PLYMOUTH COUNTY FATAL UPDATE
ONE PERSON HAS DIED OF INJURIES SUFFERED IN A ONE VEHICLE ROLLOVER NEAR LE MARS THURSDAY MORNING.
THE PLYMOUTH COUNTY SHERIFF SAYS THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED JUST AFTER 6 A.M. ON COUNTY ROAD K-64 NORTH OF HIGHWAY C-30 ABOUT FIVE MILES EAST OF LE MARS.
THE SHERIFF SAYS THE DRIVER APPARENTLY LOST CONTROL OF THE NORTHBOUND VEHICLE, ENTERED THE EAST DITCH AND ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES INTO A FENCE LINE.
THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES IN THE CRASH AND WAS ALONE IN THE VEHICLE.
THE NAME OF THE VICTIM IS NOT BEING RELEASED PENDING NOTIFICATION OF FAMILY MEMBERS.
THE IDA COUNTY SHERIFF HAS IDENTIFIED THE THREE ADULTS INJURED IN WEDNESDAY’S EXPLOSION AND FIRE AT A HOUSE NEAR BATTLE CREEK, IOWA.
THE SHERIFF SAYS 42-YEAR-OLD JEREMY BRUNING, 68-YEAR-OLD SANDRA KAY JEPSEN AND 46-YEAR-OLD JOEL STAPLETON WERE THE VICTIMS INSIDE THE HOUSE LOCATED AT 2362 CARRIAGE AVENUE WHEN THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED.
AN UNIDENTIFIED 4TH PERSON OUTSIDE THE HOUSE HELPED THE THREE VICTIMS.
STAPLETON WAS TRANSPORTED TO MERCY MEDICAL CENTER IN SIOUX CITY.
JEPSEN AND MR. BRUNING WERE TRANSPORTED TO HORN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN IDA GROVE,
THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION IS CONTINUING AND BEING CONDUCTED BY THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.
IOWA GREEN JOBS
A new report on so-called green jobs which either directly or indirectly benefit the environment says Iowa is in an ideal position to succeed and grow in the green economy. Paula DiPerna, a consultant for Working-Nation, says 13-thousand Iowans now work in the green economy and another 600-thousand Iowans could be reskilled to join it. The report says Iowa workers who get reskilled could see a salary boost of eight- to ten-thousand dollars a year. The report ranks Iowa number-one in the nation for the amount of its electricity produced by clean power — at 58-percent.
STATE REVENUE HIGHER
Tax payments to the State of Iowa increased dramatically in the past 12 months, far beyond expectations. The state fiscal year ended June 30th and net revenue grew by more than 12 percent. However, accounting records aren’t final yet — some tax refunds must be paid, for example. Legislative Services Agency fiscal analyst Jeff Robinson.
The official estimate of state tax revenue for the fiscal year was highest in March — at four-point-two percent. It appears actual receipts may be at the very least twice that much. State officials will release the final report on the just-concluded state fiscal year in September.
PHEASANT PREDICTION
This year’s pheasant harvest hit its highest mark in 13 years and the man who tracks bird numbers says things are already setting up for another good year. D-N-R wildlife biologist, Todd Bogenschutz, says the weather has been good and spring nesting conditions were “very good.” Bogenschutz will find out more about pheasant numbers in August when the D-N-R conducts its roadside survey of birds. Those surveys usually give a good indication of what to expect during the hunting season.
DERECHO
Governor Kim Reynolds did issue a disaster proclamation Wednesday for O’Brien, Emmet, Hancock and Winnebago counties in response to Tuesday’s storm. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to, and recover from, the effects of this severe weather. It also activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program, for the four counties. Contact your local community action association or visit www.iowacommunityaction.org to find out more about the assistance that is available.
HOUSING MARKET
The local housing market reflects some statewide trends.
Julie Hurt with Century 21 Pro Link Alliance says there’s been a slight dip in home sales in the Le Mars area.
Hurt says there is a short inventory of homes available, and a longer list of buyers.
Hurt says homes are still not on the market very long, two weeks on average.
While home prices are rising, buyers are still motivated, but they are more selective.
In the future, Hurt sees a bit of a shift, as the market takes into account the position of buyers.
NIPCO OUTAGE UPDATE
NIPCO,the Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative based in Le Mars, says they’ve postponed their planned power outage in the Alton area because of last night’s storm. They were to do maintenance and repairs on a transmission line tonight, but have postponed the planned outage to Thursday evening, beginning at 11 pm, and ending at 5 am on Friday, July 8.
TIEFENTHALER APPOINTED
There is a new judge in Iowa Judicial District 3B. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds yesterday appointed Robert Tiefenthaler of Sergeant Bluff to a vacancy on the bench. Tiefenthaler is in a private law practice in Sergeant Bluff. He replaces Judge Jeffrey Poulson, who retires this month. District 3B consists of six northwest Iowa counties: Plymouth, Sioux, Woodbury, Ida, Monona, and Crawford.
RAMP CLOSING
A bridge repair project at the Interstate 29/129/U.S. 20 interchange in Sioux City requires closing the ramp from westbound U.S. 20 to northbound I-29 from 7 a.m. Monday, July 11, until Thursday, Sept. 1. The Iowa Department of Transportation’s District 3 Office says during this project, westbound U.S. 20 to northbound I-29 traffic will be detoured onto southbound I-29, to Singing Hills Boulevard, and onto to northbound I-29
ASTHMA REPORT
About one in ten Iowans has asthma, a rate that’s a little higher than in most other states. Dr. Michelle Freemer, director of the Asthma Program in the Division of Lung Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, says asthma is a chronic airway disease that’s characterized by occasional worsening of inflammation which makes it harder to breathe.
It’s important to learn about advances in preventing, understanding, treating and managing asthma, as Freemer notes, it’s one of the country’s most common and most expensive diseases.
Anyone at any age can develop asthma, but research has found that boys tend to have asthma more often than girls, while women are more likely to have asthma than men.
While there’s no cure for asthma, it is manageable. During the pandemic, asthma attacks dropped significantly in a large study group of children and teens. Researchers believe a better understanding of the factors that contributed to these improved outcomes could lead to better asthma control. For more information, visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov/breathebetter.
