Home News Monday News, April 7

Monday News, April 7

Sunday Field Fires

(Le Mars) — Despite the recent blanket of snow from Thursday, conditions are still dry, and as a result, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, with assistance from the Hinton Fire Department responded to a field fire Sunday afternoon.  The fire was reported at about 4:00 p.m. near the intersection of 270th Street and County Road K-49, about eight miles south of Le Mars.  The fire started as a brush fire but quickly got out of control. The owners admitted to fire officials they believed the recent moisture would have prevented the fire from spreading.  It had spread over a corn stalk stubble field, burning approximately 20 acres before fire officals were able to contain and control the fire with two grass fighting rigs and an all terrain vehicle equipped with a water tank.  Fire officials were at the scene for an hour.  A farmer also assisted with a tractor.  The Plymouth County Sheriff’s office also responded to the fire.

(Akron) — The Akron Fire Department also had to respond to a field fire Sunday afternoon.  The fire was reported shortly after 1:00 p.m. at 21257 County Road C-16.  Fire officials were on the scene for approximately one hour.

Oyens To Get Back Ambulance Service

(Le Mars) — Good news for the people living in and around Oyens.  Back in early February, the town was forced to abandon its community ambulance service due to the lack of needed volunteers to keep it operating.  However, according to Bob Gengler, a retired director with the fire and ambulance services and spokesperson for the ambulance service, the small town of Oyens will again have an ambulance thanks in part of a local grant and the people of the town stepping up to take the training.

Listen to
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Gengler says nearly a dozen people are now receiving training to be certified as an Emergency Medical Technician in Oyens.  Gengler says it may be June before the new volunteers are certified and the ambulance service can be fully restored.  Gengler says the county supervisors allocated some Local Options Sales Tax funding to help defer the expense associated with the emergency medical training.

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Gengler says the town of Oyens is grateful for the volunteers taking the emergency medical training and giving back the local ambulance service.

Listen to
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Soderberg And Anderson Hold Last Legislative Forum

(Le Mars) — State Representative Chuck Soderberg and State Senator Bill Anderson held their last legislative forum for this session on Saturday.  The two Republican lawmakers met with a handful of constituents at the Le Mars Public Library.  Soderberg explained to the six people attending that progress has been made with regards to the budget.  One issue that was discussed during the legislative forum was the so-called “Silver Alert” bill.  The “Silver Alert” would act much the same way as the Amber Alert only instead of missing children, it would be issued when a senior citizen with dementia, altzheimers, or other mental issues are a factor for when a senior is missing.  Representative Soderberg says the bill is dead, but he believes the issue may be acted on from an administration standpoint, rather than legislative action.

Listen to
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Senator Anderson says he will definately bring the bill back for next session.

 

Des Moines Man Reports Finding Rat Poison After Burglary

 DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines man has reported finding rat poison on his floor after a break-in at his home.
     The man reported his discovery after he returned home on Saturday evening.
     He told police nothing seemed to be missing. Police say he told officers that he thinks someone may have been trying to kill his dog and cat, saying he’s had issues with neighbors who are always “messing with him.”
     No arrests have been reported.
     —

 

Motorcyclist Dies After Police Chase

  WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 30-year-old Cedar Falls man has died after crashing during a pursuit by an Iowa state trooper.
     The Iowa State Patrol says Jon Winburn tried to get away from the trooper after running a stop sign late Sunday morning. The patrol says the brief chase ended when Winburn lost control of his motorcycle and it crashed into a concrete wall of the Mutual Wheel building on La Porte Road in Waterloo.
     The patrol says Winburn was pronounced dead at Covenant Medical Center.