Lost Boy At Merrill Rural Residence
(Merrill) — For a brief time last evening there were some anxious moments at a Merrill rural residence. The Merrill Fire Department along with deputies from the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department were called to help with locating a small three year old boy who had wandered off into a cornfield. The Merrill Fire Department responded to the call at about 6:20 p.m. last evening at 23546 Lynx Avenue. Fortunately, nearly 20 minutes later, the boy was located. He was safe without injuries.
Le Mars Features Another Fiberglass Ice Cream Cone
(Le Mars) — The Ice Cream Capital of the World has another fiberglass ice cream cone for display. The latest is placed near the Ideal Cleaners at 18 Plymouth Street, Southeast. The artist of the five foot cone was Randy Becker. The cone features a painted zipper and the ice cream features various painted clothing articles hanging from a clothes line and swaying in the breeze. There are now more than 50 fiberglass ice cream cones throughout the community of Le Mars.
Spencer Man Dies From Bicycle Accident
SPENCER, Iowa (AP) – Police say a 19-year-old Spencer man has died from injuries he received in a bicycle crash last week.
Police say Jonathan Ferguson died Thursday morning at a Sioux City hospital.
Ferguson was injured Sept. 27 when he crashed his bicycle into the side of a utility truck in Spencer.
He was flown by helicopter to Sioux City for treatment.
The truck driver wasn’t hurt.
No one was cited in the incident.
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Central Bank Acquires Liberty Bank Branches
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Storm Lake-based Central Bank has announced a deal to buy seven branches from Liberty Bank, which is based in West Des Moines.
The terms were not disclosed in Thursday’s announcement.
In July Marion-based City State Bank said it was buying five Liberty branches.
Liberty’s two sales agreements for the 12 branches are subject to regulatory approval. The sales apparently would leave Liberty with but one bank office. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. records say Liberty had 13 locations as of June 30.
Central Bank says it’s buying three Liberty branches in Des Moines, two in West Des Moines and one each in Urbandale and Ankeny. That would give Central Bank 18 branches.
Strong Storm To Hit Midwest
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An unusual strong storm front is threatening the Midwest from the central Plains to the Mississippi Valley over the next several days.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma says the system could bring heavy thunder, wind, rain and possibly tornadoes on Friday.
Meteorologist Gregory Carbin says about one-third of Iowa and parts of southern Minnesota have a 45 percent chance of severe storms, More than 1 million people live in that risk area.
Parts of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Wisconsin are also on the storm front’s path. Western Nebraska and Western South Dakota are under a Blizzard Warning. Areas as far south as Oklahoma and Texas could be affected.
Problems Still Exist With National Healthcare Enrollment
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowans wanting to get signed up for health care insurance under the nation’s historic health care overhaul aren’t deterred by a third day of technical glitches with the federal government’s computer system.
At Broadlawns Hospital in Des Moines 12 certified financial counselors have been helping applicants attempting to get signed up for insurance.
Betty Spratt the financial counselor supervisor says 128 people sought assistance Tuesday and 123 on Wednesday. Thursday’s numbers haven’t been compiled but it’s been busy.
She says the computer system still kicks people off so her team turned to telephones until operators said they too were having technical problem and asked the counselors to try back in a few days. They’re turning to paper applications.
Spratt says spirits are high and people are optimistic they’ll get insurance.
