(Westfield) — An Allen, Nebraska man was killed on Sunday afternoon when his motorcylce lost control and hit a guard rail.
Patrick Hirshmann, age 52, was pronounced dead at the Floyd Valley Hospital in LeMars. Hirshmann was thrown from his motorcycle into a ditch. The Iowa Highway Patrol investigated the accident that occured on Highway 12 south of Westfield. Akron Fire and Rescue and the Akron ambulance assisted with that accident.
(Remsen) — The Remsen Fire Department responded to a two-vehicle accident Sunday afternoon on Highway 3. Injured were Jeremy Jensen, age 36 of Remsen, and 43 year old, Dan DeVos of Merrill and Patrick Heissel, age 46, of LeMars. Jen’s vehicle collided with the DeVos vehicle. Jensen was transported to the Orange City Community Hospital and DeVos and Heissel were transported to the Floyd Valley Hospital. No condition report is known on Jensen, but both DeVos and Heissel were treated and released. The Iowa Highway Patrol investigated the accident.
(LeMars) — You may recall earlier this month, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad set a goal to have Iowa as the healthiest state by 2016. Now, LeMars officials are organizing efforts to follow that initiative. Blue Cross – Blue Shield is a major sponsor of the Healthiest State initiative and is encouraging communities to become “blue zones”. In order to apply to become a Blue Zone community, LeMars will kick-off the goal with a “Start Somewhere Walk” scheduled for noon on October 7th. Officials are asking all LeMars residents to join in “healthiest state” goal by walking one kilometer, or a little more than a half a mile. An informational meeting is scheduled for today at 4:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers to discuss the initative and start planning the walk.
(LeMars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will hold their weekly meeting tomorrow at the county courthouse. The Supervisors are expected to review and approve advance bond refunding compliance resolution for the Internal Revenue Service. They will also decide which contractor will be awarded the bid for the courthouse parking lot project.
(DES MOINES) – Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds today announced a state partnership with Google that will assist Iowa businesses in establishing an online presence. This Google-led program, called “Iowa Get Your Business Online,” is dedicated to driving economic growth by providing local Iowa businesses the tools and resources to get online and grow and expand by providing a free and easy-to-build professional website, a free customized domain name and hosting for one year, a local business listing on Google Places, free tools, resources, and trainings.
Google has partnered with several organizations to make this endeavor possible, including the Iowa Partnership for Economic Progress, Iowa Association of Business and Industry, the Iowa Small Business Development Center, the Iowa Chamber Alliance and numerous other educational and entrepreneurial programs across the state.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State Auditor David Vaudt likes what he
sees in Iowa’s budget picture, saying the governor and Legislature
have made big progress in strengthening the state’s finances.
Speaking with reporters Monday, Vaudt noted the state still
spent about $53 million more than it took in in the current fiscal
year, making up the difference by shifting money from one-time
funding sources. He says that compared to about $600 million in
spending from one-time sources in the previous fiscal year.
Much of that funding came from the federal stimulus effort.
Vaudt is a Republican who campaigned for fellow Republican Terry
Branstad in his successful campaign for governor against Democrat
Chet Culver. Vaudt had been highly critical of previous state
budgets approved by Democrats and Culver.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Family members of a finalist for a top
Iowa Air National Guard post contributed nearly $56,000 to the
campaign of Gov. Terry Branstad last year.
Appointed by Gov. Terry Branstad, Derek Hill is administrator of
the Iowa Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. He
is one of three finalists to become deputy adjutant general of the
Iowa Air National Guard.
Hill’s wife donated nearly $6,400 and his mother-in-law donated $50,000 to the
Branstad campaign.
Branstad spokesman Tim Albrecht says donations by an individual
or a family member should not disqualify someone from serving the
state.
No state laws bar such contributions. Public records didn’t list
any political contributions from Hill to Branstad.
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