Fatal Accident Happens Near Golden Pheasant Intersection
(Le Mars) — Authorities are investigating two separate vehicle accidents that occurred last evening that happened on Highway 3. One of those accidents resulted in a fatality. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was advised of an accident on the east edge of Remsen at about 5:45 p.m. The accident happened at the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 140 near the
Golden Pheasant restaurant. A north bound passenger car failed to yield from a stop sign and pulled into the path of an east bound minivan. Three people were taken to Floyd Valley Healthcare by the Remsen Ambulance. Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office confirms that one person had died as a result of the
accident. No additional information is being released at this time until the investigation has progressed and the next of kin has been notified.
Assisting at the scene were the Remsen Fire Department, Remsen Ambulance, Remsen Police, Kingsley Police, Le Mars Police, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Motor Vehicle Enforcement, and Iowa Department of Transportation Maintenance. Immediately following the accident, Highway 3
was closed with detours in place. The accident remains under investigation by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Le Mars Police Department’s accident investigation team.
The other accident also happened on Highway 3 in Cherokee County between Remsen and Marcus involving a semi truck and a vehicle. No other information about that accident is known at this particular time.
Wild Field Fires Pose A Problem For Firefighters In Sioux County
(Orange City) — Field fires continue to be a problem for Sioux County fire departments. On Tuesday, two major field fires had occurred which had many of the Sioux County fire departments responding. Then on Wednesday afternoon, firefighters from five different communities were called again to battle another field fire that was aided by the strong winds. As a result of the numerous fires, and due to the extreme dry conditions and the strong winds of the past few days, the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office has made the request asking farmers to delay their harvest activity for a few days, at least until the winds go down. They fear the harvest may prompt additional wild fires. Sioux County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Nate Huizenga explains.
Huizenga talks about the two fires that happened on Tuesday that ended up burning several acres of cropland and came close to destroying some property buildings.
The Sheriff’s deputy reminds people that Sioux County is under a burn ban.
He says many farmers are following the request issued by the Sheriff’s office and are delaying their harvest.
Huizenga says the sheriff’s office is also asking farmers to have a tractor with tillage equipment on stand-bye in case it is needed to assist with extinguishing a field fire. He says for Tuesday’s fires, at least ten different farmers had assisted firefighters.
Le Mars Community Celebrates Homecoming With Some Changes
(Le Mars) — This week, Le Mars Community High School is celebrating Homecoming Week. However, due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, some of the more traditional events associated with Homecoming have either been cancelled or changed. Nancy Isebrand serves as the faculty sponsor of the Le
Mars Community High School Student Union which oversees the Bulldog Homecoming activities. Isebrand says school officials made the decision to cancel the Homecoming parade, and the afternoon pep rally. Other changes involve the coronation of the Homecoming King and Queen.
Isebrand says the crowning of the Homecoming king and queen will actually occur immediately following the Friday night game.
Isebrand lists the names of those seniors selected as the Homecoming court:
The Le Mars Community Bulldogs will face the Storm Lake Tornadoes as their Homecoming opponent. Isebrand says even though the COVID-19 virus has interrupted the traditional events, she says school officials are adapting and creating new school traditions.
Isebrand says as part of the Homecoming week’s celebration, students are dressed as a health care worker, or their favorite hero, and on Friday, of course it is red and black day.
Governor Reynolds To Visit Le Mars On Friday
(Des Moines) — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will be visiting Le Mars on Friday. The governor’s office announced through their public schedule that Reynolds along with Lt. Governor Adam Gregg will make a stop at Floyd Valley Healthcare on Friday morning to visit with the officials at the TestIowa
clinic. The TestIowa clinic has been in operation for nearly a month at the Floyd Valley facilities. Earlier this week, Governor Reynolds had announced during her news conference that both the Orange City Health Systems and Sioux Center Health Center would also be starting a TestIowa COVID-19 testing
sites. During the past few weeks, northwest Iowa has had the highest positivity percentage of COVID-19.
State To End Year With Budget Surplus
(Des Moines, IA) Governor Kim Reynolds announced today (Wednesday) that the State of Iowa will end Fiscal Year 2020 with a balance of 305-point-five million dollars in the general fund. The governor issues a statement saying “The actions we have taken this year will help Iowa emerge from this
unprecedented pandemic stronger than ever before. Going forward, we will continue to invest responsibly in Iowans’ priorities and remain mindful of the potential challenges that still lie ahead.” The fiscal year ended June 30th — but the books are not closed until September 30th. This year’s budget
surplus is 16 million dollars more than the last fiscal year.
Baby Girl Turned Over Under Safe Haven Law
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Department of Human Services says a baby has been turned over to the state under the Safe Haven procedure. D-H-S says the baby girl was born on September 13th — but other details are not being
released to protect the parents’ identity. Parents can leave infants who are 30 days old or younger at a hospital or health care facility without fear of prosecution for abandonment. This is the 45th time a child has been turned over to the state since the law went into effect in 2001.
Senator Ernst Talks About Supreme Court Nominee
(Washington, DC) — Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says President Trump’s nominee for a vacancy on the U-S Supreme Court will be a role model for women and their daughters. Ernst joined six other Republican Senators — all women — at a news conference in Washington, D-C Wednesday to talk about Amy Coney
Barrett. Ernst has previously focused her public remarks on the Senate’s confirmation process. Barrett, who is currently a federal judge, is the mother of seven children. She will replace Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who Ernst has described as a trailblazer for working moms.
Lottery Opening Up In Person Prize Redemption
(Clive, IA) — The Iowa Lottery is opening the doors back up today (Thursday) to allow you to cash winning tickets in person. Lottery spokesperson, Mary Neubauer says they’ve been working to make it safe. with additional protective glass or plexiglass up at the customer service counters, hand sanitizing stations and floor decals for social distancing. Staff will wear masks when interacting with the public and she says they strongly encourage
visitors to also wear masks. Neubauer says this is phase three of the ticket claim adjustments. They started by requiring winners to mail-in tickets or leave them at a secure drop box outside the lottery offices. The second phase instituted a curbside process where Lottery employees would come to the parking lot to get tickets from customers.
Disaster Center To Open In Tama
(Tama, IA) — FEMA will open a Disaster Recovery Center at the Meskwaki Casino R-V Park near Tama on Monday to give survivors from the August 10th derecho options to submit documents for their disaster assistance application. The center will be open for a limited time and close on Saturday, October 10th. The center will be drive-through only and participants are asked to stay in their vehicles when visiting. You do not
have to visit a center to submit documents to FEMA — you can mail, fax, or submit them online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
