Firefighters Prepare For Fire Prevention Week
(Le Mars) —
Do you hear that sound? That distinctive noise is the sound of a smoke detector that has been activated. It has an unusual high pitch tone that is different from anything else so that it will alert you, and your family, in case your home has caught on fire. The smoke detector’s alarm is designed to wake you up when you are sleeping and smoke and possibly a fire are present in the area.
Fire prevention week begins on Sunday and continues through Saturday, October 9th. This year’s theme is: “Learn the sounds of fire safety” and Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the emphasis this year is placed on smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Schipper says the four most common home fires include: those that originate in the kitchen, improperly discarded smoking material, i.e. cigarettes, space heaters, and candles.
Schipper reminds people when they change their clocks, they should also change the batteries inside their smoke detectors.
Schipper says many times when a household fire occurs, firefighters will notice the battery had expired, or missing, or there wasn’t a smoke detector in the first place. Nearly every day of the month of October, firefighters from the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department will be speaking to pre-schools, elementary grades, and other students about the importance of fire safety.
The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department will talk about fire safety and prevention to nearly 500 students through the month of October.
Le Mars Community High School To Host College Fair Night
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Community High School will host its annual College Fair to be held this evening inside the gym. Judd Kopperud serves as the Guidance Counselor for Le Mars High School and helps organize the event.
Kopperud says many of the region’s colleges will be in attendance including, Briar Cliff, Morningside, Buena Vista, Northwestern, Dordt, Augustana, Sioux Falls, and Wayne State. Also being represented will be the major state universities that include Iowa, Iowa State, University of Northern Iowa, University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University, and University of Nebraska. Kopperud says many two-year vocational schools will also be represented at this evening’s college fair.
Kopperud says the college fair is open to any area junior or senior student, along with parents or guardians.
Kopperud says a few years ago, officials revamped the system so all students need to do is to scan a bar code to receive information from the respective college of university, instead of hand writing the pertinent information.
The Le Mars Community High School Guidance Counselor says additional information can be passed along to colleges and universities through the bar-code system.
The event will be held in the Carey gym. People are asked to enter from the east doors, and the college fair will start at 6:00 p.m. and will continue until 7:30 p.m.
SNAP Benefits Increase This Month
(Des Moines, IA) — Thousands of Iowans who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see a boost in those benefits this month. Janee Harvey oversees the program for the Department of Human Services — and says it will be an approximately 25 to 27 percent increase. Harvey says the U-S-D-A evaluates the benefits every year, and this year they reevaluated the way they do the evaluation — and that led to a much bigger increase percentage increase than what they’ve seen in past years. Harvey says this permanent increase happens as the pandemic-related increase in SNAP benefits that started in January is ending.
Union, John Deere Reach Tentative Contract Agreement
(Chicago, IL) — John Deere and the U-A-W have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. Both sides say no details will be released until after the ratification votes by union members on October 10th. The U-A-W would say the proposed new national contract includes what it calls “significant gains” for workers. Negotiations began in August and the new agreement covers ten thousand employees at twelve Deere facilities in Iowa, Illinois, and Kansas.
Cedar Rapids Police Search For Shooter Who Wounded 3 Victims
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — Cedar Rapids police are trying to find the shooter who opened fire at a birthday party in a hotel that left six people injured Friday night. Two of those hit had non-life-threatening injuries, while the third was seriously injured. That victim was airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for additional treatment. Three more victims were brought into a Cedar Rapids hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Police say the shooting at the Ramada Inn on the southwest side of the city happened shortly before 10:30 p-m.
Police Search For Suspect Who Tried To Abduct 2-Year-Old Child
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — Authorities in the Cedar Rapids area are searching for the suspect who tried to abduct a two-year-old child Sunday. A caller reported the incident at about 4:00 p-m. Witnesses told investigators that a man wearing a sweatshirt and a mask tried to grab the child from the sidewalk. A family member was able to intervene and the suspect jumped in a white car and drove away. Police haven’t publicly identified any suspects.
Pork Producers To Name The Top Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
- Elk Horn — Larsen’s Pub (winner in 2007)
- Emerson — Old Road Cafe & Bar
- Harlan — Victoria Station
- Indianola — Z’s Eatery and Draught Haus
- Miles — Stalker’s Pub
