Fire and Rescue Department Issues December Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a total of 155 calls during the month of December, that according to the latest monthly issued report. Firefighters answered 21 calls involving the entire staff which were mostly fire calls. As far as EMT related calls and transfers, the local fire and rescue department were called 119 times, of which 87 were 9-1-1 calls and 37 transfers. Nine of those transfers were to Sioux Falls, and three were to Omaha area hospitals. There were 11 investigations conducted during the month of December, and four requests for services. Chief Dave Schipper reports during December, there were 22 building inspections, including all ten buildings of the schools, and all four motels were inspected. The fire and rescue department were on weather spotting duty the evening of December 15th for possible tornadoes. The auction items for a fund raiser have been completed.
Gehlen Hires New High School Principal
(Carroll) — Gehlen Catholic High School will soon be getting a new principal. Pete Haefs, who’s served as Kuemper Catholic High School principal since the 2016-17 year, is leaving that position in order to become principal at Gehlen Catholic High School in Le Mars beginning Jan. 17.
Kuemper Catholic School System announced Haefs’ resignation in a news release on Thursday.
“Haefs is a graduate of Hinton High School and is excited to return to northwest Iowa to be closer to family,” the news release said.
His wife, Mendy, who’s listed on the Kuemper website as middle school language arts/technology and K-12 English language learners teacher, will complete the school year here before joining her husband in Le Mars, according to the release.
Supervisors Send Letter To Iowa Utilities Board Asking To Turn Down Eminent Domain Request By CO2 Pipelines
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors met on Monday for the re-organization meeting. Don Kass of rural Remsen was elected as the chairman of the County Supervisors. This mark’s Kass’ fifth year to serve as chairman of the county governing board. Craig Anderson was elected to serve as vice chairman. Like Kass, Anderson is beginning his fifth year as the vice chairman. The county board approved several positions to serve on various county committees and boards. One of the issues that was acted upon was a letter the supervisors drafted for the Iowa Utilities Board. Plymouth County board of supervisors are following the lead of both Dickinson County and Kossuth County in requesting the Iowa Board of Utilities not to allow for eminent domain to occur for the placement of two proposed carbon -dioxide pipelines that are planned to cross Plymouth County. Chairman Don Kass explains the supervisors position.
Kass says the letter addresses both proposed pipelines. Kass further explains why the supervisors are opposed to the use of eminent domain for the pipelines.
Supervisor Kass believes other counties may follow suit in the lead of Plymouth, Dickinson, and Kossuth Counties by requesting the Iowa Utilities Board not to grant permission for eminent domain for the proposed pipelines.
Kass says he thinks the Iowa Utilities Board may act on the pipelines request by the end of January.
Supervisors Sign Proclamation Declaring January As Human Trafficking Prevention Month
(Le Mars) — In other action taken by the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors, the board approved a proclamation request declaring January as “Human Trafficking Prevention Month.” Supervisor chairman, Don Kass says human trafficking is occurring all over the nation, including here in northwest Iowa.
Kass serves on the Northwest Iowa Youth Emergency Services Center, and tells human trafficking has been a concern with younger children, especially girls.
Kass says awareness efforts are being spread to motels, rest stops, truck stops, and other places where human trafficking victims may be seen.
Dr. Destiny Miller-Mancuso To Serve As Floyd Valley Medical Staff President
(Le Mars) — Destiny Miller-Mancuso, M.D. was elected president of the 2022 Floyd Valley Healthcare Medical Staff at their December 7, 2021 meeting.
Dr. Miller is a family practice physician and has been a member of the Floyd Valley Medical Staff since April 2020. Dr. Miller replaces Dr. Donald Odens who served as Medical Staff President from 2019-2021. Other officers elected include Dr. Nicholas Mouw as Vice-President and Dr. Andrew Geha as Secretary.
Dr. Donald Odens (left) is presented with a plaque for his appreciation as Floyd Valley Healthcare Medical Staff president. Dr. Destiny Miller-Mancuso, (right) will serve as the new medical staff president.
Dakota Farm Show Returns To Vermillion Dakota Dome
(Vermillion, SD) — The Dakota Farm Show returns to the Dakota Dome in Vermillion for three days of exhibits and seminars. Penny Swank serves as the show manager and says the show begins on Tuesday, January 4th and continues through Thursday, January 6th. Swank says the annual farm show is often referred to as the “farmer’s shopping center.”
Swank says South Dakota State University Extension are offering several seminars during the farm show.
The Dakota Farm Show manager says the farm show remains a free admission event, plus attendees can visit the interactive map featured on the Dakota Farm Show website to locate a specific vendor.
