Home News Saturday News, March 25th

Saturday News, March 25th

Plymouth County Farm Bureau To Host Legislative Town Hall Meeting

(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Farm Bureau organization is hosting a legislative town hall meeting this morning (Saturday) at their offices located at 27 2nd Avenue southwest. The meeting will feature State Representative Chuck Holz and is slated to begin at 9:00 a.m. Both Plymouth County Farm Bureau members and the general public are welcome to attend.

 

Railroad Officials Repair 18th Street SW Crossing

(Le Mars) — City officials have announced that the 18th Street southwest railroad crossing between Business Highway 75 and Lincoln Avenue is open again following the semi truck and train accident. Railroad officials have made the repairs to the crossing lights.

 

Floyd Valley To Honor Volunteers

(Le Mars) — On Wednesday, April 5, 2017 Floyd Valley Heathcare is hosting their annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon entitled “Volunteers are Our Good Fortune!” The appreciation will begin at 10:00 a.m. in Floyd Valley
Healthcare’s Conference Center. Only those that will be honored with an hours of service award will receive an individual invitation to be our honored guest.
Anyone who volunteers at the hospital, Park Place Estates, Floyd Valley Clinics, with the Auxiliary or Foundation and their events are invited and encouraged to attend.

floyd valley healthcare new logo

 

Sioux County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Accident

(Orange City) — Sioux County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an accident that happened late Wednesday evening when a car hit the side of a feed truck. The accident happened at about 10:45 p.m. on 400th Street, four miles north of
Orange City. 36 year old Brandon Hofland of Sioux Center was backing a Freightliner semi-truck pulling a feed trailer on 400th Street onto a hog confinement property. 18 year old Lauren Pottebaum of Alton was driving a Jeep Patriot heading eastbound on 400th Street when she struck the feed trailer on
the roadway. Pottebaum became trapped in her vehicle and required mechanical extrication by the Orange City Fire Department. She was transported by the Orange City Ambulance to the Orange City Hospital for treatment of her injuries,
and later airlifed to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. The feed trailer sustained approximately $20,000 in damages. The Jeep sustained approximately $18,000 in damage. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Orange City Ambulance and Orange City Fire Department. The accident remains under
investigation.

Feed truck accident

 

 

Man Who Shot At Deputy Pleads Not Guilty To Attempted Murder

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City man accused of firing at a Woodbury County sheriff’s deputy has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder.
The Sioux City Journal reports that 24-year-old Melvin Spencer entered the plea Friday before in Woodbury County District Court. His trial has been set for May 9.
Authorities say a deputy had tried to pull over a vehicle carrying
Spencer around 3:30 a.m. Feb. 26. The chase ended when the vehicle stopped south of the Sioux Gateway Airport. Authorities say Spencer opened fire at the deputy, who shot back.
Another man in the vehicle was injured during the shootout and
hospitalized. The deputy and Spencer weren’t injured.
Authorities say Spencer fled on foot, but was caught a few hours later.

Sioux City Police Chief To Retire

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The police chief in northwestern Iowa’s Sioux City has announced plans to retire later this year.
The Sioux City Journal reports (https://bit.ly/2nQDnm4 ) that Chief Doug Young will retire at the end of September.
The 60-year-old Young has served on the Sioux City police force for 36 years – eight of them as chief.
Young says he’s proud of how Sioux City’s police department has continued to stay with the times and has connected with its community.
Sioux City leaders will begin the search for a new chief this spring.

 

Iowa’s Unemployment Rate Drops

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A new report says Iowa’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.2 percent in February, its lowest level since 2001.
Iowa Workforce Development announced Friday that the rate was two-tenths of a point lower than the 3.4 percent in January and was down six-tenths of a point from 3.8 percent a year ago.
The national rate dropped to 4.7 percent last month from 4.8 percent in January.
Agency director Beth Townsend says employers in the state added 3,000 in the past month, led by education and health services.
The number of unemployed residents dropped to 53,600 in February from 56,900 in January. The current estimate is 10,600 lower than the year-ago level of 64,200.

 

Former UNI President To Serve As Interim ISU President

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Former University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen will serve as interim president of Iowa State University following the resignation of Steven Leath.
The Press-Citizen reported Friday that Allen will begin his interim
role on May 9. His annual salary will be $525,000 – the same as Leath.
Leath announced his resignation Monday to take the president’s job at Auburn University. Leath’s last day at ISU will be May 8. He has earned a reputation as a prolific fundraiser, but his 5 1/2 years at ISU included a scandal involving his use of airplanes and a heavily-criticized land deal.
Allen served as UNI president from 2006 to 2013. A native of Indiana, he came to UNI after being provost at Iowa State from 2002 to 2006.

 

Vilsack Says Iowa Universities Are”Good” But Can Be “Great”

(Des Moines) — Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack says it’s time to move the three state universities “to the next level.” Vilsack was asked during taping of Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” program if he’d be interested in becoming
the next president of Iowa State University.

Vilsack

Vilsack is referring to outgoing Iowa State president Steven Leath’s piloting of a university-owned plane and subsequent questions about a “hard landing” that caused damage. Vilsack just completed eight years as President Obama’s ag secretary and he’s currently leading the U.S. Dairy Export Council,
but in December, Vilsack said he was interested in working with students.
Vilsack suggests that’s not the role of a university president these days.

Vilsack is offering some advice to the future president of I-S-U and the people in charge of all three public universities.

If the University of Iowa, Iowa State and the University of Northern Iowa could get to that “next level,” Vilsack says the
universities could be “incredible drivers” of creativity, innovation, new economic opportunities and excitement about the entire state of Iowa.

Vilsack served two terms as Iowa’s governor and left state office in January of 2007. Vilsack says you “never say never” in politics, but he says it’s doubtful he’ll ever be a candidate for public office again.
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