Home News KLEM News AM Update October 8, 2010

KLEM News AM Update October 8, 2010

(STRUBLE)–A chain reaction-type traffic accident north of Le Mars Thursday is being investigated by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s office.

The Iowa Department of Transportation late Thursday afternoon reported Highway 75 was closed to traffic due to the multi-vehicle accident at the intersection of Highway 75 and County Road C-12, near Struble. Traffic is no longer being detoured.

The lanes of travel on Highway 75 were reduced due to road maintenance work and several vehicles were stopped near the Plymouth and Sioux County line waiting for a pilot vehicle. Witnesses say a semi struck one of the vehicles stopped on the highway which led to the other collisions.

Information is not yet available from the sheriff’s office.

One of the Gehlen Catholic Girls Volleyball coaches, Mike Meyer, was injured in the accident. Gehlen Catholic School  President,  Reverand Kevin Richter has asked for prayers for Meyer and others involved in the accident.

Red’s Printing honored for WesTel Systems project

(LE MARS)–A Le Mars business is receiving national recognition for its design and printing work for a Remsen business.

Red’s Printing Company earned first place in the large (wide) format printing category at the PrintImage Excellence Awards. Red’s Printing is one of 20 printers from across the nation receiving honors presented by the National Association for Printing Leadership and National Association of Quick Printers.

The Red’s Printing winning entry was a vehicle wrap designed, printed, laminated and installed for WesTel Systems of Remsen.

Dacia Bolton Bates of WesTel worked with Randy of Red’s Printing on a collage of color images.

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Bolton Bates of WesTel Systems said the WesTel vehicle is like a billboard that travels around every day.

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The WesTel marketing manager points out the Red’s Printing attention to detail on the project, explaining the design isn’t obstructed by hinges or handles. The Remsen business is planning another vehicle wrap.

This was the fourth consecutive year that Red’s Printing has earned national awards in the print Excellence competition. The Le Mars business began providing graphic design and printing services in 1984 and added signage, vehicle graphics and banners in 1994.

Bishop to honor school staff Sunday

(REMSEN)–Remsen St. Mary’s/St. Catherine’s and Spalding Catholic staff members will be recognized for excellence Sunday.

Sue Klein of Remsen and Sherry Nilles will be honored at the 14th annual Bishop’s Dinner for Catholic Education in Sioux City.

Klein has taught students for 28 years and is being honored with a Bishop’s Excellence in Education award. She taught sixth grade students from 1982 to 1989 and then moved into computer instruction and serves as technology coordinator. She’s coached at the Remsen Catholic school, including girls’ golf.

Klein graduated from Briar Cliff College.

Sherry Nilles will receive a Good Shepherd award which recognizes school employees who exemplify the school’s mission and excellence in education.

Nilles has been development director at Spalding catholic for 17 years and coordinates the school’s Gala. She helped begin an annual appeal to alumni and supporters in 1994, the Scrip program in 2002 and the Founders Circle in 2003.

Nilles and Klein will each receive a one-thousand dollar honorarium in recognition of their work.

The Bishop’s Dinner is a fund raiser for Catholic Education which provided nearly 100-thousand dollars for the education of 6,000 students in Catholic Schools in the Sioux City Diocese last year.

Disney on Ice to be presented in Sioux City next month

(SIOUX CITY)–A sightseeing tour through the imagination is performed next month at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City.

Disney on Ice presents “Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey” November 18th through November 21st at six performances.

Mickey, Minnie , Donald and Goofy Disney characters travel on ice to portray experiences through starry skies; an undersea kingdom; Hawaii hula and African Pride Lands.

Tickets are available starting today.

Culver, Branstad clash in Iowa gov.’s race debate

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) Democratic Gov. Chet Culver accused Republican challenger Terry Branstad of repeatedly telling lies about his record, while Branstad retorted that Culver spend so much money he plunged the state deeply into debt.

