Two Vehicle Accident Reported On Highway 75
(Le Mars) — A two-vehicle accident happened this morning on Highway 75 at mile marker 126 near the Plymouth County and Sioux County border. Rescue crews responded to the scene at about 8:33 a.m. According to Plymouth County Sheriff’s authorities a Chevy Impala was following a grain truck, both
vehicles were heading northbound on Highway 75 when apparently the car had rear-ended the truck, causing the car to spin into the east ditch. As a result of the collision, airbags had deployed and the car erupted in flames.
Traffic on Highway 75 was limited to alternating one-lane of travel while authorities investigated the accident scene. Fortunately, neither driver was injured during the accident. The Chevy Impala was owned and operated by 46-year old Tonya Robichaud of Le Mars, and the grain truck was owned by
Circle J Trucking and operated by 45-year old Greg Jansma of Sioux Center.
Robichaud was cited for failure to stop in a clear assured distance. Responding to the scene were the Le Mars Fire and Rescue
Department, Le Mars Ambulance, Le Mars Police Department, Sioux County Sheriff’s Office and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the accident scene.
Kingsley Fire Department Responds To Gas Leak
(Kingsley) — The Kingsley Fire Department responded to a call regarding a ruptured natural gas line Thursday morning. Kingsley Fire Chief Paul Huth says the fire department was notified at about 11:30 a.m. when a utility construction crew was working and accidentally severed the gas line.
Huth says the incident happened on the north-side of town near 503 Rutland Street. The Kingsley Fire Chief says the area was previously marked to identify the various locations of the underground utilities. He says anytime there is a gas line leak, firefighters have some concerns.
Huth says there was no need to evacuate the neighborhood. He says the utility company tried minimizing the leak by plugging the hole.
Huth says firefighters were at the scene for approximately an hour before Mid-American Energy arrived and repaired the severed gas line.
Plymouth County Farm Bureau Donates To Local Food Pantries
(Le Mars) — These are challenging times and Plymouth County Farm Bureau is always looking for ways to make our communities and farms stronger. Many have lost jobs, had hours cut, and schools closed which leads to food insecurity for many living in Plymouth County. The local Farm Bureau has donated money to all Plymouth County Food Pantries and the Iowa Farm Bureau is donating an additional $500 to support our local pantries. No matter what the challenges facing our communities are, united we will get through it and be stronger.
Dordt University To Hold “Virtual” Commencement Ceremonies
(Sioux Center) — Dordt University will host a virtual commencement on Friday, May 8, at 11 a.m. The ceremony will air via Livestream at https://livestream.com/dordtwebcast/commencement.
The university’s goal is to provide students and families with a meaningful experience that honors students’ achievements as graduates, even if Dordt cannot hold an in-person event this spring.
The ceremony will feature Dr. Justin Bailey, assistant professor of theology at Dordt, as the commencement speaker. His speech is titled “The Wisdom of Weakness: The Coronavirus and the Cross.”
In addition to Dr. Bailey’s speech, the virtual commencement ceremony will feature a special musical performance by Campus Ministries, words of wisdom from President Erik Hoekstra, a prayer by Dean of Chapel Aaron Baart, and more.
Interbake Foods Shuts Down Due To Virus Outbreak
(North Sioux City, SD) — Weston Foods has announced the temporary closure of their Interbake Foods North Sioux City bakery plant. A statement from the company says when they learned of a positive case of COVID-19 there on April 22nd, they immediately took steps to temporarily close the facility. The company says they will not reopen the facility until it has been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, and, in accordance with Siouxland District Health, contact tracing has been completed. Weston says their response team is working through a detailed risk assessment and action plan. Any employees who worked closely with the individual who tested positive will be asked to self-isolate and monitor for any symptoms.
Reynolds Discusses Long-term Care And Assessments During Briefing
(Des Moines) — The impact the COVID-19 coronavirus has had on Iowa’s long-term nursing care facilities was discussed by Governor Kim Reynolds during her Thursday briefing. Reynolds reported the state has now identified 12 different nursing care facilities as having COVID-19 outbreaks. The latest was a facility located in Linn County.
Reynolds says the new “TestIowa.com” assessments have proven to be beneficial after only been available for two days.
The governor says she has heard of some people having difficulty in completing the assessment form.
Reynolds say this coming weekend testing appointments have already been filled, but she offered some reassurance that additional assessment testing will be conducted throughout the state within the next week.
Reynolds 70-Percent of COVID-19 Cases in 8 Iowa Counties
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds isn’t providing a timeline, but will likely give portions of the state permission to re-open for public gatherings and commerce before others. Reynolds says about 70 percent of Iowa’s positive COVID-19 cases are in eight counties. The governor said she may allow certain businesses to reopen in phases — and ask business owners to ensure customers and employees are able to be six feet from one another. She added state officials will learn details about coronavirus hot spots in the state from the Test Iowa program that will start offering drive-through COVID-19 testing.
First COVID-19 Death in Woodbury County Linked to Tyson Foods Plant
(Sioux City, IA) — The first COVID-19 death in northwest Iowa’s Woodbury County is tied to a Tyson Foods plant in neighboring Nebraska. The Siouxland District Health Department confirmed the man between the ages of 61 and 80 worked at a plant in Dakota City. Officials at the plant said they are
“deeply saddened by the loss of a team member from our Dakota City plant and are keeping the family in our thoughts and prayers.” That Tyson plant is still operating at this time. The company’s largest pork plant in Waterloo is shutdown due to coronavirus outbreak.
Weekly Unemployment Claims Drop in Iowa But Still 5th Highest Ever
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa Workforce Development is reporting another drop in new unemployment claims – but still saw the fifth most in state history. The agency says nearly 28-thousand first-time unemployment claims were filed last week. That is about half the number filed in the previous week — and the
second straight week where claims have dropped after hitting a record of 64-thousand-194. A total of 232-thousand-913 unemployment claims have been filed during the past five weeks related to the coronavirus outbreak.
Governor Reynolds began ordering shutdowns and limits on businesses, bars and restaurants March 17th.
Spencer Woman With ALS To Enter Hospice
(Spencer, IA) — A Spencer woman who has been receiving experimental treatments for a rare form of A-L-S or Lou Gehrig’s disease is now in hospice care. The family of Jaci Hermstad announced Wednesday that she was entering hospice and thanked everyone for their support. Her family said, “Jaci, a
true warrior in her battle against A-L-S, gave all. She has faced her diagnosis with a sense of resolve and determination, and faith knowing all too well her path to a cure was virtually impossible.” Jaci lost her sister Alex to the disease nine years ago. The Hermstad family is asking everyone to say a prayer at 8 p-m each day to honor Jaci.
