IDOT Recommends No Travel Due To Icy Conditions
(Le Mars) — Driving is certainly not recommended for today as a sheet of ice has covered everything. There are numerous reports of vehicles that are in the ditches because of the icy conditions. Many vehicles have pulled off to the shoulder of the road, waiting for better conditions. Road crews are trying to
distribute sand and salt, but are unable to keep up. The Iowa Department of Transportation is reporting “a critical condition” on highway 141, southeast of Mapleton. The Iowa D-O-T says the road is blocked due to an accident resulting from the ice. Snow removal equipment has been suspended in that area. In
northwest Iowa, many of the highways are either completely, or partially ice covered.
Plymouth County Heeding The Warning To Stay Off The Roads
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff, Mike Van Otterloo is praising Plymouth County motorists for staying home, and off the roads. Van Otterloo contacted KLEM radio early Monday morning to report few incidents have occurred on Plymouth County roads.
The Plymouth County Sheriff is asking people to stay off the roads, since the weather forecast is calling for additional ice, sleet, and snow.
Early Morning Fire Damages Le Mars Mobile Home
(Le Mars) — The icy conditions made it difficult for the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department to respond to a mobile home fire in Armel Acres. Shortly before 3:00 a.m. heavy smoke was reported at 39 Oak Street. Le Mars Fire and Rescue Chief,
Dave Schipper says there were six individuals living at the trailer home.
Schipper says the bathroom was destroyed and smoke filled the entire trailer. He says improperly discarded smoking material is the probable cause for the early
morning fire.
Schipper says a water line broke at the trailer home, which may have helped suppress the fire.
There were no injuries associated with the blaze, and fire fighters were able to save the family pets.
The family was placed in a motel for the evening, and the American Red Cross has been notified to assist the family.
Farmers Harvested Record Corn And Soybean Crops In 2016
(Des Moines) — Corn and soybean growers in Iowa and across the country set new records in 2016. That’s according to a report from the USDA Ag Statistics Service. Doug Hartwig, deputy director for the Upper Midwest region, says the corn yield in Iowa is estimated at 2.74 billion bushels.
Iowa’s average corn yield topped 200 bushels per acre for the first time ever.
Iowa has now led the nation in corn production for 23 consecutive years and 38 of the last 39 years. Soybean production in Iowa in 2016 is estimated at 572 million bushels.
The average soybean yield last year was 60.5 bushels per acre, also topping the previous record of 56.5 in 2015. Nationally, 2016 corn production totaled 15.1 billion bushels with an average yield of 174.4 bushels per acre. Those are both all-time highs, besting previous records set in 2014. U.S. soybean production totaled 4.3 billion bushels with an average yield of 52.1 bushels per acre, also new records.
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Sunday Morning Fire Destroys Machine Shed In Sioux County
(Orange City) — The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fire that destroyed a machine shed at 2220 450th Street, about two miles northwest of Ireton. The fire was reported on Sunday morning at about 9:36 a.m. When
responders arrived the machine shed was found to be fully engulfed by fire. The machine shed, a farm tractor, feeder wagon, and other farm contents inside the building were a total loss with damages estimated at $200,000. The cause of the
fire is believed to be due to a faulty engine block heater. There were no injuries from the fire. The Ireton Fire Department was assisted by the Maurice Fire Department, Hawarden Fire Department, Sioux Center Fire Department, Ireton Ambulance and the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office.
photo provided by the Sioux County Sheriff’s office.
Mid-American Energy On Stand-by For Power Outages
(Des Moines) — So far, there have not been many reports of power outages due to the ice storm. However, MidAmerican Energy Communications Director, Debra Bloom says utility crews are ready if needed.