Vehicle Accident Snaps Off Utility Pole
(Le Mars) — A car struck a utility light pole in a one-vehicle accident that happened Tuesday afternoon, shortly before 3:00 p.m. The accident occurred on Hawkeye Avenue, or also known as Business Highway 75 in front of the Northwest Bank branch office. The accident resulted in the utility light pole sheared off and falling across the highway. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Le Mars Ambulance, and the Le Mars Police Department all responded to the accident. Traffic was temporarily diverted to Lincoln Street southwest from 12th Street southwest to 18th street southwest. The car hit the light pole head-on, snapping the pole at about the four foot mark. MidAmerican Energy crews were dispatched to the scene to restore power to the area. No information is available as of yet as to why the vehicle struck the light pole, or if there were any injuries associated with the accident.
Floyd Valley Healthcare To Offer Meals On Christmas
(Le Mars) — In keeping with the spirit of the holiday season, the staff of Floyd Valley Hospital would like to invite those, who would otherwise be alone on Christmas, to share Christmas dinner with us in the Hospital cafeteria. Christmas dinner will be served on December 25th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Kathy Massey, Dietary Manager, says, “In a tradition that started over 15 years ago, we would like to invite those who would otherwise be alone to share dinner with the hospital staff. If you are going to be alone and would like to join the hospital staff, we ask you to notify the Hospital’s Dietary Department at 546-3395 or 1-800-642-6074 ext. 3395 by December 23rd.”
Real Christmas Trees In Short Supply After Busy Thanksgiving Weekend
(Hawarden) — If you haven’t yet selected this year’s Christmas tree, and are wanting a real tree with the fresh pine aroma to help brighten your holidays, you may have some difficulty in locating that special tree. Robin Miller operates the T & S Nursrey Christmas Tree farm located in northwest Plymouth County. She says people came early this season to pick their Christmas tree.
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Miller says more and more people are choosing the taller trees than in previous years.
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Miller doesn’t know the reason why the taller trees are becoming more popular, but she credits social media for the surge in new customers arriving earlier in the season to her Christmas tree farm to purchase a real Christmas tree.
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The Christmas tree grower says she sells around a thousand trees each year. She says some smaller trees are available, but if she is hesitant to sell the smaller trees.
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More families are choosing to have a real tree for their Christmas, and Miller offers an explanation as to why.
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Holidays Can Be Dangerous Time For Home Fires
(Le Mars) — The holidays can be festive, but they can also be dangerous, especially when during the holidays there is an increased risk of home fires. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says during the holidays, people get busier, and often we become rushed, distracted, or tired. That’s when home fires are more likely to occur”. Schipper says one of the more common type of fires during the holiday season are burning candles.
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{audio} images/stories/mp3/December 2015/Schipper holidays1.mp3{/audio}
Chief Schipper says unattended cooking ranks as the number one cause for home fires in the U-S. He says when people are cooking, they need to stay in the kitchen.
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Tomorrow, we will continue focusing on home fire safety during the holidays, as we look at Christmas trees, electrical lights, and space heaters.
Neola Is Without A Fire Department
NEOLA, Iowa (AP) – A small western Iowa city will need help with emergency services from neighboring communities after 12 members of its volunteer fire department resigned.
A consultant for the city of Neola says the firefighters quit Monday night and four remain. Clint Fichter tells the Daily Nonpareil (https://bit.ly/1HTyvlb ) that Neola will be covered temporarily by fire departments in Minden and Underwood.
Fichter says he expects the city to hire new firefighters over several months.
A state audit report this year said a former city clerk for Neola misspent more than $230,000 over five years. About $47,000 was linked to the fire department’s bank account.
The newspaper reports emails between Neola’s acting fire chief and the mayor-elect showed suggestions by the mayor to streamline how firefighters would be hired in the future.
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Iowa Manufacturers To Receive Tax Break
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A legislative panel has informally approved rules to expand a tax break for some manufacturers in Iowa.
The Administrative Rules Review Committee wasn’t required to vote on the proposed changes at a Tuesday meeting, so they became official following a Department of Revenue presentation.
The changes, scheduled to take effect in July, will expand the sales and use tax exemption for machinery and equipment used for manufacturing.
Some Democrats say the revenue department overstepped its authority. A department spokeswoman says it was seeking clarification to the state’s tax rules.
The non-partisan Legislative Services Agency says the changes will reduce revenue from total state and local taxes by nearly $48 million in the fiscal year beginning in July. Lawmakers could attempt to stop the changes during the legislative session.
Iowa DNR To Determine If Shot Canine Is A Wolf
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials are trying to determine the species of a large canine shot in northwest Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says it is testing the animal’s DNA following a shooting Sunday morning in Osceola County.
A hunter looking for coyote used a common technique to shoot the animal from about 100 to 150 yards away. The hunter determined the animal was not a coyote and contacted a local state conservation officer.
Officials think the animal could be a wolf. Minnesota and Wisconsin are home to several hundred packs of Great Lakes wolves. The animals can travel more than 500 miles to establish a new home.
