Home News KLEM News Update Sept. 4, 2010

KLEM News Update Sept. 4, 2010

(LE MARS)–Le Mars area residents know how to give the gift of life.

Mary Kovarna of Siouxland Community Blood Bank says double the expected number of donors went to the the mobile drive at Floyd Valley Hospital this week.

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The blood bank is making an urgent appeal for donors due to the Labor Day holiday.

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Kovarna offers these options for those who weren’t able to donate Thursday.

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The Siouxland Community Blood Bank is now a subsidiary of LifeServe Blood Center. 

 Energy efficiency is city priority

(LE MARS)–Improving the energy efficiency of a city of Le Mars operation is one idea a city official is asking state officials to consider.

A 24-hour a day operation for the city is treating wastewater. For many decades excess methane produced in the treatment process been reused at the plant. The methane powers a boiler that heats the contents of the anaerobic digester because the higher temperature improves the treatment’s function.

City administrator Scott Langel says not all the methane is needed, so the city burns the rest off.

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There are several technologies to do that, but Langel says the city would need funding to evaluate and implement them.

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The methane concept is one submitted by the city of Le Mars at a public meeting to gather ideas for the state’s next energy plan.

Hog theft arrests made in Lyon County

(ROCK RAPIDS)–Lyon County authorities report the help of concerned citizens led to the arrest of two people for livestock theft.

The sheriff’s office received a report about two o’clock Wednesday morning of a hog theft in progress northwest of Little Rock.

Authorities stopped a vehicle and arrested the driver, 23-year-old Eric Freihage of Logan, on charges of possession of burglary tools; felony burglary in the third degree; driving while his license was revoked; and possession of marijuana. He also was issued four traffic citations.

A passenger, 20-year-old Jonathan Charles Wensel of Pisgah, was charged with felony burglary in the third degree and possession of burglary tools.

Wensel is free on bond, but Freihage is in the Lyon County Jail.

The Lyon County Sheriff’s office issued written information that the investigation is still ongoing and involves numerous agencies with more charges expected.

 Paper recycling in Le Mars, Remsen today

(LE MARS)–Today (Saturday) is a day to recycle paper for school projects in Le Mars and Remsen.

For Le Mars Community Elementary Schools paper recycling project, paper may be dropped off at O’Toole Park in Le Mars from 8-10 a-m. Other pickup sites are at the Struble, Craig , and the Brunsville Bank corners.

The Remsen-Union Family Connection and St. Mary’s School Board collect paper from 8-11 a.m. at the Marion Street permanent location.

The Gehlen Catholic Catholic can drive is also today.

Plymouth County jurors must report Tuesday

(LE MARS)–Plymouth County jurors will need to report for jury duty on Tuesday.

Jurors are asked to go to the third floor of the Plymouth County Courthouse and check in no later than 8:30 at the Clerk of Court’s office.

Child recovers from dog bite

(SIOUX CITY)–A dog that bit a 19-month-old child in Sioux City  has been declared vicious.

According to information released Friday by the Sioux City Police Department, the investigation by police did not identify any criminal activity and the investigation is closed.

The child, Samuel Vandonslear of Sioux City, wandered into a neighbor’s yard and was bitten by a dog chained to a tree.

The child was hospitalized after the dog bites August 25th and has been released from St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Sioux City.

Siouxland senator can’t serve in two offices

WAYNE, Neb. (AP) A Siouxland state senator will have to step down if he wants to become Dakota County treasurer.

Robert Giese, of South Sioux City, is running unopposed for the county position in the November election, so it’s likely he’ll be elected. But Associated Press reports Giese’s legislative term continues through January 2013, and state law prohibits him from holding both elected offices.

If Giese steps down as state senator, the governor would then appoint a replacement.

(Copyright 2010 by Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Officials ID Ohio pilot killed in Iowa plane crash

BOONE, Iowa (AP) Authorities have released the name of a pilot from Ohio who was killed in the crash of a small plane towing an advertising banner near the Farm Progress Show in central Iowa.

Boone County Sheriff Ron Fehr  said Friday that 24-year-old Adam Danhauer of Whitehouse, Ohio, died when the plane crashed into a corn field near Boone.

Danhauer was the only one on the plane. No one on the ground was hurt.

The crash happened Thursday morning minutes after the plane took off from the nearby Boone airport.

After the crash, Fehr says witnesses told him the plane was having problems gaining altitude and the banner was “flipping while he was flying.” The banner ended up several hundred feet north of the crash site.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

State board sets conditions for Perry chiropractor

PERRY, Iowa (AP) A state board says a Perry chiropractor accused of assaulting one of his patients may continue to practice but must have a female chaperone when he treats women.

Daniel Duffy was charged with misdemeanor assault last month after a female patient told police she heard him acting inappropriately, including unzipping his pants.

Duffy, who is free on bond, continues to see patients.

The Des Moines Register says the Iowa Board of Chiropractic ruled Thursday that Duffy’s continued practice “poses a serious and immediate danger” to his female patients. The board says it will impose interim safeguards until it can reach a final decision on the case against him.

The newspaper says Duffy has declined to comment on the advice of his attorney.

Iowa announces program to recoup court fines, fees

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Iowa is trying to collect old court fines and fees with a deal for thousands of Iowans who owe the state a total of about $300 million.

According to WHO-AM, there are 217,000 people who owe court fines and fees that are past due by at least four years.

Under a new amnesty program, if they pay 50 percent of their overdue debt in one lump sum, the other half will be forgiven.

Roger Stirler of the state revenue department says letters are going out this month in an effort to recoup some of the money.

He says there are some fines and fees that aren’t eligible, including victim restitution, child support, alimony, jail fees and fines payable to cities and counties.

The program runs through the end of November.

ISU carillon lets Lady Gaga hit chime over campus

AMES, Iowa (AP) An Iowa State University music professor says the Lady Gaga club anthem “Bad Romance” translates better than you might think into the 110-foot-tall, organ-like instrument known as a carillon.

Video of the pop hit chiming across Iowa State’s Ames campus has racked up hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. The Des Moines Register reported Friday that professor Tin-Shi Tam (TIN’-she TAM) played it a week earlier after students started requesting it over the summer.

Tam gives daily lunchtime performances on the carillon during the school year, mostly folk songs and traditional arrangements. She sets aside Fridays for requests, and said some other recent favorites have been Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

The carillon has towered over the Iowa State campus since 1898.

Drake’s new “D+” campaign earns failing grade

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Drake University’s new marketing campaign that features a “D+” logo is getting a failing grade from some faculty, students and alumni.

They say it’s offensive and embarrassing and tarnishes the university’s reputation.

Leaders at the Des Moines school say regardless of how people react, they are reacting and that’s what they wanted to accomplish.

The Des Moines Register reported Friday that Drake hired a Cedar Rapids-based company to help develop the new “Drake Advantage” recruitment campaign. The university recently unveiled it to prospective students through brochures and its website.

Drake spokesman Tom Delahunt says while the “D+” comes across as a grade at first glance, it’s meant to represent all the opportunities Drake offers students.

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

 

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