Head-On Collision On Highway 75 Between Pickup And Semi Truck And Trailer
(Hinton) — A head-on accident happened on Highway 75 near the Harness intersection about two miles south of Hinton Monday morning involving a pick-up truck and a semi truck and trailer. The accident occurred at about 10:20 a.m. causing the semi truck to flip over, and landing near the railroad tracks. The pickup truck was pulling a dump trailer full of concrete and was
traveling southbound on Highway 75 and lost control and entered the northbound lane and collided with a semi truck and trailer. Both drivers were transported to MercyOne hospital in Sioux City. The driver of the semi truck sustained minor injuries. Injuries to the pickup driver are unknown. Officials have not yet released any information as to the identities of the accident victims. The accident took place in the construction zone area
between Hinton and Sioux City close to mile marker 104. As a result of the head-on accident, traffic was at a standstill for both lanes of traffic for several hours as officials cleaned up the debris, and conducted a traffic accident investigation. Responding to the scene were the Hinton Fire Department and Hinton Ambulance, along with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s
Office, Plymouth County Conservation, Iowa DOT, and the Iowa State Patrol.
(photos courtesy of KMEG-TV/Siouxland News.com)
County Board Of Supervisors Have Busy Agenda For Today’s Meeting
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have a busy agenda for today’s meeting to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the County Courthouse Board Room.
The county governing board will discuss a wind farm decommission agreement and road use agreement. The supervisors will also canvass the special school election for the Akron-Westfield school district. The supervisors are expected to appoint Roy Hodgson as the Stanton Township Trustee to replace
Rodney Hodgson. The county board of supervisors will review and possibly approve an attorney’s 28E agreement with Lyon County. Pride Group’s C-E-O Sarah Jackson will discuss with the county board purchasing a facility from the county. The supervisors will hear from surveyor David Wilberding as he
presents a report seeking approval of a minor subdivision, Double One Pork, LLC in Meadow Township. Wilberding will also submit a permit seeking approval of a minor subdivision, Broken Kettle Range with a second addition in Sioux Township. Wilberding will also seek approval for a subdivision for
the C.D. Homestead in Stanton Township. Attorney Bob Brock is expected to appear before the county supervisors to file an extension to file Jauer Addition subdivision in Hungerford Township. County engineer Tom Rohe is also scheduled to appear before the county board of supervisors. Rohe will
submit a construction permit for Southern Sioux Rural Water Association for work in Preston Township. Rohe will also submit for supervisor approval an agreement with the Union Pacific railroad and the Iowa Department of Transportation for a rail road crossing on county road C-70. Rohe will present to the supervisors a permit from Premier Communications for work in
Johnson Township on county road K-22. The county engineer will also present to the supervisors an equipment purchase request for a motor grader and track loader.
Le Mars City Council To Discuss Prairie View Addition
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council will gather at the council chambers at 12:00 noon. The city council will be informed of a Floyd Valley Healthcare trustee that will be vacating the position at the end of the year. Council members will have to decide if they want to hold a special election, or if they would rather choose to fill the vacancy until the next election. The
city council will address three action items. They include approval of public improvements at the Prairie View Additions. The city council will also discuss the Cleveland Park restroom improvement project, and the Iowa Federal Recreational Trails Program.
Lux Fest Organizers To Dedicate Mural
(Alton) — The completed Lux Fest mural, located at 1002 3rd Ave., Alton, IA, will be dedicated on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 11:00 a.m. Mural artist Amber Hansen will explain the symbolism within the mural and will dedicate it. The mural commemorates the arrival of Luxembourg immigrants in Sioux County,
Iowa in 1870. Hot dogs, chips, and water will be available for a free will offering. Thank you for helping the Luxembourg Heritage Society of Northwest Iowa to publicize our mural and our June 5-6, 2021.
Iowa DNR Staff Assisting With Western States Wildfires
(Des Moines) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is helping the U.S. Forest Service fight wildfires out west. A total of 17 Iowans have been deployed in the past month, working wildfires in California, Colorado, Idaho and Montana. With the extremely damaging and deadly fires in these states this year, the D-N-R’s state wildland fire supervisor Gail Kantak
says it’s important that Iowa has resources to send.
Kantak says they’ll bring those skills back to Iowa, which helps improve Iowa’s fire programs. Firefighters would usually mingle a lot once they arrive at their campsite, but she says that’s been a challenge because of the pandemic.
