Two Children Die From Injuries Sustained From Train Collision
(Storm Lake) — Sad news is being reported from Buena Vista County. In a news release issued late afternoon on Friday, Sheriff Gary Launderville has announced the two children that were in the backseat of that car that collided with a Canadian National train on Thursday afternoon in Alta have both died. 2 year old Camille Binder and her 4 year old sister Chloe Binder died as a result of injuries sustained in that car and train collision. Both girls had been airlifted to a Sioux Falls pediatric trauma hospital following the accident. Their mother, Heather Binder was a passenger in the front seat of the car, she too, was first transported to the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake, and then airlifted to a Sioux Falls hospital. Her condition is unknown at this time. The driver of the car was identified as 15 year old Nathanial Harms, a brother of the two girls. Authorities believe Harms did not see the train at the crossing in Alta. No word on the condition of Harms.
United Way Of Siouxland Distributes Coats
(Sioux City) — Almost a thousand area residents will soon be receiving a new coat thanks to the United Way of Siouxland and Staples Promotional Products. Lori Twohig, the United Way’s Community Impact Associate, says the “spread the warmth in Siouxland” campaign started with a phone call from Staples:
Listen to
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984 people in Siouxland are going to be warmer thanks to one mouse click. Twohig says the Siouxland United Way reached out to over 20 organizations, including those in the Le Mars and Plymouth County area to make sure that the coats got into the hands of the people who need them the most.
Listen to
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Twohig says there was a major need for coats for adults, so she’s pleased the Staples group was able to provide hundreds of coats for those area residents who are in need.
District Judge Rules In Favor Of Hard Rock Casino
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A district court judge has reversed a ruling that suspended the gaming license for a casino in downtown Sioux City.
Pending an appeal, the decision Friday clears the way for construction to continue on schedule for the $128.5 million project.
The Iowa Supreme Court ordered Polk County District Court to reconsider its decision in December to stay the license for a Hard Rock casino and hotel while litigation was pending against the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. The higher court wanted the district court to decide whether it had the authority to stay the license.
Owners of the Argosy riverboat casino in Sioux City are challenging the commission’s decision last year to award the license to the owners of the Hard Rock casino.
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Anderson And Soderberg To Visit Oyens, Brunsville, And Westfield
(Des Moines) — State legislators Chuck Soderberg and Bill Anderson plan to visit some of Plymouth County’s smaller communities today. The republican lawmakers will hold legislative forums at Oyens in the Oyens City Hall at 9:00 a.m. They will then travel to Brunsville at the American Legion Hall at 10:15 a.m. and they will wind up their legislative forums at the Westfield Community Center in Westfield at 11:30 a.m. The legislators will be discussing various issues concerning the 2014 Iowa Legislative Session. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the meetings and address any issues that are of concern.
Lawmakers Discuss Multiples In Classes Bill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Lawmakers are considering a measure giving parents of multiples more control over placing their children in the same classroom
The bill would require school districts to adhere to a parent or guardian’s written placement request for multiple birth siblings unless a school board decides doing so would be detrimental to the children.
A three-member subcommittee has approved the bill and it now goes to the House Education Committee.
Republican Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, of Wilson, says he introduced the bill at the request of parents of multiples. He says schools honor most placement requests, but his proposal would be a safety net when parents and administrators don’t agree.
Lobbyists and other school officials say such cases are rare and that local districts don’t need interference from state mandates.
Deadline Approaching For Manure Application Certifictions
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Time is running out for people who handle certain manure in Iowa to get certified without paying a fee.
The state Department of Natural Resources says manure applicators could face a $12.50 fee if they don’t get the necessary certification by March 1.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach works with DNR to offer free training sessions. There’s about 15 left for confinement site manure applicators. Applicators who handle mostly dry manure have four remaining sessions.
State law says people handling, transporting or applying manure from certain confinements must be certified. Applicators will need to watch a training video or take an exam if they can’t attend a session. Additional fees may apply.
Two Boys Accused Of Shooting Bald Eagle
MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two teenagers shot a bald eagle near Montezuma, injuring the bird so severely that it died.
Poweshiek County Sheriff Thomas Kriegel told The Des Moines Register deputies were called Wednesday afternoon to property near Montezuma, about 50 miles east of Des Moines.
Kriegel says the bird was shot once, injuring its wing and knocking it from a tree. It was shot again on the ground.
A property owner gave deputies a description of a car at the site, and deputies soon stopped the vehicle.
Authorities believe two 15-year-olds shot the bird but they haven’t been charged yet.
Officials don’t know a motive for the shooting. Shooting an eagle is a federal offense.
The bird was taken to a veterinarian but its injuries were too severe.
