Fire Department Issues December Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department has issued its December monthly report showing the total number of calls were at 25. The break down shows firefighters responded to nine fire calls, seven rescues, five investigations or accident clean-ups, and the fire department had four requests for services. During December, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue
Department were not called for any mutual aid calls.
Plymouth County Communications Center Releases Annual Report For Community Ambulance And Fire Calls
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Communications Center has released the numbers of paged calls for each community’s ambulance and fire department.
Akron’s ambulance responded to 174 calls while the fire department was paged through the communications center 59 times. Hinton Ambulance was dispatched on 138 calls, while the fire department responded to 81 calls. Kingsley ambulance service was called to respond to 137 emergencies, and the Kingsley Fire Department had 35 calls. Merrill had 60 calls for the ambulance, and 40 for the fire department. Oyens responded to 16 calls for the ambulance and 12 times the fire department was notified. Remsen’s ambulance was sent out to 182 medical-related calls, and the Remsen fire department responded
to 36 calls. For Le Mars, the Le Mars Ambulance Service had 1,137 calls, while the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department had 258 paged calls through the Communications Center, but total calls for the year 2019 numbered 529. The Communications Center received a total of 5,943 9-1-1 emergency calls, while the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office responded to 7200 complaints.
Two People Die From Carbon Monoxide Self-inflicted Poisoning
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department responded to an unresponsive male medical call on Wednesday, January 1st at about 5:15 p.m. The address was at 501 4th Avenue Northeast. Upon arrival, two male subjects were found deceased. A preliminary investigation concluded that both died from carbon
monoxide poisoning, and their deaths were self-inflicted. The two were identified as Jeremy Tibbetts, age 32, and 41 year old Jason Tibbetts.
Both had resided at the residence. In addition to the Le Mars Police, the Le Mars Ambulance Services, Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, and the Plymouth County Medical Examiner assisted at the scene. The investigation is continuing.
Supervisors Select Kass As Chairman And Anderson As Vice Chair
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors held election of officers during its meeting held Thursday morning. Don Kass was re-elected to serve as chairman, and Craig Anderson was selected as the vice chairman of the board.
Don Kass Craig Anderson
The supervisors approved the committee appointments, with each resuming the duties of previously appointed committees. The one exception is John Meis announced that his term on the Life Skills Training Center would expire in May. The supervisors then approved having Supervisor Gary Horton would take over the supervisor duties with Life Skills Training Center in June. The supervisors approved four newspapers as the official
newspapers of the county. They include the Le Mars Daily Sentinel, Akron Hometowner, Remsen Bell and the Moville Record. The supervisors approved all the nominated names whose terms were about to expire to serve another
term to their respective committees and boards. The county governing board approved a construction project with the Iowa Department of Transportation allowing for the purchase of right-of-way construction at six different intersections on Highway 75 between Hinton and county road C-80. Three of
the intersections connect the small community of James with Highway 75. The total estimated cost for the project is $149,905. Five of the intersections will extend 50 feet with paving. The sixth intersection will extend a distance of 100 feet of new pavement joining Highway 75. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2020.
Plymouth County Solid Waste Agency Raises Fees
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Solid Waste Agency has announced new collection fees for electronics and television sets effective January 1st.
A $5.00 fee will be assessed for the disposal of computer towers and printers. Ten dollars will be collected for the disposal of computer monitors, flat screen television sets, and television sets up to 13 inches.
The Landfill will collect $20 for television sets from 14 inches up to 34 inches, and a fee of $30 will be assessed for television sets of 35 inches and up, including console. Fees need to be paid either by cash or check when disposing these items to the Landfill.
Iowa Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer Endorses Joe Biden
(Dubuque) — Joe Biden is getting a high-profile endorsement for his presidential bid as congresswoman Abby Finkenauer becomes the first member of Iowa’s congressional delegation to take sides in the Democratic nominating contest.
In an interview with The Associated Press ahead of her announcement Thursday, the congresswoman cites Biden’s experience and says he’s the candidate who can unite Democrats, independents and some
Republicans. Finkenauer hosted nine presidential contenders at a November forum in her congressional district, demonstrating her potential influence.
Polls suggest Biden is in a jumble of top contenders in Iowa along with Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg.
Council Bluffs Police Stop Truck Filled With Marijuana
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Police in Council Bluffs in western Iowa say the traffic stop of a rental truck has lead to the seizure of 1,500 pounds of marijuana worth about $4.5 million on the street. Police say in a news release that the traffic stop occurred Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 80 in Council Bluffs, when the truck was stopped on suspicion of speeding.
Police say a drug dog was deployed and indicated the presence of drugs in the truck and a search turned up 61 cardboard boxes packed with marijuana.
The 35-year-old truck driver from Los Angeles was arrested on various drug charges.
Gowrie Residents Try To Save Grocery Store
GOWRIE, Iowa (AP) – Some residents have organized to keep open the only grocery store in their central Iowa town. The newly formed Gowrie Grocery LLC has scheduled a meeting Monday to discuss the Jamboree Foods store. It serves the nearly 1,000 residents of Gowrie and others in southwest Webster County. It’s part of a chain owned by Nick Graham, who’s closed stores recently in other small communities. Marcie Boerner is one of the Gowrie organizers, and she told The Messenger that Graham’s willing to sell. She says the Gowrie group’s goal is to raise at least $250,000 to buy Jamboree
Foods and ensure it stays open.
