Charges Filed Against Le Mars Man For Tuesday Evening Accident
(Le Mars) –– Le Mars Police have arrested a 33-year old Le Mars man for the accident that occurred Tuesday evening near the intersection of 12th Street South and Central Avenue South that severed a utility power pole causing the neighborhood to be without power. Alex Langel was charged with an OWI, the use of an electronic device while driving, and failure to maintain control. Officers responded to a single vehicle accident Tuesday evening and made contact with the defendant at about 8:53 p.m. The investigation conducted by attending officers found as a result of the accident, Langel was found to be impaired while driving. Langel was placed under arrest and taken to the Plymouth County Jail.
(photo contributed.)
Investigation Completed For Vehicle Versus Motorcycle Accident
(Le Mars) — More details of the accident that happened last Thursday afternoon at the intersection of county road C-38 and Highway 75 have now been released. The accident occurred at about 2:35 p.m. and involved a motorcycle and a vehicle. Le Mars Police have reported 64 year old Patrick Hansen of Le Mars was heading northbound riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle when an uninvolved vehicle was facing westbound on county road C-38 at the stop sign about to turn right and head northbound on Highway 75. As the uninvolved vehicle proceeded to turn north, a vehicle driven by 41-year old Rafael Rodriguez Lopez of South Sioux City, Nebraska proceeded across the intersection failing to stop at the stop sign. Rodriguez Lopez went in front of Hansen’s motorcycle causing Hansen to brake and try to swerve to avoid the collision and the motorcycle slid on its side. Witnesses observed Rodriguez Lopez dumping a drink out of the window and put pieces of gum in his mouth. Witnesses to the accident were able to get Rodriguez Lopez to pull over to the side of the roadway as they were continuing southbound on Highway 75. Rodriguez Lopez was checked for operating while intoxicated. He was subsequently cited for open container and failure to obey traffic control devices. The motorcycle driver Hansen suffered what were categorized as minor injuries.
Total Motors Donates $10,000 For New Ambulance
(Le Mars) — Total Motors of Le Mars has made good on a pledge to help fund a new ambulance for the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department. Last March, during the fire fighters banquet, Total Motors said they would donate $10,000 to go towards the purchase of a third ambulance for Le Mars. On Wednesday of this week, Scott Taylor, Michelle Taylor, and Dave Hill of Total Motors delivered a check to the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department . Assistant Chief Mike Wise with the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department received the check from Total Motors. Equipment for the new ambulance has started to arrive, and the new Chevy Ambulance is nearing completion. Delivery date for the new ambulance is scheduled for October 1st.
Pictured from left to right: Assistant Chief Mike Wise, John MacGregor, Marcus Pfeifer, Michelle Taylor, Scott Taylor and Dave Hill.
(photo contributed.)
Northwest Iowa SIDS Association Prepares For Annual Walk-a-thon Fund Raiser Event
(Le Mars) — Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or otherwise known simply as SIDS, is the number one disease that claims the life of babies under the age of one. Nearly two thousand infant deaths each year can be attributed to SIDS. Pam Jeneary of Le Mars serves on the board of directors with the Iowa Association of SIDS, 38 years ago Pam and her husband Tom lost a child due to SIDS.
Since that time, Pam Jeneary has taken on an active roll in calling attention to SIDS, including organizing fund raisers to help with SIDS research. On Saturday, August 28th, across the state of Iowa, the Iowa SIDS Association will hold seven different fund raiser activities to raise money for SIDS. Le Mars will again serve as the host for the northwest Iowa event.
Wednesday morning, the northwest Iowa SIDS Association hosted a chamber coffee event to call attention to the disease, and the upcoming fundraiser walk. Jeneary shared with the gathering some good news with fund raising efforts for the upcoming walk.
The annual walk-a-thon SIDS fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, August 28th at the Le Mars Municipal Park and Shelter House. Jeneary says online registration has already closed, but interested participants can still register the day of the event. Jeneary tells what will happen the day of the walk-a-thon.
Jeneary says the SIDS organization is hoping for at least 100 to 150 people to participate in the event. At present time, about 90 people have pre-registered. She says the organization is offering a bit of a sweet incentive in the form of cupcakes.
Again this year, helium-filled balloons will be released in memory of those infants that died as a result of SIDS, and along the walk will be the names of the infants. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the walk will begin at 9:00 a.m. KLEM radio is a proud sponsor of the SIDS Walk-a-thon.
(photos are from 2019 event.)
Iowa Governor Says State Website With Coronavirus Data Is Being Updated
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds says the Iowa state-run website that offers coronavirus data is being updated. Reynolds says the work is being done the make the information offered more accurate. There have been no reports on what kind of additional information will be posted. Legislative Democrats have criticized the Reynolds administration for changing from daily to weekly updates this summer. They say that change was made at a time parents were making decisions about whether to send their young, unvaccinated children back to school. Reynolds says there are no plans to return to daily updates right now.
2 House Members From Iowa Back Legislation To Override California Rules On Pork
(Washington, DC) — Two Republican members of the Iowa congressional delegation are backing federal legislation to override new California rules for pork producers. Ashley Hinson of Marion and Randy Feenstra of Hull talked about the effort during an appearance at the Pork Tent at the Iowa State Fair. Hinson tells reporters, “California shouldn’t be instilling bacon bans on Iowa.” California voters approved rules requiring bigger pens for pigs three years ago. Very few Iowa operations meet those size requirements. Feenstra warns of a ripple effect. Pennsylvania Congressman Glenn Thompson joined the two Iowa politicians at the fair, saying the California rules violate the commerce clause of the U-S Constitution.
Jaramillo Family Says Surviving Son Has Made Miraculous Recovery
(Des Moines, IA) — The Jaramillo family says their surviving son has made a miraculous recovery from the injuries he suffered at Adventureland over the Fourth of July holiday. The accident left 11-year-old Michael Jaramillo dead, but his brother is getting better quickly. The family says doctors are baffled by his rapid progress. David Junior was underwater the longest and the last one out. It appeared he had been submerged for more than 10 minutes. Thirty days later, his dad says his older son walked out of the hospital “and asks for pizza.” The 16-year-old still faces a lot of rehabilitation, but he is talking and his motor functions are continuing to improve.
John Deere and Union Start Contract Talks
(Moline, IL) — John Deere and the U-A-W have started negotiations on a new contract for about ten-thousand Deere employees. The current union contract for workers at 12 John Deere plants expires October 1st. Employees at Iowa plants in Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Ottumwa and Waterloo are affected. Heading into negotiations, U-A-W president Dennis Williams acknowledges Deere and U-A-W members have gone through tough times this year as farm equipment sales fell and Deere laid off workers. Brad Morris, Deere’s vice president for labor relations, says the company looks forward to honoring the contributions of employees and reaching an agreement that demonstrates a vision of shared success.
Marion Man Arrested After Cedar Rapids Hit and Run Motorcycle Crash
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — A man from Marion is accused in a hit-and-run crash that left a motorcyclist seriously injured. Cedar Rapids police say 29-year-old Adam Meader was found lying on the ground Sunday night. He was riding his cycle when he was apparently hit by a blue Ford Focus that fled the scene. Meader was taken to the hospital with a serious head injury. Officers say the suspect vehicle was located in Hiawatha and 34-year-old Daniel Busch was later arrested. Busch is facing several charges including leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious injury, driving while barred, eluding and O-W-I.
