Home News KLEM News for Wednesday, September 21

KLEM News for Wednesday, September 21

TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES

Some thermometers in western Iowa hit triple digits Tuesday. National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Trellinger says the highest temperature reported to his office in Sioux Falls was 102, just south of Akron.

That was the temperature in Spencer at 5 p.m. It’s been 97 years since Spencer had a 101 degree day in September — and that 101 degree day back in 1925 was on September FOURTH. Things warmed up quickly in Iowa Tuesday, with temperatures soaring by 11 a.m.

Trellinger says drought conditions played a role in yesterday’s high temperatures in northwest Iowa, as the sun’s heat bore down on parched ground.

Several other Iowa cities broke high temperature records Tuesday. Cedar Rapids hit 96 and that was also the record high in Lamoni. It reached 95 in Burlington. Des Moines hit 94 and it was 93 in Dubuque.

 

HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT

The Sioux County Sheriffs Department is investigating a hit and run accident that occurred Monday afternoon. This involved two semis which met along US Highway 75, 3 miles northwest of Hull.

One of the truck drivers, Harlan Kruid, age 56, of Steen, MN, said he was northbound on Highway 75 when a semi-tractor pulling a cattle trailer traveling southbound on the highway entered the northbound lane and side-swiped Kruid. The truck did not stop and continued southbound on the highway..

Kruid received minor injuries. He was transported by the Hull Ambulance to Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital in Rock Rapids, IA, for treatment.

The Sheriffs Department asks that witnesses to the accident notify them.

 

CITIZENS ACADEMY

The registration deadline is approaching for the annual Citizens Academy in Le Mars.  Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte says the Academy is a joint effort of Le Mars Police and the Plymouth County Sheriffs Department.

Vande Vegte describes the academy.

They will offer a wide range of topics.

Vande Vegte says this is an outreach program which answers basic questions about law enforcement.  It’s open to any Plymouth County resident 21 or older.  Participants must fill out an application obtained from Le Mars Police or the Plymouth County Sheriffs Department.  The four week program begins October 18th.  The application deadline is September 30.

 

JUVENILE ARREST

Also Monday, the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office charged a male juvenile from Hospers, with burglary and theft.

The Sheriffs office was notified of a break-in that ocurred at a business in Hospers. Officers found that a juvenile entered the business on Friday, September 16, and stole property.

The juvenile was cited into Juvenile Court, charging him with third degree burglary and fifth degree theft.

 

LE MARS COUNCIL

The Le Mars city council Tuesday approved a bond purchase agreement, to raise funds for improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment facility. The council passed a resolution which approves the sale of up to 5.5 million dollars in Sewer Revenue Bonds. Bond counsel Michael Maloney says the bonds will be sold at 4.42% interest. Funds raised by the bond sale will help install an ultraviolet disinfection system at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Final action on the bond sale will take place during the council’s October 4 meeting, where the council will consider authorizing the issuance of the bonds.

 

SUPERVISORS

The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors approved an updated Flood Plain Ordinance.  There are few floodplains in Plymouth County, mostly along the Big Sioux River, but the changes are required in order for county residents to stay eligible for flood insurance.  Alan Lucken, who presented the update to the county, says there are no homes or businesses located in flood plains in the county, but there is one site affected by the new rules, a campground south of Akron.  Some of the structures at the Lazy H Campground must meet requirements to be raised one foot above the flood plain.

 

ORANGE CITY COUNCIL

The city of Orange City will hold a strategic planning session in November, at which time they will consider city funding for a list of projects outlined in the city’s Comunity Development Plan. City Manager Earl Woudstra distributed the priority list for consideration. The top five projects by ranking include the demolition and redevelopment of the old Orange City Elementary School… expansion of local trails and sidewalks, including connections to the new elementary school… development of the Puddle Jumper Trail Park… extension of 18th Street as part of redevelopment of the old airport… and extension of 14th Street east to Jay Ave, near the new elementary school.

 

JET AIRLIFTED

A 1950’s era F-80 fighter jet made a flight to Sioux City for repainting with an assist from a Davenport-based Iowa Army National Guard Chinook helicopter. The jet has been on display at Camp Dodge in Johnston, and has the markings of the 174th fighter-interceptor squadron that was the predecessor to the 185th air refueling wing in Sioux City. Flight engineer Staff Sergeant Jesse Ayala says carrying the jet in a sling under the helicopter to Sioux City allowed them to practice important aircraft recovery methods. The first generation F-80 fighter was assigned to the Iowa Air Guard after the 174th returned to Sioux City following their activation in 1951. The jet will be painted and then flown back to be put on display again at Camp Dodge.

 

FLU SEASON

Health officials say Australia is already experiencing its worst flu season in five years, which could indicate it will also be severe in the U-S. Polk County Health Department spokesperson, Nola Aigner (AG-ner) says people who are interested can get a flu shot and a COVID booster in one visit. She says if you think you have the flu, you should contact your doctor for guidance.

 

HAPPIEST STATE

Nebraska is one of the happiest states in America. That’s according to WalletHub, which ranks Nebraska ninth-happiest in the U.S. In the individual categories WalletHub says Nebraska ranks 13th for emotional and physical wellbeing and has the seventh-best work environment. Nebraska also has the fifth-best divorce rate, fourth-best adequate sleep rate, and third-best volunteer rate. WalletHub says the happiest state in the U.S. is Hawaii and the least happy is West Virginia.