Garage Fire Interrupts Fire Department Banquet
(Le Mars) — Just as the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department was about to begin their annual banquet and awards program being held at the Willow Creek Golf Club, the sound of beeping occurred on nearly 30 different pagers. The Plymouth County Communications reported a house was on fire near 8th Street southwest.
Immediately, 30 people raced out the door. Fire Chief Dave Schipper jumped in his command vehicle while wearing a dress shirt, tie, and blazer. Six members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department boarded the fire truck parked outside
the Willow Creek Country Club and headed towards the house fire. Meanwhile, the rest of the members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department went to the fire station to gather their gear and bring the remaining trucks to the scene. The fire was reported at about 6:45 p.m. at 735 3rd Avenue Southwest. The alarm was called in by a neighbor who spotted smoke coming from the structure. Upon arrival, firefighters noticed smoke coming from the garage area and through the roof.
Firefighters made an aggressive attack on the burning structure, and were able to keep the fire contained mostly to the attached garage area and the attic above the garage. The rest of the home may have sustained some smoke damage,
but basically was not damaged by the blaze. The fire remains under investigation, but Fire Chief Dave Schipper says preliminary indications show the fire was accidental, and the origin is being blamed on a battery charger that was on and sitting on cardboard, on a shelf. Schipper says the the battery
charger ignited the cardboard. There were no injuries as a result of the fire. A Lexus automobile was parked inside the garage at the time of the fire and was listed as being totaled for damage. Chief Schipper explains the damage that occurred with the
fire.
Firefighters were able to have the fire under control and were on the scene for a total of 45 minutes. Once the fire was under control, firefighters took a few minutes to clean the trucks and their gear and returned to the Willow Creek Country Golf Club to resume their banquet.
Brewer Honored As Firefighter Of The Year
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department held its annual banquet and awards program on Saturday evening at the Willow Creek Golf Club. Several awards and honors were given to various members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department. Chief Dave Schipper and Assistant Chief Mike Wise presented the
“Firefighter of the Year” to Firefighter #11, Paul Brewer. Brewer joined the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department as a reserve member in 2015, and then moved up to become a regular status member in August of 2015. Prior to joining the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Brewer was a member of the Merrill Fire
Department. Brewer explains why he chose to be a firefighter.
During the presentation of the honor, Fire Chief Dave Schipper informed the banquet gathering that Brewer has assisted with the upkeep and maintenance of the fire apparatus over the last years. He is one of the fire fighters who have stepped up to fill overnight shifts at the station. Brewer is a certified
Firefighter I and Firefighter II, Emergency Medical Responder, Hazardous Materials Technician, Confined Space Rescue Technician and a Rope Rescue Technician. Brewer responded to over 80 percent of fire calls both in the city and rural areas. Brewer attended 42 of the 43 offered training sessions in
2016. When asked if there were any particular calls that come to mind, Brewer talked about the various train versus trucks or other vehicle accidents.
Chief Schipper says Paul Brewer has been a valuable addition to the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department.
Dreckman and Harms Awarded Lifetime and Honorary Lifetime Membership
Brett Dreckman has been a member of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department for over 30 years which is one of the requirements to earn the Lifetime Membership
Award. Dreckman began his career with the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department in 1986 and completed his 30 years of service last year. Only five others hold the prestigious honor as being named a Lifetime Member. They include: Ken
Becker, Ken Langel, Wayne Schipper, Keith Hettwer, and Mark Hentges. To become a Lifetime Member, an individual must have made a significant impact on the quality of life in Le Mars. The member must have made significant contributions to the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department. The member must be approved to this status by the Mayor of Le Mars and the Fire Chief. Dreckman has achieved the rank of Captain with the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department.
Pictured: (left) Brett Dreckman and (right) Doug Harms
Doug Harms started with the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department in 1986 and completed 27 1/2 years until he was forced to retire due to health reasons.
However, since his retirement, Harms has recovered from heart issues and is currently cancer free. Harms has continued to assist the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department in many ways and also is still teaching classes to other community fire departments about the dangers they face in the ever changing hazardous environments that they respond to. Doug Harms continues to assist the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department any way he can, and he continues to do anything the department ask of him, even though he cannot officially be a member anymore. Since he retired he has put in the time that if still a member, he would have reached his 30 years. Mayor Dick Kirchoff and Fire Chief Dave Schipper awarded Harms with the first Honorary Lifetime Member.
Steve Schwartz Honored With Bar of Citation Award
This year’s Citation Bar Award is being presented to a
firefighter who went above and beyond this year for the chief and the department. Schipper says that Steve Schwartz stepped forward on several extra projects and agreed to take on the responsibility of being an officer and a leader for the organization. This is above and beyond attendance at training
drills, and emergency calls. Schipper says Schwartz has a “can do” and “we’ll get it done” attitude, and has become a very valuable officer filling a needed gap in the command structure. Steve Schwartz recently was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
Kim Weaver To Again Run Against Steve King
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Democrat Kim Weaver wants a rematch against U.S. Rep. Steve King after losing to the Republican congressman in 2016.
Weaver announced Sunday she would challenge King in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District in 2018.
In the last election, Weaver lost in 38 of the 39 counties in the district, but she remains optimistic about her chances against King.
The 52-year-old Weaver of Sheldon has criticized King in the past for his comments on minorities, immigration and same-sex marriage.
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Judge Rules Branstad Doesn’t Need To Testify In Lawsuit
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A judge says Gov. Terry Branstad doesn’t have to testify under oath in a lawsuit filed by a fired Division of Criminal Investigation agent who blames Branstad for destroying his career.
Judge William Kelly, a Branstad appointee, rejected Larry Hedlund’s request to depose Branstad in Hedlund’s wrongful termination lawsuit.
Kelly ruled Friday in favor of the Iowa attorney general’s office, which is representing Branstad and argued the governor was too busy to face a two-hour deposition. Kelly says Hedlund can seek information from Branstad in written questions but requiring the governor to be deposed “would be an incredible burden” while he’s preparing to become U.S. ambassador to China.
Hedlund is suing Branstad and Iowa Department of Public Safety officials. He contends he was defamed and fired for reporting wrongdoing, including a 2013 incident in which he reported Branstad’s speeding SUV.
Lawmakers Have Different Opinions Regarding DHS
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The death of a 16-year-old Iowa girl has led to finger- pointing at the Legislature and is an indication of how much has changed in the 17 years since the death of another child prompted a bipartisan inquiry.
Five months after the death of Natalie Finn, Republican lawmakers have been split over whether to investigate her treatment and Democrats have accused GOP leaders of being reluctant to take up the matter because of possible questions about state staffing.
The response was different after the January 2000 death of Shelby Duis, a 2-year-old from Spirit Lake. Her killing prompted then-Gov. Tom Vilsack to speak at a public hearing in Storm Lake, and the matter dominated that year’s
legislative session. Sen. David Johnson said both parties worked together in 2000 to improve the child welfare system.
