Merrill Home Catches On Fire
(Merrill) — Fire broke out at a Merrill home Friday evening at about 10:45 p.m.
When both Merrill and the Le Mars Fire Departments arrived on the scene at the 300 block of Calhoun Street smoke could be seen coming from the roof. Merrill Fire Chief Jacob Conley says the fire was basically confined to the attic area.
Conley believes the fire may have started from a recessed lighting fixture in an upstairs bathroom.
Conley says there were no injuries, and the family was able to escape the blaze.
However, they had to relocate with a neighbor for overnight due to the power to the house had been disconnected. Fire officials were on the scene for more than an hour and fifteen minutes.
Sioux Falls Building Collapses – Killing Construction Worker
(Sioux Falls) — A vacant building that was being renovated collapsed in downtown Sioux Falls, Friday morning at about 10:30 a.m. killing a construction worker. Rescue crews were trying to remove the rubble that spilled into the street, while also trying to stabilize the remaining structure. Two people were
trapped beneath the debris. A 22-year old woman, and her dog were found by rescue workers shortly before 2:00 p.m. She survived the building collapse.
The family of the surviving 22-year-old woman who was pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building says she’s in good condition.
Mike and Chris Fodness, the parents of Emily Fodness, of Sioux Falls, said in a statement Friday evening that their thoughts and prayers were with the other person who was in in the building, and their family, along with the emergency responders who worked diligently to make sure Emily was safe.
Fodness was in an apartment on the second floor of the building when it collapsed. She’s being treated for her leg injuries at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
Some eight hours after the building had collapsed, and shortly after 6:00 p.m. rescue crews were able to recover the second victim, who was a construction worker. He was located in the basement of the collapsed structure, beneath
ruble. The construction worker died from having the building fall on him.
Rescue dogs, specially trained to pick up deceased human scents, were brought to the scene to assist with the recovery efforts. The dead construction worker has not yet been identified and was buried for nearly eight hours before rescue workers were able to locate him. A fire official says rescue workers were
concerned about debris shifting as they continued their search for the missing victim. Witnesses say it sounded like an explosion, but officials indicate there was no explosion with the building collapse, but they are uncertain as to factors are responsible for the building to tumble. The cause for the building
collapse remains under investigation.
Weekend Christmas Festivities
(Le Mars) — This weekend will serve as the kick-off to many Christmas celebrations for surrounding communities. For Kingsley residents, the festivities began last night with the lighting of the community Christmas tree followed with exhibition of the business and residential lighting. Carla Bohle
is the president of the Kingsley Chamber of Commerce.
Bohle says this is the first year for the lighted display tour, and although there are no themes or specific categories, she does believe there may be some Kingsley residents who follow the example of Clark Griswald from the movie
Christmas Vacation, who light up the entire neighborhood with their lighted display.
Bohle says Kingsley businesses remained open late last evening while offering various raffle drawings for prizes. She says the Kingsley Hometown Christmas festivities continues on today.
In Maurice, Iowa, the First Reformed Church Youth group will be hosting the annual Traveling Live Nativity on both Saturday and Sunday evening. Jon Eveland serves as the youth pastor and helps coordinate the event.
Eveland says the annual Christmas event involves more than 40 volunteers ranging from cast members to narrators, and from greeters to parking attendants. It also involves more than 200 people who provide refreshments, and assist behind
the scenes. Eveland suggests for visitors to begin at the church.
Here in Le Mars, Pioneer Village will hold its Christmas Winterland. Bonita Davison serves as the chair for the annual Le Mars Christmas festival.
Davison says the famous Round Barn again features several Christmas displays, including a new exhibit showing Disney characters.
Davison talks about the Christmas tree exhibit located in Century Hall.
Orange City will host Sinterklaas Day on Saturday morning beginning at 10:30 a.m. and Remsen will hold its Old Fashion Christmas on Monday evening beginning at 5:30 p.m. with the lighting of the Christmas tree in town square scheduled at
6:15 p.m.
Driver Of Pella Walmart Crash Identified
PELLA, Iowa (AP) – A 66-year-old Iowa man has been identified as the driver of a pickup truck that crashed into a southeast Iowa Wal-Mart, killing three and injuring himself and another man. Witnesses have said the driver, Dennis Mockenhaupt, of Knoxville, Iowa, plowed at a high rate of speed through a glass
front entrance of the Pella store. Officials say the investigation continues, but maintain the crash appears to have been an accident.
Iowa State Patrol Supervisor Dismissed From Job
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa State Patrol commander is out of his job weeks after a state agency said he didn’t pay child support for years to a former police dispatcher with whom he has a daughter. Records show Lt. Kelly Hindman’s
failure to support the now-7-year-old girl continued even as his state salary reached six figures and her mother struggled financially. Hindman paid the mother nearly $48,000 to satisfy overdue obligations in October.
