Deadly Fatal Roll-over Accident On Interstate 29 Near Salix
(Sioux City) — Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office, along with a multitude of other fire, rescue, ambulance, and law enforcement agencies, responded to a roll over fatality accident near mile marker 135, near the Salix exit, on Interstate 29 northbound, at 1:26 p.m. Friday afternoon. Witness accounts indicate an S-U-V, with three occupants, was northbound on the interstate when the vehicle lost control, entered the median, struck a crossover, which caused the vehicle to roll. One person was ejected from the vehicle, one person is deceased and the other two occupants were transported to Mercy Medical Center for treatment. Their conditions are not being released at this time. The Iowa State Patrol is conducting the technical investigation into the cause of the crash. No further information is being released at this time.
Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department Had A Busy March
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department had a busy March according to Fire Chief Dave Schipper. In the monthly report, the Le Mars Fire Department responded to 24 different fire calls, performed nine rescues, conducted eight investigations, and offered mutual aid eight different times, and had eleven requests for services, bringing the total calls for March at 60. Fire chief Dave Schipper says the month of March had everything from fires, vehicle accidents with entrapments, acid spills, fuel spills, mutual aid calls involving the aerial truck, carbon monoxide alarms, an apartment fire that caused serious burn injuries and smoke inhalation to a female resident. Schipper says during the overnight storm that ultimately dumped 15 inches of snow on Le Mars, several firefighters chose to stay overnight at the fire station to handle any emergency calls during the blizzard. Schipper says the fire department is grateful for all the private donations during the month of March that went to help pay for a new wildland grass rig.
Easter Egg Hunt Will Be Held Today
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars annual Easter egg hunt, which was originally scheduled for last Saturday, but was postponed because of the snow, will take place today at the Cleveland Castle park. The festivities will begin at 11:00 a.m. The annual Easter egg hunt is sponsored by The Education Station along with Primebank. Brad Pick says there are plenty of eggs to be found.
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Pick says the park will be divided into three separate areas based on the age level. Children from age 2 through the first grade are welcomed to participate. The Easter bunny will be in attendance today between 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon and will be available for pictures near the clock tower.
Fun Walk/Fun To Benefit Plymouth County 4-H Programs
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County 4-H program is hoping to raise money by hosting a fun walk and run, scheduled for Saturday evening. Ann Schoenrock, co-program coordinator with the Plymouth County Extension Services says the fun walk and run is being sponsored by the Plymouth County 4-H Foundation. She says the event will mark the first, of what is hoped to be many more fun walks and runs.
Schoenrock says there will be plenty of other activities featured at the fairgrounds besides the fun walk and fun run.
The Plymouth County 4-H Youth Director says this fun walk and fun run will be slightly different as participants are encouraged to utilize illuminators to light up the trail.
Schoenrock explains the route after starting at the Plymouth County fairgrounds.
Siouxland Garden Show Celebrates 10 Years
(Sioux City) — The tenth annual Siouxland Garden Show is taking place this weekend at the Sioux City Convention Center. Carol Larvick with the Dakota County, Nebraska Extension Services serves on the garden show committee. She says this year’s show should appeal to anyone with a “green thumb”. Larvick says a featured speaker during today’s event will discuss how to grill your garden vegetables.
Larvick says floral designs will also be featured as a educational seminar.
Larvick says the annual garden show again features a host of vendors exhibiting a variety of products.
The garden show official says again this year the popular “How To” sessions and “Make It and Take It” seminars are being offered to attendees.
Larvick encourages parents to bring along their children to the garden show.
Admission is $5 for adults. The Siouxland Garden Show will remain open today until 6:00 p.m. and on Sunday, the hours are from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Funeral Held For Second Police Officer Killed In Auto Accident
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – More than 2,000 family, friends and public safety officers gathered at a West Des Moines church to honor one of two Des Moines police officers killed in a head-on crash.
It has been a difficult time for the family of Carlos Puente-Morales, who died with officer Susan Farrell Saturday in a crash with a wrong-way driver.
During the Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Bishop Richard Pates acknowledged the family’s great loss in the past 16 months. Puente-Morales’ brother died in a November 2014 traffic accident and their father died months later.
Puente-Morales had worked as an officer in Ottumwa before moving to Des Moines police.
A prisoner being transported by the officers and the other driver were also killed.
Philanthropist Richard Jacobsen Passes Away
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A longtime Iowa philanthropist who has donated millions of dollars to the state’s three universities and other organizations has died at age 79.
A manager at Serenity Funeral Home in Largo, Florida confirmed that Richard Jacobson died Friday.
The Des Moines Register reports Jacobson, the founder of Des Moines-based shipping and logistics company Jacobson Companies, died in his Florida home.
The businessman grew up in Belmond, Iowa. Jacobson donated $100 million to the Mayo Clinic in 2011, which was the largest gift Mayo had ever received from a living donor.
He also gave the University of Northern Iowa’s College of Education $15 million, which was the largest donation in the school’s history.
Governor Terry Branstad called Jacobson an “Iowa business icon who relished in his philanthropic efforts.”
Former Mayor Faces Fraud Charges
NORTHWOOD, Iowa (AP) – A former northern Iowa mayor is facing fraud charges in connection to his former lumber business.
Court documents say fifty-two-year-old Randy Severson was arrested Wednesday and is charged with defrauding $300,000 from Northwood State Bank between 2011 and 2014, while he was the president of Northwood Lumber.
Severson, who is the former Northwood mayor, is accused of using the names of family members, customers and acquaintances without their knowledge to make phony invoices that were submitted to the bank to create lines of credit.
He is charged with ongoing criminal conduct, three counts of first-degree fraud and three counts of second-degree fraud.
Severson resigned as Northwood mayor in November 2012.
Court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could be reached for comment.
