STORM CLEANUP
It will take a week to clean up the tree damage caused by the severe storm that struck Le Mars early Tuesday.
Le Mars Fire Rescue Chief Dave Schipper says heavy rain and a sustained wind of some 52 miles per hour hit the city around midnight Tuesday. The strong wind lasted for 30 minutes, causing branches to crack and fall on every city block. Schipper says six power lines were downed by falling branches. The debris also disconnected power to eleven homes. Three homes suffered roof damage due to falling limbs and branches. Schipper said firefighters, city crews, and private contractors were out in force early Tuesday, working block to block to restore power, and to make streets passable by morning.
LEUSINK PLEA DEAL
A tentative plea agreement has been reached in the case of a former law officer charged with burglary, theft and misconduct.
Court documents filed in Plymouth County District Court indicate that Aaron Leusink agrees to plead guilty to five counts of burglary, misconduct in office, all felonies; illegal possession of prescription drugs, and four counts of theft , all misdemeanors. The first count, burglary in the first degree, was reduced to burglary in the second degree.
The charges stem from incidents that occurred in Plymouth County between 2017 and 2020. Leusink pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 2022 to up to 40 years in prison. A Third District Court Judge later overturned the conviction and sentence after Leusink filed for post-conviction relief.
A presentence investigation has been ordered. Sentencing has been scheduled for September 30 in Plymouth County District Court. Leusink can accept or reject the agreement before that date.
RECORD NORTHWEST IOWA HOME SALE
A lake front property in northwest Iowa that’s been on the market for a decade has sold for nine-and-a-half MILLION dollars — the highest price on record for an Iowa home. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.
The home was originally listed for sale in late 2013 and the asking price was 14-point-nine million dollars. In a statement released by Christie’s International Real Estate Tuesday, Tom Bedell said it was a dream to create a home to host family gatherings and raise his kids during their high school years and Bedells are thrilled another family gets to define its new purpose.
SEVERE WEATHER LIKELY TODAY
Thunderstorms will develop this afternoon and move southeast through the evening and overnight. The National Weather Service office in Sioux Falls says there is a good chance that the storms will form into a line with embedded stronger cells capable of 70 mph wind gusts and large hail to 2 inches. An isolated tornado or two will be possible as well.
Locally heavy rainfall is possible with storms today. Some isolated locations in northwest Iowa could see 2+ inches of rain.
While the risk of widespread flash flooding is low, isolated flash flooding and urban flooding/ponding may occur.
Some localized rises on area creeks and rivers are possible. Smaller waterways are more likely to see notable rises
PROCLAMATION SUPPORTS SIOUX COUNTY STUDENTS RETURNING TO SCHOOL
Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for Sioux County in response to severe storms and flooding that occurred on June 21.
The proclamation suspends regulations in order to construct and install emergency classroom facilities prior to the start of the school year. At the governor’s direction, state agencies have evaluated the contract to ensure improvement costs are reasonable. The proclamation is in effect for thirty days. State officials will build a temporary classroom facility for Rock Valley Community School students in grades 6 through 12. This will be used while parts of the Rock Valley Junior – Senior High School building are refurbished after the flood.
REC DONATES TO NICC POWERLINE PROGRAM
A 15-thousnd dollar gift was recently presented to Northwest Iowa Community College. The funds come from Northwest Iowa REC, and Basin Electric Power Cooperative. From the funds received, new lab equipment will be added to the NCC Powerline program. Basin Electric is the primary power supplier for Iowa power cooperatives, including Northwest REC. They serve Plymouth, Sioux, O’Brien and Ida Counties. The local rural electric cooperatives have possessed a strong relationship with Northwest Iowa Community College as it has supported the operational needs of the cooperative for many years. Many of the powerline workers that are employed by these entities have graduated from NCC’s Powerline program.
SOME THREE-DOZEN FREIGHT TRAIN CARS DERAIL NEAR GLIDDEN
Union Pacific crews are cleaning up the site of a train derailment in Carroll County. A U-P spokesman says about 36 cars derailed Monday night, some two miles east of Glidden. No injuries are reported and an investigation into the incident is underway. Officials say the derailed cars were not carrying any hazardous materials. The focus now for Union Pacific is to get the mainline operational as quickly as possible. It is not clear how long that may take, but U-P typically has blocked lines up and running within a few days.
GRASSLEY PREDICTS HARRIS’ POPULARITY BOOST IS ONLY TEMPORARY
It’s been just over a week since Vice President Kamala Harris announced her intention to run “and win” the Democratic presidential nomination, and while Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley agrees Harris’ momentum is strong at the moment, he predicts it won’t last.
Grassley, a Republican, asserts voters need to take a closer look at Harris’ views and how she voted during the four years she was in the U-S Senate.
For comparison, Grassley says he ranks number-11 on that same ranking where Harris placed 94th. He suggests voters do some research about Harris and her stance on key issues.
The November election is just under 100 days away.
ISU STUDY PUTS EXTREMELY HIGH PRICE ON EVOLVING HOG VIRUS
Iowa State University researchers estimate a viral disease cost the U-S pork industry more than one-billion dollars each year between 2016 and 2020.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome or PRRS (PURS) can be deadly for pigs, and it can reduce a sow’s ability to give birth to healthy piglets.
Derald Holtkamp, an I-S-U professor in veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, says it’s hard to stay ahead of PRRS because it mutates so quickly.
Researchers say the economic impact in 2020 was 80-percent higher than it was a decade ago, mostly due to higher rates of pig herds getting infected and poorer productivity in infected herds. Holtkamp says the only way to slow the virus down or prevent it is with better biosecurity, which includes taking extra precautions, like sanitizing livestock trailers.
ARMADILLO SIGHTINGS IN IOWA ARE ON THE RISE
Armadillos are usually associated with Texas or Oklahoma, but the armored animal is being spotted more frequently in Iowa. Armadillos have been making their way north for decades, according to Jim Coffey, an Iowa D-N-R wildlife biologist. Coffey tells KCRG-TV that armadillo sightings are being tracked by the agency. There are between 12 and 24 verified sightings every year. Armadillos can jump up to four feet into the air and they average about 12 pounds as adults. Coffey says the state’s changing climate played a big part in the arrival of armadillos. The DNR has no plans to manage the spread of armadillos, since the only threat they pose to the ecosystem is digging burrows to live in. Plus, they can’t survive harsh winters, so armadillos aren’t established in Iowa — at least not yet.
