Kingsley Hit By Wednesday Storm
(Le Mars) — The first wave of Wednesday’s storm passed through Plymouth County at about 5:00 p.m. leaving behind down powerlines, several trees that had blown over, and damaged buildings in its wake. The town of Kingsley and areas of southeastern Plymouth County seemed to receive the most damage. Kingsley was without power through the evening, and MidAmerican Energy officials say it may be sometime on Thursday before all power can be restored. Early reports indicate the Titan Machinery Company of Kingsley lost a portion of the roof and damage was done to a large overhead door. Other reports indicate the Dollar General store which is close to the Titan Machinery Company building also sustained some damage. At around 7:00 p.m. the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office issued a news release informing people, unless they live in Kingsley, people will not be allowed into Kingsley. There was a report of a hog barn located at the 19000 block of Otter Avenue that had lost a portion of its roof. Both the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department and the Oyens Fire Department responded to the scene. At approximately 9:10 p.m. the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office issued a second news release saying the town of Kingsley sustained damage to several residences and one business due to the weather. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office indicated in the news release the town of Kingsley does not have power, and will be without power throughout the night. They are requesting no outside visitors at this time. A photo posted on Facebook shows a high voltage powerline near Highway 20 close to Lawton that was down. Officials have closed Highway 20 near the site of the downed powerline. It is not known at this time if a tornado had touch down and hit Kingsley, or if it was strong straight-line winds that damaged Kingsley.
As crews work to return power to Siouxland communities a temporary shelter will be set up at the Kingsley-Pierson Middle School in Pierson located at 321 4th Street. The shelter opened at about 8:30 p.m. Residents are asked to bring sheets, pillows, blankets and all necessities to stay overnight. No pets will be allowed in the shelter.
The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a report of a semi truck and trailer that was tipped over on its side as a result of the strong winds. The truck had overturned near the 118 exit near Highway 3. The incident happened at about 9:20 p.m. Aurelia was another town in the path of the storm that also suffered heavy damage.
Plymouth County Emergency Management Director, Duane Walhoff tells of the damage at Kingsley and throughout Plymouth County.
Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Mailbox Vandalism
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is investigating numerous reports of mailbox vandalism. It is believed the vandalism occurred between December 3rd and December 5th. At this point, 16 incidents that are believed to have occurred during that weekend. The incidents occurred in the general area of Lynx Avenue and 300th Street, approximately ten miles south of Le Mars, or about six miles east of Hinton. Based on the investigation, Sheriff’s officials believe the are looking for five individuals in a 4-door passenger car or smaller SUV crossover type of vehicle. Anyone with information that may lead to the identity of those involved are asked to contact the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office at (712) 546-8191.
Floyd Valley Healthcare Honors Brock Auction Company
(Le Mars) — During a plaque presentation held Wednesday afternoon, officials with Floyd Valley Healthcare of Le Mars honored Bruce Brock and Austin Popken with the Brock Auction Company for their assistance with the land sale from the Dennis Lundgren estate auction. Proceeds from that land sale were forwarded to Floyd Valley Healthcare, per the wishes of Lundgren. The sale of the 223 acres of ground resulted in more than $2.5 million dollars that will benefit Floyd Valley Healthcare.
Pictured from left to right: Amy Harnack, Floyd Valley Healthcare Foundation Manager; Austin Popken and Bruce Brock with Brock Auction Company; and Dustin Wright, CEO of Floyd Valley Healthcare.
Storm Knocks Out Power To Thousands Of Customers
(Des Moines, IA) — More than 100-thousand Alliant and Mid-American Energy customers are without power today (Thursday) after a December with heavy winds blew through Iowa. The storm had measured wind gusts of 83 miles an hour in Missouri Valley and Sidney. A row of loaded coal cars blew over in Council Bluffs. The National Weather Service issued at least two dozen tornado warnings. Storm chasers captured one funnel cloud on video as it approached Interstate 80 near Atlantic. Mid-American estimated it could take between 36 and 72 hours to restore all the power.
Group Asks State To Inspect Application From NE Iowa Feedlot
(Des Moines, IA) — A group of environmentalists is asking state officials to inspect the manure application from a cattle feedlot in northeast Iowa near a prized trout stream. Supreme Beef is constructing a feedlot in Clayton County for 11-thousand-600 head of cattle. Steve Veysey (VAY-see), a retired chemist from Iowa State University, is part of a group that has collected several water samples this fall from the stream. He says test results from the state hygienic lab show elevated bacterial levels and the presence of ammonia. The Sierra Club’s Iowa Chapter has filed a lawsuit in state court, arguing the agency improperly approved the site for the cattle feedlot near the six-mile-long trout stream that’s west of Marquette. The creek is named Bloody Run and it’s one of just 34 waterways in Iowa with an “outstanding” designation from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
It’s Time To Start Thinking About Taxes
(Des Moines, IA) — As 2021 draws to a close, some Iowans are dusting off those shoeboxes or file folders with the past year’s worth of receipts, bank statements, and financial papers in preparation for the annual tax chore. Des Moines C-P-A Jeff Strawhacker says there are a few changes this year that will impact thousands of Iowans. “There’s this provision called the Advanced Child Tax Credit and many people were getting advance payments on that. That all has to be reconciled when they file the return to see if they qualified for those payments,” Strawhacker says. Many Iowans got three pandemic-related economic stimulus checks from the federal government over the past two years, though only one of those three checks is a concern on our latest tax returns.
COVID Hospitalizations Continue Upward
(Des Moines, IA) — The COVID patient count in Iowa hospitals continues to increase. The Iowa Department of Public Health, says there were 823 patients with COVID in Iowa hospitals by the middle of this week, a six percent increase from last Wednesday. More than 100 of those patients are on ventilators and nearly 83 percent of COVID patients in intensive care units in Iowa have not been vaccinated against the virus. The death toll from COVID in Iowa is approaching 77-hundred.
Ski Resort Owners Looking For Cold Weather
(Boone, IA) — Ski resort owners across the state are relishing the return of wintery weather. Joel Bryan, general manager of the Seven Oaks Recreation Area near Boone, says it’s been a challenging December for his operation. He says they just get new snow made and it warms up and melts it all. Temperatures are expected to plummet again after record highs today (Wednesday) They should be back to normal in the 30s and 40s — with lows in the 20s, which is key for switching on the snow machines.
Governor Denies Commutation To Norwalk Woman
(Norwalk, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds has rejected an application to make a woman convicted of murdering her nephew eligible for parole. The Board of Parole had unanimously recommended Governor Reynolds consider the case of Denise Rhode (Road). Rhode was sentenced to life in prison for the 1989 death of her nephew. The baby suffered a brain injury while she was babysitting him at her home in Norwalk. Governor Reynolds says it remains unclear whether Rhode has truly accepted responsibility for her actions nearly 33 years ago.
Iowa Teenager Will Undergo Psychiatric Exams Before Any Legal Hearings
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — A Linn County District Court judge has ruled a 17-year-old accused of killing his parents will undergo psychiatric examinations before any legal hearings are held. Ethan Alexander Orton will be moved to the Classification Center in Coralville for the competency evaluations. He was charged as an adult for allegedly causing the deaths of 41-year-old Misty Scott Slade and 42-year-old Casey Orton at their Cedar Rapids home. The teen has pleaded not guilty in the October 14th double murder.
