Icy Roads Responsible For Accident
(Le Mars) — Slick, icy roads are responsible for an early morning accident that happened on Highway 3 at about 7:30 a.m. on the east edge of town near the intersection of the Le Mars Mutual Insurance building and the Armory. According to the Le Mars Police, the accident involved a car heading eastbound and wanting to make a left-hand turn toward the Le Mars Mutual Insurance, when a pick up truck pulling a trailer loaded with a snowmobile was following the car and was unable to stop and rear-ended the car, causing the car to spin completely around. The Le Mars Ambulance Services and the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to the scene. The female driver of the car was taken to the Floyd Valley Healthcare with what was thought to be minor injuries. The driver of the pick up truck was uninjured. Both vehicles sustained damage. The Le Mars Police Department is investigating the accident.
Residents Reminded To Clear Sidewalks Of Snow
(Le Mars) — The topic of proper snow removal was discussed during the Tuesday city council meeting. Assistant City Administrator and Code Enforcement Officer, Jason Vacera reminds home owners that snow must be cleared from sidewalks within 48 hours after a snowfall.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2016/Vacera1.MP3{/audio}
Vacera says he has witnessed instances where a property owner had pushed the snow from his own property and dumped it on his neighbor’s property, which as Vacera says is a no-no.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2016/Vacera2.MP3{/audio}
As for downtown businesses, Vacera says they are given an exemption, and are allowed to dispose the snow into the streets. However, the city official says it is expected that downtown businesses scoop off thier sidewalks prior to when city crews clear the snow from the streets.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2016/Vacera3.MP3{/audio}
Vacera reminds those homeowners that if they have a fire hydrant located on their property, it is their responsibility to keep the snow away from the hydrant.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2016/Vacera4.MP3{/audio}
Le Mars Airport Is Important To Community Transportation System
(Le Mars) — “The airport is a major component of this community’s transportation system”. That’s according to Earl Draayer (Drier), the manager of the Le Mars Municipal Airport.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2016/Draayer1.MP3{/audio}
Earlier this week Draayer submitted the annual airport report to the Le Mars city council. Draayer says the airport is tied to the economic development and growth for Le Mars.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2016/Draayer2.MP3{/audio}
Recently, the Le Mars city council recognized the importance of the airport and knowing it often serves as the first impression for people flying into this community. The city council approved the renovation of the terminal building, with the assistance of private donations.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2016/Draayer3.MP3{/audio}
Draayer informed the city council the airport is used in many different areas of aerial transportation.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2016/Draayer4.MP3{/audio}
The local airport manager further explains how the Le Mars Municipal Airport has helped with two industries to expand its business.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2016/Draayer5.MP3{/audio}
Further expansion plans for the airport are being pursued, and Draayer offers a glimpse of those airport expansion plans.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2016/Draayer6.MP3{/audio}
Draayer says the airport needs to obtain easements or land acquisitions to maintain the instrument approach system. He says the instrument approach system is essential to handle the corporate aircraft.
Last Day For The Dakota Farm Show
(Vermillion, SD) — It is often referred to as the “farmers’ shopping center”, and today is the final day of the Dakota Farm Show taking place at the University of South Dakota — Dakota Dome in Vermillion.
The Dakota Farm Show is considered to be one of the Midwest’s largest indoor farm shows, and this year they are celebrating their 33rd year in the Dakota Dome in Vermillion. The farm show offers area farmers the latest in farm technology, focused on improving yields, reducing costs, and managing risk. This year’s Dakota Farm Show features a wide variety of exhibits and displays with over 290 different companies. Show manager Penny Swank offers an overview of the annual event.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2016/Swank1.MP3{/audio}
The Dakota Farm Show runs for three days having began on Tuesday. Swank says despite the fact that farm income is lower this year, many farmers are still showing interests in the featured equipment, and she says there are plenty of buyers among the lookers.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2016/Swank2.MP3{/audio}
One item that is catching on, that you may not initially think about as having much of an agricultural connection, are drones. Swank says drones are a popular item at this year’s farm show. She says there is an exhibitor at this year’s Dakota Farm Show that is featuring the new aerial machine, and several farmers are asking questions.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/January 2016/Swank3.MP3{/audio}
The Dakota Farm Show offers free admission and free parking, and as we mentioned earlier, it continues today and tomorrow with the doors opening at 9:00 a.m.
Webster County Assessor Deleted Important County Documents Following Termination
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – Webster County supervisors say the county assessor went to her office and had files deleted off the county computer after she’d been fired by the county Conference Board.
The supervisors also say she hasn’t turned over to the county a recording of the Oct. 27 meeting at which she was terminated. She was later reinstated and placed on paid administrative leave, pending a hearing.
The Messenger (https://bit.ly/1mIdQ9N ) says the supervisors’ report has been given to the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the actions by Jeanette Thanupakorn (tuh-NOOP’-uh-gahn). She has repeatedly declined to comment about the matter.
Officials say about 300 files were deleted by a clerk at Thanupakorn’s direction and that most of them were personal. Supervisor Merrill Leffler says it’s believed some of them were county files.
—
Former Congressman Tom Latham Says He Suffers From Cancer
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former U.S. Representative Tom Latham of Iowa says he has been diagnosed with a form of cancer.
The former Republican congressman wrote on his public Facebook page Wednesday that he was diagnosed recently with a form of lymphoma. His post, which he linked to his verified Twitter account, says he is working with doctors and there’s a treatment plan. He didn’t release more information.
The 67-year-old Latham says in the Facebook post that he is confident he could “beat this and be back to full speed soon.”
Latham was first elected to Congress in 1995, and he retired in 2015. He represented different sections of Iowa during his multiple terms.
Many Republicans Are Still Undecided Heading Into The Caucus
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are fighting for the favor of many of the same undecided voters across Iowa. With the caucuses approaching Feb. 1, even some of the most attentive Republicans say they can’t make up their minds.
An overwhelming number of would-be voters say both Cruz and Rubio are in contention for their support. Their policies, personalities and presumed ability to defeat the Democratic nominee in the fall are all under close examination.
Donald Trump comes up often as well, as do retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
People in early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire are notoriously late deciders and the fact they have a dozen contenders to choose from is making their decision all the more difficult.
