Train Collides With Semi Truck and Trailer
(Le Mars) — A semi truck and trailer collided with a north bound Union Pacific Train Wednesday afternoon at Le Mars. The accident happened at 18th Street Southwest and Highway 75. It doesn’t appear there were any injuries involved with the collision as the back of the trailer came into contact with the train. The truck, owned by Westside Transport of Cedar Rapids was hauling bales of cardboard waste. The train consisted of grain cars. The truck ws attempting to cross the railroad tracks, when it appears to have yielded to north bound traffic on Highway 75, leaving the trailer to remain on the tracks when the train hit it. The Le Mars Police Department and Union Pacific rail officials are investigating the accident.
Le Mars City Council Discusses Madison Avenue Water Line
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council has approved the date of September 4th at 12:00 noon as the date and time for a public hearing regarding the extension of a water main on Madison Avenue. The area that will be served by the city as a result of the water main extension are the properties north of the interchange of Highway 60 and Highway 75. Currently, Fedders Marine and RV has indicated an interest in moving its business to that location. City officials anticipate other businesses may also show an interest in the area. Until the construction is completed, Fedders Marine and RV and other businesses will get their water from the Southern Sioux Water Association, of which the city of Le Mars will temporary purchase that water. Southern Sioux Water Association already offers water services to residents living along Highway 75, north of Le Mars. The city council hopes to have construction start in October with the timetable for completion on the Madison Avenue water line to be finished in November.
Le Mars City Council Sets Date For Bids On Former IDOT Property
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council also approved the date of September 4th for a public hearing regarding city owned property located on North Highway 75. The property was formerly owned by the Iowa Department of Transportation and was used as a storage facility. The city council established the date of August 28th at 1:30 p.m. as the time and date for bids for the property to be submitted to the city.
Le Mars Chamber Ready For Food “Cash Mob”
(Le Mars) — After work Thursday evening, you may want to stop by the Le Mars Chamber office located on Central Avenue to learn which food related business will be chosen for the third “Cash Mob”. Mary Reynolds of the Le Mars Chamber says one of five downtown Chamber members that serve food are eligible.
Listen to
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If you are perhaps worried about consuming $20 worth of food at one time, Reynolds suggests you consider gift cards.
Listen to
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Reynolds says the Chamber will sponsor one more cash mob in September that again will feature a food related business, but located outside the downtown district.
Viet Nam Veteran Gets His Medals
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa Army veteran has received new Vietnam War medals to replace ones that were stolen from his home in the late 1990s.
U.S. Rep.Steve King presented Dennis Roberts Tuesday with 11 new medals. The medals given to Roberts include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Air Medal. He’s waiting for one more, the Good Conduct Medal.
Roberts received the medals from King during a ceremony in Sioux City.
Roberts says the medals will occupy a blank spot on his wall, as a reminder of the days when he served his country. Roberts served in the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1970.
Rastetter Amends Financial Disclosure For Ethics Commission
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Board of Regents member Bruce Rastetter has filed an amended financial disclosure statement with a state ethics board just days before the board considers whether
he violated state ethics rules.
The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board meets Thursday to review a complaint filed by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, a government watchdog group.
The complaint alleges Rastetter misrepresented himself on financial disclosure forms as a farmer when in fact he owns numerous investments and gets significant income from executive
positions at corporations he oversees.
The new disclosure filed Monday adds his position as CEO at two companies in addition to multiple investments and real estate holdings.
Rastetter’s lawyer says the new disclosures are intended to resolve ethics questions.
Iowa CCI declared victory saying it’s an admission of guilt.
Restaurants Complain of Odor
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines city officials say residents are complaining about a putrid smell that forced patio diners at one restaurant to move indoors.
The Des Moines Register says (https://dmreg.co/NEVTq4 ) the stench was traced to an animal rendering plant less than a mile southeast of the downtown. City officials say they received 14
calls Monday night, enough to trigger the city’s first odor inspection in 10 years.
Bruce Gerleman, who owns a downtown seafood restaurant, describes the odor as a “putrid, dead animal smell.”
He says dignitaries dining at his restaurant after a World Food Prize ceremony complained about the smell Monday night. He says patio diners at Jethro’s BBQ, another restaurant he owns, were so
offended that they moved indoors.
Inspectors traced the smell to Darling International, which processes animal byproducts.
Company Wants To Convert Waste Into Ethanol
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A company that converts organic material into ethanol is requesting access to Iowa City’s trash.
KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids says (https://bit.ly/Owqray ) Fiberight Industries is planning to build a $60 million refinery in Blairstown. The Maryland company is expanding into Iowa, and a top executive asked Tuesday to lease three acres of Iowa City’s landfill.
Fiberight vice president Steve Gerber says more than 50 percent of the materials that go into landfills is organic and can be turned into ethanol.
Gerber says the company also sifts out recyclables and methane gas, both of which can go back to the community for other purposes. The company estimates the project would reduce trash coming into the landfill by about 80 percent.
