Fiery Collision Between Motorcycle And Pick Up Truck Witnessed By Football FansĀ
(Le Mars) — Hundreds of people attending the Gehlen Catholic Homecoming football
game Friday evening witnessed a horrific traffic accident that produced an
explosion and fire ball and sent two people to the hospital. The incident
happened at about 8:00 p.m. while people were watching the Gehlen marching band
perform during halftime. Just beyond the football field and behind the visiting
bleachers on 12th Street SW, a motorcycle collided head-on with a pick-up truck.
The motorcycle slid beneath the pick-up truck which caused a fire to start.
Shortly there after officials believe it was the gasoline tank from the motorcycle
that exploded. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper was attending the football game
and was one of hundreds to witness the fiery collision.
The game was suspended for nearly a half an hour while emergency crews worked at
the scene. Fans on the visiting sideline were asked to leave the area and go
across the field.
Schipper says he asked that the two teams not resume the game until after such
time, officials determined the scene to be safe.
Fire fighters used a fire retardant foam in order to smother the fire which was
burning the pick-up truck. The accident still remains under investigation by the
Le Mars Police Department. According to the traffic accident report issued by the
Le Mars Police Department, the driver of the motorcycle, 21 year old Dillon
McKinney of Le Mars was initially transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare, then
airlifted to a Sioux City hospital. McKinney’s injuries are severe, but are not
thought to be life-threatening. McKinney’s passenger on the motorcycle was 23
year old Samantha Prieksat of Le Mars. She was treated and released from the
hospital. Surprisingly, the driver of the pick-up truck, 19 year old Joseph
Schleis and his male passenger were able to escape the burning vehicle and did not
sustain any injuries, although their vehicle had caught on fire and was totally
destroyed. Charges are pending.
Local Insurance Companies Merge To Form Perspective Insurance
(Le Mars) — What was formerly known as Am-Bank Insurance and Bixenman Insurance
will now be known as Perspective Insurance as the two companies merged to form a
new insurance company. The announcement was made Friday morning during a Le Mars
Chamber of Commerce coffee event. Rob Bixenman is the president of Perspective
Insurance and he says the new insurance company will now be the largest
independent insurance agency for northwest Iowa. He says the reason for the
merger was to remain competitive within the insurance industry, adding that
becoming larger was a necessity.
Perspective Insurance will be headquartered out of Sioux Center, however it will
have offices in Le Mars. Bixenman says there won’t be any changes to the types of
insurance coverage offered to individuals, families, and businesses.
Bixenman says employees of the Bixenman insurance agency will join the new
Perspective Insurance agency. He says the present Am Bank Insurance building will
be expanded to accomodate the added employees.
Bixenman says current clients with Am Bank insurance and Bixenman Agency will
still be having the same policies, with the only change will be the name change.
Iowa State Looks At Implementing Tier Tuition Rates
AMES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State University’s president intends to propose a two-tier
tuition structure that would impose a higher rate for juniors and seniors than the
rate for freshman and sophomores at the Ames school.
President Steven Leath mentioned the plan Wednesday during his 2016
Presidential Address. He described it as a “reasonable approach that reflects the
higher costs associated with more advanced and increasingly specialized
coursework, learning opportunities, personalized instruction, smaller classes that
you get as you proceed through your undergraduate education.”
Leath says state funding has not increased at a rate comparable to the
university’s enrollment growth.
He provided few specifics from his plan, which he said he will submit to the
Board of Regents for consideration.
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Former School Teacher Violates No-Contact Order With Student
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former Cedar Rapids Washington High School
substitute teacher charged with sexual exploitation of a 17-year-old male student
has turned herself in after a judge issued an arrest warrant for violation of a
no-contact order.
Mary Elizabeth Haglin, who is 24, agreed to stay away from the student, who
has since turned 18.
An assistant Linn County attorney says in court documents Haglin called the
student and met with him, violating the order. Judge Angie Wilson authorized
Haglin’s arrest Thursday afternoon.
KCRG Television (https://bit.ly/2cPCy5y ) says Haglin reported to jail, posted
bond and has a Sept. 30 hearing.
Television reality show “Crime Watch Daily” recently broadcast video of
Haglin meeting the student at a strip club.
Haglin’s attorney, Katie Frank, did not immediately return messages.
Haglin’s trial is set for November.
Man Accused Of Second Degree Murder May Get To Be Free
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines man whose 50-year prison sentence for
second-degree murder was overturned earlier this year could be free soon after he
agreed to a plea deal.
Kent Anthony Tyler was convicted in 2013 in the death of Richard Daughenbaugh
who was fatally beaten after joining a gathering of teens and young adults in
downtown Des Moines in August 2013.
Witnesses say Tyler, now 21, punched Daughenbaugh knocking him to the ground.
Tyler claims he was defending himself.
Tyler’s conviction was overturned when the Iowa Court of Appeals concluded
last year jurors had insufficient evidence to convict.
The Des Moines Register reports (https://dmreg.co/2cKZq7z ) instead of a
retrial, prosecutors offered Tyler a willful injury plea which carries a 10-year
sentence. With credit for time spent in prison he’s eligible for parole.