Highway 75 Accident Updated
(Le Mars) — A head-on collison of two vehicles happen on Business highway 75 Wednesday afternoon south of the 18th Street intersection. The accident happened at about 12:45 p.m. Apparently a passenger vehicle driven by 29 year old Makayla Trejo of Merrill was traveling southbound on Business 75 when it lost control and initially left the road entering the west ditch and momentarily driving on the recreational bike trail. Trejo then re-entered the roadway, but crossed over the center line striking a minivan traveling northbound, and being driven by 63 year old Nancy Yoder of Le Mars. Yoder was unable to avoid the collision. Both drivers of each vehicle were the only victims, and both were transported to Floyd Valley Hospital. Trejo admitted to the Le Mars Police that she had blacked out sometime before the accident, and said she has been having black out episodes lately.
Plymouth Dairy Farm To Host Public Tour
(Le Mars) — June is Dairy Month, and the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance wants to educate people on where their milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, and other dairy products originates. That’s why they are hosting a tour for the general public at the Plymouth Dairy Farm this evening. LeAnn Philips serves as the director of the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance.
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Philips says the purpose of the tour is to educate the consumer.
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The dairy alliance official says Le Mars depends heavily upon the dairy industry with both Wells Enterprises and Dean’s Foods providing ice cream and milk, but she believes many people don’t think of those food industries as having an agriculture connection. Philips says many local jobs are dependent upon the dairy industry.
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The public tour is scheduled for today starting at 4:00 p.m. and continuing until 7:00 p.m. It will be held at the Plymouth Dairy Farm located about four miles south of Le Mars at 23505 County Road K-49. Philips says guests will be served either a cheeseburger or hot dog, ice cream treats provided by Wells Blue Bunny, and milk from Dean’s Foods.
Chamber Announces “Boss Of The Quarter”
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Chamber of Commerce has announced its latest recipient for the title of “Boss of the Quarter” Sherri Bauman was presented the honor Thursday morning. Bauman is the manager of the Cellular Connection store based in Le Mars. Brett Jester submitted the nomination for Bauman. He says “it is with great honor that I submit this nomination for Sherri Bauman as the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce 2nd Quarter “Boss of the Quarter.” Sherri deserves this nomination for a plethora of reasons. One of those reasons is she isn’t just a manager she is leader who leads by example, and includes herself in all the expectations for the store. She rarely refers to anyone as “my or our employees” but instead uses “my team” or “my co-workers.”
She is firm with expectations but they are always presented in a way that everyone knows what needs to get done and what need to get done better. She always brings a positive attitude to the store with energy that makes customers gravitate toward her. I asked her one day why she felt her management style was different and she said because I don’t have employees I have “internal customers.” That is why Sherri Bauman deserves Boss of the Quarter.
IRGC Denies Argosy Request To Remain Open
(Des Moines) — THE IOWA RACING AND GAMING COMMISSION HAS TURNED DOWN AN APPEAL FROM THE Argosy BELLE OF SIOUX CITY RIVERBOAT AND ITS PARENT COMPANY, PENN NATIONAL GAMING TO DELAY THE IRGC’S ORDER TO CLOSE THE CASINO ON JULY 1ST. THE COMMISSION CONVENED AT 8AM TO TAKE UP THE MATTER IN A SPECIAL SESSION AT THE PRAIRIE MEADOWS CASINO IN ALTOONA.ATTORNEY MARK WEINHARDT ARGUED ON BEHALF OF PENN GAMING FOR THE STAY:
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HE ALSO ASKED THE IRGC TO ALLOW THE RIVERBOAT TO REMAIN OPEN AN EXTRA MONTH:
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ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN LUNDQUIST ARGUED AGAINST THE STAY:
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THE COMMISSION THEN HELD A BRIEF CLOSED SESSION BEFORE VOTING TO DENY THE STAY. CHAIRMAN JEFF LAMBERTI SAYS THE LICENSE DECISION WAS THE RIGHT ONE:
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A POLK COUNTY JUDGE WILL HEAR A SIMILAR APPEAL THURSDAY IN DES MOINES
Rock Valley Officials Announce They Will Host RAGBRAI
(Rock Valley) — There has been some discussion as to whether or not Rock Valley would be hosting the annual RAGBRAI bicycle ride since the community was inundated with flood waters last week. Officials in Rock Valley say they will continue with plans to host this summer’s big bike ride, despite the recent flooding. Mayor Kevin Van Otterloo says it was not a decision that was taken lightly and any money generated by the RAGBRAI stop will have a distinct purpose — to help residents who were displaced and to repair damaged property.
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Funds have been set up at the three local banks. The Rock River crested last week at Rock Valley some 11 feet over flood stage, breaking records set in the Flood of 1993. At least 150 homes in the town were damaged. The Rock Valley RAGBRAI Committee will make arrangements for housing in the coming weeks, as some of the people who were hosting bicycle riders have seen damage to their properties. Van Otterloo says the recovery is going well, but it’s slow.
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RAGBRAI kicks off in Rock Valley on Saturday, July 19, with riders leaving to head towards Okoboji on Sunday the 20th.
Branstad Declares Nine More Counties As Emergency Disaster
(Des Moines) — Governor Terry Branstad issued a proclamation of disaster emergency for nine additional counties in response to flooding and severe weather. The counties include : Allamakee, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw, Emmet, Fayette, Humboldt, Winnebago and Winneshiek. The Governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of these storms.
