Trailer Home Catches On Fire
(Le Mars)– The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a fire at Armel Acres trailer court that was reported at about 2:06 this Wednesday afternoon. The fire was inside trailer number 12 on Orchard Street. According to Fire Chief Dave Schipper, the home owner was using a heat gun to attempt to thaw his water pipes from underneath the bathroom’s vanity when the paneling on the wall under the vanity had caught on fire, spreading quickly up the wall behind the bathroom’s mirror. Fire personnel were able to contain the fire and extinguish it before it had spread beyond the bathroom wall. Fire officials removed burnt pieces of paneling and insulation from the trailer home. Fire officials were on the scene for about 45 minutes.
Deputies Locate Lost Woman In Snow And Cold
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say deputies have found a missing Sioux City woman lying in a snow-covered field in rural Woodbury County.
The 24-year-old woman was last seen Sunday after leaving her job in Dakota City, Nebraska. Friends and relatives reported her missing on Monday. Her cellphone location transmission led two deputies to her Tuesday on a farmstead near Moville.
Authorities say Shaniqwa Hayes was found conscious but unresponsive. She was taken to a Sioux City hospital.
The two Woodbury County officers, Deputy David Hansen and Lt. Tony Wingert, said Wednesday they found a faint footprint 15 yards in front of her car at the farmstead and followed footprints to Hayes, who was lying in snow near a grain bin.
Wingert estimated that Hayes walked at least 100 yards from her car.
State Senator Bill Anderson Comments On Opening Week Of General Session
(Des Moines) — “It’s a week with several speeches”. That’s how State Senator Bill Anderson, a republican from Pierson, describes the first week back in the state’s capitol building for the start of the General Session. Anderson says he was pleased when Iowa Governor Terry Branstad had mentioned renewable energy during his “Condition of the State” address on Tuesday. Anderson says renewable energy sources is something near and dear to his heart.
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Anderson says he is hopeful as the process moves forward, that we will see an end to the so-called “blend wall”.
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The governor proposed a plan to utilize tax money that is normally collected for improvements for school infrastructure, to now go to help improve the state’s water quality. Anderson says he wants to learn more information about the plan.
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Another idea that Governor Branstad proposed to the state legislature was to have a 2.45 percent increase in education funding. Anderson says it will be interesting to see what happens since republicans wanted less and democrats have asked for more funding.
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Aside from water quality and education funding, Anderson anticipates the state legislature will discuss the “Clean Line Project” which is a proposed electrical transmission line that will cross the state, as well as the Bakken oil pipeline.
State Supreme Court Justice Cady Discusses Racial Equity In Iowa Court System
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The chief justice of the Iowa Supreme Court says the state is making progress in addressing racial disparity in its criminal justice system.
Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady says more than 700 judges, magistrates and other judicial branch staffers received training last year that helps them recognize implicit biases that may contribute to racial disparity. He says three Iowa counties are working on pilot projects that try to eliminate racial disparity in the juvenile justice system.
Cady spoke to the Iowa General Assembly on Wednesday during the annual Condition of the Judiciary address.
The Judicial Branch is seeking more than $190 million in funding for the fiscal year that begins in July, a 4 percent increase. Gov. Terry Branstad recommended that request in his budget proposal released Tuesday.
Rubio And Christie To Visit Northwest Iowa Over The Weekend
(Le Mars) — Two Republican Presidential candidates will be in northwest Iowa this weekend. Florida Senator Marco Rubio is scheduled to appear in Sioux Center Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. at the Dordt College Campus Center. On Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has scheduled to make an appearance in Le Mars at the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor.
Dave Miller Honored As “Boss Of The Quarter”
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Chamber of Commerce awarded its latest “Boss of the Quarter” honor yesterday during the Chamber coffee. This time the honor was given to Dave Miller of Culligan-Maytag. The employees of Culligan-Maytag submitted the nomination. They write: “Dave has been the owner of Culligan since May of 1997. Dave and his wife Kim started with four full time employees and have grown the business now to six full time employees, and two part-time employees. In the time Dave has been with Culligan, he has developed good relationships and friendships with all of his employees. He is patient and fair. Whether Dave is training, doing service, or sales, he knows all aspects of the business well. Dave has created an environment that is fun to be a part of. As employees, we all want to excel at what we are doing. Dave knows we are employees, but he treats us all like family. For these reasons, we all believe Dave has earned our respect and the honor of being boss of the quarter. Our congratulations go to Dave Miller of Culligan-Maytag for being honored as the Chamber’s “Boss of the Quarter”.
Appeals Court Refuses Lower Sentence For ISU Researcher On Fake HIV/Aids Tests
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An appeals court has refused to order a lower sentence for a former Iowa State University scientist who faked AIDS vaccine research results.
Dong-Pyou Han had been sentenced in July to serve 57 months in prison. Han’s lawyer said in his appeal that the sentence was unreasonable. The appellate court disagreed in its ruling this week.
Han entered a plea agreement in February admitting guilt to two counts of making false statements.
A group of researchers at Harvard University found in January 2013 the promising results Han and his research had reported were achieved with rabbit blood spiked with human antibodies.
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Powerball Jackpot Has Three Winners
LOS ANGELES (AP) – No one has come forward yet to claim some of the $1.6 billion Powerball prize, but lottery officials say they know where the three lucky tickets were purchased.
They say one ticket was bought at a 7-Eleven in Chino Hills, California. Another was bought in Munford, Tennessee, north of Memphis, and the third ticket was sold at a Publix grocery store in Melbourne Beach, Florida.
The winning numbers in Wednesday night’s drawing are 4-8-19-27-34 and Powerball 10.
The winners can opt for annual payments over decades or a lump-sum payment.
