Early Morning Accident Leaves One Person Injured
(Le Mars) — Emergency rescue crews responded to a one-vehicle roll-over accident that happened this morning at about 7:40 a.m. on county road C-38 between Lake Avenue and Highway 75, about two miles south of Le Mars. According to Plymouth County Sheriff’s deputies, the vehicle was heading westbound on C-38 when it had lost control.
After rolling a couple of times, the car ended up in a field on the south side of the county road. Debris had scattered for several hundred feet. One person was injured in the mishap. The driver of the vehicle was able to escape from the heavily damaged car, but was transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare by the Le Mars Ambulance Services. The injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. Responding to the accident scene were the Le Mars
Fire and Rescue Department, Le Mars Ambulance, and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.
Fitness Clubs Are Open But Need To Adhere To Guidelines
(Le Mars) — More and more businesses are being allowed to open and conduct business as Governor Kim Reynolds begins to loosen some of the restrictions due to the COVID-19 virus. Today, beauty salons and barbershops are allowed to see customers again. For about a week now, fitness clubs, and exercise organizations have been allowed to be open, including the Le Mars Community Wellness Center, or perhaps better known as the Le Mars YMCA. Although, the YMCA has been open, Todd Lancaster, the executive director of the local YMCA
says they have had to adhere to some strict regulations. Lancaster says they are needing to follow the guidelines as established by the Centers for Disease Control, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and some additional rules put in place by YMCA’s across the state and nation. According to
Lancaster, one such rule is limiting the number of people, or maximum capacity, that can gather in one room at a time.
Lancaster says the state YMCA association has also implemented additional guidelines.
The YMCA executive says the local wellness center has also placed an age requirement of no one below the age of 16 is allowed inside the facility.
Lancaster says Governor Reynolds has put in place the rule of swimming facilities needs to be closed, so the indoor swimming area is closed. He says normally, the outdoor pool would open on Memorial Day weekend. However, until such time the governor lifts those restrictions, the outdoor pool will remain off limits.
In future news updates, we will hear from Todd Lancaster explain how the COVID-19 virus has been a financial burden to the local YMCA as many programs, events, tournaments, have all had to be cancelled.
Floyd Valley Therapies Manager Announces Retirement
(Le Mars, IA) — It is with sincere gratitude and appreciation that Therapeutic Health Services, Inc. (THS), in partnership with Floyd Valley Healthcare (FVH), announces the upcoming retirement of Floyd Valley Therapies Manager, Jerry De Wit in July 2020. Jerry has been serving THS, Inc. and FVH since July of 1997. We will miss his leadership, his energetic personality and all that he does for his staff and patients. Jerry is looking forward to spending time with his wife, Melody, and their children and grandchildren.
As we look to transition leadership within Floyd Valley Therapies, we are pleased to announce Troy Henrich, PT has accepted the role of Physical Therapy Department Manager and Alison Vlieger, OTR/L as the Occupational and Speech Therapy Department Manager.
We want to wish Jerry much happiness and joy in his retirement. Thank you, Jerry, for all you are and have done over the past 23 years for THS, Inc and Floyd Valley Healthcare.
Reynolds Pleased With Test Iowa Results
(Des Moines) — Long-term care was the focus of Thursday’s daily briefing by Governor Kim Reynolds. However, the governor began by telling reporters the testing program entitled “Test Iowa” which is operated by an Utah business has been given validation approval by federal government officials, and by
the state’s hygienic laboratory.
The governor was asked if she has been satisfied with the performance of TestIowa?
The state has established seven different testing sites using the TestIowa program with the eighth location to be established on Saturday at Storm Lake. Iowans are encouraged to go on-line at TestIowa.com and complete the assessment.
Health Officials Concerned About COVID-19 Impact On Long-term Nursing Care Facilities
(Des Moines) — Statistics show many of the deaths associated with the COVID-19 virus are from residents of long-term care facilities. In Iowa, according to public health department officials, more than half of coronavirus deaths have been contributed to long-term care nursing centers.
Governor Reynolds, during her Thursday briefing, says from the start, officials were concerned about the effects COVID-19 would have on Iowa’s residents in long-term nursing care facilities.
Public Health Department spokesperson Sarah Reisetter tells of the somber figures involving Iowa’s long-term care residents with relationship to COVID-19.
Reisetter says all of Iowa’s long-term care facilities were notified early when the virus was first detected in our nation, and before it had hit Iowa.
Reisetter tells of the protocol once COVID-19 has been detected in a long-term care facility.
According to the governor, 95 percent of Iowa’s long-term care facilities have been tested for the presence of COVID-19.
State Government Leaders Request New Budget Estimates From Revenue Estimating Conference
(Des Moines) — Governor Reynolds along with State House Speaker Pat Grassley and Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver are requesting the Revenue Estimating Conference to convene prior to the state legislature reconvening, which is scheduled for June 3rd. Lawmakers suspended the session on March 15th due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The REC estimate will be used as a data point for the Legislature to use in the creation of a FY 2021 budget.
Gov. Reynolds says, “Iowa’s fiscal health is strong and we are prepared for this time of uncertainty. But as Iowa continues to recover and grow from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s critical that we have as much information available to us to make informed decisions.” Reynolds continued to say, “The Revenue Estimating Conference can provide guidance as we assess COVID-19’s impact on the state’s finances.”
Both the state legislature and the governor’s office uses the revenue numbers provided by the Revenue Estimating Conference in determining the state’s budget.
Republican Leaders Push Back On Congressman Steve King’s Claims
(Washington, DC) — House Republican leaders are pushing back on claims by Iowa Congressman Steve King that he will be reassigned to committees he had served on in the past. King was stripped of those positions after he was accused of making racist statements. At least two members of the Steering Committee which would reinstate King have said it’s not going to happen.
Republican Congressman David Joyce of Ohio says, “There’s nothing to talk about. He’s not up for committee assignments.” King says he has reached an agreement with House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy that he will be reinstated. He says he has McCarthy’s word on that.
Proctor & Gamble To Invest In Iowa City Beauty Care Plant
(Iowa City, IA) — Officials at Proctor and Gamble say they will invest in the Iowa City Beauty Care Plant and will add an unknown number of employees.
Just two years ago, the company had said it was going to cut 500 jobs and shift much of the Iowa City production to West Virginia. Plant Manager Jason Jackson says it has become apparent that Proctor and Gamble needs both the Iowa City and West Virginia plants. Currently, it has a workforce of more
than 300 in Iowa City. Company officials say the products produced will shift from shampoo, conditioner and body wash products. The community’s “culture of innovation” was cited as the reason Proctor and Gamble made the commitment to Iowa City.
4 Iowans Arrested On Child Sex Abuse Charges
(Des Moines, IA) — Four Iowans are in jail on child sexual abuse charges connected to two separate cases. Polk County prosecutors accuse 59-year-old Frank William Maier of performing and receiving sex acts from a juvenile several times. Fifty-nine-year-old David Gene Joynes and his former wife,
31-year-old Danielle Nicole Williams, are accused of witnessing and failing to report Maier’s crimes. In the other case, 58-year-old Robert Stewart Eakin Senior of Iowa Falls was taken into custody after an underage girl told authorities he forced her to perform sex acts on him.
