Authorities Investigate Roll-over Accident
(Akron) — Plymouth County Communications Center received a 9-1-1 emergency call Friday evening at about 11:00 p.m. The call was regarding a vehicle that had rolled and there were multiple injuries. The location of the accident was
Highway 3 and county road K-18. Akron Fire and Ambulance, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputies, and the Iowa State Patrol were dispatched. Two individuals had serious injuries, one of which was thrown from the vehicle, and two others
had minor injuries. Three of the four victims were transported to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. The injuries are not believed to be life threatening at this time. An investigation at the scene showed the vehicle, a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was northbound on county road K-18 at a very high rate of speed. The vehicle did not stop for the stop sign at Highway 3. North of the intersection, the driver of the vehicle lost control and it entered the east ditch. The vehicle then rolled several times before striking and breaking off a utility pole. The vehicle then came to rest on its top. The investigation is continuing. Names of the individuals and more details will be released at a later time.
Merrill Police Investigate Train Versus Wagon Accident
(Merrill) — A collision between a Burlington-Northern Santa Fe railroad and a grain wagon occurred Sunday evening. The incident happened in Merrill at about 9:45 p.m. Merrill Police Department investigated the accident. Police Chief Brad Brooks explains what happened.
Brooks is not certain as to why the grain wagon was so close to the tracks. He says there was a similar incident about two weeks ago involving a wagon next to railroad tracks.
The Merrill Police officer says the grain wagon was totally destroyed, and the Burlington-Northern Santa Fe locomotive did not sustain much damage.
Library Now Opened At Eagles Club
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Public Library is once again open, but in a new location. Today was the first day of business for the library inside its temporary home of the Eagles Club. Director of Library Services, Shirley Taylor explains where within the Eagles Club you can find specific references and books.
The third floor of the Eagles Club has a stage area, which Taylor says will be perfect for performers and the summer children’s reading programs.
Taylor says their stay at the Eagles Club may now be extended longer than first imagined.
Taylor says construction on the library renovation project will begin almost immediately. Many of the volumes of books have been transferred across the street to the temporary location. However, Taylor says if a specific reference book is needed, and if that book is currently held in storage, then the library
staff will see if they can acquire the book from other sources.
The Le Mars Library Director says the hours at the Eagles Club will be the same as they were at the library building.
Museum Hosting 4th Graders For “May Day” Field Tour
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Historical Museum is hosting 320 fourth grade students from all the elementary schools of Plymouth County during it annual “May Day” celebration being held today. For many of the students, this marks
their first-time visit to the local historical museum. While at the museum, students were living history, by trying their hand at milking a cow statue, donning on kerchiefs and bonnets and stepping back in time to the 1880’s, learning about an airplane manufacturing company that was once based in Le Mars,
and even learning more about their family tree through genealogy. This is an annual event sponsored by the museum, and many of the students were wide-eyed
with amazement from looking at the interesting various types of artifacts. At one station held in the Old Central gymnasium, students were even taught the traditional “May Day” dance using a May pole with ribbons and streamers. The students even had the opportunity to enjoy root beer floats in the replica of
Miller’s Cafe.
Business Survey Shows Economy Making Improvements
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Results from a monthly survey of business supply managers suggest a slight improvement in the economic conditions in nine Midwest and Plains states.
The Mid-America Business Conditions Index report released Monday says the overall economic index for the region rose to 61.4 in April from 60.1 in March.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the figures suggest strong growth for both manufacturing and non-manufacturing through the third quarter of this year.
The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth in that factor. A score below that suggests decline.
The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
Board of Regents Elect New President
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The board that oversees Iowa’s three public universities has elected a new president.
The Iowa Board of Regents agreed at a Monday meeting to make Mike Richards its 22nd president. His one-year term as head of the nine-member board begins immediately.
Gov. Terry Branstad appointed Richards to the board last year. He takes over for Bruce Rastetter, who had one year left as president. Rastetter’s term on the board ended in April.
Richards, a West Des Moines entrepreneur and retired physician, has donated thousands of dollars to both Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, the incoming governor. Elections data show he’s given them collectively at least $30,000 since 2013. More than half of that went to Reynolds.
Regent Patricia Cownie was also elected president pro tem during Monday’s meeting.
University Of Iowa Biomed Engineers Design Bicycle For Handicapped Individual
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – University of Iowa biomedical engineering students have helped an 8-year-old boy who was born without most of his right arm to ride a
bike.
Jonny Cole was having difficulty learning to ride because neither he nor his father, Douglas Cole, could figure out how to keep him balanced long enough to move a bike forward.
Douglas, a Ph.D. student in linguistics at the University of Iowa, asked the university’s machine shop last summer to help him design and 3-D print an adaptive device that would help Jonny ride. They referred him to the biomedical engineering program, where four students decided to help.
Alicia Truka says the group developed a “one-jointed arm for his bike.” The handlebar attachment helps him balance and steer.
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