriff’s Office news release said Wednesday the identity and sex of both adult bodies are unknown.
Firetrucks were dispatched after a 911 call was received around 4:20 a.m. Wednesday.
Jury To Deliberate Murder Trial Of Dubuque Man
MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) – A jury is expected to resume its deliberations Wednesday on a murder charge against a Dubuque man.
Jackson County District Court records say Drew Mangler is accused of killing 59-year-old James Remakel. Police found Remakel’s body after being called to a house in Bellevue on Dec. 25, 2016. An autopsy showed Remakel had been stabbed nearly three dozen times in his upper body, neck and head.
He was believed to have been dead for several days before police found him.
The Telegraph Herald reports that defense attorney Derek Jones said in his closing arguments Tuesday that investigators ignored other potential suspects. Prosecutor Andrew Prosser said Mangler had “the means, the motive and the opportunity to commit this crime.”
Investigators say they found a shoe with Remakel’s blood on it during a search of Mangler’s house.
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Heroin Charges Filed Against Man For Overdose Death Of Friend
BETTENDORF, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa man faces two heroin charges connected to the overdose death of another man.
Scott County court records say 38-year-old Bettendorf resident Michal Spencer is charged with distribution of heroin and conspiracy. Spencer is scheduled to be arraigned March 7. He remained in Scott County Jail on Wednesday, pending $10,000 bail. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press.
The Quad-City Times reports that Spencer prepared two syringes of heroin on April 7 that he’d bought with money given him by 23-year-old Tyler Ekstrand. A court document says Spencer injected the contents of one of the syringes to one of Ekstrand’s hands. The document says Ekstrand soon overdosed and died on the floor of Spencer’s apartment.
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Loras College Receives $5 Million Gift
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – Loras College in Dubuque has announced receiving its largest one-time cash gift ever: $5 million.
Officials at the Roman Catholic liberal arts college say the gift from Bill Miller, of Camarillo, California, will help the school complete campus upgrades.
“Today is a transformational day for Loras,” said college Vice
President for Advancement/Treasurer Mike Doyle in a news release.
Loras will rename its Academic Resource Center as the Bill and JoAnne Miller Academic Resource Center in recognition of the gift.
Miller was a 1952 graduate of Loras Academy, which then was an all-boys Roman Catholic high school.
