Home News KLEM News PM Update Sept. 8, 2010

KLEM News PM Update Sept. 8, 2010

(LE MARS)–Le Mars Sprint Triathlon numbers could pass 200 participants this Saturday.

Todd Lancaster of the City of Le Mars Y-M-C-A says the number is up from about 170 for last year’s triathlon which brought competitors from seven states. Lancaster told the Le Mars City Council Tuesday that the event includes a 5K run through southeast Le Mars.

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The Le Mars Outdoor Pool parking lot is the transition area between the events.

The 15-mile out-and-back bike ride is east of Le Mars on county roads C-30 and K-64. According to Lancaster, the Le Mars Y-M-C-A is still in need of 30-40 volunteers to help with the Sprint Triathlon.

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Jobs include set-up and take down of tables and chairs for lunch, directing traffic and participants , handling signs on the route as well as helping in the transition

ICON Ag agreement approved by county officials

(LE MARS)–A development agreement with an expanding Le Mars business has been approved by Plymouth County supervisors.

The board took the unanimous action Tuesday on the agreement with ICON Ag Solutions, a John Deere dealership, the city and the county.

Supervisors confirmed with auditor Stacey Feldman that the numbers she needed were in the agreement.

ICON Ag Solutions agreed to a minimum assessed value when construction is complete of one-point-three-million dollars.

Economic development tax rebates payments for ICON for five years are not to exceed 100-thousand dollars.

The business, which will be located at 1850 Key Avenue Southwest, agrees to employ a minimum of 16 employees. The new location will provide office, retail and equipment service space. Construction is to be final prior to the end of June of next year.

Pierson man dies near Smithland

(SIOUXLAND)—THE WOODBURY COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO TWO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS THAT KILLED ONE PERSON AND SERIOUSLY INJURED ANOTHER IN SEPERATE MISHAPS OVER THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
A PIERSON MAN, 60 YEAR-OLD GARY RIORDAN (rye-er-done) WAS KILLED WHEN THE MOTORCYLE HE WAS DRIVING WENT OUT CONTROL SUNDAY ON HIGHWAY 1-41 NORTHEAST OF SMITHLAND AND LANDED IN A FARM FIELD. RIORDAN (rye-er-done) WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT A SIOUX CITY HOSPITAL.
MEANWHILE, A CHEROKEE WOMAN SUSTAINED WHAT ARE DESCRIBED AS SERIOUS INJURIES WHEN THE CAR SHE WAS DRIVING ROLLED OVER ON HIGHWAY 31, TWO MILES NORTH OF SMITHLAND. OFFICIALS IDENTIFY THE WOMAN AS 27 YEAR-OLD KARRIE OLSON. OLSON WAS LIFE-FLIGHTED TO MERCY MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT OF INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE ACCIDENT.
BOTH CRASHES REMAIN UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE. (News report by Josie Cooper, KSCJ News, Powell Broadcasting, Sioux City).

Highway 59 work planned this month

(CHEROKEE)–Changes in traffic patterns are being made for motorists on Highway 59 in two areas.

The Iowa Department of Transportation reports the road maintenance work will require land and width limit restrictions.

Highway 59 between Highway 30, near Denison and Ida County Road D-54, near Schleswig will be reduced to one lane until the end of this month. The work began today (Wednesday).

Highway 59 between Highway 175, near Ida Grove and Highway 20 near Holstein, will be reduced to one lane beginning next Tuesday (Sept. 14th) and continuing until the end of the month.

Motorists will be assisted by flaggers and pilot cars in the road work zones.

Former NM gov is little known but has big ideas

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson may not be well-known nationally, but he’s considering a run for president.

Last week, the two-term Republican governor made his second trip to Iowa. He’s visited New Hampshire four times.

Both states are key to presidential candidates because they kick off the nominating process.

Johnson acknowledges he’s little known but says his libertarian views could be what voters are seeking.

He wants to cut taxes and slash spending, including reductions to Medicare and Medicaid. He also supports legalizing marijuana and allowing civil unions for gays and lesbians.

Johnson says politicians don’t understand the depth of voter anger that has given radically different candidate a chance of winning. IOWA-TODDLER DEATH

Sentencing delayed for Iowan in child’s death

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) Sentencing is delayed for a Cedar Rapids woman accused in the 2008 death of her 2-year-old daughter.

Brianna Volesky pleaded guilty in January to child neglect and involuntary manslaughter in the death of her daughter, Skylar Inman.

KCRG-TV reports sentencing was continued Tuesday in Linn County District Court until Oct. 21. Volesky faces up to 15 years in prison.

Volesky’s former boyfriend, Lee Muldoon, of Coggon, was charged with first-degree murder in the girl’s death. He pleaded guilty last month to involuntary manslaughter and child neglect.

Iowa teen injured when ATV goes off cliff

DENMARK, Iowa (AP) Authorities say a southeast Iowa teenager was injured when his all-terrain vehicle went off a cliff at a quarry and tumbled nearly 200 feet.

The Lee County sheriff’s office told The Hawk Eye that 16-year-old Jacob Tungate, of West Point, was riding the ATV with a group late Sunday at the quarry near Denmark and got too close to the cliff and fell off.

Tungate was flown to Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Ill. A telephone call to the hospital on Wednesday was not immediately returned.

Des Moines groups favors downtown train depot

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A Des Moines group favors restoring the old Rock Island Lines’ depot in downtown Des Moines if passenger railroad service between Des Moines and Chicago happens.

The Des Moines Register says the Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization looked at six potential sites. Five were in downtown, with another in West Des Moines’ Valley Junction.

In a report Tuesday, the group concluded that the century-old Rock Island depot is the best spot for passengers. The depot is now for sale.

Plans for re-establishing the historic depot as a train station are tied to a push by Iowa and Illinois transportation officials to resume passenger service between Chicago and Omaha.

Dubuque considers paper or plastic

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) Shoppers in Dubuque may not have a choice between paper or plastic anymore.

The City Council is considering banning plastic shopping bags in the city by 2014. The recommendation is from the Environmental Stewardship Committee.

The Telegraph Herald says the council on Tuesday voted 6-1 to forward the issue to city staff for further review.

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

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