Strong Winds Blow Off Roof From Pro-Alignment and Tire Building
(Le Mars) — Strong gusty winds up to at least 61 mph on Christmas night were responsible for blowing off the roof of the Pro-Alignment and Tires building located 414 4th Street SW. The roof blew off the auto repair shop shortly before 10:00 p.m. Insulation from the building was seen scattered throughout the immediate neighborhood. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department along with the Le Mars Police Department responded to the scene. City crews had to use a construction pay loader tractor to remove the roof from the street. Earlier in the evening a large tree had fallen on Central Avenue near 10th Street, blocking the street. City crews again used the pay loader tractor to remove the tree. The winds were responsible for knocking over garbage containers, scattering trash and recyclables all over town. During those strong winds, the northwest portion of town was without power for two hours, leaving hundreds of residents in the dark. Many city officials were commenting how Christmas evening reminded them of the devastating wind storm from the Ice Cream Days. During the course of the day, nearly an inch of rain had fallen on Le Mars. City officials have announced the city public works department will be going around town on Tuesday and Wednesday picking up branches. They ask residents to place the large limbs near the curb once the winds die down later
this afternoon. The city will also open up the tree disposal site located on the west side of town through Friday, December 30th. The hours the tree disposal site will be open are from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Hull Man Pleas Not Guilty To Stabbing Roommate
(Orange City) — A Hull, Iowa man has pleaded not guilty to stabbing his roommate and also using a fake identity to secure employment. 42 year old Jose Estrada-Martinez entered his written plea Thursday in Sioux County District Court to charges of assault with intent to inflict serious injury, identity theft, obstruction, unlawful possession of a license or ID card and three counts of forgery. According to court documents Estrada-Martinez got into an argument with his roommate at their Hull residence on December 4th and stabbed him in the
arm with a knife-sharpening steel rod. During the investigation, authorities discovered that Estrada-Martinez had provided a false name and Minnesota identification card and had been working at B&M Concrete in Hull under another identity. Estrada-Martinez had been arrested and prosecuted in Sioux County previously and had used a false identity at that time, according to court
documents.
Army Corps of Engineers Proposes Plan For Restoration of Habitat For Endangered Species
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proposing a new Missouri River habitat for the endangered pallid sturgeon fish and sandbar construction for two endangered bird species.
The plan comes after three years of study by scientists, hydrologists and other specialists. It seeks to use the latest scientific data to help the recovery of the pallid sturgeon, least tern and piping plover over the next 15 years.
Aaron Quinn, a Corps environmental resource specialist, says the plan incorporates new information about species management.
Some say the recommendations aren’t necessary. Bill Beacom of Sioux City, a member of an advisory group that consults with the Corps, says the tern and plover numbers are recovering.
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Four Vehicle Accident Claims One Life
LAKE VIEW, Iowa (AP) – A woman has died in a four-vehicle crash in northwest Iowa.
The Sac County sheriff’s office says the crash happened Saturday shortly before 8:30 a.m., about a mile west of Lake View on Iowa Highway 175.
Authorities say a westbound semi-tractor trailer tried to pass a car and crashed head-on with an eastbound pickup. A car following the pickup rear-ended it.
The pickup driver, two occupants from the car and a driver and passenger in the semi were taken to a local hospital. Two of the five were transferred to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City with critical injuries. An unidentified female pickup passenger died at the scene.
The car being passed was damaged, but its driver wasn’t injured.
Visibility was reportedly near zero because of fog.
Atlantic Iowa To Build Ethanol Plant
ATLANTIC, Iowa (AP) – A new ethanol plant is set to open in southwest Iowa under an agreement between Cass County officials and a private company.
The plant, northwest of Atlantic is expected to bring at least 49 jobs to the area. Construction is set to begin in early 2017, with the plan opening around June 2018.
Elite Octane will spend about $196 million on the project, and the plant will produce about 120 million gallons of ethanol per year. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association says the plant will be one of 21 in the state that produces at least 100 million gallons a year.
The 15-year development agreement calls for the county to install infrastructure to get the 102-acre site ready for the plant.
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Branstad Calls For Two Percent Increase In School Spending
(Des Moines) — Governor Terry Branstad is signalling that he’ll ask his fellow Republicans in the legislature to provide a state funding boost for Iowa’s K- through-12 public schools. Branstad’s FORMAL state budget recommendations will be made on January 10th, the second day of the 2017 legislative session — but
the governor’s suggesting he’ll probably recommend a two percent increase in general state aid for schools.
The official estimate of state tax collections has been lowered for the CURRENT budgeting year by 100 million, forcing Branstad and legislators to make cuts.
The prediction of state tax revenue for the following year has been pared down as well, but Branstad says he wants to make school funding a priority.
Des Moines Woman Accused Of Stealing Church Funds
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A woman who’d watched over the money of a Des Moines church for the past 15 years has been accused of stealing from it.
Court records say 69-year-old Carol Padgett is charged with seven felony counts of theft. She’s accused of taking up to $70,000 from Unity Lutheran Church over the past seven years. Her attorney didn’t immediately return a call
Monday from The Associated Press.
The church’s attorney says an anonymous donor has made a contribution to the church to help keep its doors open.
West Union Man Survives Crash
FAYETTE, Iowa (AP) – A West Union man has told authorities he spent a night trapped in his crumpled truck before escaping.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office says the accident occurred around 7 p.m. Thursday a couple miles north of Fayette. A deputy says 28-year-old Austin Ruroden lost control of his northbound pickup. It ran across the roadway into a
ditch and struck a concrete culvert.
Ruroden told The Des Moines Register from his hospital bed that he “just went into survival mode.” He says he was trapped until he could free himself Friday morning and make it up to a roadway shoulder, where a motorist spotted him.
Ruroden says he’s being treated at a Waterloo hospital for lacerations, several broken ribs and a broken ankle.
