Vehicle Fire Reported At Hy-Vee Convenience Store
(Le Mars) — Minutes before 7:00 a.m. this morning (Tuesday), the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department were called to the Hy-Vee Convenience store for a vehicle that had caught on fire. According to Fire Chief Dave Schipper, the driver of the vehicle was putting oil in his car’s engine when he had spilled some of the motor oil on the engine block, which caused the spilled oil to ignite causing flames. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire, and the driver decided to proceed on his drive to Sioux City.
County Supervisors To Hear Report On Regional Mental Health Organization
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have a short meeting scheduled for today at the County Courthouse. The county governing board will hear from Shane Walter, the director for the Sioux Rivers Mental Health Region. Walter will present to the county supervisors his quarterly update
report. County Engineer Tom Rohe is scheduled to appear before the county board. Rohe will submit a construction permit request from Western Iowa Telephone for Garfield Township along county road C-66. Rohe will also submit for supervisor approval a permit from MidAmerican Energy for work to be performed in Marion Township on 190th Street and Quartz Avenue, as well as
also 200th Street.
City Council Scheduled To Meet On Tuesday
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars city council will begin their meeting by holding a public hearing regarding the airport runway reconstruction project. The city council will be presented a city water quality report. During action items, the city council is being advised not to fill city clerk Bev Langel’s position
right away, but rather to assign the duties of city clerk to the city finance director, Jacob Widman.
Langel To Retire From Being City Clerk
(Le Mars) — After more than 41 years serving as the city clerk for the city of Le Mars, Bev Langel is retiring. Today (Tuesday) will mark her final city council meeting. A retirement party will take place inside the city council chambers beginning at 10:00 a.m. this morning.
Phelan Joins Floyd Valley Therapies
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Therapies announces the addition of Justin Phelan, PT, DPT. He began his duties in March. His specialties include working with orthopedics injuries, vestibular rehabilitation, neurologic conditions, injury prevention, and those suffering with temporomandibular joint dysfunction(TMJ).
Justin is also certified in Functional Dry Needling.
Justin brings excellent education and clinical experience to Floyd Valley Healthcare. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Northern Iowa. He went on to receive his Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree from Bradley University. Justin has 4 years of hospital and outpatient work experience from the Cedar Falls / Waterloo, IA area.
Troy Henrich, Physical Therapy Manager, states, “Floyd Valley Therapies is excited to see Justin return to the area to care for therapy patients. In addition to growing up in Le Mars, he also spent valuable clinical time in our department through his schooling. His knowledge of the area as well as clinical experiences will be a major plus for our department.”
Justin enjoys cycling, hiking, golfing, gardening, working on DIY projects, and spending time with family and friends.
Woodbury County Authorities Capture Both Suspects Following Manhunt
(Sioux City) — Woodbury County authorities have captured the second suspect wanted in a Monday morning pursuit that started at a South Sioux City, Nebraska, business and ended near Holly Springs. Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan says the driver of that vehicle was found hiding in a creek bed in rural Woodbury County.
The suspect was identified as 30-year old Edgar Vanegas-Sanchez of Colorado. Sheehan says Vanegas-Sanchez had hidden for 12 hours, but the K-9 police dog had flushed him out.
The second man, 24-year old Zachary Broken Leg, was a passenger in the pursued car that struck and ran over the foot of a South Sioux City police officer. That officer observed the suspects attempting to steal a catalytic converter from a vehicle at a South Sioux City business. The suspects got in their vehicle and struck the officer as they drove off. The chase went through Sioux City and ended with a crash at the intersection old Highway 141 and 300th Street near Holly Springs. Vanegas-Sanchez had fled on foot, but Broken Leg was captured and a gun was recovered from the car. Vanegas-Sanchez is being charged with second degree theft, felony eluding, interference with official acts, and possession of burglary tools and drug paraphernalia. Broken Leg was charged with interference with official acts, carrying a concealed weapon, and possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and burglary tools. The South Sioux City police officer was seen by medical personnel and completed his shift and had gone home.
