Fire and Rescue Department Rehearse Grain Bin Rescues
(Le Mars) — In a matter of a few weeks, area farmers will be busy with this year’s harvest. Harvest season usually means long hours with the likelihood of additional farm-related accidents. One particular farm-related accident is grain entrapment when a farmer, child, or other victim is buried in flowing grain. Grain bins are the most likely place to see this type of farm accident, but it can also occur in grain wagons, grain trucks, or even an outside pile of grain. According to a Purdue University study, Iowa has the most reported grain bin accidents. In 2015, there were seven reported incidents in Iowa with two fatalities. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department wants to be prepared should they ever need to respond to a gain bin accident. On Wednesday, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department
specifically conducted grain bin rescue training as part of its weekly training seminars. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says now is the time a grain bin accident is most likely to happen, and they want to be ready.
When performing a grain entrapment rescue, firefighters use a series of panels that surround the victim in attempts to keep any additional grain from collapsing.
Schipper says when a victim is caught in a flowing grain entrapment accident, it is nearly impossible to pull that victim out, unless you have proper equipment to assist with the extraction.
The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department performs specific grain bin simulated training at least twice a year. The fire and rescue department conducted its grain rescue at Agri-Center with the help of a semi trailer filled with corn.
Dr. Wayne Meylor Named “Boss of the Quarter”
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Chamber of Commerce honored a long-time chiropractor with the “Boss of the Quarter.” Dr. Wayne Meylor was surprised and a bit emotional when Kevin Eekhoff read the nomination during an awards presentation ceremony held Thursday during the lunch hour. Dr. Meylor’s family members came from all parts of the Midwest to join him
during the award presentation.
Nominated by his staff, the nomination reads in part: “On behalf of the Meylor Chiropractic and Acupuncture we would like to nominate Dr. Wayne Meylor as the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce 3rd Quarter – Boss of the Quarter. September marks Dr. Meylor’s 40th year of practice in Chiropractic medicine. He graduated from Palmer Chiropractic College in September of 1979 and was associate in practice with Dr. Don Meylor until
1982. In 1982, he built and started his own clinic and began practicing as a sole provider.
Dr. Meylor has received recognition in 2006 and 2011 as the Iowa Chiropractic Chairman of the Year. One of the most exciting moments in the profession was receiving the award of Doctor of the Year in September of 2012 from the Pinnacle Management Group. Dr. Meylor is an awesome boss, as
he is kind, compassionate, loving and a great leader. He loves every patient he treats, and spends countless hours helping his fellow Chiropractors all over the country with any questions they have in the practice. He also spends time serving on various committees on behalf of the Chiropractic profession. He makes a difference in the lives of anyone that crosses his path, professionally or personally.
Dr. Meylor treats his staff with the utmost respect, kindness and love. He is a true leader and cares deeply about the well-being of the entire staff and their families. He has educated us and provides us with the tools to be strong Chiropractic assistants. He has also shown the staff the importance of teamwork and great service for the good of others. For 40 years, Dr. Meylor has touched the lives of so many patients by providing
them with exceptional healthcare as a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine. Our congratulations go to Dr. Wayne Meylor for being awarded the Chamber of Commerce’s “Boss of the Quarter” award.
Iowa DNR Investigating Sioux County Manure Spill
HAWARDEN— Iowa Department of Natural Resources staff investigated a complaint of a manure spill northeast of Hawarden on Wednesday.
The DNR traced the spill to a broken manure application hose which released an unknown, but significant, amount of manure early Wednesday morning. The manure flowed into an underground tile line, then into an unnamed stream moving several miles before entering Six Mile Creek, a tributary of the Big Sioux River.
Manure from the Van Voorst Dairy in Sioux Center was being land applied by Pro Pumping of Mitchell, S. D., when the hose broke. The applicator shut down the pumps after discovering the break.
DNR staff did not see any fish in the stream.
