Home News Monday News, September 29

Monday News, September 29

Two Motorcylce-Car Accidents Reported In Plymouth County During Weekend

(Le Mars) — Rescue personnel responded to two separate motorcycle accidents over the weekend.  The first motorcycle accident happened on Saturday afternoon at about 2:50 p.m. at the south intersection of County Road C-44 and K-49, near Hinton.  The Hinton Fire and Rescue Department, along with the Hinton Ambulance responded to the accident involving a motorcylce and a car.  There were injuries reported, but at this time we don’t know the extent of those injuries, or the identities of those involved in the accident.  A second motorcycle accident happened at about 4:45 p.m. at Akron.  That accident was reported at the intersection of Highway 12 and north 8th street. Again, we are still awaiting for the police accident report to be completed in order to identify those involved with the accident.

 

Hinton Fire Department Responds To Silage Chopper Fire

(Hinton) — The Hinton Fire Department was called to action on Saturday to extinguish a corn silage chopper that had caught on fire.  That fire was reported at about noon Saturday at 28621 County Road K-42.  Fire personnel was on the scene for approximately 45 minutes.  The Hinton Fire Department and the Merrill Fire Department were also called a short time later to a fuel truck that had been leaking fuel.  The incident happened at about 1:40 p.m. when a semi truck was involved in a property damage accident at the junction of Lynx Avenue and 260th Street.  Fire personnel were at the scene of that accident for nearly an hour.

 

Sioux City Police Arrest Shooting Suspect

(Sioux City) — The Sioux City Police Department responded to a reported shooting incident that occurred Saturday afternoon, outside of a residence at 1923 Grandview Blvd.  Upon arrival, a male victim was located that had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.  The victim, identified as 21 year old, Lester Calderon-Hidalgo of Sioux City was transported to the Mercy Medical Center.  He was treated and released.  32 year old Jose Escobar of Sioux City was arrested and taken into custody at the scene.  Escobar has been charged with attempted murder, a class B felony.

 

Ernst And Braley Square Off In First Senate Debate

(Indianola) — Senate Candidates Bruce Braley and Joni Ernst squared off in their first of three debates last evening at Simpson College in Indianola.  Almost immediately, the two candidates started in with the verbal barbs.   Democrat Bruce Braley and Republican Joni Ernst clashed over health care, Social Security and foreign policy during the first debate of the Iowa Senate race.  The two major party candidates for Iowa’s U.S. Senate seat met face-to-face in an hour long debate early Sunday evening — touting their rural Iowa roots and questioning their opponent’s loyalties. Republican Joni Ernst grew up on a farm near Red Oak in southwest Iowa. Democrat Bruce Braley grew up in the small eastern Iowa town of Brooklyn, where his dad ran the grain elevator.

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Each accused the other of being beholden to special interests who’re financing thousands of dollars worth of ads to try to sway Iowa voters. Braley accused Ernst of being beholden to Oklahoma billionaires who made their money in the oil industry.

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Ernst also accused Braley of doing the bidding of President Obama and Harry Reid,the Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate. Braley countered with this.

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That exchange came near the end of the debate. Both began by stressing a message to appeal to independent voters. Braley repeatedly tried to tie Ernst to the so-called “Tea Party.”

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Ernst told the audience she provided voters a “clear contrast” with Braley.

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The two candidates broke no new policy ground on issues like the minimum wage and immigration. Braley charged Ernst co-sponsored legislation in the Iowa Senate that ultimately would wind up banning abortion, certain forms of contraception and invitro fertilization. Ernst said she “will support life,” but she also believes “in a woman’s right to contraception.” Before the debate had concluded Sunday evening, each candidate had one more verbal barb.

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The debate was sponsored by The Des Moines Register and broadcast live on KCCI TV in Des Moines.

 

Muscatine Man Found Safe After Reported Missing

 MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) – An 81-year-old Iowa man who went missing has been found safe after a chance encounter with an off-duty State Patrol trooper.
     The Muscatine Journal reports that (https://bit.ly/1rEwO0q ) William Morgan, of Muscatine, was found Sunday at a campground near the Coralville Reservoir.
     Morgan, who suffers from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, went missing Friday after going to a doctor’s appointment in East Moline, Illinois.  Authorities searched the area Friday.
     One official who helped with the search, Iowa State Patrol Trooper Jesse Hernandez, was off-duty and fishing at the Coralville Reservoir on Sunday when he noticed a van that looked like Morgan’s. Hernandez contacted an on duty-trooper, Dave Hughes, and they eventually found Morgan sitting on the ground by the campground’s entrance. Morgan was later reunited with his family.
     —

 

Authorities Investigate Two Attempted Kidnappings

 GOWRIE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities are investigating two attempted kidnappings reported in the same Iowa county.
     The Webster County sheriff’s office received two reports on Sunday, one in the town of Gowrie and the other in Dayton.
     Sheriff James Stubbs says two girls were targeted in separate instances. One is between the ages of 5 and 6, and the other is between 12 and 13 years old. Stubbs says both children are OK.
     Witnesses described a white-colored vehicle in both reported kidnapping attempts. Authorities say they weren’t able to give a description of a suspect, but they’re conducting interviews and hope to provide more information.
     —

 

Council Bluffs Mourns Death Of Teen After Fight In School

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – The Council Bluffs community has come together to remember a western Iowa 17-year-old who died from a head injury suffered during a fight at school. 
     Friends of Dakota Escritt released balloons at a memorial Sunday night. He died Saturday at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha, two days after he hit his head on the tile floor at Abraham Lincoln High School. 
     Authorities have filed an assault charge against a 16-year-old boy, who was suspended from school. The Associated Press generally does not identify juveniles accused of crimes.
     Superintendent Martha Bruckner tells KETV-TV the fight appeared to be a random, isolated incident that no policy could have prevented.