Authorities Identify Semi Truck Driver Involved With Train Collision
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the victim involved with Thursday’s accident between a semi truck and a Burlington Northern-Sante Fe railroad. The driver is identified as 74-year old Raymond Burch of Larrabee, Iowa. No indication as to the condition of Burch was indicated on the news release. Authorities had classified his status
immediately after the accident as being serious condition. The accident occurred approximately three miles west of Le Mars at a rail crossing on Highway 3.
Utility Companies See Surge For Power Demand During Heat Wave
(Le Mars) — The heat wave from the last two weeks with temperatures reaching the 90’s, has placed an extra burden on the power grid system. With the need for air conditioning, fans, and other refrigeration systems, power utility companies have seen a surge in the load factor. Tina Hoffman is a spokesperson for Mid-American Energy Company. She says Mid-American has been able to meet the higher demands for energy, during the peak times.
Hoffman says Mid-American Energy has had to utilize its “Summer Saver” program which allows the energy company to defer usage away from the high demand peak hours.
Hoffman says there are some simple things residents can implement to help save money during these excessive hot days.
The energy spokesperson suggests closing your blinds and curtains as another way to save money on energy costs.
Hoffman says people can either slightly increase the temperature on their air conditioner, or keep it at a constant setting when going to work as another means to beat the heat and cut energy costs.
Life Skills Training Center To Hold Annual Banquet On Monday
(Le Mars) — Life Skills Training Center will hold its annual meeting and client awards recognition program scheduled for Monday evening. Normally, the annual meeting is held during May, but Shelly Thomson, Development Director with Life Skills says the annual meeting was pushed back to June. Thomson
says it will be held at the Presbyterian – United Church of Christ.
Like many other entities, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the daily routine for Life Skills, with the clients being sent home.
Thomson says the contracted janitorial services were also halted due to the virus. The Life Skills official says things are starting to return to normal status, however, she says virus protection protocols are still being practiced.
Thomson says all of the clients have since returned to Life Skills, however, some of the janitorial services have yet to resume. With regards to the upcoming annual meeting on Monday, Thomson says there will be some limitations as to how many people will be able to attend the banquet.
The next major events for Life Skills will be the annual quilt auction and the Bossy Bingo, both held during the Plymouth County Fair. Thomson says so far, more than 40 quilts will be sold, and tickets for the Bossy Bingo contest will go on sale beginning Monday.
Iowa Supreme Court Rejects Water Quality Lawsuits
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Supreme Court has thrown out a district court ruling that allowed environmental groups to sue the state over water quality.
The Supreme Court ruling says it is speculative that a favorable court decision would lead to a more aesthetically pleasing Raccoon River, better swimming, kayaking, and lower water rates in the Des Moines metropolitan area.
The ruling says the groups are simply seeking broad, abstract declarations that do not provide any assurance of concrete results. The 4-3 decision says the remedy sought by the groups is quite general and the environmental groups admit it can only be done through legislation. The ruling also says that
opens the question of what would the legislation look like as “there is no free lunch” — because reducing the amount of fertilizer farmers use would not reach the goal set for nitrates and could cause economic harm to farmers.
Tax Reform Law Includes Sales Tax Break for Iowa Food Banks
(Des Moines, IA) — A tax reform bill signed into law this week includes a sales break for Iowa’s Food Banks. The state sales tax isn’t charged on food, but Iowa food banks pay an estimated 200-thousand dollars every year in sales taxes on other supplies and equipment. Iowa Food Bank Association executive director Linda Gorkow says that savings will translate into an additional one million meals. Gorkow said, “it provides us an opportunity for us to save funds that have been donated graciously by donors, community members, and really put those funds towards feeding hungry people across the state of Iowa.” Advocates have been lobbying legislators for this move for about a decade.
Woman Struck By Alleged Drunken Driver At Mason City Fleet Farm Dies
(Mason City, IA) — An Omaha man is expected to face more serious charges after a woman he struck with his vehicle in a Mason City parking lot died.
Police say 35-year-old Christopher Rathfon was driving drunk when he hit 62-year-old Dawn Merrick outside Mills Fleet Farm last Tuesday. Investigators say Merrick died of her injuries in the hospital. Rathfon was initially charged with O-W-I, reckless driving and serious injury by vehicle. A breath test showed his blood alcohol content was more than three times the legal
limit.
Northeast Iowa Woman Hurt in UTV Crash Airlifted to La Crosse Hospital
(Decorah, IA) — A northeast Iowa is woman is hospitalized in La Crosse, Wisconsin after a U-T-V crash Thursday afternoon in Winneshiek County. The Iowa State Patrol says 77-year-old Joan Lubke of Ridgeway was riding on the shoulder of Highway 9 and tried to cross the road when her U-T-V was struck by a van. Troopers say Lubke was airlifted to Gunderson Hospital for treatment of her injuries. The man driving the van wasn’t hurt. The incident is still under investigation.