DNR will monitor cleanup and consider appropriate enforcement action.
Des Moines Register Reporter Released After Twitter Controversy
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines Register reporter who wrote about racist tweets posted years ago by an Iowa security guard is no longer employed by the Iowa newspaper because he also made offensive comments on social media.
Editor Carol Hunter wrote in a column posted online Thursday night that reporter Aaron Calvin “is no longer with the Register.”
The Register began investigating comments made by Calvin on Twitter after his story about Iowa security guard Carson King sparked outrage. The story profiled King, who gained national fame after he held a sign seeking beer money during an ESPN show and then promised to donate the more than $1 million that poured in to a children’s hospital.
In the story, Calvin noted King had posted two racist tweets more than seven years ago, when he was a teenager. People angered by the story found old tweets from Calvin that made offensive comments about race, gay marriage and other topics.
Calvin couldn’t be reached for comment. His Twitter account is no longer open to the public.
State Auditor Requests Prison Time For Those Convicted Of Stealing Public Money
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand is proposing legislation requiring mandatory prison time for those convicted of theft involving public money.
Sand’s proposal comes just days after an investigative story by
Cedar Rapids television station KCRG that found only about 40% of Sands’ special investigative audit reports dating to January 2017 led to criminal prosecution. KCRG calculated that meant no one has been held responsible for at least $8 million in improperly used public funds.
On Thursday, Sand told KCRG that his bill will require mandatory
prison time for felonies involving the theft of $1,000 or more in public money, as well as for misusing tax credits.
Sand says his proposal will not have a mandatory minimum sentence but seeks to stop those convicted of serious financial crimes receiving only probation.
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Cedar Rapids Man Sent To Prison For Child Pornography And Requesting Teen Girl To Serve As Prostitute
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A Cedar Rapids man has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for child porn and enticing a teenage girl into prostitution.
U.S. District Court records say 30-year-old Kevin Herring was
sentenced Thursday in Cedar Rapids. He’d pleaded guilty to the enticement and to receipt of child pornography.
Prosecutors say Herring was at a halfway house in Cedar Rapids
following his federal prison sentence for being a felon and domestic abuser in possession of a firearm. While out on a pass he met the runaway 14-year-old girl. He persuaded her to become a prostitute and send him sexually explicit images of herself.
Prosecutors say Herring told the girl she could live with him after he left the halfway house.
Des Moines Man With 8 Year Old In Vehicle Tries To Elude Police In Chase
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a Des Moines man who already lost his license was driving drunk with his 8-year-old daughter as he tried to speed away from a state trooper.
Polk County court records say 37-year-old Kevin Dyer is charged with driving while intoxicated, third offense; felony eluding; child
endangerment; and other crimes. Jail records say Dyer remained in custody Friday. The court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for Dyer.
A court document says the chase early Thursday hit 115 mph (185 kph) in a 55 mph (88.5 kph) zone and 100 mph (160.9 kph) in residential areas.
It also says Dyer drove on the wrong side of a highway, over a curb, through grass, over sidewalks and ran red lights.
The chase ended in Des Moines after Dyer’s car became disabled.
Landowners Against Having Transmission Line Cross Their Property
LUXEMBURG, Iowa (AP) – Some Iowa landowners are worried about sharing their property against their will with a proposed 345-kilovolt transmission line.
The $500 million Cardinal-Hickory Creek project line would run
about 100 miles (161 kilometers) from Dubuque County to Dane County, Wisconsin. It is a joint undertaking of American Transmission Co., ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative. The Iowa portion would course about 14.25 miles (22.9 kilometers) through Dubuque and Clayton counties.
The project organizers have obtained voluntary easements on 45 of the 53 necessary Iowa properties and intend to use eminent domain on the remaining eight if landowner agreements aren’t reached.
Luxemburg dairy farmer Michael Deutmeyer hasn’t granted an
easement, and he told the Telegraph Herald that he fears a line running through his property would harm its market value.
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