Swank says exhibitors are optimistic for the farm economy in the year ahead, especially since corn and soybean prices are at profitable levels.
The same company that hosts the Dakota Farm Show will also be featuring another large indoor farm show at Sioux Falls at the Denny Sanford Center. The dates for that farm show are January 26th, 27th, and 28th.
Washington Invests $800M In Iowa Meatpacking Industry
(Washington, DC) — The Biden administration is providing another 800 million dollars to support smaller-scale beef, pork, and poultry plants and is establishing a new tipline for whistleblowers from the meatpacking industry. U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the goal with this new batch of federal grants and loans is to invest in at least 15 small packing plants and to take steps to recruit and train new workers for the industry. Iowa Farm Bureau president Brent Johnson participated in the White House meeting. Johnson urged the president to work with Iowa’s congressional delegation on a price transparency bill to ensure farmers are paid an honest price for their cattle, hogs, and poultry. Several of the Iowans who serve in the U.S. Senate and House said via Twitter that they were pleased to see the bipartisan bill was highlighted during Monday’s summit.
Survey: Iowa’s Economy Made Healthy Gains In December
(Omaha, NE) — The monthly survey from Creighton University shows Iowa’s economy made healthy gains during December and mirrored strong growth for the nine-state Midwest region. Creighton economist Ernie Goss says supply chain delays worsened during the last month of the year and the picture for the months ahead isn’t very bright. Goss says more than half of the supply managers reported that the Omicron variant was slowing deliveries. The Creighton survey’s wholesale inflation gauge for December dropped, but Goss says inflation in Iowa and the region remains at its highest levels in more than a quarter of a century.
Senator Ernst Is Key Supporter Of Bill For New Memorial On National Mall
(Washington, DC) — The president recently signed a bill into law that provides for a memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D-C, honoring those who have fought in the global war on terrorism. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst is one of the key supporters of the bill.
Ernst is a combat veteran. She says anyone from the National Guard, reserves, or regular military who has been a part of the battle has been impacted. The National Park Service will work with the Global War on Terrorism Foundation to find a location for the memorial and then they will work out a design and the foundation will raise the funds to build it.
Man Wanted For November Assault Of Woman In Des Moines Captured In Boone County
(Boone, IA) — A 25-year-old man wanted for the November assault of a woman in Des Moines is being held in the Boone County Jail. Des Moines police announced the arrest of Ricardo Jeremiah Carroll Monday. Investigators say the victim was intentionally punched, kicked, choked, and burned for several hours. Carroll was arrested on a domestic violence charge in a separate case Saturday. Among the charges he faces in Polk County are attempted murder and two counts of willful injury.
Defense Attorneys Ask That Statements Made By Their Client Be Thrown Out
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — Defense attorneys for Michael Lang are asking the judge to throw out statements he made. Lang faces first-degree murder charges for allegedly shooting Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Jim Smith to death last April. Smith was killed at Lang’s home as offices tried to arrest Lang. His attorneys say Lang was under duress and too medicated to legally waive his Miranda rights during four days of interviews. He is scheduled to make a court appearance on January 19th. Lang’s attorneys have also asked for a change of venue.
California Man Arrested In Iowa Had “Hit List” Naming Biden, Other Democrats
(Des Moines, IA) — Attorneys for a California man arrested in Iowa last month says they will pursue an insanity defense for their client. That man was reportedly carrying an assault rifle, ammunition, and a “hit list” that included the names of President Joe Biden, former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and others. The man’s name hasn’t been released. He told officers he left his home in Sacramento on December 18th and planned to drive to Washington, D-C, to kill people in power. The man is charged with one count of making threats. Additional charges could be added in the future by a grand jury.
Iowa State Patrol: More Than 100 Car Accidents Recorded On New Year’s Eve
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa State Patrol reports more than 100 car crashes had to be worked by troopers and Des Moines police on New Year’s Eve. There were no deaths reported in the 77 crashes between 8:00 a-m Friday and the same time on Saturday. Des Moines police handled 28 wrecks during the same 24-hour period. D-M-P-D also responded to 12 illegal fireworks reports, 12 loud music complaints, and 10 reports of gunshots as people rang in the new year.
Iowa State Researchers Work On Solutions To Affordable Housing Crisis
(Ames, IA) — Researchers at Iowa State University are working toward solutions for the affordable housing crisis. Assistant professor Pete Evans says his classes will be 3-D printing the vertical framing for homes. Evans says being able to automate some of the work helps because there is a workforce shortage. The effort will also speed up construction. Evans says I-S-U is trying to find the right machine that would be able to print a one-story house. His team is working with contractors on a demonstration project in the southwest Iowa community of Hamburg – which is still recovering from the flooding of 2019.
