First Snow Of The Season Causes Some Minor Accidents
(Le Mars) — Northwest Iowa woke up Friday morning to see the season’s first snowfall. Although many parts of the state received only a dusting of snow, it still resulted in several reported accidents and incidents where vehicles entered the ditch due to the slick roads and highways. Iowa State Patrol Trooper Sergeant Kyle Haack reviews the incidents since last evening.
One of those reported accidents occurred at about 5:30 a.m. this morning when a vehicle had rolled over on Highway 75 near the Merrill bridge. Fortunately, that accident resulted in only minor injuries.
Haack says motorists need to remember how to drive during the winter months when snow and ice are present.
The Iowa State Patrol trooper says conditions in some places this morning are still slick.
The latest roads and highway condition report indicates Highway 3 between Brunsville and Remsen is partially snow covered. Highway 60 from Le Mars going north is partially covered with snow. Highway 75 from Hinton to Maurice is partially covered in snow. Plymouth County Sheriff Jeff TeBrink echoes Trooper Haack’s comments, and adds that motorists should not be using their cruise control when roads are slick with snow and ice. He tells motorists to be cautious, especially on the county black top roads.
For up to date road conditions, motorists can go to the Iowa Department of Transportation roadway website which is www.511ia.org.
Floyd Valley Healthcare Issues Annual Report
(Le Mars) — People living within the Floyd Valley Healthcare market area will notice the hospital has issued its annual report, and it will soon appear in resident’s mailbox. Dustin Wright serves as the C.E.O. of Floyd Valley Healthcare. Inside the front cover is a message from trustee chairman, Ralph Klemme along with statistics showing the number of people that are employed by Floyd Valley.
Unlike some hospitals across the state, Floyd Valley has maintained a healthy financial balance, even when COVID prevented some elective surgeries to occur.
One of Floyd Valley’s goals is to expand its specialty and therapy clinics. Wright reviews the timeline for that construction expansion project.
Wright says the second floor of the facility will house the therapy unit, which will nearly double the current size. The Floyd Valley executive says construction will get started yet this spring.
Tomorrow evening, Saturday, is the annual Floyd Valley Healthcare Foundation fund raising event, “Celebrating Our Heroes” with wine and craft beer tasting. Wright says the hospital’s fund raiser plays an important role for the survival and growth of the hospital.
That fund raiser event is scheduled to be held at P’s Pizza House in Le Mars, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Governor Reynolds Rejects Judge Candidates in Northern Iowa
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds has taken the “extraordinary” step of rejecting the candidates a commission had nominated to be a district court judge in northern Iowa. Reynolds sent a letter to the commission making nominations for the district court vacancy created when Judge Gina Badding of Carroll was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals. Reynolds wrote that she heard from several commission members that the judge who led the interview process had coached one candidate and made unprofessional and disturbing comments about others. Reynolds said her staff discovered Judge Kurt Stoebe of Humboldt also misled commission members by saying one applicant had withdrawn after being interviewed. That person adamantly denied that when contacted by the governor’s office. The commission is to reconvene November 18th and redo the entire process. The only other time nominees for an opening in district court have been rejected happened during Governor Robert Ray’s tenure.
Iowa Joins 3 Lawsuits Challenging Workplace COVID Vaccine Mandates
(Adel, IA) — The State of Iowa is joining three separate lawsuits that are challenging the Biden Administration’s Covid vaccination requirements in the workplace. Governor Kim Reynolds said, “we’re going to keep fighting for Iowans to give them the opportunity to make their own choice about their health care.” Federal courts have temporarily blocked an OSHA rule to require businesses with more than 100 employees to ensure workers are vaccinated for Covid or tested regularly. The latest lawsuit filed by ten states challenges the vaccine mandate for most health care workers. Iowa’s Republican governor a mandate for employees in facilities that treat patients receiving Medicare or Medicaid benefits could be “devastating” to Iowa’s nursing homes as some workers are threatening to quit rather than get vaccinated.
Arrest Made in Deadly Ottumwa Stabbing
(Ottumwa, IA) — One man is dead and another is in custody after a stabbing Thursday in southeast Iowa. Police in Ottumwa found the victim with multiple stab wounds in an alley and later identified him as 55-year-old William Sapp. Witnesses told officers the suspect’s name and he was located five hours later hiding in the closet of a home. Forty-two-year-old Douglas Spurgeon was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder. Investigators say they recovered potential evidence during a search of the home. Spurgeon is being held in the Wapello County jail without bond.
Fairfield Community Selling T-Shirts For Family of Slain Teacher Graber
(Fairfield, IA) — The Fairfield community is selling t-shirts to raise money for the family of slain Spanish teacher Nohema Graber. The shirts have the slogan “Small Town Big Love.” They raised more than 300 dollars in the first hour of sales. Organizers say they wanted to ensure the legacy of the beloved high school teacher lives on. Sherry Vanblaricom of Ace Graphics and Printings says community members could learn a lot from Graber’s family during this time. T-shirts can be purchased at Empowered Nutrition in Fairfield. Two 16-year-old students are charged in Graber’s death.
