Cement Truck Rolls Over On Accident
(Merrill) — A concrete truck filled with wet cement overturned this morning injuring two people. The accident happened at about 8:45 this morning at the intersection of County Road C-44 and Iris Avenue, about three miles west of Merrill. Plymouth County Deputy Paul Bettsworth explains what happened.
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The cement truck from GCC out of Sgt. Bluff, was heading east bound on C-44 when it made a turn to the south on Iris Avenue. The wet cement load had shifted causing the truck to roll over and pinning both the driver and the passenger. Fire and rescue crews from Merrill and Le Mars had to cut the cab of the truck, using their jaws of life, in order to rescue the victims. The driver of the truck was 50 year old Leslie Serviss of Sioux City, and the passenger was 38 year old Craig Scheer, also of Sioux City. Both victims have been transported to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. No word on their condition. Bettsworth explains what will become of the wet cement.
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Plymouth County Secondary Road Crew members were called to help repair the roadway as the concrete truck caused damage to the interesection. Responding to the accident were the Merrill Fire Department, Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Iowa Highway Patrol, Hinton Police Department, Hinton Ambulance Le Mars Ambulance, and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department.
Wells Hires New Chief Operating Officer
(Le Mars) — Wells Enterprises has announced the addition of Liam Killeen as the Chief Operating Officer. Killeen has an extensive confectionary experience bringing close to 30 years of experience in the consumer packaged goods field. Killeen joins Wells from Ferrara Candy Company/Farley’s and Sathers, Incorporated which has the familiar brand names of Brach’s, Chuckles, Lemonheads, Juiyfruit, and Red Hots. Killeen served as chairman, CEO and President of Farley’s & Sathers, Inc. Early in his career, Killeen’s experience was developed in CPG marketing with confectionary companies such as AG (maker of Toblerone) of Zurich Switzerland and with Van Melle USA, Incorporated, maker of Mentos as the VP of Marketing. Killeen received his Bachelor of Commerce from the University College Cork in Ireland.
Branstad Not Worried About Government Oversight Committee Use of Subpeonas
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says he’s not concerned that the Senate Government Oversight Committee, now armed with subpoena power, will continue its investigation into his administration into the summer.
The Senate on Friday authorized the oversight committee to subpoena witnesses, put them under oath, and levy penalties for contempt.
Branstad says his administration has been open, providing thousands of documents. He says the Department of Administrative Services staff has spent more than 20 testifying before the committee.
He accused the Democratic-led oversight committee of coordinating with the campaign of Sen. Jack Hatch, a Democrat running for governor.
Branstad says committee members should open their emails to the public but committee members say they’re getting messages from state workers reporting problems in the executive branch and opening the communications would discourage reporting.
Schultz Admits To Paying Two Other Lay-off Employees
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz is acknowledging that he let two other political appointees work from home after requesting their resignations.
Schultz is already facing an audit after last month’s revelation that he let his chief deputy, Jim Gibbons, keep his $126,000 for seven months after eliminating his job. Schultz let Gibbons work from home for one month, then required him to show up four days per week for the next six months.
Schultz says in a statement Monday that he allowed the office’s assistant director of business services Todd Henderson work from home for 90 days after requesting his resignation in 2012. Schultz says he let another at-will employee work from home for 30 days.
He says those arrangements are allowed by the Department of Administrative Services.
