Home News Friday News, September 11th

Friday News, September 11th

Firefighters Respond To Stove Fire

(Le Mars) — Le Mars firefighters responded to an alarm yesterday afternoon at 321 1st Avenue Northwest for what turned out to be a stove fire inside the home’s kitchen. The call was at about 2:53 p.m. when smoke could be seen coming from the residence upon arrival. Firefighters made an interior attack and knocked the fire down quickly in the kitchen. The home was ventilated of smoke and overhaul was performed to make sure the fire was completely out.

The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, with the most probable cause for the fire was combustibles were ignited on a stove in which a burner had inadvertently been left on. The fire spread from the combustibles to a microwave and cupboard above the stove.

Firefighters were on scene for approximately 30 minutes. There were no injuries and the occupants could stay at the residence. Damage estimates are listed at $3000.00.

 

 

 

Feenstra Speaks At Plymouth County Republican Party Fundraiser

(Le Mars) — Fourth U-S District Republican Congressional candidate Randy Feensta of Hull was the special guest at Thursday’s evening’s Plymouth County Republican party fundraiser. The event was held at Willow Creek Golf Club. Feenstra has been a state senator for the past 12 years, and was able to defeat Republican incumbent Congressman Steve King during the June primary. Feenstra says one of his greatest concerns is the ever-growing national debt. He says he has a goal to see that Congress passes a balance budget amendment.

Feenstra was asked whether the U-S would be able to maintain all of our services with a balanced budget.

 

 

 

Reynolds Defends Her Position To Hold In-Person Classes For Students

(Des Moines) — During her news conference, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds was asked several questions relating to schools and the decision to hold in-person classes, or have remote on-line learning. Reynolds continued to defend her position and the state law that requires at least half of the time of a student’s education should be “in person.” Reynolds says the Des Moines School District is the only school district in Iowa that has not submitted a plan for “Return to Learn.” The Des Moines School system has filed a lawsuit against the governor advocating an all “on-line” remote education program. The governor says there are many students who need the additional attention through a class room setting.

Reynolds informed the news media that “on-line” learning is great for those parents that have the means to make it work. However, according to Reynolds, it is not the best solution for many school students across the state that “live in stressed economic conditions.” Reynolds says some parents have invested in tudors to help their children learn, and the governor was quick to say, parents involved in their children’s educational development is a good thing. But, she says not all students have that opportunity or available options.

Reynolds also reiterated her position regarding sports and other extra curricular activities saying if a school should need to temporarily adopt an “on-line” learning system, then that school district should be suspended during that time.

 

 

 

Reynolds Talks About Mental Health And Well-Being During News Conference

(Des Moines) — One of the topics addressed by Governor Reynolds during her news conference was the need to watch our friends and family members with their mental health and well-being. The governor says that Thursday was “World Suicide Prevention Day.” She says the suicide rate has increased dramatically during the last ten years, and suicides are more common to occur in rural areas than in the urban settings. Liz Cox with the Polk County Mental Health Regional Services also appeared with the governor, and informed the news media that anxiety and depression issues have reached an all-time high.

Cox says women are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression than men. She says how we deal with the symptoms of depression are also equally important.

The governor told of a website entitled: Your Life Iowa.org as a resource to assist with mental health concerns.

 

 

 

Lt. Governor Addresses Iowa Food Security During News Conference

(Des Moines) — Iowa’s Lt. Governor Adam Gregg appeared at the Governor’s news conference Thursday to offer an update regarding Iowa’s food security following the derecho storm and the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. Gregg heads up the task force with the responsibility to make certain Iowans don’t go hungry. The Lt. Governor says funding was made available through the CARES Act. The governor recently increased the funding allocation level to $3.9 million dollars. Lt. Governor Gregg spoke of the efforts to stock up Iowa food banks and food pantries with protein meat sources.

Gregg says the meat is being processed at the Iowa State University Meats Laboratory.

The Lt. Governor says a problem with many local food pantries is they lack proper refrigeration. He says $440,000 was spent to obtain 113 refrigerators and freezers in 51 counties that were distributed to the state’s various food pantries. In addition, Gregg says Iowa’s poultry producers have also stepped up and contributed to the program.

Gregg says there is one area of need, and that is the need for more volunteers to assist with re-packaging of food items.

 

 

 

State Officials Consider Purchase of COVID-19, Flu Combo Tests

(Des Moines, IA) — State officials are exploring how to buy and distribute a single test that can detect both COVID-19 and the seasonal flu. Governor Kim Reynolds says public health officials are discussing how to get the materials for the kits used to conduct the tests and whether the state might offer the tests for free. Reynolds says these new tests for both the flu and COVID are not part of the six-month contract with Test Iowa suppliers and the free tests that can be scheduled through a smart phone app. The governor used federal coronavirus relief money to pay the 26-million-dollar contract with Utah companies that have supplied the state with 540-thousand COVID test kits. If the state doesn’t buy the combo test kits that, they are likely to be available for a fee through Iowa health care providers in the coming weeks.

 

 

 

819 New COVID-19 Cases in Iowa, 20 Additional Deaths

(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Department of Public of Health is reporting 20 new deaths from COVID-19 complications. The state’s death toll increased to one-thousand-205. Eight-hundred-19 more positive tests were confirmed, which brings the state’s total to 71-thousand-956 cases since the pandemic began. State health officials say 302 people are hospitalized with COVID, 85 patients are in intensive care and 34 are on ventilators. There are currently outbreaks in 30 long-term care facilities in Iowa. There have been 683-thousand-209 tests in the state.

 

 

 

Clear Lake Man Accused of Threatening to Kill Police Officer

(Clear Lake, IA) — A Clear Lake man arrested for public intoxication is accused of threatening to kill a police officer. Forty-three-year-old Scott Thelke was charged with first-degree harassment and assault on persons in certain occupations after an incident Monday. Investigators say Thelke told the arresting officer he was going to kill them with a chainsaw and claimed he was going to hunt them down. The officer said Thelke also spat in her face. His first court hearing is September 18th.

 

 

 

Nebraska Will Vote On Legalized Casino Gambling

(Lincoln, NE) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has ruled residents should be able to vote on a constitutional amendment to legalize casino gambling and two initiatives to regulate casinos. The ruling supports a petition from the group “Keep the Money in Nebraska” and others. The C-E-O of the Native American Ho-Chunk tribe, Lance Morgan, says they want to bring the gambling into the state and there is support. He says the vast majority of Nebraskans favor it. Nebraska’s Secretary of State had refused to put the measures on the November ballot, saying there were multiple conflicting issues. The Supreme Court’s split decision overrules the Secretary of State.

 

 

 

Teen Charged With Setting Fire To Ottumwa Little League Field

(Ottumwa, IA) — A teenager has been charged in connection with a fire at a Little League field in Ottumwa. Ottumwa Police announced the arrest of a 13-year-old girl Wednesday. She was charged with reckless use of fire, a serious misdemeanor, then later released to her parents. Shortly after 7:00 p-m on Labor Day, crews from the Ottumwa Fire Department responded to the fire at the press box at the Midwest Fields. No one was injured. Ottumwa Little League board members say there was minor damage to the press box’s roof, however, the crow’s nest which sits atop the press box was destroyed by the fire and will have to be replaced.