Home News Monday News, December 2nd

Monday News, December 2nd

Machine Shed Fire Reported At A Rock Valley Dairy Farm

(Rock Valley) — Firefighters from Rock Valley, Sioux Center, and Hull responded to a machine shed fire Sunday evening at a dairy farm. According to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, there were no animals affected by the blaze, and there were no injuries. We will try to obtain additional information about this fire for our 10:00 a.m. news update.

 

 

Le Mars Fire And Rescue Department Issues November Report

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department has issued its November monthly report. The local fire department responded to a total of 46 calls in November with the breakdown as follows: There were 14 fire calls, nine rescues, nine investigations or accident clean-ups, 13 requests for services, and one mutual aid call to Orange City. 16 members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department attended the funeral for Remsen Fire Chief Kevin Ortmann.

 

 

Santa Claus Visits Le Mars

(Le Mars) — Nearly two dozen children, along with their parents and grandparents, were anxiously awaiting for the arrival of Santa Claus as he arrived in Le Mars Saturday morning. The man with the iconic red and white-trimmed suit wearing the famous stocking cap was brought into town riding inside the red-colored Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department truck.
Joining Santa Claus was Mrs. Claus. The special visitors were greeted by several children at the Piece of Cake located on Central Avenue. The awaiting children were excited to see the visitor from the North Pole, and they were wanting to sit on his lap, and explain to him their long list of Christmas wishes and desired toys. Many of the children, while waiting their turn to whisper into Santa’s ears, were busy decorating holiday cookies that they were able to take home.

 

 

Remsen To Celebrate “Old Fashion Christmas” This Evening

(Remsen) — Remsen residents will want to congregate in the downtown area this evening for the traditional lighting of the Town’s Christmas tree as Remsen celebrates their 16th annual Old Fashion Christmas. A cookie exchange scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. will kick of the event at the Remsen VFW hall. Pastors from Remsen churches will lead a “blessing of the season” at 6:00 p.m. Then at 6:15 p.m. Santa Claus will arrive into town
and flip the switch to light up the Town’s Christmas tree. Following, Santa will be at the Remsen Heritage Museum to visit with children.

(photos are from 2018 event)

 

 

People Select A Real Christmas Tree From Christmas Tree Farm

(Hawarden) — The weekend following Thanksgiving is the most popular weekend for people to purchase Christmas trees, and that holds true at the T-and-S Christmas tree farm of rural Hawarden.

That’s Robin Miller who works at the T and S Christmas tree farm.
Crowds of people were not deterred by the weather conditions as they selected the perfect fir, spruce, or pine to serve as the centerpiece for their holiday.
Miller explains the type of Christmas trees grown at the farm, and which are the most popular.

Miller offers an explanation as to why selecting a real Christmas tree from a Christmas tree farm is so popular.

One family from Sioux City follows that tradition, as they have traveled more than 25 miles each year for the last 20 years to pick their favorite tree from the Christmas tree farm. Jerod and Heather Vedral claim it has become part of the holiday family tradition to select their Christmas tree from the T-and-S Christmas tree farm.

Miller says people select a real tree for the aroma, the traditions, and because many people believe it is more festive. As for the Vedral family, they say this year’s tree is different from those from previous years.

The Christmas tree farmer says one thing to consider is the tree always appears smaller in the field than when you have it in your home.

That is something the Vedral family knows from first-hand personal experience.

The T-S Christmas tree farm sells approximately 1100 trees each year, and they plant 2000 new trees each spring. Miller says it takes approximately six to seven years for a tree to grow to the desired height. In addition to having a variety of Christmas trees, the T-and-S Christmas tree farm also sells different sizes of wreaths, and they feature a gift shop.

 

 

Interstate 29 Construction Project Through Sioux City Is Nearing Completion

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – After 11 years of temporary lanes and closed exit ramps, work is finally nearly complete on an Interstate 29 expansion project through Sioux City.
The Sioux City Journal reports the Iowa Department of Transportation hopes to finish work on the project by Christmas. Final construction includes pouring concrete bridge approaches, installing guardrails and painting pavement.
It was 2008 when crews began the $400 million to widen the freeway to three lanes in each direction from Sergeant Bluff through Sioux City and to the South Dakota border.
Although major construction will be over, workers still will need to make unexpected repairs to a bridge damaged by fire this fall.
State transportation planner Dakin Schultz acknowledged “there are times when it seemed it would never end.”

 

 

Two More Democratic Presidential Candidates Drop Out Of Race

WASHINGTON (AP) – Retired Navy admiral and former congressman Joe Sestak is calling off his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The 67-year-old Pennsylvania Democrat says in a statement that
without the privilege of national press, it is unfair to ask others to continue making sacrifices.
In joining the crowded field last June, Sestak called for strong
action to deal with climate change, corporate accountability and China’s geopolitical threat.
Sestak made little impression with donors or other supporters and failed to qualify for any of the party-sponsored debates. He recently completed a walk across New Hampshire to drum up interest in his campaign.
Sestak graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and spent three decades in the Navy. He served two terms in the House, 2007-2011.

(Des Moines) — Another Democratic presidential candidate has also called its quits. According to KCCI television station, Montana Governor Steve Bullock announced today that he is ending his Democratic presidential bid, saying it’s become clear that he won’t have a shot at being his party’s nominee. The two-term governor and former state attorney general tried to
make the case that he was the best bet to beat President Donald Trump because he was the only Democratic candidate to win in a state that Trump won in 2016. Bullock is the third governor from a western state to drop from the race. He follows Colorado governor John Hickenlooper and Washington governor Jay Inslee.

 

 

Iowa State Patrol Reports Fatality Accident Over Weekend

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa State Patrol says one person died and three others were injured in a weekend rollover crash near Des Moines.
The State Patrol says the crash happened around 1:30 a.m. Saturday on an eastbound ramp connecting Interstate 235 to Interstate 80 in Polk County.
The driver of a Chevrolet Silverado lost control of the truck on the onramp before it went into a ditch and rolled onto its roof.
Iowa State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Alex Dinkla says 20-year-old Taylor
Dean Babcock died at the scene. He was a passenger in the truck.
The driver and two other passengers were hurt in the crash. One
person had serious injuries while the other two suffered only minor injuries.

 

 

Eight Year Old Called To Testify Against His Father In Murder Trial

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Prosecutors plan to call an 8-year-old boy to testify against his father in an Iowa triple-homicide trial.
KCCI-TV reports that the state on Wednesday filed a motion that
would allow the boy to testify via a closed-circuit TV feed.
The child is the son of Marvin Esquivel-Lopez of Guatemala, who
faces three counts of first-degree murder in the July shooting deaths of 29 -year-old Rossibeth Flores-Rodriguez, her 11-year-old daughter and her 5-year-old son.
The killings happened in Des Moines. Court documents say the child was an eyewitness.
Esquivel-Lopez pleaded not guilty. His trial starts Jan. 27.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have said
Escobar-Orellana is in the United States illegally and had twice been deported before the shooting. He was convicted in 2010 of illegal entry into the U.S.

 

 

Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced For Two Years In Prison

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A Cedar Rapids man who lied about his drug use so he could buy guns has been sentenced to near two years in prison.
Twenty-four-year-old Dustin Herubin was sentenced this week. He pleaded guilty in July to a federal drug charge and possession of firearms by a user of a controlled substance.
Herubin’s home was struck by gunfire in October 2018. Responding officers noted an odor of marijuana searched the home. Authorities say Herubin later admitted to using marijuana and lying on federal forms so he could buy guns.
Two loaded guns, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found in his home. Authorities say Herubin’s phone contained photos of marijuana products for sale.