Home News Thursday News, January 9th

Thursday News, January 9th

Two Vehicles Collide At K-64 And C-38 Intersection

(Le Mars) — First Responders from Oyens, Remsen, and Le Mars were all called to a multiple vehicle accident that happened at about 10:30 a.m.Wednesday morning at the intersection of county roads K-64 and C-38, about four miles southeast of Le Mars. Plymouth County Sheriff’s authorities say the accident involved a 2017 Dodge Ram pickup truck pulling a gooseneck
trailer. The trailer was loaded with a Genie boom lift. The pickup was owned by Morton Buildings, Inc. from Morton, Illinois. The driver was Eric Krieger, age 46, from Rossie, Iowa. The second vehicle was a 2004 Dodge Durango. The vehicle was owned and operated by Virginia Manning, age 63, from Cleghorn, Iowa.

The investigation shows that Krieger was southbound on K-64. Manning was heading eastbound on C-38. Krieger failed to stop at a stop sign and drove into the path of Manning. Manning’s vehicle struck Krieger in the passenger side of the vehicle causing both vehicles to enter the southwest ditch at the intersection. Krieger’s trailer flipped onto its side partially
blocking the roadway.

Virginia Manning was transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare by the Le Mars ambulance with non-life threatening injuries. A passenger, Robert Manning, age 63, of Cleghorn, was transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare by the Remsen ambulance with non-life threatening injuries. Krieger, and a passenger, were checked out by Oyens ambulance and declined medical
treatment.

Krieger’s pickup sustained functional damage estimated at $5,000. The trailer was considered a total loss estimated at $5,000. The Genie boom lift sustained functional damage estimated at $5,000. The Manning 2004 Dodge Durango was a total loss estimated at $5,000. Krieger was issued a citation for failure to obey a stop sign.
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the accident.

 

 

Fire Chief Offers Public Support For New Ambulance Director

(Le Mars) — At Tuesday’s Le Mars city council meeting, Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper was absent during the actual voting when the city council had approved Assistant Fire Chief Mike Wise as the new Le Mars Ambulance Services Director. Schipper was called to an accident that happened during the same time. However, the Le Mars Fire Chief was able to return to the
council meeting prior to the meeting being adjourned, and he wanted to speak on the record for his support of Mike Wise.

Schipper informed the city council that Mike Wise will be missed from the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, but they will be able to find a suitable replacement.

Following the city council vote, Wise approached the podium to thank the council members.

 

 

Yearly Building Report Shows Increase In Residential Housing

(Le Mars) — During this week’s city council meeting, Building and Code Enforcement Director, Greg Smidt offered a report to the city council regarding the housing development for the past year. Smidt called 2019 a “phenomenal year” in building construction for Le Mars. Smidt indicated 2019 had an increase in residential housing, which meant an increase in fees and construction value.

As for commercial building construction fees, Smidt says 2019 was holding steady to past years. He says there were several small buildings that were constructed. Commercial fees was listed at $11,346 in 2019, and construction value was just short of $2 million dollars. Smidt reported that during 2019, there were 29 new homes constructed, and eleven commercial
buildings.

 

 

Jeneary Offers Preview To Legislative Session

(Le Mars) — On Monday, state lawmakers will return to Des Moines at the state capitol building to begin the second half of the General Session.
Iowa House Representative Dr. Tom Jeneary says state legislators will be busy beginning with setting the school education budget.

Dr. Jeneary says in addition to school funding, the state legislature will need to find some money to help with many school districts that have high transportation costs.

We will have additional comments from State Representative Tom Jeneary featured on the KLEM website and well as future news updates.

