Emergency Rescue Crews Respond To Victim Falling Out Of Moving Vehicle
(Le Mars) — Emergency rescue units responded to an injury that happened at about 4:00 p.m. on Highway 60 near 120th Street Sunday afternoon. Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the accident, but apparently a young teenage boy fell out of a moving vehicle. The subject was airlifted by a medical helicopter and flown to a hospital. Traffic on Highway 60 was backed up during the time rescue crews were working the scene. Responding to the scene included the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, the Le Mars Ambulance and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.
photos contributed.
Law Enforcement Agencies Involved In Merrill Stand-off
(Merrill) — A stand-off occurred Friday evening at a Merrill residence. At approximately 5:54 p.m. the Plymouth County Communications Center received an abandoned 9-1-1 call from 507 Calhoun Street in Merrill. During the call back, the dispatcher had learned of an assault in progress between a father and a son. As law enforcement units were responding to the address, the dispatcher also learned that a knife may have been involved.
The first arriving officers were able to make voice contact with the suspect, Seth Vires, age 24 of the same address. However, Vires was barricaded in an upstairs room and refused to come out and talk with officers. With the threat of a knife, the decision was made to contact the Iowa State Patrol for assistance with a negotiator.
At approximately 6:40 p.m. the decision was made to activate the Combined Emergency Response Team (CERT). Once the CERT team had arrived on scene and it was determined the negotiations were not working, a plan was developed to
force entry into the bedroom and take the suspect, Vires, into custody. The negotiator continued to talk to Vires throughout the incident, until the CERT team was ready.
At approximately 7:30 p.m. the CERT team forced entry into the bedroom.
Vires was immediately confronted and failed to comply with commands. A Plymouth County K-9 was deployed into the room and Vires was then taken into custody without further incident.
Vires was placed under arrest by the Merrill Police Department for Harassment, Domestic Abuse, and Interference with official acts. Vires was taken to the Floyd Valley Healthcare for treatment of a dog bite. He was then transported to the Plymouth County Jail and held to see a judge.
Assisting agencies included Merrill and Hinton police departments, Merrill and Le Mars Ambulances, the Iowa State Patrol, and CERT. CERT is comprised of deputies from the Plymouth, Cherokee, and Sioux County Sheriff’s Offices,
and officers from the Le Mars and Cherokee Police Departments.
Rexwinkel Wins Kiwanis Incredible Cow Splash
(Le Mars) — The Kiwanis held its annual Incredible Kow Splash at Willow Creek at the Le Mars Municipal Park and Golf Course Saturday morning, as part of the Ice Cream Days celebration. Nearly 500 little floating cows were dropped in the creek at 11:00 a.m. Cow #57 belonging to Le Mars City Councilman John
Rexwinkle was the first cow to cross the finish line, earning Rexwinkle $250.
Plymouth County Supervisor Don Kass had cow#375 which finished second for $150. A person from Boise, Idaho had the
third place cow, and Bill Reshek of 1216 3rd Street S.E. of Le Mars had the fourth place finishing cow with cow #4. Third and Fourth place finishers also earn cash prizes.
Ice Cream Days Called A Huge Success – Attendance High At Many Events
(Le Mars) — Ice Cream Days proved to be successful, despite having many of the events located at different venues, including the parade. Many of the scheduled events did have a different location due to the expected construction on Central Avenue, and what was thought the Olson Cultural Events Center would have had started its renovation as part of the Le Mars Community Betterment Project. Thousands of people lined the streets of Le
Mars to see the Ice Cream Days parade held Saturday morning. A brief shower happened about 45 minutes prior to the start of the parade, but the rains had stopped after about five minutes, and the sun then came out making for a glorious day for the annual parade. The rain didn’t damped any spirits of
the spectators or of the participants. Children of all ages were able to stuff their pockets full of candy that was distributed by the parade participants. The parade featured several commercial businesses, civic organizations, religious organizations, along with the Gehlen Catholic marching band. A couple of the highlights were the Shriner’s White Horse Patrol and the Shriner’s Rat Patrol. The parade lasted just about an hour
and a half. You can visit the KLEM website at www.klem1410.com for photos of the parade and many of the Ice Cream Days events.
Political Parties Hold State Conventions At Des Moines
(Des Moines) — Both the Democrats and the Republicans held their respective state party conventions on Saturday at Des Moines. Fred Hubbell, the Democratic nominee for governor announced his running mate. State Senator Rita Hart from Wheatland, Iowa. Hart has served in the State Senate for two
terms and represents the people of Clinton and northern Scott Counties. Hart is the ranking member of the State Senate Agriculture Committee.
