Man Is Struck And Killed On Highway 75
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call at about 3:08 this Monday morning (June 14th) from a motorist that was traveling on Highway 75 advising that they had hit something in the roadway. The location was approximately at the 29000 block of Highway 75, or between Hinton and Merrill. A short time later, a second 9-1-1 call was received at the County Communications Center indicating a person was laying in the roadway and had been struck at that approximate location. Plymouth County Sheriff’s deputies, and the Hinton Fire and Ambulance responded to the scene and located a deceased male. The victim was transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare. Names are not being released at this time pending notification of next of kin.
The accident is still under investigation by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office. Assisting at the scene was the Hinton Fire and Ambulance, Le Mars Police Department, and the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Dry Conditions Beginning To Stress The Crops
(Le Mars) — Despite some recent rains, that produced only a couple of tenths of an inch of precipitation, most of northwest Iowa remains far below the normal moisture levels. Joel DeJong is the crops specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for northwest Iowa. DeJong says crops are
showing signs of stress, and that we are as much as fifteen inches short of normal moisture levels.
DeJong says corn is being negatively affected by the hot temperatures and low moisture. He says across many fields you can see the corn rolling its leaves.
The Iowa State University Extension Crops Specialist says if the current weather pattern continues, farmers may see a drastic yield loss.
DeJong says what little rainfall that has occurred has been just enough to establish the corn plant’s root system.
DeJong says the next thirty days will be critical to the corn development as the corn begins to pollinate. He says soybeans are also showing some signs of stress, but soybeans have a way to delay the need for moisture until later in the year.
Carroll Man Arrested After Multi-County Police Pursuit
(Fort Dodge, IA) — Authorities say a 39-year-old Carroll man has been arrested for a police pursuit that crossed several counties Friday. Nickolas Down was taken into custody when the chase ended near Fort Dodge. The Iowa State Patrol executed a pit maneuver to stop him. The Patrol says the chase starting in Carroll County and reached speeds of around 100 miles an hour.
Deputies from Carroll, Calhoun, and Webster counties joined the Iowa State Patrol in the chase. Downs was wanted on a Carroll County warrant for domestic abuse and contempt of court. Charges connected to the chase are pending.
Former DHS Director Sues Governor Over Firing
(Des Moines, IA) — A former Iowa Department of Human Services Director says he was fired for questioning the legality of the way one of the governor’s aides was being paid. Jerry Foxhoven is suing Governor Reynolds for the firing. His suit basically says Foxhoven lost his job because he refused to
engage in illegal activity. He says paying aide Paige Thorson with federal Medicaid money would have been a case of fraud. Foxhoven was fired two years ago. At the time, Governor Reynolds simply said she wanted to “go in a new direction” at D-H-S.
Iowa Fire Marshal: Device Found By Ankeny Girl Could Have Exploded
(Ankeny, IA) — The Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office says the device found by a girl in Ankeny last week could have exploded. Special Agent in Charge Ron Humphrey says his office worked with Ankeny police to recover and disarm the device. Suzanne Buffington called authorities Wednesday at about 9:30 a-m
after her eight-year-old daughter, Maya, found the device while playing outside the family home. Authorities say they have received three calls from residents about what were described as “explosions” in the neighborhood over the last two months. The calls on April 2nd, May 12th, and June 7th were all within a block of the location where the latest device was found.
Storm Lake Man Found Guilty In Shooting Of Des Moines Child
(Des Moines, IA) — Investigators say 20-year-old Reath Yak was one of the men who fired more than 20 shots at a Des Moines home last March. One of those bullets hit two-year-old Malcolm Mai in the head. Yak was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder, willful injury, and intimidation with a
dangerous weapon. Four more men held in connection with the shooting are seeking separate trials. No sentencing date for Yak has been set. The wounded child spent almost a month in the hospital and is currently involved in rehabilitation.