 

 

Winner Of Legion Flag Raffle Donates Flag Back To Legion

(Le Mars) — The Wasmer Post #241 American Legion of Le Mars held a raffle on a metal flag that was initially donated by Total Motors.  Dave Hill of Total Motors purchased the metal flag from a vendor at the Plymouth County Fair.  He then had Chris Kline create a background and frame for the metal flag.  Beginning in November at around the same time of the Veteran’s Day, the local American Legion began a raffle which generated $6,000.  The drawing was held on December 31st.  During the Legion meeting held Wednesday evening, legion members presented the flag to the raffle winner, Kathy DeJong of Le Mars.  DeJong, then donated the flag back to the American Legion to be displayed inside the Legion Hall.

Standing from left to right: American Legion Commander, Dan Plueger, Kathy DeJong, Dave Hill, and Scott Taylor both with Total Motors.

 

Le Mars Community Robotics Club Share Creation With Legion

(Le Mars) — Three members of the Le Mars Community Robotics Club attended the American Legion meeting Wednesday evening to demonstrate to the members the latest robotic creation, and to share with the legion members upcoming competitions.  The robotic club is under the direction of Tracy Wingert and they informed the legionaries they had to create a robot operated by remote control that would measure 18 inches by 18 inches.  The students informed the group the competition would require them to operate the robot to pick up blocks and then stack those blocks.  The students said they modified their robot so it would be able to handle additional blocks which would be stacked higher.

From left to right are Jack Masuen, Kyle Herbst, and Evan Herbst.

 

 

Iowa State Fair To Raise Ticket Prices 

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – It will cost you more to attend the Iowa State Fair this year. The fair announced Wednesday that gate prices for adults will rise to $14 from $12 last year, and tickets for children ages 6 to 11 will increase to $8 from $6. Advance purchase prices are going up a dollar: to $9
for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 11. Children 5 and under still will get in free. There will be ticket discounts on some days for certain groups, including Older Iowans Day on Aug. 19. The fair runs Aug. 13-23 this year.

 

 

Army Corps Of Engineers Don’t Expect To Get Rid Of Excess Water From Last Year’s Flooding

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers doesn’t expect to eliminate from its reservoir system all the leftover water from last year’s near record runoff that led to massive flooding along the Missouri River.
Officials are raising the current releases in expectation of high spring runoff again this year. The Corps’ John Remus told the Omaha World-Herald the system needs to make as much space as possible in light of forecasts for warmer than normal weather and higher than normal runoff. He says the Corps
normally doesn’t release more during the winter because of the potential for ice jams and dams upriver.

 

 

Story County Officials Investigate Murder-Suicide

COLO, Iowa (AP) – Officers are investigating the deaths of two people in what Story County officials say was a murder-suicide. A relative called 911 after discovering the bodies around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at a residence in Colo. The Story County Sheriff’s Office didn’t immediately release the names
of the two, nor provide information about the causes of their deaths. State officials have joined the investigation.

 

 

Dunkerton Police Chief Accepted Pay For Hours Not Worked

DUNKERTON, Iowa (AP) – The former police chief of a small eastern Iowa town has pleaded guilty to charges that she collected pay for hours she didn’t work. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Katherine Krieger entered the pleas Monday to theft and felonious misconduct in office. She was chief in Dunkerton, a town of about 830 residents around 100 miles
northeast of Des Moines. Prosecutors say Krieger collected pay for hours in Dunkerton when she was working another law enforcement job and for training and meetings she never attended last spring. Court records say she received
$3,000 in unearned pay.

 

 

Senator Booker Says Impeachment Trial May Disrupt His Presidential Campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) – Sen. Cory Booker says an impeachment trial and other pressing issues in Washington could deal a “big, big blow” to his Democratic presidential campaign by keeping him away from Iowa before the Feb. 3 caucuses. Booker is among five senators seeking the Democratic nomination
who face spending the lead-up to the first-in-the-nation caucus as jurors in President Donald Trump’s trial. The challenge for Booker is particularly acute, given that he has struggled to break into the top tier and needs a strong showing in Iowa to keep his campaign going. The New Jersey senator spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday for its “Ground Game” podcast.