The Republican state delegates had to vote for their nominee for the position of Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. The delegates voted four rounds before deciding that current Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig would be the official Republican nominee. In the final round, Naig secured 54 percent of the vote
to Ray Gaesser’s 46 percent.
(photo contributed.)
Naig had served as the Deputy Agriculture Secretary with Bill Northey. When Northey left Iowa for a post in the U-S-D-A, Governor Reynolds selected Naig for the post to fill out Northey’s
term.
The Republican party also officially nominated Lt. Governor Adam Gregg as the running mate for Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. You may recall when Governor Branstad became the Ambassador of China, State Attorney General Tom Miller ruled that Gregg could serve as Lt. Governor, but would not be able to succeed Reynolds, if something were to happen to Reynolds preventing her from completing the term. Delegates from both parties voted on their platform consisting of issues they want to pursue as legislation.
Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Counties For Protected Liability
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Cities, counties and the state of Iowa are less liable for injuries caused by road maintenance issues after a recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling that upheld a longstanding but controversial legal doctrine.
The court in a June 8 ruling said a northern Iowa woman cannot sue Humboldt County for failing to remove a concrete wall a farmer had installed in a roadside ditch to keep cows from escaping.
Kaitlyn Johnson was injured in March 2013 when the pickup truck she was riding in left the road southwest of Humboldt and struck the concrete structure.
She sued the farmer for installing the barrier and the county for
failure to remove it.
The Supreme Court has upheld a judge’s decision to dismiss the
lawsuit, saying Iowa maintains the public-duty doctrine, a legal concept that says governments cannot be held liable for breaching a duty owed to the general public.
Four justices held the doctrine remains the law in Iowa but three
disagreed, saying it is at odds with the legislature’s clear intent to limit government immunity.
DNR Investigates Mason City Sewer Line Rupture
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – A sewer line collapse in Mason City is causing untreated wastewater to flow into the Winnebago River in northern Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the city and its
contractor were unable to complete repairs to the sewer on Friday and plan to resume their work on Monday. Sewage is being discharged to a storm sewer that ends up in the river.
The DNR is asking people to keep children and pets away from the riverbanks near the area for at least 24 hours after the repairs are completed. DNR officials say they’re monitoring the situation and will consider “appropriate enforcement action.”
Polk County Questioned As To Why Private Schools Received Grants
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa county gave $844,000 in grants to ten private, religious schools despite a state law prohibiting public funding for such schools.
The Des Moines Register reports that Polk County gave the money in 2012 and 2013 to nine local Catholic schools and one Christian school by giving the grants to a corporation that passed the money to the schools.
The money given to the schools came from gambling revenue generated by the Prairie Meadows Casino and Hotel.
Mark Stringer of the ACLU of Iowa says that it is unacceptable for state tax money to be intentionally sent to religious schools.
Polk County Attorney John Sarcone says he believes the grants to the private schools were legal, and he said the nonprofit wasn’t set up to get around state law.
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Des Moines Residents Move Into New Apartment Complex
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Residents have begun moving into Des Moines’ newest neighborhood as work continues on apartments and townhomes in the area.
The Des Moines Register reports that downtown’s East Village is being transformed by Hubbell Realty Co.’s 16-acre development known as the Bridge District.
Developers hope the district will attract homeowners and renters to the city’s core. The neighborhood is slated to have nearly 700 housing units in five years.
The area’s first apartment building, called the Verve, opened last
month. Kris Saddoris is vice president of development at Hubbell. He says half of the building’s nearly 130 units are leased.
Residents began moving into the company’s upscale townhouses, known as The Banks, in the fall. Rachel Flint is vice president of Hubbell Homes.
She says 36 of the 44 units have sold.
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Minnesota Man Drowns At Red Rock Lake
PELLA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a Minnesota man has drowned trying to save his 7-year-old niece at Lake Red Rock at the Des Moines River in central Iowa.
Des Moines television station KCCI reports that the incident happened around 3 p.m. Friday.
Authorities say the girl had been playing on the water’s edge and
ventured into deeper water. Her uncle, 42-year-old Cha Charles Lee, of St. Paul, tried to help the girl, but also went under the water.
Officials say a boater pulled the girl to safety and was able to
resuscitate her. She was taken to Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines in stable condition.
A Pleasantville dive team found Lee’s body about 20 yards away after a two-hour search.
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