Head-on Accident Occurs In Alley Near Olson Cultural Events Center
(Le Mars) — Shortly before 2:30 Tuesday afternoon, a head-on collision occurred in the alley between the Blue Tequia Mexican restaurant and the Olson Cultural Events Center. Three vehicles were involved leaving a couple of minor injuries. Le Mars Police Assistant Chief Justin Daale explains what had happened with the accident.
The injured parties were transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare by the Le Mars Ambulance Service. Daale says the injuries were thought to be minor.
Assistant Police Chief Daale says speed was a factor with the accident.
The two vehicles then slid into a parked vehicle doing some damage to the third vehicle’s door. Both the pickup truck and the vehicles ended on the lawn of the Olson Cultural Events Center. Responding to the accident were the Le Mars Police Department, Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Le Mars Ambulance Services, and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.
Sioux County Issues A Burn Ban
(Orange City) — Sioux County has issued a burn ban effective immediately.
On Tuesday, the fire chiefs representing the various fire departments within Sioux County requested the State Fire Marshal to prohibit open burning in Sioux County. The State Fire Marshal determined that conditions are such that open burning would constitute a danger to life and property. The order
was issued as of Wednesday morning at 6:00 a.m. No person in Sioux County shall engage in open burning until such time as conditions dangerous to life and property no longer exists.
Sioux Center, Orange City, And Sioux County Share Award For Regional Airport
(Sioux Center) — The City of Sioux Center, along with the City of Orange City and Sioux County, has been awarded an international honor for collaborative efforts to create the Sioux County Regional Airport. The project is receiving a 2020 Program Excellence Award from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
The ICMA annually presents program excellence awards to local governments and their chief administrators in recognition of visionary and successful programs. Sioux Center is being honored with a Community Partnership Program Excellence Award. This honor recognizes innovation, excellence,
and success in partnerships among a local government and other governmental entities, private sector businesses, individuals, or nonprofit agencies to improve quality of life for residents or provide more efficient and effective services.
The new Sioux County Regional Airport, built midway between Sioux Center and Orange City, is a testament to two decades of partnership and a vision for economic strength for the region, according to Sioux Center City Manager Scott Wynja.
The Sioux County Regional Airport opened more than a year ago and serves multiple jets each week, frequent charter flights and heavy agricultural usage. Business jets that previously had to fly into Sioux Falls or other airports now are able to land on the regional airport’s 5,500-foot runway and can use it in all weather, using instrument landing approaches. The airport’s
maintenance and inspection services and pilot/flight training are in high demand. In addition, multiple businesses are based on the airfield.
Sioux Center To Hold Ribbon Cutting Ceremony For New Wastewater Treatment Facility
(Sioux Center) — A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held today, Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 3 p.m. at the new $25 million Wastewater Treatment Facility in Sioux Center. This event marks the completion of the new plant, which meets new, and more stringent DNR standards and has replaced Sioux Center’s aging
plant. The new facility employs different methods that allow it to treat the water to a higher standard and produce a cleaner effluent than the previous plant. It can treat an average of 2 million gallons daily and serves more than 2,500 residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Farming Ranks As The Most Dangerous Occupation
(Le Mars) — Farming ranks as one of the most dangerous occupations when you look at the number of serious injuries and deaths per every 100,000 people.
This week is National Farm Safety Week and Chuck Schwab is the farm safety specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Schwab says not only is farming one of the most dangerous jobs, it towers over anything else in comparison including mining, construction, and manufacturing jobs.
Schwab says there is no other occupation that even comes close to the numbers of deaths and injuries presented in farming and agriculture.
Schwab says one of the reasons for the high death rate is because of the wide age range with those associated with farming. He says it is not uncommon to hear of young children all the way up to elderly senior citizens fall victim
to death or a serious injury from a farming related accident.
The Iowa State University Farm Safety Specialist says with older people involved in accidents tend to not have as quick as reaction time, or they may be slower, and also may lose their balance easier. All this week, we will continue this series of reports examining farm safety.
Man Accused Of Killing Fort Dodge Pastor Will Use Insanity Defense
(Fort Dodge, IA) — The attorney for the man accused of killing a Fort Dodge pastor last year says he will use the insanity defense. Joshua Pendleton faces a charge of first-degree murder. Investigators say Pastor Allen Henderson of St. Paul Lutheran Church was found unresponsive outside the church building. Henderson had served as the longtime chaplain for Webster County public safety agencies and first responders. Pendleton was placed in a mental health facility after a judge ruled he was suffering from a mental disorder.
Auditor: Governor’s Appointment Violated State Law
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa’s state auditor says Governor Kim Reynolds violated state statutes when she appointed Beth Skinner director of the Department of Corrections last year. Skinner replaced retiring interim director Dan Craig and her appointment was approved in February. Auditor Rob
Sand says Iowa law requires the state Board of Corrections to give the governor a list of qualified individuals when there is a vacancy. Sand says that didn’t happen this time. It’s possible no corrective action will be taken.
Pork Processing Plant Says It’s Made Changes After Failing Inspection
(Ottumwa, IA) — A pork processing plant in Ottumwa says it has made changes after failing an inspection earlier this month. While on the property September 1st, a U-S-D-A inspector spotted a conscious pig suffering in the slaughterhouse. The pig was hanging upside down when the regulator saw it squeal and struggle just before it was moved into a tank of scalding
water. The federal agency says J-B-S U-S-A had failed to stun the animal properly, violating the law. Plant managers say they have increased sensibility audits, conducted animal handling audits, stepped up monitoring and added more training and education for team members.
517 New COVID-19 Cases in Iowa, 19 Additional Deaths
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Department of Public Health is reporting 517 new positive tests for COVID-19, increasing the state’s total to 81-thousand-150 cases. Nineteen more Iowans have died of coronavirus complications which brings the death toll to one-thousand-285. Two-hundred-85 people are hospitalized with COVID, 72 patients are in intensive care
units and 34 are on ventilators. Ten Iowa counties have a 14-day average positivity rate over 15 percent: Sioux, Lyon, Osceola, Crawford, Plymouth, Sac, Henry, Ida, Winnebago and Woodbury. Nearly 745-thousand COVID tests have been done in the state since the pandemic began.
