(Le Mars) — We now know the identities of the two men injured in Wednesday’s
gas pipeline explosion. Christopher De Rocher age 33 of Le Mars, and 28 year
old Jacob Brown of Sioux City were transported to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux
City following that gas pipeline explosion. Hospital officials say DeRocher has
been released and Brown remains in fair condition.
(Undated) — Repairs are underway for both the gas pipeline, as well as overhead
electrical power lines that were damaged as the result of Wednesday’s explosion.
Mike Loeffler is the spokesman for Northern Natural Gas, a subsidiary of
Mid-American Energy. He says the pipeline that was severed during Wednesday’s
accident was a 24 inch diameter pipeline that goes from South Sioux City,
Nebraska to Paullina, Iowa. Loeffler says despite the explosion, there was no
loss of service
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Loeffler believes repairs will be made within a few days. Cathy Shively of
Northern Iowa Power Cooperative or NIPCO says portions of central Woodbury
County were without power since their electrical highline wires were damaged,
but for only a short time.
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The NIPCO representative says work crews were on the scene yesterday and will
place additional utility poles to help strengthen the line.
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Loeffler says the explosion probably could have been avoided if only work crews
would have called 8-1-1.
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(Sioux City) — The Sioux City Police Department will be partnering with the
Drug Enforcement Administration for the National Prescription Drug take-back
program. The Sioux City Police will set up four locations on Saturday from
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The program is to provide the opportunity for Americans
to turn in their unused, unneeded, or expired prescription medications. Expired
prescription medications are a public safety issue, often leading to accidential
poisoning, overdose, and abuse. Recent EPA studies have detected pharmaceutical
drugs in varying concentrations in our nation’s water supplies as a result of
people disposing expired medications down the toilet. This is a free service
and no questions will be asked of persons turning in medication. The four
locations in Sioux City include the downtown Walgreens, Southern Hills Hy-Vee
Store, Fareway Store on War Eagle Drive, and the Floyd Blvd. Wal-Mart.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City-based maker of vinyl and aluminum windows
and doors says it is expanding its South Sioux City, Nebraska manufacturing
operations.
The Sioux City Journal reports company officials of Gerkin Windows and
Doors have announced plans to build a new facility in South Sioux City. The
company is breaking ground on land near its current 165,000-square-foot factory
built in 2004.
The new facility will allow Gerkin to increase glass production and allow
for line expansion in the existing plant.
Gerkin manufactures vinyl and aluminum window and door products.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is welcoming the U.S. Labor
Department’s decision to withdraw a much-criticized proposed rule designed to
protect children who work on farms.
Grassley released a statement Thursday evening expressing relief at the
Labor Department’s decision to abandon what he called “ridiculous regulations”
that could have hurt farm families.
In announcing it was dropping its proposed child labor rules Thursday, the
Labor Department noted it would not pursue the matter during the duration of the
Obama administration. The agency says it will work with groups such as the
American Farm Bureau Federation and FFA to reduce accidents involving young people.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A woman who raised a fuss about her missing wallet was
removed from a Des Moines-to-Chicago flight.
A Des Moines police report says the 33-year-old woman had gotten on the
United Express flight Wednesday afternoon. She soon realized her wallet was
missing.
A quick check of the plane’s restrooms turned up nothing, so the woman
began arguing with flight attendants and demanding to be let off the plane.
As the arguments escalated, the United personnel decided she should be
removed from the plane.
She was interviewed by security officials. They checked her background as a
precaution but found no reason for alarm.
Her wallet wasn’t in the Des Moines airport either. It turned in Chicago,
on the plane she’d been removed from.
Police haven’t released her name.
