(Hawarden) — Thick, black smoke could be seen for miles as a result of a hog
confinement facility catching on fire. The fire was located at 1825 470th Street,
southwest of Hawarden in Sioux County. Nine different fire departments consisting
of Hawarden, Ireton, Maurice, Sioux Center, Orange City, Alcester, South Dakota,
Hudson, South Dakota, and Rock Valley were called to help battle the blaze. Fire
officials indicate the alarm was sounded at about 8:46 a.m. Saturday morning.
Hawarden Fire Chief John Strong says it is too early to determine the cause for the
fire, but he says fire investigators from the State Fire Marshal office will be
contacted to help determine the cause of the fire.
Two large confinement barns are a total loss. Strong says he doesn’t know how many
hogs may have perished in the fire, but estimates the number to be well into the
hundreds if not thousands of hogs lost. Fire officials had some difficulty
manuevering in the farmstead due to the muddy conditions from last night’s rain.
Fire officials are still on the scene. The Sioux Center Re-hab trailer was called
to the scene of the fire to help monitor the fire fighters conditions.
(Le Mars) — Monday is Memorial Day, and the Wasmer post #241 American Legion will
again host its annual Avenue of Flags program to be held at the Plymouth County
Courthouse grounds. Wayne Schipper serves as the Commander of the local American
Legion post. He says the program, which is to begin at 10:00 a.m., will focus on
dedicating flags in the memory of veterans who have passed.
Schipper says the earliest veterans that are remembered with the Avenue of Flags go
back to World War I. The American Legion post commander says the 1200 plus flags
that will be displayed on the courthouse lawn and surrounding area all represent
someone with either having a Le Mars or Plymouth County connection.
Again, this year, all 1260 names will be honored with a roll call performed by
Legionaire Pat Murphy.
Schipper says members of the American Legion Auxiliary will display wreaths to
remember all veterans of the wars dating back to the Civil war.
Prior to the program being held at the Plymouth County courthouse lawn, the
American Legion will hold a parade.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has signed into law new state
oversight of Iowa’s Medicaid program under private management.
Branstad announced the approval Friday amid final decisions on a number of
bills, including several dealing with Iowa’s $7.35 billion budget, which takes
effect in July.
Branstad kept language negotiated by the split Legislature that will add more
state oversight to Medicaid, the program that provides health care to poor and
disabled people.
Some Democratic lawmakers in the Senate had demanded additional oversight of
the program because of concerns about the transition to private management on April
1. Branstad says in a message his approval means the state’s Medicaid program will
be one of the most transparent.
The governor had 30 days after the legislative session adjourned to deal with
remaining legislation.
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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A man has been charged after Sioux City police say he shot
a water pipe in a hotel room, flooding two floors.
Sgt. Scott Hatting says 30-year-old Brett Anderson was inside a Super 8 Hotel
room Friday when he accidentally fired his gun. Hatting says a water pipe was
struck, causing water to flood the first and second floors. No injuries were
reported.
Anderson was arrested and charged with reckless use of a firearm.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A University of Iowa spokeswoman says authorities are
investigating an explosion and fire at a university-owned apartment that left one
person dead.
UI spokeswoman Jeneane Beck says university police and Iowa City firefighters
responded to a report of an explosion about 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Hawkeye Drive
Apartments.
Beck says police are investigating a single fatality, and a State Fire
Marshall’s office investigator was at the scene.
Authorities aren’t releasing the name of the victim.
Most residents of the apartment complex were allowed to return to their homes,
and those in adjacent apartments likely can return later in the evening.
The apartments are owned by the university and are available for students and
staff. They’re about three miles west of the central campus.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says Iowa
residents may fish without a license next weekend.
The department has announced their free fishing weekend will run June 3-5.
Although purchasing a license won’t be required, all other fishing regulations will
still be in place.
Joe Larscheid, chief of the Iowa DNR’s Fisheries Bureau, says he hopes the
initiative prompts anglers to purchase an annual fishing license. He says the money
allows the bureau to produce and stock over 160 million fish yearly, conduct
research, construct fish habitat and improve water quality.
Hands-on activities will be offered across the state to teach parents and kids
the basics of fishing. A list of events is available at
programs.iowadnr.gov/specialevents/.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The possibility of an American Indian burial site in Iowa
may require relocation of a crude oil pipeline route which would further delay the
beginning of construction in the only one of four states where work hasn’t yet
begun.
The Dakota Access pipeline passes through the Big Sioux Wildlife Management
area and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe leaders say there is a burial site. The pipeline
also goes through the Dakotas and Illinois.
The possibility prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which owns the
property, to revoke a construction permit for the area and issue a stop work order
to Dakota Access until further notice.
A spokeswoman for Dakota Access says if something is confirmed the company
will work with the appropriate agencies to make any necessary adjustments.
