Another Water Rescue Performed On The Floyd River
(Le Mars) — It was deja vue for rescuers as a second water rescue was performed Sunday afternoon retrieving stranded kayakers from the Floyd River.
It was just last Saturday evening when the first rescue took place. This time, the call came in at about 2:20 p.m. when the Le Mars Police Department, Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Plymouth County Dive Team, and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office along with the Le Mars Ambulance Service pulled four
people to safety. The incident happened to the northwest of the Le Mars Walmart store. Rescue teams were on both sides of the river assisting with the rescue. As like last week, the kayaks were floating down stream when they came in contact with a tree that had fallen and is in the middle of the river, causing the kayakers to be thrown from their kayaks. The three
kayakers were able to hang on to the fallen tree, until rescuers had arrived.
Members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department and Plymouth County Dive Team were able to reach three victims, two minors, a small boy and a young girl, and an adult, identified as Julie Heerde. They were all carried to the safety of the shoreline where police officers, and other firefighters, and
sheriff’s deputies were on hand helping pull the stranded victims with the use of a rope. A fourth victim was also rescued, Jill Rutledge, was upstream from the other three. The victims were given a medical examination by the awaiting Le Mars Ambulance Service. Aside from being scared, all the victims did not appear to have suffered any injuries. However, Heerde was transported
to the Floyd Valley Healthcare. Officials at the scene say the Floyd River is surprising to people as they underestimate the river’s strong currents. The rescue was completed within 45 minutes.
Le Mars Police Investigating Gunshot Incident
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred Saturday evening at about 8:46 p.m. The police was notified of a 17 year old juvenile male victim suffering from a gunshot wound at Floyd Valley Healthcare emergency room. Officers were able to determine the incident took
place in a detached garage at 255 4th Street southeast. The person responsible for the handling and discharge of the firearm was located at the scene. During the situation, the safety to the general public was not in danger. Le Mars Police officers and Plymouth County Sheriff’s deputies secured the scene while obtaining a search warrant. During the search warrant, officers recovered a 9 mm handgun. The investigation continues.
Firefighters Respond To Back-to-back Calls On Saturday
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to two fire calls back-to-back on Saturday afternoon and early evening. The first call was at about 5:30 p.m. at 4th and Central Avenue Southwest. When firefighters arrived on the scene some smoke was seen coming from the garage
area. Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames within a short time period. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the cause of the fire was improperly disposed smoking material that ignited a mattress on fire.
At about the time firefighters were able to return to quarters from the first fire, and put
away their gear, a second alarm came in at about 6:50 p.m. This time, it was from Park Place Estates at the 900 block of Lincoln Way Northeast.
Firefighters responded to find burnt toast was the cause for some smoke within the residence. Firefighters used their industrial fans to help ventilate the smoke from the assisted living quarters, and re-set the alarm. Firefighters were on the scene at Park Place for approximately 20 minutes.
In both instances, there were no injuries.
National Guard Unit To Leave Today For Year-long Deployment
(Le Mars) — 80 soldiers from the 113th Calvary Troop C will be leaving today from the Le Mars National Guard armory for a nearly year long deployment.
Captain Kyle Cooper serves as the commanding officer talks about today’s deployment schedule.
Cooper says the soldiers will be traveling on buses rather than armored tactical vehicles. He says the parade will go from the armory building through the Le Mars Municipal Park, then head south on Central Avenue. He suggests people gather on Central Avenue to wave and say good-bye to the soldiers.
Immediately following the send-off parade, Charle Company of the 113th Calvary will go directly to training in Minnesota.
Following the three months of training, the national guard unit will then be deployed to Africa.
The commanding officer says the local guard will be on deployment for nearly a year. KLEM radio will broadcast live the deployment ceremonies, and we will feature both the deployment and the parade live via KLEM Facebook page.
Polk County Put On Curfew
(Des Moines, IA) — The Polk County Board of Supervisors instituted a county-wide curfew that began Sunday at 9:00 p-m and lasted through 5:00 a-m today (Monday) in response to repeated protests and violence connected to the death of the man in Minneapolis who died as police took him into custody.
The curfew came as a protest that started out peaceful turned violent Saturday — with protestors damaging Des Moines patrol cars and throwing rocks and objects at police. Police fired tear gas to break up the crowd and there were multiple arrests reported before things broke up. Another protest
happened at the Iowa State Capitol building, then a protest broke out Sunday at a local mall in Des Moines. Windows were broken out in stores in and around the mall. There was a peaceful protest at a Des Moines park where no problems were reported.
One Dead In Hiawatha Shooting
(Hiawatha, IA) — The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says one person died and three were injured in a shooting Saturday night at a Hiawatha mobile home park. Officers were called to the Sunset Village Mobile Home Park around 11:40 on a disturbance call. The D-C-I says they found four people
with gunshot wounds — including 31-year-old Joshua Lathrop of Hiawatha — who was dead. The three wounded were treated and sent to local hospitals. The D-C-I has not released any other information on what led to the shooting.
Iowa’s Death Toll From COVID-19 Now At 533, IDPH Reports 349 Additional Cases Of COVID-19
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Department of Public Health reports six more deaths from COVID-19 runs the state’s total to 533. Laboratory testing found 349 additional positive cases as of Sunday. The Iowa total of positive test results has reached 19-thousand-484. Sunday was the first time the I-D-P-H
reported more than five thousand people had been tested in a single day.
Eleven thousand patients diagnosed with COVID-19 have recovered. Health officials say 341 people are still hospitalized for treatment of the virus.
Des Moines Police ID Saturday Morning Shooting Victim
(Des Moines, IA) — Des Moines police have identified the 19-year-old man shot to death Saturday morning. Officers responded to a report of shots fired found Robert Lee Trey Freeman suffering gunshot wounds at 8:27 a-m.
Emergency responders worked on him for a time, then he was transported to MercyOne Medical Center. Doctors weren’t able to save him and he died shortly after 9:00 a-m. Police say this is the city’s 11th homicide of 2020.
