Sheriff’s Office Completes Investigation On Truck-Train Accident
(Remsen) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office has completed its investigation regarding the semi-truck that collided with a Canadian National train last Friday afternoon on county road L-14, about a mile east of Remsen. According to the report, 66 year old Douglas Dickson of Dakota Dunes, South Dakota was driving a semi truck pulling an empty flatbed trailer heading south on county road L-14 when he collided with the westbound Canadian-National train. The truck carrier was owned by C & H Heavy Duty Specialist of South Sioux City, Nebraska. The train was pulling 25 cars, many of which were tanker rail cars. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office report says the warning signals were operating at the time of the collision. Deputies say the bells were ringing and the lights were flashing on the south side of the tracks. On the north side of the tracks, the warning signal standard had been hit by the semi truck, and the electrical unit was ripped from the railroad warning signals. The semi truck attempted to stop before hitting the train, as skid marks, measuring 190 feet were seen on the pavement. The semi truck skid into the railroad track and crossed the path of the moving train. Contact was then made between the semi truck and the train on the tracks. The train pushed the semi truck off the tracks and into a ditch. The train came to rest on the tracks nearly a half mile away from the accident. Dickson was transported to the Floyd Valley Healthcare by the Remsen Ambulance with what was determined to be serious injuries. Dickson was given several citations including: failure to stop at a railroad crossing, and failure to obey traffic signal.
Mid-Sioux Opportunity Seeks Funding From County
(Le Mars) — A representative of Mid-Sioux Opportunity appeared before the county board of supervisors on Tuesday to request funding for the next fiscal year. Dick Sievers informed the county board about the many assistance services the agency provides to lower income families and individuals.
Mid-Sioux Opportunities is requesting the same amount of money as was allocated during last fiscal year.
Sievers explained to the county supervisors that the allocation of funds to Mid-Sioux Opportunities should not be considered as an expense, but rather an investment.
The head of Mid-Sioux Opportunities told the supervisors the agency employs 110 people, of which 70 are located within Plymouth County at its Remsen headquarters offices.
Iowa State University To Receive $93 Million
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa State University Foundation is receiving a $93 million majority stake in a Massachusetts-based education company.
University officials announced ISU’s stake in Curriculum Associates on Wednesday. The Iowa City Press-Citizen says (https://icp-c.com/2j2pZGg ) that once the company is sold, the university’s share will be designated for various projects within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. ISU Foundation officials say the donors are alumni, but declined Wednesday to identify the couple.
Curriculum Associates is an educational publishing and technology industry company. It has more than quadrupled in size since 2012, and was recently named among the fastest-growing private companies by the Inc. 5000 and Boston Business Journal, according to its website.
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Regent Calls Action Against Leath “Slap In The Face” Of Taxpayers
(Des Moines) — A member of the Board of Regents says his colleagues’ decision to take no action against Iowa State University President Steven Leath for misusing university airplanes was “a slap in the face” to Iowa taxpayers.
In a Dec. 20 email obtained Wednesday through the public records law, Regent Subhash Sahai told board leaders that he was “embarrassed for the board” for letting Leath off the hook. He says any other professional “would have been severely sanctioned.”
Sahai was sick during a Dec. 12 meeting in which the board received an audit questioning flights that Leath took on university planes purchased with donor money, including one he routinely piloted and once damaged in a hard landing.
Leath apologized and paid back $20,000 for trips related to his personal flight training, medical appointments in Minnesota and taking relatives to and from an NCAA tournament basketball game. Board President Bruce Rastetter and Regent Larry McKibben praised Leath for taking that action and indicated his job was safe.
Other emails show several members of the public wanted Leath terminated. One vowed to suspend donations as long as Leath’s president.
Anti-Abortion Group Calls For Legislation
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A coalition of anti-abortion groups plans to support legislation at the Iowa Legislature that bans abortion.
The newly formed Coalition of Pro-Life Leaders announced Wednesday that among its plans is to support a bill that says life begins at conception.
Such a measure would effectively ban abortion, which violates the U.S. Constitution. Other states that have passed similar legislation have run into legal challenges.
Group representatives say there’s momentum in the GOP-controlled Legislature to pass such legislation. They also support efforts to remove family planning money from organizations such as Planned Parenthood that perform abortions. No family planning money is used on abortions.
Some Republican lawmakers say they support the life-at-conception bill but it’s unclear if the measure has enough support to become law.
Mother Charged For Infant’s Death
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have charged the mother of an infant who died on a changing table in Des Moines.
Court records say 26-year-old Laci Taylor is charged with child endangerment resulting in death. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for her.
The records say Taylor left the 3-month-old girl unattended on the table on Sept. 18. The girl’s airway was cut off when she rolled over and her neck was compressed against a table ledge.
The child’s father, Don Taylor, says it was an accident and says he’s upset by his wife’s jailing.
Police Sgt. Paul Parizek (puh-REE’-zihk) says the child was left alone for at least 15 minutes. He says Laci Taylor’s act and the result were so severe a criminal charge is warranted.