During the candidates’ second debate Thursday, Culver lobbed a series of charges, many focused on Branstad’s propensity for raising taxes when Branstad was governor from 1983 to 1999.

Branstad shot back that the state’s fragile economy speaks for itself. He said there are 114,000 people out of work in Iowa, and Culver’s policies have failed.

Branstad said the central theme of his campaign is a pledge to create 200,000 new jobs, a claim Culver dismissed.

The two rivals clashed before about 1,100 people in an auditorium at Coe College.

ISU student dies after struck by vehicle

AMES, Iowa (AP) Iowa State University says a student who police say was struck by a vehicle near the school’s football stadium after Saturday’s game has died.

University officials say 21-year-old Jonathon Arnold Brown of Ottumwa died Thursday morning. Brown was a junior and was studying computer engineering. Police say Brown was walking from Jack Trice Stadium after the football game when he was struck by a vehicle. Police said Brown had suffered injuries to his head and leg.

Brown was taken to a Des Moines hospital in critical condition.

ISU President Gregory Geoffroy  says the school will miss Brown and “a bright young mind has left us unexpectedly and all too soon.”

Sentencing delayed in Concepcion case

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) Sentencing for a Charles City teenager convicted earlier this year of killing his young cousin has been delayed.

The Globe Gazette newspaper in Mason City reports Thursday that District Court Judge Bryan McKinley granted a defense motion asking for sentencing to be continued for 15-year-old Edgar Concepcion Jr. Concepcion was found guilty as an adult in June of first-degree murder and three other charges in the death of 3-year-old Krystel Banes in 2009.

He was to be sentenced Friday but the judge continued the sentencing until an undetermined future date.

Earlier this month, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that it wouldn’t review Concepcion’s conviction.

Concepcion remains in state custody.

UI issues warning after reported sexual assault

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) The report of a sexual assault on the University of Iowa campus has prompted school officials to issue a warning.

The school said Thursday that the University of Iowa Department of University Housing and Dining received a sexual assault report from a female student. Officials say the assault was reported to have happened at Hubbard Park early Sunday and the suspect is an unknown male.

The school says it is not investigating the incident because the victim has not reported the assault to the Department of Public Safety. University police say they recommend people walk together in groups and they encourage the use of different transportation services.

Blaze strikes eastern Iowa welding shop

HAZLETON, Iowa (AP) A blaze at a welding shop in the city of Hazleton in eastern Iowa has caused part of the building’s roof to collapse and another section to partially collapse.

Fire crews from several nearby departments were on the scene of the Thursday afternoon blaze including Hazleton, Fairbank, Oelwein and Sumner/Fredericksburg, among others. KWWL-TV in Waterloo reports that there have been several small explosions from acetylene tanks inside the building.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that about two-thirds of the L-shaped welding shop was damaged by fire. The newspaper reported community members were arriving at the shop to help clear out tools and equipment.

Hazleton is about 30 miles east of Waterloo.

85 percent of Iowa flood recovery money approved

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The Rebuild Iowa Office says more than 85 percent of the disaster money allocated to the state after the historic flooding in 2008 has been approved.

The office said Thursday that the 85 percent represents $3.5 billion of the $4.1 billion promised to Iowa. Officials say money has spent on efforts like emergency housing, labor and job assistance, crisis counseling and scholarships.

The office said, for example, that 90 percent of the $56 million the Iowa Legislature approved for housing and other individual needs has been spent. Funds are still being spent on efforts like buy-outs, infrastructure and public assistance projects.

Iowa City adds more bicycle racks

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) More than 450 bicycle racks are available in Iowa City and on the University of Iowa campus.

City officials said Thursday that they’ve installed six new bicycle racks in downtown Iowa city, adding 36 more bicycle parking spaces. The city says it’s trying to live up to its designation by the League of American Bicyclists as a “Bicycle Friendly Community.”

The Bicyclists of Iowa City has sponsored two of the new bicycle racks. The city’s parking division purchased the other four new bicycle racks. The city has maps available of its bicycle parking facilities.

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

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