Home News Friday News, May 23

Friday News, May 23

Fire Department Respond To Alarm At Pride Group Home

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department was called to the Pride Group Plymouth County home last evening at about 7:15 p.m. for a general alarm.  It was determined the alarm was sounded when water was sprayed directly into the the alarm sensor system, activating the alarm.  No fire was detected, and there were no injuries.  Residents evacuated the premises located at 1430 Lincoln Drive north east, but were allowed to return to their rooms within a few minutes. 

 

Hospice Of Siouxland Locate In New Le Mars Office 

(Le Mars) — Hospice of Siouxland held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon as they officially opened their new offices located at 115 Plymouth Street Northwest in Le Mars.  Executive Director, Linda Todd, says people are often frighten by the word Hospice, but she says people need to instead embrace it.

Listen to
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Hospice of Siouxland has been located in Le Mars since 1990, but because of the construction project occuring at Floyd Valley Hospital the life limiting counseling service needed to find a new location.  Todd says Hospice of Siouxland started in 1981 as a volunteer organization and has since expanded to be a medicare financed facility.  Todd explains there are many ways in which patients are referred to Hospice of Siouxland.

Listen to
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Sioux City Police Investigate SUV Accident At Hamilton And I-29

(Sioux City) — Sioux City Police are investigating an accident that happen Thursday evening at about 11:30 p.m. at the Interstate 29 and Hamilton Blvd bypass exit.  A black Chevrolet Blazer SUV wa located on the west side of the overpass in the northbound lanes of Interstate 29.  Police found a male victim that was unconscious but breathing inside the vehicle in the driver’s seat.  Preliminary investigation has revealed the black SUV was headed north on the interstate highway and possibly in the second lane.  The vehicle left the roadway to the right and struck the metal guard rail on the east side of the Hamilton Blvd overpass.  The vehicle then shot across both northbound lanes and struck the concrete median and the vehicle traveled along the concrete median until the vehicle came to an uncontrolled final rest on the west side of the overpass.  The driver was transported to Mercy Trauma Care in Sioux City where the driver is undergoing tests and is being tended to for a possible internal head wound and bleeding. Police are withholding the name of the victim at this time.  Police are looking into whether this is an alcohol related incident and have not ruled out other substances.

 

Today, Last Day Of School

(Le Mars) — Today is the last day of school for many area schools including Le Mars Community, and Gehlen Catholic.   Students will turn in their text books, clean out their lockers, and take a break from the reading, writing, and arithmetic for the next few months.  The first day of school for the 2014-2015 school year is scheduled for August 21st. just a short 90 days from today.

 

“A Few Good Men” Scheduled At Postal Playhouse

(Le Mars) — Rehearsals are continuing in preparation for next weekend’s community play production of “A Few Good Men”.  The story involves two marines facing trial for murder in the death of a fellow Marine at Guantanomo Bay.  Their Navy lawyer, a callow young man more interested in softball games than the case, expects a plea bargain and a cover up of what really happend.  Prodded by a female member of his defense team, the lawyer eventually makes a valiant effort to defend his clients and, in so doing, puts the military mentality and the Marine code of honor on trial.  The Le Mars Community Postal Playhouse is accepting reservations for the show dates of May 30th, 31st, and June 1st, as well as the following week with show dates of June 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th.  Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees start at 2:00 p.m.

 

South Dakota Supreme Court Rules BPI Lawsuit Against ABC News May Proceed

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – The South Dakota Supreme Court is allowing a $1.2 billion defamation lawsuit to proceed against television network ABC over its coverage of a meat product that critics derided as “pink slime.”
     The decision on Thursday allows the plaintiffs to potentially depose news anchor Diane Sawyer, two of the networks correspondents and other defendants.
     Dakota Dunes-based Beef Products Incorporated sued the network in 2012 for its coverage of the meat product the industry calls “lean, finely textured beef.” BPI alleges that the coverage led to plant closures and layoffs because it misled consumers into believing the product was unsafe.
     Attorneys for ABC in court filings say the network in each of its broadcasts stated the FDA deemed the product safe to eat. The network didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

 

USDA Reports Fewer Workers Than A Year Ago

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the number of workers hired directly by farms in Iowa and Missouri during the reference week of April 6th through 12th, was down 25 percent from a year ago.
     The USDA collects Farm Labor Survey data for January, April, July and October for 15 geographic regions. Iowa and Missouri make up the Cornbelt Two Region.
     In April this year 21,000 workers were hired in the two-state area compared with 28,000 a year ago.
     The report says farm operators in the two-state area paid workers an average wage of $15.25 this year up $1.18 from a year ago.
     Nationally farm operators paid hired workers an average of $12 per hour during this year’s reference week, up 1 percent from the previous year.