Firefighters Respond To Sunday Evening House Fire
(Le Mars) –– A faulty air conditioning unit located in the attic of a home was responsible for a house fire Sunday evening. Firefighters from Le Mars and Merrill responded to a large home at the 300 block of Plymouth Street southeast at approximately 8:18 p.m. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper explains the scene.
Schipper tells how that fire got started, as well as the cause of the fire.
Firefighters were on the scene for a little more than an hour. Schipper says the damage was limited to the attic area.
The Le Mars fire chief says the smoke damage was also limited to the attic area of the house. Schipper says there were no injuries, and the residents of the house were able to stay at their home.
(Top photo courtesy of the Le Mars Fire Department)
Sunday Was Graduation Day
(Le Mars) — Sunday, marked graduation day for the class of 2021 for both Gehlen Catholic and Le Mars Community schools. Gehlen held its commencement at the Vi Kellen Memorial gym. 44 seniors from Gehlen Catholic received their diplomas from Gehlen Catholic School Board President, Andy Schmidt. This
year’s Salutatorium Dwas Emily Klien, and the title of Valedictorian was shared by Lauren Harpenau and Rachel Langel. The guest speaker was Andy Woerdehoff. Diplomas were presented to 156 seniors from Le Mars Community on
what turned out to be a wonderful warm Sunday afternoon at the new stadium.
Kutter Wright was selected to read his speech to his fellow classmates, and to the attending audience. Dr. Mark Iverson read the names of the seniors as School Superintendent, Dr. Steve Webner congratulated each graduating senior,
and School Board Members, Scott Kommes, Angela Catton, Jane Arnold, and Jill Feuerhelm presented the diplomas.
Jeneary Reviews Legislative Session
(Des Moines) — The Iowa legislature wrapped up its session late Wednesday evening at about midnight. State Representative Dr. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars says although the state lawmakers were able to get many important bills passed, he says unfortunately, there were some bills that were left on the table.
Jeneary says a medical malpractice bill was introduced, but also was not able to advance.
Jeneary says many state legislators were pleased with their accomplishments, passing many issues on their agenda.
He is especially pleased the legislature was able to pass what was known as the “life amendment.”
The Le Mars Republican says the life amendment issue was the topic he had heard the most correspondence from his constituents.
Official Says Children Have Suffered From Anxiety Issues Due To COVID
(Ames) — Last week’s announcement from Governor Kim Reynolds eliminating mask mandates in schools and most businesses is making some Iowans anxious. Plus, the C-D-C says fully vaccinated people no longer need to socially distance or wear masks indoors, with some exceptions. Douglas Gentile (jen-TEEL), a psychology professor at Iowa State University, says many of us will need to ease slowly into resuming pre-pandemic activities.
Gentile says it’s normal if activities don’t initially feel the same way they did before the pandemic, and if fully vaccinated people want to continue wearing masks, that’s also fine. Gentile says despite the drastic change in public health guidance, Iowans need to take the return to “normal” at their own pace.
COVID-19 has affected the mental health of many Iowans, and some parents are noticing changes in their children. Janette Lems, of Johnston, says the trouble for her kids began when they started school last fall and she sought out in-person play therapy.
According to the CDC, mental health-related emergency room visits increased 24 percent for young children and 31 percent for teens from March to October of last year compared to 2019.
Tibbetts Murder Trial Resumes Today
(Davenport, IA) — The trial of the man accused of murdering University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts will resume this (Monday) morning in Daveport. The prosecution started building its case against Cristhian Bahena Rivera in the first three days of testimony last week. Rivera is charged with first degree-murder in Tibbetts’s death. She disappeared while out on a run in her hometown of Brooklyn in 2018. Prosecutors say Rivera already confessed to the killing and actually led police to Tibbetts’ body.
Two Dead In Fiery Polk County Crash
(Polk County, IA) — Two people are dead after fleeing weekend traffic stop in Polk County and crashing. The Polk County Sheriff’s Department says a deputy stopped a red Dodge Charger for speeding at 1:17 p-m Sunday — and the driver sped away as the deputy approached the car. The deputy gave chase — but lost sight of the car as it pulled away at a high speed. A crash was called in a short time later, and the deputy arrived to find the car engulfed in flames at a T-intersection. The fire was too hot to attempt a rescue, and two people were found dead in the car after the fire was put out. No names have been released pending notification of next of kin.
Potential Bomb Materials Found At Anamosa Prison
(Anamosa, IA) — The Iowa Department of Corrections says materials that could have been used to make a bomb were discovered in an inmate’s cell at Anamosa State Penitentiary on Friday. Investigators found a household substance in an inmate’s cell during a search that the Corrections Department spokesman says could have potentially been used in the creation of an explosive substance if additional materials were added. The spokesman says the D-C-I interviewed inmates suspected of planning to use an explosive device.
Marion Board Could Approve New Mascot
(Marion, IA) — The Marion school board could vote tonight (Monday) to change the school’s mascot from Indians to Wolves. The district conducted a poll and found 57 percent want the Wolves mascot, with the Storm the other choice. The school was set in February to replace their Indians mascot with the Mavericks — but were told that the nickname dates back to an early 1800’s Texas rancher and slave owner.
