Farm Employee Severely Burnt From Fire
(Le Mars) — Firefighters were called to a fire, Monday afternoon at about 5:00 p.m. northwest of Le Mars at 28279 130th street approximately nine miles from Le Mars. The fire was in close proximity to a hog barn, and one employee was severely burnt as a result of the fire. Fire Chief Dave Schipper explains what had happened.
(photo contributed.)
Schipper says the burnt victim was initially taken by private vehicle to Floyd Valley Healthcare, and then airlifted to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska. Prior to the arrival of the firefighters, Schipper asked an employee at the farm to help extinguish the blaze by dumping dirt on the flaming power-washer
The Le Mars Fire Chief says the cause of the fire was a result of gasoline being poured into the power-washer, while the power-washer was operating.
Firefighters were on the scene for approximately a half an hour.
Sheriff’s Office Investigates Combine Rollover Accident
(Le Mars) — On Friday, at approximately 5:00 p.m., the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call in reference to a combine rollover that had occurred in the 14000 block of C16 near Akron. Plymouth County deputies responded to the scene along with the Akron Fire Department and Akron Ambulance. Deputies investigated the crash and learned that a John Deere combine that was being driven by 31 year old Matthew Derocher of Akron, Iowa was westbound on C16. The combine moved over to the shoulder area to allow another vehicle to pass. As the combine drove on the shoulder, the combine entered the north ditch causing the combine to slide
and then rollover. The combine entered a corn field and rested on its top.
The driver of the combine was uninjured. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Akron Fire Department and the Akron Ambulance.
Supervisors To Meet At County Courthouse Boardroom
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will convene for its weekly meeting at the County Courthouse Board Room, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
City Council To Discuss Construction Manager For Wellness Community Center Renovation Project
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars city council will convene for its meeting at the city council chambers beginning at 12:00 noon. As for action items, the city council will discuss a development agreement for the Choicewood Park Apartments. The city council will also talk about Wilgen Brothers, Inc. as the construction manager for the addition to the Community Wellness Center.
City To Have Streets Repaired
(Le Mars) — The city of Le Mars has hired Knife River to mill and overlay about 6 blocks in town starting on Oct. 7th -2019. The city will put up no parking signs along these routes to keep vehicles from parking on the street during the overlay process . If any residents along these routes have any questions please call the Street Dept. at 546-5314 .
The list of streets include:
1. 2nd Ave. S.E. from 3rd St. S.E. to 6th St. S.E.
2. 9th St. S.W. from Central Ave. to 2nd Ave. S.W.
3. 2nd St. N.W. from Central Ave. to 1st Ave. N.W. – this will only be a 8 foot edge mill where the asphalt meets the concrete in the gutter line .
Pork Producers To Discuss African Swine Fever At Two Meetings
(Le Mars) — Local pork producers will want to attend a seminar scheduled for today discussing African Swine Fever. The deadly hog disease has not yet reached the United States, but officials are wanting to be prepared.
Iowa State University Swine Specialist Dave Stender will discuss the disease. African Swine Fever is currently adversely affecting many hog herds in China.
Today’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. at the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach office of Plymouth County in the lower level of the Le Mars Convention Center.
A second similar meeting will be repeated on Thursday, October 3rd at the Sioux County Extension Office. Mark Crop Insurance is hosting both meetings.
State Reports Having A Budget Surplus
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The state of Iowa will end its 2019 fiscal year with a surplus of more than $289 million in its general fund, but Republican political leaders were cautious about discussing where the money might be spent.
Gov. Kim Reynolds says it’s a reflection of a vibrant economy, adding in a statement Monday that the state must be “mindful of the economic headwinds in our agricultural economy and be prepared for whatever the future might hold.”
Farmers are facing a tough year with trade disruptions due to
President Donald Trump’s tariffs and policies that have hurt corn and soybean markets, potentially cutting into state income tax revenue.
The fiscal year ended in June, but the state posted its final budget figures at the end of September.
Last year’s budget surplus was $127 million.
House Speaker Linda Upmeyer says with tax cuts passed last year it’s important to make sure there’s enough cash flow to pay the state’s bills.
Upmeyer Chooses Not To Seek Re-election
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa House Speaker Linda Upmeyer says she will not seek re-election next year and plans to resign as speaker before lawmakers return in January.
Republican lawmakers in 2015 chose Upmeyer to be the first woman in Iowa to hold the job as speaker of the House, the presiding officer over the legislative chamber.
The GOP lawmaker of 17 years says Monday she wants to step away from the legislature to spend more time with her family.
Upmeyer, a nurse practitioner from Clear Lake, was first elected to the Iowa House in 2002. She became the first woman in Iowa to be elected House majority leader in 2010.
A date hasn’t been set for a House leadership election.
Upmeyer’s father, Del Stromer, served as House speaker in the 1980s.
Judge Questions University of Iowa For Deregistering Student Organizations
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A federal judge is questioning the University of Iowa’s decision to deregister dozens of student organizations following a lawsuit by a Christian student group that accused university officials of discrimination.
U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Rose said in a ruling Friday that the university can’t selectively deregister student organizations.
The group InterVarsity Christian Fellowship sued the university after administrators deregistered its local chapter along with a dozen other religious groups.
Rose says she “does not know how a reasonable person could have concluded this was acceptable” given her previous ruling in a related case.
Another faith-based group, Business Leaders in Christ, sued the
university for kicking it off campus following a complaint that it wouldn’t let an openly gay member seek a leadership post.
