Home News KLEM News PM Update June 10, 2010

KLEM News PM Update June 10, 2010

(HINTON)–A fire at a cellular tower site just west of Hinton was caused by a propane leak.

Hinton Fire Chief Chad Beck says the fire call about 8:30 Wednesday night included assistance from Merrill Firefighters.

According to Beck, the explosion and fire at the Verizon Cellular tower site on county road C-60, just west of Hinton, were caused by a propane leak from the backup generator.

The equipment building at the base of the tower was destroyed. Damage is roughly estimated at 750-thousand dollars.

(LE MARS)–Ice Cream Days events are being supported with funds from the Le Mars Hotel-Motel Sales Tax.

The city council awarded $8,775 recommended by the advisory board for Le Mars Hotel-Motel Sales Tax.

Funds will be used for entertainment, the outdoor movie and the parade.

Ice Cream Days, four days of fun, June 16-19th bring out-of-town visitors and former residents toLe Mars. Many families plan activities at the time of the community celebration.

Activities showcase parks, the Olson Cultural Event Center, businesses and the museum.

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(SIOUX CITY)–Bike riders will help displaced homemakers and limited income families this weekend.

The Fifth Annual “Wheeling for Woman Aware” bicycle ride is at the Adams Nature Preserve at North Sioux City. The event Saturday begins with check-in and departure between 7:30 and 9 a-m.

The three routes are ride-at-your-own pace. Riders may choose from a 20-mile loop to Jefferson, South Dakota; a 35-mile loop to Elk Point or a 50-mile loop to Burbank. The fund raiser also features a family friendly ride of seven-and-a-half mile within the Adams Nature preserve .

(SPENCER)–Four people are charged in Clay County after a search of a Spencer apartment.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, Spencer Police and Third Judicial District Probation officer searched the apartment of Jaykie Harrington.

Authorities charged the 20-year-old Harrington with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and promoting a gathering where illegal drugs are consumed.

Twenty-year-old Paul Davis was charged with felony delivery of marijuana. Twenty-four-year-old Anthony Knapp is charged with possession of marijuana and 21-year-old Scott Riley is charged with possesion of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.

Harrington, Davis, Knapp and Riley were taken to the Clay County Jail.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) The University of Iowa is bracing for a housing crunch with a record number of freshmen this fall.

To meet the housing needs, the university is considering leasing private apartments.

University officials told the Iowa Board of Regents at Wednesday’s meeting in Vinton that it expects a freshman class of nearly 4,500 students, mostly due to an increase in out-of state and international students.

The university presented plans for a new residence hall, but that won’t be ready until 2013. In the meantime, officials are negotiating to lease private apartments that would be used by upperclassmen.

University spokesman Tom Rocklin says the apartments would be run like a residence hall, with programming and dining plans.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The Iowa Board of Regents has approved a more than $4 billion dollar budget for next year, but several members are voicing concerns over variations in retirement contributions at the state’s three public universities.

Earlier this year, the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa cut retirement contributions from 10 to 8 percent as part of budget cuts.

Iowa kept its retirement funding at 8 percent for the fiscal year that begins in July. Iowa State boosted contributions to 10 percent, while UNI increased funding to 9 percent.

At Wednesday’s meeting in Vinton, regent Michael Gartner called it a “bad policy.”

Regents President David Miles says it’s a consequence of each university president adjusting to difficult financial circumstances.

MILES, Iowa (AP) Authorities say an Illinois teenager was killed when his all-terrain vehicle collided with a car in eastern Iowa.

The Iowa State Patrol says 18-year-old Timothy Fosdick, of Savanna, Ill., died in the accident Tuesday evening near Miles in Jackson County The driver of the car was not hurt.

The patrol says Fosdick was riding the ATV south on a road and collided head-on with northbound car.

Both vehicles went into a ditch, where the ATV caught on fire.

The investigation continues into what caused the two vehicles to collide.

GRANGER, Iowa (AP) Some residents of Granger are having a temperature tantrum over the city’s plans to repaint its “hot” and “cold” water towers.

The towers have been labeled for about 30 years. They may have been painted a joke, but now residents say they represent the town.

Last month, the City Council decided to repaint the towers with a new city logo. About 160 residents signed a petition to overturn the council’s decision.

About 40 residents showed up at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting to ask the council to save the words.

The council agreed to consider a design incorporating the new logo and “hot” and “cold.” The council will meet again on Monday.

Granger, which has about 1,000 residents, is about 25 miles northwest of Des Moines.

DUNKERTON, Iowa (AP) The National Transportation Board says the cause of 2009 crop duster accident near Dunkerton is undetermined.

The Air Tractor lost power and was forced to land in a cornfield about 10 minutes after take off on Aug. 4. The pilot was not injured.

The NTSB says the accident happened because the engine lost power for undetermined reasons.

After the crash, investigators inspected the plane and found nothing unusual with its fuel system. The engine was sent for inspection by its Czech manufacturer, who found no failures.

The NTSB says in a probable cause report that an examination showed “no anomalies” and the reason for the loss of power was not determined.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) A statue in Omaha will be dedicated to four Boy Scouts two years after their deaths in a tornado at their western Iowa camp.

The Boy Scouts of America, Mid-America Council will hold a ceremony Friday at the Durham Scout Center to honor the boys and others who were at Little Sioux Scout Ranch on June 11, 2008. The camp is near Little Sioux, Iowa, about 40 miles north of Omaha.

Killed in the storm were 14-year-old Aaron Eilerts of Eagle Grove, Iowa; and three boys from Omaha, 13-year-olds Josh Fennen and Sam Thomsen and 14-year-old Ben Petrzilka. Forty-eight others were hurt.

A permanent memorial for the boys is planned at the camp. US

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) President Barack Obama has nominated Dubuque County Sheriff Kenneth Runde to be U.S. marshal for the Northern District of Iowa.

Obama made the nomination to the Iowa position and six other districts Wednesday.

Runde served in the Marine Corps from 1972 to 1976, when he joined the sheriff’s office. He rose through the ranks to reach his current position.

He holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville and the University of Dubuque.

The Northern District of Iowa is based in Cedar Rapids.

The nomination must before the U.S. Senate for confirmation.

CLARINDA, Iowa (AP) The children of big band leader Glenn Miller are expected to attend the grand opening of the Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum in Clarinda.

Steve and Jonnie Miller plan to join in events Thursday afternoon to mark the $1 million museum. It includes a theater, research library and display area that tells the story of Miller, who was born in Clarinda in 1904.

His orchestra became the nation’s most popular swing band in the 1940s. Miller was aboard a plan that disappeared over the English Channel in 1944.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) Members of two Iowa fire departments are teaming up to help put together kits of supplies for families affected by fires.

The Cedar Rapids Fire Department and Marion Fire Department say they’re partnering with members of the Juvenile Fire Setter Coalition to make the “after-fire” kits. The kits include essentials like toiletries, telephone calling cards, gift certificates, toys and diapers.

The kits are to be donated to the Salvation Army so the charity can distribute them to victims of fires. The kits also will include information for families about starting the recovery process.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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