Authorities Identify Fatal Accident Victim
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County authorities have released the name of the fatal accident victim from the two-vehicle accident that happened Sunday afternoon on Highway 75, four miles north of Le Mars. The accident victim has been identified as 16 year old Zachary Rolfes of Le Mars. Rolfes crossed the centerline, and was hit by a semi truck and trailer. He was pronounced dead at the Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars. The driver of the semi truck, 43 year old Jon Edwards of Sibley suffered only minor injuries. Authorities are still investigating the accident to determine as to why Rolfes lost control and entered the southbound lane of travel.
High School To Offer Counseling Sessions For Students After Death Of Teenager
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Community High School is offering counseling sessions for those students that feel a need to express their emotions due to the tragic death of Zachary Rolfes. Dr. Mark Iverson, the high school principal, says students were notified through emails of the tragedy. He says students can visit the high school to seek counseling.
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Iverson says the 16 year old participated in football, wrestling, and band. Iverson says the high school does not have a time table for the counseling sessions. He says they will continue as long as there is a need.
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Branstad Says Caucus Results Count, Not Early Polling Numbers
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s Republican governor says don’t read too much into August presidential polls.
Asked about billionaire Donald Trump’s surge, Gov. Terry Branstad said four years ago, the leading position changed hands many times. February is a long time off, he said, a reference to the first in the nation caucuses in his state.
Branstad on Monday noted that nearly every 2016 presidential candidate is coming to the fair. Trump, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton are among those who have already visited. Scheduled to appear Monday were Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former business executive Carly Fiorina and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Iowa’s Republican governor walked the fairgrounds with Bush Friday. So far, he has not given the same attention to another candidate, but he said the face time with Bush happened simply because their schedules lined up.
Branstad said: “I’m trying to be truly a good host in welcoming all candidates. I do have a busy schedule and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.”
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker Steps Up To The State Fair Soap Box Stage
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is rallying hundreds of supporters in Iowa, despite protests of a vocal minority during his speech at the Iowa State Fair.
During his stop at The Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox, the Republican candidate for president said he is “frustrated with the Republican leadership in Washington.” It was an indirect jab at some his rivals for the 2016 GOP nomination who are members of Congress.
Walker also tried to distinguish himself from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, referring to those who have “been out of the fight” for a while. Bush left the Florida governorship after two terms in 2007.
Walker, who beat a 2011 recall after signing legislation stripping public unions of some negotiating rights, said his detractors didn’t intimidate him in his home state. He said, “the truth is things are better in Wisconsin.”
Mower To Run Again For Congress, But This Time In The 3rd District
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iraq war veteran who lost a Democratic congressional bid last year says he will try again in a different district.
Jim Mowrer announced Monday that he’ll run for the Democratic nomination in Iowa’s 3rd congressional district. Mowrer ran unsuccessfully last year against Republican Rep. Steve King in the 4th district.
The 3rd district stretches from Des Moines to Council Bluffs and is represented by freshman Republican Rep. David Young.
The 29-year-old Mowrer says his family now lives in Des Moines. He recently resigned from a leadership role with the Iowa Democratic Party and says he is running to bring new leadership to the district.
Mowrer was soundly beaten by King in a Republican-heavy district. The 3rd district is considered a more politically competitive district.
Trench Collapses Killing Otho Man
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a 49-year-old man who died after a trench collapsed on him in central Iowa.
The accident happened around 1:40 p.m. Friday at Marian Home and Village in Fort Dodge. Authorities say workers were installing a sewer line as part of a renovation and expansion project when about 20 feet of the 3-foot-wide trench collapsed.
The Messenger reports that firefighters had to shore up the 12-foot-deep trench before the man’s body could be recovered. The man was identified as William “Butch” Paterson, of Otho (OH’-thoh).
Safety investigators have been called in to see what caused the accident and determine whether safety procedures were followed.
Man Sets Another Man On Fire – Charged With Attempted Murder
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A 46-year-old man accused of setting another man on fire has been charged with attempted murder in Des Moines.
Police say Mark Thomsen was arrested and charged with attempted murder and willful injury after the incident that was reported around 8 p.m. Saturday. Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could be contacted to comment on Thomsen’s behalf.
Witnesses told officers that Thomsen was arguing with the other man at a camp for homeless people. The other man later was identified as Kenneth Wise. Wise was taken to a Des Moines hospital and then flown to Iowa City for treatment of burns that police say covered 75 percent of Wise’s body.
School District To Sell Wind Turbine
NORTHWOOD, Iowa (AP) – The Northwood-Kensett school district is considering selling its wind turbine that it purchased over a decade ago.
The school district bought the 250-kilowatt turbine in 2002 for about $68,000. Officials had planned for the equipment to be moved to the Northwood-Kensett school campus in Northwood, but it never happened.
The turbine remains at a wind farm, where it generates electricity that the district sells to Alliant Energy. Superintendent Mike Crozier says the equipment has generated about $4,050 in total profits over the past five years.
He says that, “If there’s a market out there, we’ll go ahead and sell it.” The district would formally advertise the turbine and open it up for bid if anyone shows interest and officials decide to sell.
College Divers Find Abandon Pick Up Truck At Bottom Of Lake
LEHIGH, Iowa (AP) – Some college divers on a training dip have been surprised by their discovery of a pickup on the bottom of a lake in central Iowa.
The scuba divers from Iowa State University found the truck Sunday at Brushy Creek State Recreational Area near Lehigh. Webster County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Paullin says the divers got the truck’s license number, and authorities confirmed that the license had been given to a pickup stolen several years ago.
Paullin says the divers attached a cable from a tow truck to the pickup, and the pickup was pulled from the lake.
Branstad Unveils New App For Arts & Culture
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad is unveiling a new mobile app that offers information about Iowa’s arts, culture and history destinations.
Branstad announced the app Monday at a news conference at the Iowa State Fair. The app provides details on more than 3,500 spots throughout the state’s 99 counties.
Users can sort the information by category and location, using mapping tools to see what is available in different regions. It offers details on destinations like the American Gothic House, the bridges in Madison County and the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium.
Branstad says the app showcases destinations that are “points of pride” and will help people learn more about Iowa.
The app is available in the Apple and Google Play stores.
