Sioux County House Destroyed By Fire
(Sioux Center) — Fire has destroyed a home west of Sioux Center leaving a family of four, a woman and her three children homeless. The fire happened Sunday afternoon and was reported at around 4:45 p.m. The fire was at 3594 Garfield Avenue. Fortunately, the family leaving at the home were not at home at the time the fire had started. Sioux Center Fire Chief Dave Van Holland describes the scene upon arrival.
Van Holland says more than 80 firefighters battled the blaze for nearly three hours. He says the house is a total loss.
(photo courtesy of Sioux Center Fire Department.)
None of the firefighters were injured while fighting the fire, however, the Sioux Center fire chief says a couple of household pets had died in the fire. Van Holland says he is not certain as to what may have caused the fire, or the origin. The Sioux Center fire chief says the fire scene is still under investigation.
4-H Members Show Their Appreciation To Local Law Enforcement
(Le Mars) — Sunday was Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, and a local 4-H club showed its appreciation to the Le Mars Police Department and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office by serving brownies and ice cream. The Classy Clovers 4-H club decided to honor the local law enforcement agencies. Classy Clovers have more than 40 members. Kevin Vande Vegte, the Le Mars Police Chief and Jeff TeBrink, the Plymouth County Sheriff both attended the appreciation event and shares their comments.
Classy Clovers 4-H members stand behind local law enforcement officials during Sunday’s “Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.” The officers that were able to attend Sunday’s event included Plymouth County Sheriff, Jeff TeBrink; Le Mars Police Officer, Lenny Flack; Sheriff’s Deputy, Connor Delfs; Le Mars Police Officer, Rob Rohlmiller; and Police Chief, Kevin Vande Vegte.
Remsen Chamber To Hold Annual Awards Banquet Tonight
(Remsen) — Remsen Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual awards banquet this evening at the Golden Pheasant restaurant. The Remsen Chamber will name its “Employee or Citizen of the Year”, and the chamber organization will honor its “Business of the Year.” The annual meeting will begin with social hour at 5:30 p.m. with dinner scheduled to be served at 6:30 p.m.
Le Mars Community Board of Education To Hold January Meeting Tonight
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Community Board of Education is scheduled to hold its monthly meeting this evening at the Education Service Center. The local school board will review plans for the Middle School restroom and east entrance renovation project. The school board will decide upon a date for a public hearing, as well as receiving and opening of contractor bids for the project scheduled for February 9th. The school board will hear reports from each of the building principals. School superintendent, Dr. Steven Webner will provide an update on the open enrollment students attending Le Mars Community Schools, but live within the West Sioux school district. Dr. Webner will also review with the school board the Equipment/Maintenance Insurance update. School board directors will discuss the upcoming school board and administration annual retreat scheduled for February 28th. School board members will discuss the Iowa Association of School Boards day at the Capitol, which is slated for February 1st at Des Moines. The school board will act upon the resignation request by Christian Knapp as a high school teacher associate. The school board is also expected to act on six contracts that have been extended to school staff officials. Curriculum Director, Rachel Leavitts will present and ask for the Board’s consideration of the district’s modified supplemental aid request to the Department of Management for dropout prevention programming. The Board of Education will consider designating the Le Mars Daily Sentinel as the official newspaper for the Le Mars Community School District for 2022. The school board will review various policies and make changes as recommended.
Social Media Movement Calling For Donations To Animal Rescue Shelters in Honor Of Actress Betty White
(Le Mars) — A viral social media movement is urging people to donate five dollars to a local animal shelter on January 17th, in honor of what would have been the 100th birthday of the late actress and animal advocate, Betty White. Betty White was loved by many, and was active in television for many decades. People know the late actress for her appearances on “Mary Tyler Moore Show”, “Golden Girls”, “Hot in Cleveland”, and her many appearances on game shows like “Password”, but they also know that the actress loved animals. Angel Anderson is the president of the recently organized Wet Nose Animal Rescue Shelter of Le Mars. Anderson says “it’s wonderful” to see the social media movement honor the late actress and help with local animal shelters.
Anderson believes people will respond favorably to the social media movement, not only on the national level, but locally as well.
Anderson says most people can afford the $5 request. The Wet Nose animal rescue shelter official says if 100 local people would be able to contribute the amount in honor of the late actress, it would make a big difference for the newly organized upstart local animal shelter.
Anderson says since the local animal shelter was able to showcase their newly acquired facility near the Le Mars Municipal Airport last month, many people have stepped forward with contributions, and she says this movement may call additional attention to the Wet Nose Animal Rescue Shelter.
Donations to the Wet Nose Animal Rescue Shelter can be sent to P.O. Box 454, Le Mars, Iowa 51031. Anderson says people can also call her at (712) 540-5919.
It’s Back To Work For Iowa Legislators
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa lawmakers return to Des Moines today (Monday) to open the 2022 legislative session. Republicans control the House and Senate for the sixth year in a row and that means they will control the agenda. They’ve already said cutting individual income taxes is their number one priority. Democrats say addressing the workforce shortage through child care, education and affordable housing improvements is their top priority.
New Workforce Development Process Targets Getting People Back To Work
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa Workforce Development’s new unemployment process begins today (Monday). I-W-D deputy director Ryan West says a new focus on unemployment targets the importance of getting people back into the workforce. West says they’ve added 18 new career planners to help people when they file their first unemployment claim so they have direct assistance and guidance right away. The change also requires double what they call “reemployment activities” necessary to maintain unemployment claims — so those who are unemployed will have to conduct four work searches each week instead of two.
Authorities To Investigate Threats Made During Zoom Forum
(Des Moines, IA) — Police have been asked to investigate threats made during an online forum that featured prominent black Iowans on Friday. Members of the Iowa House Black Caucus, the chair of the Iowa Democratic Party’s Black Caucus, and Iowa Democratic Party chairman Ross Wilburn, who is black, also participated. Wilburn says the online event was disrupted by people making vile, racist comments to harass and intimidate. The executive director of Progress Iowa, which hosted the event, said disgusting and repulsive images were flashed on the screen as well.
Officer Injured In Attack At State Penitentiary
(Fort Madison, IA) — The Department of Corrections has ordered restrictions that limit the movement of inmates inside the state’s maximum-security prison in Fort Madison after a guard was assaulted. The D-O-C reported an inmate assaulted a male correctional officer Friday night. The officer was taken to a local hospital in a department vehicle, then transferred to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. His medical condition has not been released. Prison officials say the inmate who committed the assault was not injured.
