Weather Officials Predicting Snow And Ice
(Sioux Falls) — The weather forecast is calling for snow to occur beginning early Friday morning. Meteorologist Phillip Schumacher with the National Weather Services in Sioux Falls says Le Mars will begin to see the snow as we are preparing for our day.
Schumacher says we will probably need to grab our shovels as the snow could be deep in some places.
The weather meteorologist says the heaviest snow will occur east and south of Le Mars, and he suggests if you have travel plans on Friday, you may want to delay those plans until Saturday.
The good news with Friday’s predicted snow is that weather officials are not anticipating blizzard conditions.
Schumacher believes the snow will taper off at around midnight Friday, and will be completely finished by Saturday morning. He says to make certain you allow extra time for your travels. A winter storm watch has been issued for Plymouth County for the entire day on Friday.
Iowa DOT Reports Northwest Iowa Roads Are Ice And Snow Covered
(Le Mars) –The Iowa Department of Transportation is showing road conditions for northwest Iowa are either snow or ice covered. Highways 75, 3, 60, 12, 20, 18, 140, and 59 are all listed as being snow or ice covered. Snow plows are out on the roadways, and distributing sand or salt, or a brine to help melt the ice. The DOT is recommending no travel, but if you must travel, allow for extra time for your destination, and slow down. Conditions seem to be worst the farther east you go from Le Mars.
View from Iowa DOT snowplow truck on Highway 3 between Le Mars and Remsen. Picture is as of 7:42 a.m.
Woodbury County Sheriff Comments On Deputy Shooting Incident
(Sioux City) — Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is continuing the investigation of the fatal shooting of a suspect by a Woodbury County Sheriff’s deputy at a trailer court in Sergeant Bluff Wednesday evening. Woodbury County Sheriff, Chad Sheehan, says the incident began when two of his deputies and a Sergeant Bluff police officer confronted the suspect at a burglary in progress around 5:45 p.m.
Sheehan says the law officers rendered first aid to the suspect immediately, and the suspect and the injured deputy were transported to area hospitals.
The names of the white male suspect and the deputies involved have not been released. Sheehan says other evidence related to the shooting is not being released as the investigation is ongoing.
The state medical examiner will perform an autopsy on the suspect as part of the investigation.
Feedlot Forum Scheduled For January 18th
(Orange City) — Area cattle producers interested in knowing some of the emerging trends in the beef feedlot industry will be interested in attending the Feedlot Forum scheduled for Tuesday, January 18th. Beth Doran, the beef specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, for northwest Iowa says the forum will be held at the Terrance View Event Center in Sioux Center, and beginning at 8:30 a.m. Doran says the morning session will begin with focus on beef cattle implants.
Consumers are wanting to know where their food originates from, so an area of interest to the cattle producer will be the seminar looking at traceable beef. Doran says Dan Thomson, the chair of the Iowa State University Department of Animal Science will lead that discussion.
The Feedlot Forum will conclude with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Livestock Marketing Specialist and Economist, Lee Schulz as he will present his outlook for the year ahead with the cattle and beef industries.
Doran says the Feedlot Forum will also have an industry trade show.
The registration fee for the Feedlot Forum is $25. Doran says since the registration deadline has past, there is no guarantee that late-coming producers will receive a meal or hand-out materials.
Reynolds Applaud Supreme Court Ruling on COVID Mandate For Businesses
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa’s Republican governor is applauding Thursday’s U-S Supreme Court ruling that blocks enforcement of the COVID-19 vaccinate mandate for large businesses. Governor Kim Reynolds called the ruling a “major victory for Iowans, their personal freedoms and liberties.” Reynolds said in a statement, ” the Biden Administration should hear this message loud and clear: The American citizens do not believe in government overreach, and they don’t believe in the federal government making health care decisions for them.” Reynolds says she’s very disappointed the nation’s high court did not block vaccine mandates for health care workers in facilities that receive federal funding.
Iowa Adjutant General Corell Gives Annual ‘Condition of Guard’ Address
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Benjamin Corell says the soldiers in his ranks are “a wealth of talent” for the state not seen since World War II. But during the annual “Condition of the Guard” address this (Thursday) morning at the Capitol, Corell said the Guard is going to lose some soldiers due to the Pentagon’s Covid vaccine mandate. Corell said, “these mandates have already started to create dilemmas within our ranks where our members must decide to get vaccinated or leave military service.” Corell later told reporters that about 80 percent of Iowa Army National Guard soldiers and Iowa Air National Guard airmen are fully vaccinated. Airmen faced a December deadline to get vaccinated. The deadline for soldiers is this summer. Some of the unvaccinated are seeking medical or religious exemptions, which must be approved by the secretaries of the Army or Air Force. Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Benjamin Corell has alerted several units that they are likely to be called to active duty this year. It includes a mission in support of NATO — the North Atlantic Treaty Organization — as fears rise about a Russian invasion of Ukraine. “We anticipate we will deploy members of the 209th Medical Company from Iowa City and members of the 1133rd Transportation Company from Mason City to support Operation Atlantic Resolve in Poland,” Corell says. Corell delivered the annual “Condition of the Guard” address to legislators Thursday.
Northern Iowa Man Wanted on Federal Warrant Caught With 3 Pounds of Meth
(Clear Lake, IA) — A northern Iowa man wanted on a federal arrest warrant is facing more charges after getting busted with a large amount of methamphetamine. Clear Lake police say they spotted 38-year-old Timothy Roath of Mason City on Wednesday and he ran from officers. He eventually stopped at a large fence and reportedly dropped a bag containing an ounce of meth and 15-hundred dollars in small bills. Investigators say they searched Roath’s hotel room and found nearly three pounds of meth, marijuana and a scale. He’s jailed on state and federal warrants along with new drug charges.
Cedar Rapids Mayor Says New Study Results May Pave Way For Casino
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — Newly-elected Cedar Rapids Mayor, Tiffany O’Donnell says she’s very encouraged by new gambling market studies. Cedar Rapids was denied a casino license in 2014 and 2017 out of concerns it would cannibalize existing casinos. O’Donnell says she believes that is going to change with the latest studies. “The effects will be minimal, and certainly the effects on existing casinos less than they’ve ever been before. If not a casino in Cedar Rapids now, I’m not sure when it would be.” The studies are the first step in the process of the Racing and Gaming Commission possibly awarding a new casino license.
Owner Of Burnet Grocery Store In SW Iowa Says He Will Rebuild
(Malvern, IA) — The owner of an iconic downtown grocery store in southwest Iowa says he -will- rebuild after fire gutted Mulholland’s Grocery in Malvern just over a month ago. Firefighters from more than two dozen communities battled the blaze December 10th. Though an investigation into the fire’s cause is still underway, Tom Mulholland says the store will return, though it may take a year. Mulholland says reconstruction won’t be able to get underway until the investigation is complete. Mulholland says he’s not ready to retire and reopening the store is what’s best for the community.
Death Of Hundreds Of Pigs Leads To Arrest For Livestock Neglect
(Cedar Falls, IA) — Authorities in Black Hawk County have arrested a 38-year-old suspect on livestock neglect charges. He is accused of causing the deaths of hundreds of pigs on his farm. The man had been hired to raise 25 hundred baby pigs. They were delivered to his farm in rural Cedar Falls along with 15 tons of feed. When a consultant checked up on the pigs he found 800 had died because they didn’t have ready access to water and some didn’t have access to food. A state veterinarian determined the animals died of malnutrition and dehydration.