Interest In Bicycles Is High, But Supply Is Short
(Le Mars) — With spring comes warmer weather, and the desire to enjoy the outdoors. It is no secret that Le Mars will be hosting the upcoming Des Moines Register’s RAGBRAI bicycle ride scheduled to begin on Sunday, July 25th. Since the annual cross-state bicycle ride will start in Le Mars are local community people taking an interest to riding bicycles? Kevin Richards owns and operates Bike Central, a bicycle sales and service shop located in Le Mars. Richards says anytime the annual bike ride starts in northwest Iowa there is generally an increase level of interest by local residents to either purchase a bicycle, or have their existing bicycle serviced.
Richards says last year they realized that bicycles would be in short supply heading into this year, and in anticipation, Richards says he ordered a surplus of bicycle parts.
The Bike Central shop owner says the majority of bicycles come from southeast Asia. He says the shortage is due in part to the global spread of the COVID virus.
Richards says bicycle manufacturers are holding off on production of bikes, and parts just to see what happens next. He says it may be several months before a bicycle will be delivered.
Richards talks about the type of bicycles that are in high demand.
Richards suggests if you have an interest in participating either in part, or the entire ride of RAGBRAI, it is important to get your bicycle ready and in tune for the long ride.
Head Of Iowa OSHA Office Warns Of Hazardous Conditions Inside State Capitol
(Des Moines, IA) — The administrator of Iowa’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is warning legislative leaders about hazardous conditions inside the state Capitol. Russell Perry sent a “hazard alert letter” to Republican leaders saying the conditions may expose workers to the coronavirus. Perry says an inspection by his office raised concerns about safety during the pandemic. The inspection found that social distancing isn’t
always enforced inside the building, temperature checks and health screens aren’t performed on everyone who comes in, and employees don’t have to report positive tests. Perry says the conditions don’t violate Iowa state laws but could expose the workers to COVID-19. At least 10 cases of the virus have
been confirmed since January.
Couple Charged With Neglecting 16-Year-Old Son Who Weighed 78 Pounds
(Pleasant Hill, IA) — A witness tells authorities when Jennifer Marie Ryan brought her 16-year-old son to work with her last February she zip-tied him to a chair by his left ankle and a belt loop on his pants. He stayed there for eight hours. That prompted an investigation by the Iowa Department of Human
Services. It led to charges of first-degree kidnapping and neglecting a dependent person against Ryan and her husband, Richard Joe Ryan. Doctors at Blank Children’s Hospital diagnosed the son with severe malnutrition. He weighed just 78 pounds when he was admitted. D-H-S investigators say the teen
was fed breakfast, but he usually ate lunch or dinner, consisting of leftovers from the day before.
Two Des Moines Men Face Hate Crime Charges After Weekend Attack
(Des Moines, IA) — Des Moines authorities say two men face hate crime charges after a weekend incident involving a Black man. Witnesses tell investigators 49-year-old Robert Ray Shelton and 35-year-old Joseph William Rossing beat the victim while yelling racial slurs Saturday. Both Des Moines men are charged with assault in violation of individual rights causing bodily
injury, an aggravated misdemeanor. They are also charged with felony willful injury and criminal mischief. The victim’s name hasn’t been released. He was attacked while driving through the city’s Capitol Heights Neighborhood when he stopped to tell the men their children shouldn’t be riding scooters in the street.
63-Year-Old Waverly Farmer Killed When Equipment Falls On Him
(Waverly, IA) — The Bremer County Sheriff’s Office reports a 63-year-old farmer was killed when a piece of equipment fell on him. Investigators say the apparent accident happened in a farm field north of Waverly. Deputies say Dale Clewell was working on a field planter when the jack he was using moved.
That caused the heavy equipment to slid off the jack and fall on him. He died before he could be taken to a hospital.
