(Hospers) — A three vehicle accident occurred just north of Hospers yesterday on highway 60, one driver was issued a citation for following a snow plow too closely.
Yesterday morning, the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office investigated a motor vehicle accident in which Rodney Olson, age 46, of Paullina, was driving a 2007 International snowplow for the Iowa Department of Transportation. He was traveling southbound on Highway 60, clearing snow from the roadway. Anthony Canoles, age 27, of Sioux City, was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, also southbound on Highway 60. He was following the snowplow. Dennis Dietzler, age 58, of Edina, MN was driving a 2007 Dodge Caravan southbound on Highway 60 following Canoles’ vehicle. Canoles’ vehicle struck the rear of the snowplow; Dietzler’s vehicle then struck Canoles’ vehicle.
No injuries were reported.
The snowplow sustained $7,000 damage. The Chevrolet received $8,000 damage and the Dodge $5,000
damage.
Canoles was issued a citation for following too close.
The Iowa DOT has the following Safety tips regarding driving while snow plows are working on the roads…
-Don’t crowd the plow. Maintenance vehicles plow far and wide —
sometimes very wide. The front plow extends several feet in front of the
truck and may cross the centerline and shoulders during plowing
operations.
-Don’t tailgate or stop too close behind snowplows. Snowplows are usually
spreading deicing materials from the back of the truck. They may need to
stop or take evasive action to avoid stranded vehicles. If you find yourself
behind a snowplow, stay behind it or use caution when passing.
-Do not pass a plow on the shoulder.
-A snowplow operator’s field of vision is restricted. You may see them, but
they may not see you.
(Orange City) — Most kids have encountered some kind of pornography by the time they’re 11
years old. Aaron Baart, Dean of Chapel at Dordt College, says that the best way to handle
the topic of sex and pornography with your kids is to actually talk about it.
Suggestions and support regarding kids and pornography will be offered at the Prairie Winds
Events Center in Orange City this Wednesday as part of the “Circle of Support” series. Aaron
Baart will be the featured speaker.
The fast moving world of technology has a lot to do with the ease of accessibility for
sexually explicit material, but Baart says that there are other contributing factors
including that naivety of parents.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2013/Pornography 1.mp3{/audio}
As a former pastor, and now a chaplain at the college, Baart says he runs into kids in their
late teens who have been dealing with a pornograpahy addiction for 8 to 10 years. He says
you have to love your kids enough to have the uncomfortable conversations.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2013/Pornography 2.mp3{/audio}
At Wednesday nights Circle of Support Session, Bart says topics surrounding teens and
pornography will range from awareness to action steps.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2013/Pornography 3.mp3{/audio}
The event is open to anyone involved with pre-teens: parents, relatives, teachers, friends,
healthcare workers, youth directors, etc. The Circle of Support session dealing with
pre-teens/teens and pornography begins at 6:30pm this Wednesday, the 23rd, at the Prairie
Winds Event Center in Orange City. It is sponsored by the Orange City Area Health System,
the MOCHA Kiwanis Club, Community Health Partners, and the Creative Living Center.
Plymouth County Authorities Investigate Accident
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s office is investigating a roll-over accident that occurred Friday morning on Iris Avenue and 120th Street. According to the report, William Schlichte, age 64 of Le Mars rolled through a stop sign on 120th Street then striking a vehicle being driven by 52 year old Jim Vandermolen, also of Le Mars. The Vandermolen vehicle lost control and entered a ditch where it had rolled over. Both drivers escaped the accident without injuries.
Branstad and State Employee Union Wrangle Over Wages
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Governor Terry Branstad has released his budget proposal, but one key part of the plan remains a question mark.
That’s compensation for the roughly 20,000 union represented state workers in Iowa. And the acrimonious tone between Branstad and union officials suggests the current contract talks will not be
easily resolved.
Like many other Republican governors, Branstad wants to win concessions from public sector workers, such as requiring them to pay a portion of their health control costs. Union president Danny
Homan, of Iowa Council 61 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, calls this an attempt to weaken the union.
Given that Iowa has emerged from the recent economic downturn in fiscally robust condition, analysts say Branstad’s position seems based on conservative ideology, rather than financial need.
Hazardous Materials Week Being Celebrated
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa emergency management officials want everyone to be more familiar with hazardous materials, how they should be used, stored, and disposed of so they’ve created a
hazardous materials awareness week.
The week, so designated by Governor Terry Branstad, started Sunday and runs through January 26th.
Brochures and fact sheets about hazardous materials safety are available for download on WWW DOT BeReady DOT Iowa DOT gov.
The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division also posts updates at his Facebook page and on its Twitter feed throughout the week.
The division leads, coordinates and supports homeland security and emergency management functions in Iowa.
Mistake Made With Employee Firings Report
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa officials say they made a mistake in releasing the records of 328 state employees because nearly half of those resigned to avoid being fired.
The Des Moines Register reports the state says 145 of the people included in the initial list of fired employees resigned to avoid having a termination on their record.
Earlier this month, the Register reported that 33 employees who had been fired were later rehired by the state.
Now Governor Terry Branstad and some lawmakers are talking about changing the law to make more disciplinary records of state employees available to the public.
Representative Kevin Koester, an Ankeny Republican, says the public should know when state employees are disciplined or fired because public safety may be on the line when a bad employee is
rehired.
Dispute Over Meditation Practices
FAIRFIELD, Iowa (AP) – The followers of a meditation practice that has its roots in ancient India are in a dispute over the control of its teaching.
The feud pits the Iowa nonprofit that has taught transcendental meditation in the U.S. for decades against Thom Knoles, a former associate who left and built his own group of followers.
The outcome could decide whether the Maharishi (mah-hah-ree-shee) Foundation will continue to control the teaching of U.S. transcendental meditation – or whether rivals can market
similar services and benefits without obtaining a license.
The two sides are fighting for customers and to protect their own reputations. With such stakes, the litigation over a technique that supporters say can reduce stress and blood pressure is getting
tense.
