Firefighters Respond To Pickup Truck Fire
(Le Mars) — Firefighters responded to a pickup truck that had caught on fire last evening. The call came in shortly before 8:00 p.m. and was reported near the Iowa State Bank at 3rd Avenue Northwest and Plymouth St Northwest. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says When fire officials arrived on the scene the pickup was fully engulfed.
(photo contributed.)
Schipper offers an explanation as to why the pickup may have caught on fire.
The Le Mars fire chief says the engine is totally destroyed, but the body of the pickup truck may be salvageable.
Firefighters were at the fire station and in the middle of training when the call came in.
Firefighters were at the scene for approximately 20 minutes.
County Supervisors To Discuss Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Budget
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will convene for their weekly meeting at the County Courthouse Board Room beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The county governing board will hold a public hearing on tax spending for fiscal year 2020-2021. The county supervisors are expected to approve the tax spending resolution, then they will set the date for a public hearing on the county’s fiscal year 2020-2021 budget. Following that action, the board of supervisors will hear from surveyor Wayne Schlotfeldt as he will seek approval of Stabe Addition located in Remsen township. Tim Laleman with DGR engineering is also scheduled to appear before the county supervisors seeking approval of Konopasek Addition in Union township. The supervisors will discuss proceeding with establishing a wind farm urban renewal area with possible action on the matter. The county board of supervisors have scheduled to enter into a closed session to discuss bargaining negotiations,
as well as to discuss threatening or pending litigation.
School Board Discusses Having Insurance For Electronic Equipment
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education met last evening and discussed having insurance for various electronic equipment for protection against breakdowns and repairs. Although the school board did not take any action on the matter, they were in general agreement the school district may
need to explore the issue, and directed School Superintendent Dr. Steven Webner to return to the board with additional information. The board approved the resignations of Carol Vanderloo from her position as a bus driver, effective immediately. Kay Powell submitted her resignation as a
Title 1 teacher effective at the conclusion of the current school year. The school board approved the second readings of proposed policy changes, and they approved third party vendor to assist with the Title 1 request for proposal to support Gehlen Catholic School’s Title 1 program. It was explained to the board that all funding from the state and federal government directed for Title 1 programs is initially channeled to community
public schools, and then the public school system distributes the
appropriate funding to private and parochial schools. The school board appointed board members Dave Miller and Makenzie Lang to serve on the Meet and Confer team for the purpose of discussing contracts with the support staff and administration for the school year 2020-2021.
Floyd Valley Healthcare Trustees To Have Annual Meeting
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Board of Trustees will meet for their monthly session as well as their annual meeting this evening beginning at 5:30 p.m. with dinner, followed by the meeting to start at 6:00 p.m. The hospital trustees will hear a program regarding Meditech and I-T Security with Mike Von Bergen, Avera IT Director and Soren Leiseth, Avera Information Security
Manager. Following the discussion of the focus topic, the board of trustees will elect its board officers. Dr. Donald Odens is scheduled to deliver the Medical Staff Report, and Daryl Friedenbach will give the Quarterly Financial Report. City Administrator Jason Vacura is scheduled to inform the hospital trustees of the city update, and Mark Vartherums will tell the
trustees the latest with the Avera Update. The trustees will review and approve the governing board’s by-laws, and appointment of committee assignments. Floyd Valley C-E-O Dustin Wright will submit the general update for the trustee approval, as well as the capital acquisitions requests.
Deere And Company To Layoff Workers
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – Deere & Co. plans to lay off 105 more workers in Dubuque. The company told workers Friday at the John Deere Dubuque Works that the layoffs will take effect April 6. It would be the third round of layoffs at the plant in the past few months. In October the company said more than 110 workers would be laid off by Nov. 18. In December the company
announced that nearly 60 workers would be laid off effective Jan. 6. A company spokesman didn’t immediately return messages Monday from The Associated Press.
Vilsack Wins Powerball Lottery Prize
(Des Moines) — Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack claimed a 150-thousand dollar Powerball prize today (Monday) at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive. Vilsack won his prize in the Powerball drawing on January 22nd when the game’s jackpot had grown to an estimated 347 million dollars. Vilsack
told Lottery Officials he will play when the jackpots get big.
(photo contributed.)
He says he plays for fun.
Vilsack was just one number away from winning that night’s jackpot, matching four of the five white balls and the Powerball. He had purchased the multiplier that multiplies the prize by the Powerplay number — which was three — and upped the prize to 150-thousand dollars. Vilsack says he didn’t immediately know he had won.
He checked the numbers and found out he’d won something.
Vilsack has plans for the money.
Vilsack is a Democrat who also served as U-S Ag Secretary for eight years under President Obama. Vilsack is now the president of the U-S Dairy Export Council.
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County Supervisor Faces Charges Of Public Intoxication While Carrying Firearms
FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) – A former professional football player has been sentenced for being drunk and armed with a handgun at a county supervisors meeting in Iowa. Sixty-three-year-old Mike Stensrud was sentenced Friday to two years’ probation and 90 days of jail time, but 88 days were suspended.
Stensrud is a Winnebago County supervisor. He drank alcohol from a cup during a May 21 meeting in Forest City. Court records say a breath test showed his blood alcohol level was above the legal limit for driving. An officer found a pistol in one of Stensrud’s pockets. Stensrud played at Iowa State before going pro. He retired from the NFL in 1989.