At least 40 people have signed up this year to fight wildfires outside of Iowa. Kantak says the D-N-R trains the individuals, who range from local firefighters to conservation board members to college students.
Currently, four Iowa firefighters along with an engine and a support vehicle are helping battle flames in Idaho, while one firefighter is assisting in California.
FEMA Opening Disaster Center In Marshalltown
(Marshalltown, IA). — FEMA is opening a disaster center in Marshalltown this (Tuesday) morning to continue work with the derecho recovery. Spokesman John Mills says the drive-up center will be open right behind the Marshalltown V-A clinic at 9:00 a-m and stay open until 6:00 p-m. Mills says you can use the center to drop off documents or register with FEMA. He says
your insurance is your first line of defense, but then FEMA my be able to fill some of the gaps for critical needs that insurance doesn’t cover. Mills stresses that you can call in or register with FEMA online and going to a drive-up center is simply another option now available in the two locations.
There is already one derecho disaster center open in Cedar Rapids and Mills says another may be coming to eastern Iowa.
Iowa Praises Denial Of Oil Refinary Waivers
(Des Moines, IA) — The E-P-A has announced it is rejecting dozens of oil refinery waivers that give an exemption from the requirement that ethanol can be blended into gasoline. E-P-A Administrator Andrew Wheeler said the decision follows President Trump’s promise to promote domestic biofuel production and support our nation’s farmers. Monte Shaw of the Iowa
Renewable Fuels Association says the action by the E-P-A short-circuits a blatant attempt by some oil refiners to skirt federal ethanol requirements.
He says the end result will be the number of oil refineries eligible to receive an ethanol blending waiver has been reduced to single digits.
President’s Son Campaigns In Treynor
(Treynor, IA) — Donald Trump, Junior, headlined a campaign rally in the small western Iowa town of Treynor Monday. He told the crowd of about 250 that Joe Biden is camouflage for the radical left. The president’s 42 year-old son says, “Democrats are no longer Democrats, they’re communists.” As his father did in 2016, the younger Trump has a populist message, accusing Biden of being a globalist when it comes to communist China. The president’s oldest son joked that Trump Derangement Syndrome is worse than Covid-19 and the crowd in Treynor cheered. Democrats responded to Trump’s appearance less than
20 miles from Omaha, saying no member of the Trump family has any credibility to talk honestly with voters after the president admitted to downplaying the pandemic.
US Embassy In China Confirms Ambassador Terry Branstad Is Leaving The Post
(Beijing, CN) — The U-S Department of State has confirmed that the ambassador to China, former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, is leaving his post. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo thanked Branstad for his three years of service in a tweet. While on the job in Beijing, Branstad was in the middle of negotiations that returned American beef to the Chinese market aftr 14
years. The two countries announced a deal late last year that China would buy more U-S farm products in exchange for reduced U-S tariffs. China reportedly has been slow to follow through.
State Universities Will Not Hold Spring Break
(Des Moines) — A spring tradition at the three state universities is falling victim to the pandemic.
The University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University have each announced plans to shift their spring semester calendars to start later than originally planned. The move includes canceling spring break to try and minimize concerns about students returning to campus and spreading COVID-19. The administrators at the schools in Ames, Iowa City and Cedar Falls say they are planning to hold a mix of virtual and in-person classes in the spring.
U-N-I and I-S-U altered their fall calendars to end the
fall semester the day before Thanksgiving so students would not have to go home and come back to campus again. The University of Iowa is using the regular fall calendar — but is switching to all online classes after Thanksgiving.
LifeServe Can Test For Covid Antibodies
(Des Moines, IA) — If you donate blood through LifeServe Blood Center facilities you can now also be tested for COVID-19 antibodies. LifeServe spokeswoman Danielle West says the test is looking for previous exposure to the virus from people who are now symptom-free as they want to be sure that healthy donors are coming in. The antibody tests are being done by Iowa State
University’s Research Laboratory for donors who consent. West says positive test results will be provided to the Iowa Department of Public Health for further research. That blood may also help patients afflicted with COVID-19 to recover more quickly through convalescent plasma. LifeServe has donor
centers in Ames, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Mason City, Marshalltown, Sioux City, and Urbandale. Call 800-287-4903 or visit www.lifeservebloodcenter.org.
