Two Fatal Accidents Reported In Northwest Iowa Due To Heavy Snow
(Le Mars) — The heavy snowfall is responsible for two fatal accidents that happened in northwest Iowa on Tuesday. The first accident happened on Highway 3 about two miles east of Le Mars. The accident happened at about 12:35 p.m. and it caused the traffic in both directions of Highway 3 to be shut down for a
period of at least two hours while emergency crews were at the scene. The accident involved two vehicles and two people were injured. The preliminary investigation shows that a White 2000 Buick car was traveling west bound on Highway 3 when the driver lost control of the vehicle due to the snow and ice covered roadway. A Silver 2010 Chevrolet Traverse was eastbound on Highway 3.
The Buick car traveled into the eastbound lane was was struck by the Chevrolet. Both drivers were taken to the Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars, with the driver of the Buick sustaining life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Chevrolet sustained injuries, but were not life-threatening. The driver of the
Buick, a female from Le Mars was pronounced deceased at the Floyd Valley Healthcare. Names of the drivers are not being released until family members have been notified. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Highway Patrol, and Plymouth County Medical Examiner are investigating the accident. The Le Mars Police Department, Le Mars Ambulance, Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department and the Iowa Department of Transportation assisted at the scene.
Sioux County Reports Fatal Accident
(Orange City) — The second fatality happened in Sioux County about two miles west of Sioux Center at about 2:30 p.m. A semi-truck and livestock trailer, driven by 37 year old Kory Klein of Ireton was heading westbound on 390th Street.
65 year old James White of Rock Valley was traveling northbound driving a Dodge pickup truck on Garfield Avenue when White failed to stop for a stop sign. White entered the intersection and was struck by the semi truck driven by Klein. White
had died from his injuries at the scene of the accident. The semi truck sustained approximately $5,000 in damage, and the pick-up truck sustained approximately $15,000 in damage. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Sioux Center Police Department, Sioux Center Fire Department, and the Sioux Center Ambulance.
Roads Remain Snow and Ice Covered
(Le Mars) — Many of northwest Iowa highways are still snow covered. Iowa Highway Patrol trooper Vince Kurtz says yesterday’s snow storm made for a busy day for emergency crews. Kurtz says many of the roads this morning are still covered.
Kurtz says even though the snow plows are clearing the snow from the roads, in many cases, those highways still remain slick, and cautious driving is advised.
The Highway Patrol officer says the deep, heavy snow caused many accidents, as well as causing several vehicles to slide into the ditch or median.
Denison Man Charged Following Car Driven Into River
DENISON, Iowa (AP) – The search for a 15-year-old Denison girl continues after she was apparently swept away by the current of the Boyer River after a car she was riding in crashed into the river last Thursday morning.
The driver of the car, 25-year-old Ramon Hernandez of Denison, is in the Crawford County jail on charges of drug distribution to minors, marijuana possession, reckless driving, driving under suspension, and failure to maintain control.
He is accused of giving four teenagers marijuana about 10 p.m. last Wednesday at his house.
Hernandez was driving around with the teenagers in a car when he crashed at around 3 a.m. Thursday into the river.
All but 15-year-old Yoana Acosta escaped the car and the waist-deep water. The Plymouth County Dive Team has assisted with the search for the missing girl.
ISU Climatologist Says “Farmers May Witness A Wet Spring”
(Le Mars) — Folklore says that when you have heavy fog, then three months later, there will be an abundance of moisture. Iowa State University Extension Climatologist Elwynn Taylor says there is some truth to the folklore. Taylor appeared in Le Mars Tuesday morning for the 2017 Crop Advantage meeting. He says farmers may see a wet spring.
Although Taylor is predicting a possibility of a wet spring, he does see a good chance for another year with above trend line yields.
The Iowa State University Climatologist says above trend line yields usually will happen for a period of two to three years. He says there is a possibility farmers may again produce a record production of crops in 2017.
State Fire Official Charged With Misconduct
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Public Safety says more than 1,700 Iowa firefighters and emergency responders have been issued improper credentials
due to improper test scoring over a four-year period.
The department announced Tuesday its former employee, Fire Training Service Bureau Certification and Accreditation Coordinator John McPhee, is charged with misconduct in office and tampering with records. McPhee turned himself in Tuesday
to the Story County Sheriff’s Office.
The department says a months-long review found that nearly 2,300 certifications were improperly issued to 1,706 firefighters and emergency personnel from February 2012 through February 2016. That’s nearly 25 percent of the certifications the agency issued.
The certifications aren’t required by the state or nationally but many departments require or recommend them for employees.
The department says it’s notifying the affected individuals, and the bureau is offering a free training course and free test retakes.
The department released McPhee’s jail booking photo but said it didn’t have a copy of the complaint against him.
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Privatization of Medicaid
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A district court judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging privatization of the Iowa Medicaid program filed by a group representing hospitals across the state.
The Iowa Hospital Association sued in November 2015 seeking to reverse Gov. Terry Branstad’s plan to privatize the Medicaid program claiming it violated state law because it diverted money hospitals have historically been paid to the three health care corporations the state hired.
The state contends the hospitals will continue to be paid.
By law about $34 million a year is paid into a trust fund by the hospitals and matched by federal funds. It’s used to reimburse hospitals providing Medicaid services.
Judge Robert Hanson says if the hospitals don’t get the money, they can sue for financial damages.
He concluded state law allows managed care.
