Semi Tanker Filled With Liquid Manure Overturns And Spills Into Ditch
(Le Mars) — A semi tanker filled with liquid manure overturned this afternoon on Noble Avenue near the junction of county road C-38, about five miles to the southeast of Le Mars. The accident happened at about 12:05 p.m. The liquid manure nutrient waste product was spilling from the overturned tanker into a
ditch and drainage ravine that led to a creek. Plymouth County Sheriff’s deputies are uncertain as to much liquid nutrient waste was being hauled in the tanker, or how much had drained into the ditch and ravine. Local officials contacted the Iowa Department of Natural Resources about the spill. Several nearby
farmers were busy using large corn stock bales to help block the spillage from entering any water channels and to absorb the spilled liquid manure. The driver of the overturned truck was pinned inside the cab. Both the Le Mars Fire and
Rescue Department and the Oyens Fire Department responded to the accident scene and needed to extricate the driver from the overturned truck. The driver was transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars by the Le Mars Ambulance Service. It is unknown at this time the severity of the sustained injuries. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s office is investigating the accident.
Employees Of The Month Honored
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community School District honored its Elementary Technology Instructional Coach as its November Employee of the Month. Eric Peterson has been employed with the Le Mars Community School for 18 years. He
was nominated for the School District Employee of the Month by Kathy Wingert and Bonnie Lassen. In their nomination of Eric Peterson, they describe Eric as being personable, knowledgeable, patient, and effective. As part of the
nomination, they say, that Eric’s experience as a classroom teacher has given him teaching expertise to understand and meet the needs of students. He is always willing to research, organize, and support teachers by providing technology to enhance classroom curriculum. Eric is highly respected by his
peers and goes above and beyond to help teachers meet their classroom needs. He diligently discovers new and innovative methods to enhance student learning. He consistently gives teachers opportunities to strengthen their own technology
skills. Our congratulations go to Eric Peterson for being honored as the Le Mars Community School District “Employee of the Month”.
(Le Mars) — Speaking about Employee of the Month honors, the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce has named Lorrie Crippen as the Chamber’s November Employee of the Month. Coleen McCarty of the Plymouth Manor Care Center nominated Lorrie
Crippen. Lorrie Crippin is the Housekeeping representative at Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars. In her nomination, she writes, Lorrie has been employed at Plymouth Manor Care Center since 1988. She has dedicated her time and has
cared for the elderly for 28 years. She has been a wonderful employee while filling in for three departments when needed: housekeeping, laundry, and dietary. She shares her many talents with making table place settings for every
season of the year. Lorrie is very dedicated to making a homelike environment for our elderly at Plymouth Manor Care Center. She always has new ideas to make
life better for the people around her, and she is willing to help others in need. The entire staff of Plymouth Manor Care Center congratulates Lorrie on this honor and thank her for her continued devotion to the elderly and success of Plymouth Manor Care Center.
City To Begin Cleaning Sewer System
(Le Mars) — Beginning Tuesday, November 15th, the city will start its annual sewer cleaning program. The Le Mars Waste Water Treatment Facility has hired an outside contractor to do the annual sewer cleaning. The area from Plymouth Street Southeast to 12th Street Southeast and from Central Avenue southeast extending to 14th Avenue southeast will be the region to have its sewer lines cleared. Ron Kayser, the Le Mars Waste Water Treatment Facility superintendent says the process to clear the sewer lines could take up to six weeks to
complete. Residents may encounter some minor sewer problems, and or traffic congestion in these areas. Le Mars residents who have questions regarding the annual sewer cleaning should contact the Waste Water Treatment Facility at 546- 5003 during normal office hours.
Le Mars Community Middle School Has Eight Students Selected To Northwest Iowa Honor Choir
(Le Mars) — Eight vocalists from Le Mars Community Middle School have been selected for the Northwest Iowa Choral
Director’s Association Junior High Honor Choir. The festival was held on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8, 2016.
The day included rehearsals by the ensembles and concluded with an evening concert.
the Le Mars Community Middle School, those students selected to participate in the Northwest Iowa Junior High Honor Choir included:
Mia Haage,
Summer Gollhofer,
Riayn Hoebelheinrich,
Bailey Goodman,
Isaac Johnson,
Alexander Meier,
Aaron Hauser,
and Jack McInnis
The Le Mars Community Middle School Choir is under the direction of Nancy Ewing.
ICON Ag And Turf Honors Veterans
LE MARS, IA – During the month of November ICON Ag & Turf employees are raising money to support US Military serving overseas. The John Deere dealership employees will Wear RED on Fridays to Remember Everyone Deployed and collect
money and items to send in care packages to our troops. “ICON is proud to support US military serving overseas, at home and Veterans who have served. Wearing RED seems like a big sacrifice to us “Green” people, but it’s a small thing compared to the sacrifice our troops have and will make for our country!”
says Adam Timmerman, General Manager at ICON Ag & Turf, “ICON supports all of our service men and women that provide security and freedom for us. We hope these care packages remind them we are thinking of and supporting them, as well
as provide needed items to our troops. Also, we will be honoring the Veterans that currently work for ICON with a day of paid vacation. Thank you past and present US Military Members”
ICON employees donated money to wear RED T-shirts and jeans on Fridays. They are also collection donations in all ICON locations to purchase care package material. “We are working with the USO Base out of Ft. Riley to ship these care
packages directly to US Military overseas.” Said Alyssa Sulsberger, Director of Brand Management at ICON, “We’re very excited to be a part of those project with the United Service Organization and appreciate their support in facilitating the
logistics.”
Military members are asking for items like: travel sized toiletries, sports equipment, books, DVDs and games, sunscreen, international phone cards, individual powder drink mixes, games and playing cards, 100% cotton socks, and
microwaveable food.
Sioux City Woman Given Probation After Biting Off Husband’s Lip
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A northwest Iowa woman has been given probation and suspended jail time for biting and tearing her husband’s lower lip when she feigned desire for a kiss.
60-year-old Carol Smith pleaded not guilty Tuesday to domestic abuse assault. A charge of willful injury was dismissed.
The documents say the incident occurred in the couple’s Sioux City home on May 24 last year. She approached him for a kiss but then bit him instead. Police say Smith’s husband required plastic surgery.
The judge gave Smith two years of probation, suspended all but 60 days of a 365-day jail sentence and ruled that Smith may serve 120 days on an electronic monitoring device in lieu of serving the jail time. He also fined her $315.
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Fire Reported At Clear Lake Salvage Yard
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a fire and explosions caused heavy damage at a vehicle salvage yard north of Clear Lake in northern Iowa.
Firetrucks were dispatched around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday after someone reported a vehicle on fire inside a building at B20 Auto.
Several thudding explosions were heard as heavy smoke billowed and a tower of flames erupted. No injuries to customers, workers or firefighters have been reported.
Initial reports say the fire was caused by sparks from a grinder landing on flammable materials.
State Supreme Court Upholds Branstad’s Decision To Close State Owned Mental Health Facilities
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling that said Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad acted within his constitutional authority when he vetoed funding for two state-run mental health care facilities last year and closed them.
Twenty legislators and Danny Homan, the president of the largest state employee union sued Branstad claiming a state law requires Iowa to have four mental health care institutes and limits Branstad’s ability to close the facilities by vetoing the money to run them approved by lawmakers.
The court concluded Thursday that legislation doesn’t mandate the continued existence of state mental health institutes and Branstad’s veto fell within the governor’s constitutional line item veto power.
The court agrees with a November 2015 ruling by District Court Judge Douglas Staskal and dismisses the lawsuit.
