Lightning Causes Fire To Rural Kingsley Home
(Kingsley) — Fire broke out at a rural Kingsley home Saturday evening. The Kingsley, Remsen, Oyens, and Pierson Fire Departments all responded to the blaze located at 39796 280th Street. Kingsley Assistant Fire Chief Paul Huth says fire could be seen upon fire officials arrival.
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No injuries were reported, and Huth says the house was vacant with the owner of the home now residing at a local nursing care facility. Huth believes Saturday’s storms may be responsible for starting the blaze.
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Huth says the fire department was called to the scene shortly after 7:00 p.m. and fire officials remained on the scene for more than four hours.
Huth wasn’t certain as to the estimate of damage, only to say the house is a total loss.
South Sioux City Man Arrested Following Fatal Hit And Run Accident
(Sioux City) — A SIOUX CITY MAN IS DEAD AND A SUSPECT IS IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING A FATAL HIT AND RUN INCIDENT SATURDAY AFTERNOON ON Sioux CITY’S NORTHSIDE.
CITY POLICE SAY THE INCIDENT BEGAN AROUND 3:15PM WHEN A 52 YEAR OLD MAN AND HIS WIFE SAW A MAN SLUMPED OVER THE WHEEL OF A TRUCK IN THE NORTHBOUND LANE OF THE 4000 BLOCK OF DIVISION STREET.
WHEN THE COUPLE MADE CONTACT WITH THE TRUCK DRIVER TO SEE IF HE NEEDED HELP, HE AWOKE AND SPED AWAY.
A FLATBED TRAILER LOADED WITH LAWN CARE EQUIPMENT ATTACHED TO THE TRUCK STRUCK THE GOOD SAMARITAN AND ROLLED OVER HIM, CAUSING FATAL INJURIES.
ANOTHER MOTORIST FOLLOWED THE FLEEING DRIVER, AND CALLED IN THE TRUCK’S LICENSE PLATE NUMBER.
SEVERAL HOURS LATER, PLYMOUTH COUNTY AND IOWA STATE TROOPERS SPOTTED THE VEHICLE ON COUNTY ROAD C-38.
THE DRIVER FLED AGAIN BUT WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD BY A PLYMOUTH COUNTY DEPUTY.
THE SUSPECT, 29 YEAR OLD DUSTIN SUPPI, OF SOUTH SIOUX CITY, WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
HE IS IN CUSTODY IN THE WOODBURY COUNTY JAIL CHARGED WITH LEAVING THE SCENE OF A FATAL
ACCIDENT.
OTHER CHARGES ARE PENDING AS THE INVESTIGATION OF THE INCIDENT CONTINUES.
Former Westmar College Students Return For Chorale Reunion
(Le Mars) — More than 65 people, spanning three decades, returned to Le Mars on Saturday to perform in the Westmar College Chorale reunion. The former members of the choir performed a 45 minute concert Saturday afternoon to nearly a full capacity crowd at the Le Mars United Methodist Church. Following the concert, many of the members gathered at the lower level of the Le Mars Convention Center for class photos and a banquet.
Le Mars Community School Board To Review DLIIT Academic Goals
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education will convene for a meeting this evening at the Education Service Center. The school board will hear from school Superintendent, Dr. Todd Wendt, as he presents a report from the District Learning and Instructional Impact Team establishing goals for the 2015-2016 academic year, after they reviewed the assessment data and the results of the Iowa Youth Survey at the June 9th meeting. The school board will discuss the upcoming Pride Night, scheduled for Thursday evening, August 27th. The board will discuss the school board election scheduled for Tuesday, September 8th, and the new teacher introduction will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, September 14th. In action items, the local school board will act upon the resignation of Sarah Cargin as a High School Teacher Associate, effective immediately, and they are expected to approve the contract for Tara Allen as a high school teacher associate. The school board will discuss open enrollment as five students have indicated an interest in attending the Le Mars Community School District. Dr. Wendt will also present his recommendations on the Board of Education series of the board policy manual to the school board for their consideration.
Law Enforcement Officers Mourn The Death Of A Black Hawk County Deputy
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – Law enforcement officers from eastern Iowa gathered over the weekend to mourn the loss of a Black Hawk County sheriff’s deputy who was killed in a traffic crash.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that 34-year-old Timothy Lee Petersen was laid to rest Saturday at Memorial Park Cemetery in Waterloo.
Petersen was killed last week when his Harley-Davidson motorcycle collided with a sport utility vehicle as it was pulling out onto the road. Petersen was not on duty at the time.
Public safety officers from eastern Iowa and other parts of the state attended Petersen’s funeral. Mourners described him as a good friend, brother, husband and father who was passionate about law enforcement.
Political Advocates Discussing Various Issues With Iowa Voters
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A slew of issue-advocacy groups are taking a page from White House hopefuls, flooding airwaves and knocking on doors to try to educate voters ahead of the state’s first-in the-nation 2016 presidential caucus.
Groups are running ad campaigns or grassroots efforts are raising issues like early childhood education, campaign finance reform, environmental policy and the national debt.
Political strategists and experts view the early-voting state as a fertile ground to reach voters, candidates and influence the conversation.
But one veteran operative says that it could be a challenge to cut through the noise because of the mass of groups and candidates jockeying for Iowa voters’ attention.
Jackson-Jefferson Fund Raiser Dinner To Have New Name
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Democratic Party’s annual dinner celebration is getting a new name.
The party’s State Central Committee voted Saturday in favor of a resolution to change the name of the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, which was named for Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson. Both presidents were slave owners, and Jackson is known for the forced removal of Cherokee Indians from their land.
The name change will take place after this year’s dinner. Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Andy McGuire says the decision was not taken lightly, and it came from discussion among activists and grassroots leaders around the state.
McGuire says the process of choosing a new name will be as inclusive as possible.
Investigators Look At Death Of Man Found On Recreational Trail
DALLAS CENTER, Iowa (AP) – Authorities are investigating the death of a man whose body was found on a bike trail in rural central Iowa.
The man was found Saturday morning along the trail between Dallas Center and Waukee in Dallas County, west of Des Moines. Authorities say the death was suspicious, but they’re still investigating. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday.
The Dallas County sheriff’s office has called the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to help with the case.
Authorities say they may not identify the man until after the autopsy.
Former Residents Of Mental Health Facilities Now Placed In Nursing Care
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former residents at a state-run mental health facility that closed this year are now scattered throughout Iowa, with some living in nursing homes that are considered below average on a federal registry.
The residents were part of a state program for people with serious mental illnesses. The program was housed at the Iowa Mental Health Institute at Clarinda, which Gov. Terry Branstad ordered closed, saying it was outdated and inefficient.
Eight residents were transferred to four traditional nursing homes, all of which are rated “below average” or “much below average” on a federal registry. Two of those patients died.
State officials say they went to great lengths to find suitable placements for the former Clarinda patients, and relatives often helped choose the new facilities.
