Cold Winter Weather Brings On More Concerns For Carbon Monoxide Poisoning And Space Heater Fires
(Le Mars) — When frigid cold temperatures occur, fire departments across the nation usually are called to two types of common emergencies, carbon monoxide poisoning, and fires as a result of space heaters. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department is no different. On Wednesday, the local fire and rescue unit was summoned to Seney for a carbon monoxide alarm, and on the morning of Christmas Eve, a mobile home trailer at the Ardent Acres trailer park at Le Mars was destroyed as a result of a space heater sitting too close to a blanket. Le Mars Fire and Rescue Chief Dave Schipper says everyone should have a carbon monoxide detector in their homes.
Schipper says when people close up their homes because of the cold weather, and there is little ventilation, that is when carbon monoxide calls become a common occurrence.
The Le Mars Fire Chief says a couple was transported to the hospital because their home had more than 400 parts per million of carbon monoxide. Schipper says anything above 35 parts per million can be dangerous.
Schipper says without an approved carbon monoxide detector, people may not know they have a carbon monoxide problem.
Schipper says always make certain you have proper ventilation during the winter months.
As for space heaters, Schipper says heaters should be plugged in directly to a wall socket without the use of extension cords, and they should be positioned so they are away from any combustibles.
Schipper says newer made space heaters have been manufactured to be much safer.
Schipper says space heaters should be at least three feet away from anything.
The fire official says to never operate a space heater if you leave your home of office.
Weiler Appointed To Manage Park Place Estates
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare CNO Tara Geddes announced that Laura Weiler, RN, BSN, LNHA will be the next Park Place Estates Assisted Living Manager beginning January 10, 2022. In this position, Weiler will manage the care and needs of residents that are housed in the 30 apartments at Park Place Estates.
Weiler received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Briar Cliff University. She obtained her Nursing Home Administrator License in 2014. Weiler began her career as a Resident Companion at Park Place Estates prior to holding director of nursing positions at two local nursing homes. She has served as Floyd Valley Community Health’s homemaker coordinator and home health quality improvement coordinator for the last five years.
“Laura will be an asset to Park Place Estates Assisted Living. As she continued her education, her passion in helping the seniors in our communities has remained constant,” states Geddes. “We have a great team in place at Park Place and look forward to excellent care continuing for our residents.”
Weiler, her husband Eric and their two children live in Le Mars. She enjoys walking, summer trips to Yankton and watching the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Museum To Celebrate Epiphany With Concert
(Le Mars) — Epiphany week will be celebrated at the Plymouth County Historical Museum this Friday, Jan. 7, with a 2 p.m. concert by the Rev. Paul Eisele of Le Mars. The free concert is open to the public.
Father Eisele will entertain among the Museum’s nativities, including his own collection of about 80 that he donated to the museum. His nativities are from all over the world.
This will be the fifth year that Father Eisele has entertained at the piano with Christmas carols for Epiphany. Gehlen Catholic Schools will send 70 fifth and sixth graders to join in the celebration of Epiphany week.
Following the Epiphany concert, the Museum will serve holiday refreshments. A special feature for the students will be a visit to the Floyd Valley Model Railroad Room.
The Museum is located at 335 First Ave. SW in Le Mars.
Iowa Business Council: Members Are Optimistic
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Business Council’s fourth-quarter Economic Outlook Survey shows a lot of optimism among its members. Executive Director Joe Murphy says anything over 50 on their scale is positive — and this time it was nearly 69, the second-highest score ever. The index is based on expectations for sales, capital spending, and employment for the next six months. Capital spending saw the largest increase. Murphy says, “To see companies investing in their own organizations, investing in infrastructure, hard assets — things like that. To see such a big increase in that over the course of one quarter I think is really good news for Iowa’s economy.
More Charges Filed Against Man Shot By Adair County Deputy Last Month
(Greenfield, IA) — A man who was shot by an Adair County deputy on December 29th after fleeing a traffic stop and running into another deputy’s car is facing more charges. Fifty-seven-year-old Charles R. Bradshaw of Jefferson is now charged with attempted murder of a peace officer, assault on a peace officer, and intimidation with a dangerous weapon. A black nine-millimeter handgun and a spent shell casing were found during a search of his vehicle, along with a substance believed to be meth. Bradshaw had previously been convicted on felony drug charges in Missouri. He remains in the Adair County Jail on a 10-thousand dollar bond.
Not Every Iowan Hates This Weather
(Des Moines, IA) — Many Iowans aren’t big fans of today’s weather when temperatures in some areas won’t even get above zero, but for others, the ice is nice. Joe Larscheid (LAR-shyd), chief of the Iowa D-N-R Fisheries Bureau, says given the unusually warm December we had, Iowans who love ice fishing are having to be patient — or head north. “We really don’t have safe ice conditions yet in southern Iowa, even though we’ve got some cold weather right now,” Larscheid says. “In northern Iowa, they’ve been ice fishing for quite a few weeks.” Especially this early in the season, ice anglers need to make sure safety is their top priority.
Burlington Mobile Home Fire Takes 1 Life
(Burlington, IA) — The Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office will attempt to identify the body found in the burned-out rubble of a Burlington mobile home Thursday morning. Fire crews were called to the scene shortly after 2:30 a-m. The mobile home was fully engulfed as they arrived. The body of one person was found inside after the fire was brought under control. Fire investigators say the damage was extensive. No other injuries were reported.
Iowa Saw a 10.2 % Increase in Sales Tax in Last Half of Year
(Des Moines, IA) — Consumer spending in Iowa is driving state sales tax revenue higher. Over the past six months, there’s been a more than ten percent increase in sales tax payments to the state. The latest report of overall tax collections shows net state revenue grew nine-point-one percent last month compared to December of 2020. Senior fiscal analyst Jeff Robinson with the Legislative Services Agency said, “In summary, Iowa net General Fund revenue continues to grow at a strong pace, with sales tax posting remarkable year-over-year gains.” He says corporate income tax growth has moderated but remains positive. Robinson said it’s likely there was a “modest gain” in the amount of personal income tax payments made to the state, however an accounting change made in mid-November makes a “precise” reading difficult.
Ernst Calls For Congress to Move Forward After US Capitol Attack
(Washington, DC) — U-S Senator Joni Ernst says her view on the attack on the U.S. Capitol hasn’t changed in the year since it happened. The Iowa Republican said, “January 6th was a very dark day in American history, and of course, those who broke the law on that day should be held accountable.” Ernst says they have to forget about politics and do their job in Congress on behalf of the American people. She says, “we don’t need the far left driving our agenda, we don’t need the far right driving it. We need to build confidence with the American people.”
Army Corps of Engineers Predicts Dry Conditions Continue in Missouri River Basin
(Omaha, NE) — The U-S Army Corps of Engineers predicts dry conditions will persist in the Missouri River Basin this year. Last year, the runoff in the Missouri River basin above Sioux City was just 59 percent of average volume — the 10th lowest annual runoff in 123 years of record keeping. The Army Corps of Engineers office in Omaha says the ongoing drought shows no relief in sight. The water flow out of upstream reservoirs was reduced this past July. There will be releases from Gavins Point Dam this winter at minimum levels. The Army Corps says the flow in the Missouri River along Iowa’s western border will meet with needs of cities that use the river as a source of drinking water.
Woodbury County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison on Meth Charges
(Sioux City, IA) — A northwest Iowa man will spend nearly six years in federal prison for dealing methamphetamine in the Sioux City area. The U-S Attorney’s Office says 41-eyar-old Brett Walking Eagle of Sloan was sentenced to 70 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute meth within one thousand feet of a protected location. Court evidence shows Walking Eagle planned to get meth from another person at the Boys and Girls Home parking lot last in December of 2019. Police then arrested the other suspect as he was waiting to meet Walking Eagle. Walking Eagle will serve eight years of supervised release when he gets out his prison.
