Semi Truck And Pickup Involved In Accident Near Remsen
(Remsen) — Plymouth County authorities are investigating an accident that occured Tuesday at about 12:00 noon between a semi truck and trailer and a pickup truck. The accident happened on the east side of Remsen at the intersection of Beck Avenue also known as 165th Street and county road highway L-14. The semi truck and trailer heading eastbound on Beck Avenue/165th Street had made a stop at a stop sign. However, the semi truck, being driven by 28 year old Justin Pick of Remsen pulled out in front of a pickup truck, heading northbound and driven by 40 year old Tony Kellen of Alton. Pick was crossing the intersection when Kellen tried to swerve and miss the semi truck, but was unable to avoid the collision. The pickup hit the semi truck on the passenger side. Kellen was transported to the Orange City Hospital by the Remsen ambulance.
Semi Truck Rolls Over On Side
(Sioux City) — Meanwhile, Woodbury County deputies were dispatched shortly after 2:00 p.m. this afternoon to a single vehicle accident at the intersection of 170th Street and Delaware Avenue of rural Woodbury County. A semi-tractor trailer entered the ditch at the intersection and rolled onto it’s side. The driver was treated for injuries at the scene by Bronson Rescue and Woodbury County EOC personnel and transported for treatment by Mercy Air Care. The driver’s name and condition are not being released.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Rejoice Church To Serve Thanksgiving Meal
(Le Mars) — Imagine having to cook 48 turkeys, baking 25 pumpkin pies, and serving 600 people. That’s the task at hand for the 100 plus volunteers preparing the Community Thanksgiving meal to be served at the Rejoice Community Church of Le Mars on Thursday. Pastor Tony De LaRosa talks about how the idea got started.
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Originally, the meal was provided for the elderly and to shut-ins, but DeLaRosa says it soon evolved to include anyone and everyone.
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DeLaRosa says he is thankful for all the volunteers and area businesses that contribute in someway with the Community Thanksgiving meal.
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The Community Thanksgiving meal is free to the public, and will be serving between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. with home delivery beginning at 10:30 a.m. The Rejoice Church pastor says if you are needing transportation, the church is willing to assist with those needs.
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DeLaRosa says if you find yourself with nothing to do on Thanksgiving, he has some suggestions.
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For more information, you can contact the Rejoice Church at 548-4430.
Branstad Answers Questions About Firing Administrator
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Governor Terry Branstad is facing hours of questions under oath about his administration’s treatment of a gay former state administrator.
The governor was being questioned in a deposition Wednesday by an attorney for Chris Godfrey, the former workers’ compensation commissioner.
Godfrey has filed a lawsuit against Branstad and aides alleging he was singled out for harsh treatment because he’s openly gay.
He contends that Branstad demanded his resignation in 2011, and the governor cut his pay by $40,000 when he refused to quit.
Godfrey had been confirmed by the Iowa Senate for a six-year term. He argued his job was independent from political pressure so that injured workers could get fair hearings.
Branstad has denied discrimination. His lawyers say the resignation request was routine and the pay cut was legal.
Chinese Woman To Face Trial For Stealing Patented Seed Corn
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A federal judge says a Chinese woman accused of conspiring to steal trade secrets from U.S. seed companies and send them to China will be tried alongside her brother.
Mo Yun is among seven people charged in the case, though only she and her brother have been arrested. The other five are believed to be in China.
Investigators say they worked for a Chinese company and conspired to steal patented seed corn from cornfields in Iowa and Illinois to ship it to China.
The judge overseeing the case acknowledged Friday that evidence against her is thinner than evidence against the other suspects. But he said that wasn’t enough to hold a separate trial, as her attorneys requested.
Mo is married to the chairman of a large biotechnology firm in China.
Fort Dodge Woman Burns Down Home For Insuance Money
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Fort Dodge woman will spend ten years in federal prison for conspiring to burn down a house and collect the insurance money.
Federal authorities announced Wednesday that Shirley Weimer received a ten-year sentence for the crime. She pleaded guilty in April and was sentenced Tuesday. Three others have already been sentenced for involvement in the crime.
According to the trial proceedings, Weimer hired a tenant to burn down a rental property. Weimer received over $78,000 from her insurance company.
Weimer will have to repay the money, plus interest, to State Farm Insurance. She will serve a three-year term of supervised release after her prison time.
Des Moines Woman Home Burns While She Is Shoveling Snow
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines woman has reported that she was outside shoveling snow when flames erupted in her home’s kitchen.
Firefighters were dispatched to the house on Wednesday afternoon.
Fire spokesman Brian O’Keefe says the woman had been cooking and left the stove on when she went outside to shovel snow. She says she went in to check the food once and then went back outside. She says she went back in when she heard a popping noise. She found her kitchen ablaze.
O’Keefe says the house is a total loss. No injuries to the woman or any firefighters have been reported. A pet cat died in the fire.
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Assessor Arrested
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – The assessor in northern Iowa’s Cerro Gordo County has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of drunken driving.
63-year-old John Boedeker entered the plea on Wednesday.
Mason City police say Boedeker was pulled over around 8:15 p.m. Friday for driving without his vehicle lights on. He was booked into county jail that night but posted $1,000 bond and was released.
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