Orange City Holds Ground Breaking Ceremony For Fire Station Expansion
(Orange City) — Ground breaking ceremonies took place this morning on the
expansion of the new Orange City Fire Station. A gathering of more than a hundred
people listened to various dignities speak about the expansion. Dennis Vander Wel
is the fire chief for the Orange City Fire Department. Vander Wel says some work
for the expansion has already begun, but major construction is expected to start
shortly.
Vander Wel says the expansion was needed to accommodate larger and additional
equipment, plus to make it a safer work place for the Orange City Fire Department.
The Orange City fire chief says a portion of the existing building will remain,
and construction on the fire station expansion will continue through the winter
months.
Vander Wel says while construction is taking place, the fire station will still be
utilized. He talks about the new dimensions to the fire station addition.
Completion of the construction is projected to finish by November of 2017.
Fatal House Fire In Ottumwa
OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say one person has died in an Ottumwa house
fire.
Firetrucks were dispatched a little after 10 a.m. Thursday. Fire Chief Tony
Miller told The Ottumwa Courier (https://bit.ly/2bDjmav ) that the house was
engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived. The cause of the fire is
being investigated.
The dead man has been identified as Richard Hartley. It’s unclear whether he
was living in the home and whether anyone else was inside when the fire began.
Miller didn’t immediately return a call Friday from The Associated Press.
—
Iowa’s Unemployment Rate Increases In July
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s unemployment rate increased slightly in July to
4.1 percent, as the number of unemployed residents climbed to 70,600.
Iowa Workforce Development reported Friday that July’s rate was up from 4
percent in June and has risen from 3.6 percent a year ago.
Iowa’s unemployment rate remains below the national rate of 4.9 percent,
which remained steady in July.
Overall, the state agency says there were 1.64 million Iowa workers in July.
Inmate Tries To Commit Suicide
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A man awaiting trial in a Council Bluffs slaying has been accused of helping another inmate try to kill himself.
Ben Lein was charged Thursday with assisting suicide. Court documents say Lein handed a towel Monday to the other inmate, who is on suicide watch. The inmate tore the towel into strips and tried to hang himself. The documents say a jailer saw the incident and removed the towel before the inmate could die.
Lein, Wesley Correa-Carmenaty and Markis Davis have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges in the March 7 slaying of 22-year-old Anthony Walker and wounding of 32-year-old Patrick Schultz. The three are scheduled to begin trial Sept. 27.
—
