Home News Thursday News, October 8th

Thursday News, October 8th

Dean Foods Now To Become Kemps

SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Oct. 7, 2020) – Kemps®, a well-known Midwestern dairy processor, today announced that the milk processing facility, located at 1188 Lincoln Street SW in Le Mars, Iowa, is transitioning to become a part of the Kemps family.
Kemps has been nourishing families throughout the upper Midwest with wholesome dairy products for more than 100 years. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a farmer-owned dairy cooperative, Kemps products also help support local dairy farm families.
“Kemps has always been about bringing goodness — in the products that we produce and the communities that we serve,” said Greg Kurr, chief executive officer of Kemps. “We’re thrilled to introduce our line of great-tasting products to consumers and retailers throughout Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas City.”
The Le Mars facility, which currently employs more than 200 people, produces fluid milk, cottage cheese, cream, dips, fruit juices, ice cream mix and sour cream. Additionally, the current
management team will continue to handle the plant’s day-to-day operations, and all employees will retain their current positions.

 

 

 

Law Enforcement Officials Involved In High Speed Chase

(Le Mars) — Authorities from three different counties, and multiple law enforcement agencies participated in a high-speed chase that happened during the early morning hours of Wednesday. The incident started at about 1:30 a.m. when Sioux City Police lost sight of a vehicle heading north into Plymouth County on county road K-22 near the C-80 intersection. A few mintues later, a Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputy saw a vehicle that matched the description of the vehicle in question heading north on county road K-22. Before the deputy was able to turn around, the suspect vehicle accelerated. The deputy gave chase to the vehicle, and at times the vehicle was traveling at speeds of 100 to 110 mph. At the south intersection of K-22 and Highway 3, another deputy was able to successfully deploy stop sticks and deflate the left front tire on the suspect vehicle. The vehicle continued heading north on K-22 trying to elude deputies. Ultimately, the suspect vehicle drove into a ditch near the Highway 10 and K-22 intersection in Sioux County. The driver has been identified as 35-year old, Russell Camp of Minnesota. He was taken into custody without further incident. Camp was taken to the Plymouth County Jail where he was booked for possession of a stolen motor vehicle, felony eluding, O-W-I drugged, speeding, no valid driver’s license, and no insurance. Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Hawarden Police Department, Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, Ireton Ambulance, and Ireton Fire and Rescue Department. Camp is being held on a $10,000 bond at the Plymouth County Jail.

 

 

 

Kingsley Dead Woman Now Identified

(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the victim in a suspicious death investigation involving a Kingsley woman. Claudia Ferguson, age 54, of Kingsley was found dead on Monday, October 5th. Her body was taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny for an autopsy surrounding her death. When emergency officials arrived at Ferguson’s residence on Monday morning, they concluded that the death was suspicious and additional investigation was warranted.

 

 

 

City Council Approve Construction Of Cleveland Park Restroom Facilities

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars city council held a public hearing regarding the Cleveland Park proposed new restroom facilities. Following the hearing, the city council approved to proceed with the acceptance of bids and the construction of the estimated $90,000 facility. Bids will be accepted from now until October 29th with the opening of the bids scheduled at 10:00 a.m. The awarding of the construction contract will take place on November 3rd. Construction is projected to begin on or around May 1st of 2021 with construction completed by June 30th.

 

 

 

Iowa Hospitals Show Record Number Of COVID-19 Patients

(Des Moines) — Iowa’s hospitals are reporting the highest numbers of COVID-19 patients since the pandemic began in late February. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds addressed the issue during her Wednesday morning news conference.

Reynolds says although all age groups are seeing an increase of COVID-19 cases, it is generally the older age demographic that are needing hospitalization as a result of the COVID-19 virus. She says Iowa’s hospitals have been able to handle and manage the increase number of patients.

Reynolds then praised the healthcare professionals that are on the front lines of fighting the COVID-19 virus.

It was just last Friday when Governor Reynolds was in Le Mars to visit with Floyd Valley Healthcare officials about the coronavirus. Floyd Valley officials wouldn’t give a specific number of the COVID-19 patients they currently have at the local hospital, only to say they have treated patients in the emergency care, as well as walk-ins in-patient care.

 

 

 

Microsoft Plans 2 More Data Centers For West Des Moines

(West Des Moines, IA) — West Des Moines city officials say Microsoft is planning to build two more data centers there. If approved by the city council, they could be in operation by 2022. That would give the city a total of five data centers being run by the tech giant. Each new data center would mean between 50 and 75 additional jobs for the local economy. West Des Moines economic development director Clyde Evans says they would be constructed on the outskirts of the city.

 

 

 

Iowa Woman Convicted Of 1993 Murder Granted Work Release

(Waterloo, IA) — When she stabbed an elderly woman to death in 1993 Ruthann Veal was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Veal was granted work release Tuesday after an interview with the Iowa Board of Parole. She was a 14-year-old runaway from Mason City when she was charged as an adult for murdering 66-year-old Catherine Haynes in Waterloo. The U-S Supreme Court ruled nearly a couple of decades later that sentencing juveniles to life without parole was unconstitutional. Veal was resentenced in 2013.

 

 

 

Poll Shows Biden Pulling Ahead In Iowa

(Des Moines, IA) — Former vice president Joe Biden is pulling ahead of President Trump in a poll of likely Iowa voters. Quinnipiac University conducted the poll in the state October 1st through the 5th. It shows Biden leading the incumbent by five points, 45-to-40 percent. Democrats back Biden 98-to-two percent and Republicans back Trump 91-to-six percent. Biden does have a slim edge among independents. The same poll shows Democratic U-S Senate candidate Theresa Greenfield is ahead of Republican incumbent Senator Joni Ernst by the same 50-to-45 percent margin.

 

 

 

Eldora Farmer Dies When Buried Under Several Feet Of Grain

(Eldora, IA) — Investigators with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office say they’re not sure how the door on a grain bin opened Wednesday afternoon and piled several feet of grain on a farmer. Seventy-nine-year-old Kennerly Reece was working on his farm at about 12:30 p-m when the accident happened. At one point, Sheriff Dave McDaniel says the Eldora farmer was buried under about seven feet of grain. That would be several hundred bushels.