Fire Department Advises To Use Caution When Using Space Heaters
(Le Mars) — The use of space heaters is common during these cold days, but Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper wants to caution people about some potential dangers with space heaters.
The Le Mars Fire Chief says electric blankets can also be a source of fires if not monitored.
Schipper also wants to remind residents to have two ways out to escape.
Going back to discussing space heaters, Schipper says fortunately, most new space heaters are constructed to shut off if they are tipped over.
Iowa’s Ethanol Production Sets New Record
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Ethanol plants in Iowa have produced a record amount of the gasoline additive this year, narrowly topping last year’s record.
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, an ethanol trade group, says Iowa’s 43 ethanol plants turned out 4.2 billion gallons of ethanol this year surpassing the 4.1 billion gallons produced in 2016.
The association’s executive director, Monte Shaw said in a statement Thursday that the record is largely due to several plant expansions, increased demand of exports and rising sales of higher blends of fuel like E15, which is 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline.
Shaw says the industry will continue to push in 2018 to get more gas stations to install E15 pumps.
Iowa, the nation’s top corn grower, also leads the nation in corn-based ethanol production.
Judge Refuses To Close Case On Alleged Abuser
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – A judge has refused to close a sentencing hearing for a woman charged with sexually abusing a child at her Mason City in-home day
care.
Thirty-one-year-old Tawny Symonds had submitted a written Alford plea in Cerro Gordo County District Court to child endangerment after prosecutors agreed to drop sexual abuse and assault charges. Under an Alford plea, a defendant does
not admit guilt but acknowledges the state likely can prove the charge.
Her attorney had moved to close the sentencing, but state prosecutors objected.
Symonds’ sentencing has been rescheduled to Feb. 12.
Dunkerton School Items For Sale
DUNKERTON, Iowa (AP) – There’s still time to buy a piece of a 96-year-old Dunkerton school building, including bricks and auditorium seats.
Superintendent Jim Stanton told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier that lots of people have been asking if they could get mementos from the oldest section of Dunkerton Community School. Stanton says bricks can be reserved and whole rows of seats from the third-floor auditorium can be bought for $35 a seat.
Other items will be sold at an April 7 auction.
A $6 million bond issue was approved by district voters in September to fund the demolition and a two-story addition on the same spot. The project is scheduled to begin this summer and is expected to be finished by Christmas 2019.
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