Icy Roads Lead To Two-Vehicle Accident Near Merrill
(Le Mars) — The Merrill Fire Department along with the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department and Le Mars Ambulance and the Merrill Ambulance responded to a two-vehicle accident this morning at about 5:38 a.m. located on Highway 75, just north of Merrill near the bridge. Officials say both vehicles sustained major damage, and two people suffered what was classified as minor injuries. The victims were transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars.
Plywood Trail Foundation Announce Donations
(Le Mars) — The Plywood Trail Foundation held a small ceremony last evening at the Willow Creek Golf Club (Thursday) to celebrate and acknowledge some recent donations that have been submitted for the proposed recreational trail which would connect Le Mars to Sioux City via through Merrill and Hinton.
The Plywood Trail Foundation has raised over $4 million to support the trail effort from a variety of both public and private sources. Ryan Meyer, the president of the Plywood Trail Foundation says the goal is to raise $18 million. Among the announced donations included the Le Mars Betterment
Foundation with a commitment of one million dollars. Wells Enterprises and Mike and Cheryl Wells have also pledged two million dollars. Schuster Trucking Company and Steve and Danna Schulster have pledged $150 thousand.
The city of Sioux City has committed $875 thousand dollars for the project, and an additional five thousand dollars have been raised through individual contributions from Plymouth County cyclists. Sioux City Chamber of Commerce executive director Chris McGowan and Wells Enterprises C-E-O Mike Wells both
spoke at last evening’s event, saying the completion of the 18-mile recreational trail will add to the quality of life and economic development for the region. When completed, the Plywood Trail would become the longest recreational trail to be located in western Iowa. Meyer talks about last evening’s announcement.
Meyer says the donations and grants account for nearly one-fifth of the total amount needed for the completion of the proposed Plywood Trail.
Meyer says officials have now selected a proposed route for the first leg of the trail which would connect Le Mars with Merrill.
Meyer says the timetable to generate the goal of $18 million depends on the people wanting the trail. He says it is a competitive market to raise the needed funding.
Road Officials Announce Dollar Damage Due To Flooding
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Iowa and Nebraska transportation officials say they’re hoping to have nearly all roads and bridges damaged in the wake of massive flooding repaired by midsummer, but note that wet weather this spring
could hamper that effort.
Iowa Department of Transportation Director Mark Lowe and his Nebraska counterpart, Kyle Schneweis, held a news conference Thursday in Council Bluffs to update the public on damage in their states and how long it might take repair it all. In Iowa, the damage is concentrated in the west along Interstate 29, with the heaviest damage closest to the Missouri state line.
In all, Iowa had nearly 50 miles along the I-29 corridor that are
damaged, nearly half of that categorized as severe, with damage estimates between $70 million to $90 million. In Nebraska, 180 miles of roadway and 27 bridges were damaged – 12 of which are still closed. Schneweis estimates road and bridge damage at $160 million.
Blizzard Conditions Close Roads, Schools, Government Offices
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – Blizzard conditions that have made travel treacherous and closed interstates and schools in the Upper Midwest were expected to wind down leaving unseasonably cold temperatures through the
weekend.
Strong winds and additional snow were expected to create blizzard conditions from eastern South Dakota into southeastern North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday before the powerful storm system moves north to Canada and weakens.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem closed government offices in most of the state’s 66 counties for a third day Friday and ordered others to open in the afternoon. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz declared a state of emergency in 64 counties and three tribal nations, authorizing the National Guard to provide
emergency aid to those dealing with the storm or flooding, including residents in Oslo where the Red River continued to rise.
Numerous Power Outages Reported Due To Storm
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – A power spring storm system raking the Midwest has left thousands without power in northern Iowa and damaged some homes and businesses.
The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that nearly 19,000 Alliant
Energy customers were without power by midday Thursday in the area, including the communities in and around Brit, Garner, Forest City, Mason City and Northwood.
Heavy rain, hail and high winds gusting to 60 mph pummeled the area Wednesday night into Thursday.
The Iowa State Patrol reports that Interstate 35 northbound near
Latimer was closed for a time Thursday morning after winds blew a semitrailer over.
A chance of rain through Thursday evening has been forecast, with the possibility of snow early Friday morning as the temperature drops into the high 20s.
The National Weather Service expects the area to return to spring temperatures Monday, with a high near 60 degrees.
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California Democratic Senator Calls Gun Control “False Choice”
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris says she owns a gun and called it a “false choice” that the only two gun control options are complete, unrestricted access or a desire to seize everyone’s guns.
The senator from California told reporters after a campaign event in Iowa that she is a gun owner. She says, “I own a gun for probably the reason that a lot of people do: for personal safety.”
The 2020 White House hopeful says that Americans “are being offered a false choice, which suggests you’re either in favor of the Second Amendment or you want to take everyone’s guns away.”
She says she supports “smart gun-safety laws,” such as universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons.
