Home News Thursday News, October 28th

Thursday News, October 28th

Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department Responds To Semi-Truck Fire

(Le Mars) — Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department had a busy Wednesday, answering a dozen calls, including a call involving a semi-truck that had caught on fire.  Firefighters responded at about 8:00 p.m. to 14400 Lake Avenue, or approximately five miles northwest from town.  Fire Chief Dave Schipper says upon arrival, the semi-truck was fully engulfed with flames.

Schipper says firefighters had to maneuver around feed bins and hog buildings to get access to the truck fire.  He says there was no damage to the surrounding buildings, however, the truck was totally destroyed.

Schipper says firefighters were on the scene for about 45 minutes.

The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Chief estimates the damage to the semi truck at $52,000.  (truck fire photos contributed.)

Earlier in the day on Wednesday, fire and rescue personnel responded to a call at 315 7th Avenue Southwest on Wednesday afternoon.  The call came in at about 3:40 p.m.   When firefighters arrived at the scene, smoke had filled the basement of the home and was beginning to permeate to the upper level.  It was discovered the cause for the smoke was a sump pump that had overheated.  Firefighters were able to remove the sump pump and ventilated the home.  Firefighters were on the scene for approximately 20 minutes.  Damage was minor, and there were no injuries.  Over the lunch hour, the fire and rescue squad also responded to a minor accident scene near the Dairy Queen corner.

 

 

 

Remsen Prepares For Oktoberfest Celebration

(Remsen) — The sights and sounds of the Bavarian culture featuring the heritage of Luxemborg and Germany will be featured on Saturday as Remsen celebrates its 47th annual Oktoberfest celebration.  Mike Matgen serves as the festival’s co-chairman.  He says the day’s event begin at 9:00 a.m. with the crafts and vendor show which will be held at the MMCRU Middle School gymnasiums.

The tapping of the golden keg is scheduled to happen at 1:00 p.m. at the St. Mary’s gymnasium.

Matgen says the children will be judged based on their Bavarian-style costume, as well as their performance of the “Chicken Dance” and how well they answer the judges questions.

This year’s Oktoberfest celebration will feature two different bands to perform the traditional polka music.  The bands will split their time on the St. Mary’s gymnasium stage.

Matgen says the traditional meals will be served.  However, this year, organizers decided to make a small change as to how those meals will be featured.  Instead of family-style, Matgen says the food will be presented in a buffet, or smorgasbord.

Matgen says the Bavarian style meal will be served between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Tickets are selling at $15 either at the Iowa State Bank, American Bank, or at the door.  The Oktoberfest co-chairman reviews the Bavarian and American meals to be served.

Matgen says for those people wanting to volunteer to help make the German potato salad, they will prepare that on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Mary’s high school cafeteria.  He says the Remsen Heritage museum will be at the Oktoberfest celebration at St. Mary’s from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. assisting those people wanting to learn more about their family tree heritage.  He says Oktoberfest souvenirs will be sold during the celebration.

 

 

 

Iowa Lawmakers Meet in Special Session to Consider 2nd Redistricting Plan

(Des Moines, IA)  —  The Iowa Legislature reconvenes this (Thursday) morning in special session to vote on the second redistricting plan.  The maps for legislative districts show 58 members of the Iowa House and Senate live in the same district as at least one other incumbent.  Republican legislative leaders have not indicated whether this second set of maps has majority support.  Democrats in the Iowa House and Senate plan to vote for the latest redistricting plan.

 

 

 

Miller-Meeks Defends Ottumwa Packing Plant’s COVID Response

(Ottumwa, IA)  —  Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks is defending how the meatpacking plant in her hometown of Ottumwa responded in the first weeks of the pandemic.  The Republican says even experts like Doctor Anthony Fauci didn’t know what was going on in those early months and guidance was changing daily.  Miller-Meeks says not all employees in the plant in Ottumwa contracted COVID inside the plant.  She says contract tracing showed that most of of the spread came from in the home or other living conditions or in transportation with carpooling.

 

 

 

UI Pharmacy Officer Predicts COVID Vaccine For Kids Could Start Next Week

(Iowa City, IA)  —  A University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics expert say kids ages five to 11 could start getting vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of next week.  Chief Pharmacy Officer Michael Brownlee says precautions were taken to minimize the impact on kids, and the dose is a third of the adult dose.  He says that was done very intentionally to minimize side effects and potentially long-term side effects as well.

 

 

 

Christmas Trees Could Be in Short Supply This Season

(Morning Sun, IA)  —  Everything seems in short supply this year and live Christmas trees are no exception.  David Pierce, past-president of the Iowa Christmas Tree Association, says some tree farms may be having trouble this season due to the long-running drought.  He says there was a strong demand last year due to other events like the weather, and deer damage — and supplies are a little bit tighter this year.  Last year’s derecho (dah-RAY-cho) destroyed untold thousands of native hardwoods and shade trees statewide, but he says the powerful wind storm didn’t cause much trouble for evergreens.

 

 

 

Trooper Eulogized In Funeral

(Waukon, IA) — Family, friends, and law officers filled the Waukon gymnasium Wednesday to say goodbye to State Trooper Ted Benda. Benda died on October 20th from injuries suffered in an accident on the way to a call. Iowa Public Safety Commissioner Stephen Bayens said as they mourn the loss of Trooper Ted Benda they are also celebrating his life and service. Benda was 37 and leaves behind a wife and three daughters. Bayens thanked them for supporting Benda and for sharing him. “We will be forever grateful for his service to the Iowa State Patrol and to the State of Iowa.”

 

 

 

Deere Picketing Canceled After Worker Killed In Illinois Accident

(Milan, IL) — U-A-W pickets at John Deere facilities were canceled today (Wednesday) after a 56-year-old union member and John Deere employee was killed in a traffic accident while walking to the picket line in Milan (MY-len), Illinois. The worker was hit and killed before dawn this (Wednesday) morning. The union says the man had worked at the Milan John Deere Parts Distribution Center for 15 years. U-A-W leaders and John Deere put out statements saying they’re saddened by the loss and their condolences go out to the worker’s family, friends and colleagues.

 

 

 

U-I Fraternity Sued Over Alleged Rape

(Iowa City, IA) — A fraternity at the University of Iowa is being sued by a student who claims she was sexually assaulted at a Phi Gamma Delta party last fall and that her attackers took photos and videos of the act and shared them. There have been protests on campus by those who say the investigation has not moved quickly enough.

 

 

 

Gas Prices Up Again

(Undated) — The latest survey from Triple-A shows the average price of regular unleaded gasoline was up three cents this week. The survey says gas is averaging three dollars, 17 cents a gallon — which is up by one dollar, 15 cents from one year ago. The national average on for gas today (Wednesday) is three-39 a gallon — which is also up three cents from last week.