BRIDGE COLLAPSE
(pictures courtesty Plymouth County Engineer)
The Iowa State Patrol has taken over the investigation into a rural Plymouth County bridge collapse south of Struble Thursday night.
Authorities were called to 120th street for a bridge that collapsed after a semi hauling an oversized load of hay bales tried to cross.
The semi driver was not injured.
COMMUNITY IMPACT OFFICER/DETECTIVE
The Le Mars Police Department has created a new position – a Community Impact Officer/Detective. Sgt. Jeff Kramer will take on the new role
Sgt Kramer says he’s excited about the change.
Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte says they have been need of a detective in the department, and it took some time and expense to do so.
LeMars PD is now at full force but Vander Vegte thinks there is a need for more officers.
The CIO/Detective will also coordinate with School Resource Officer John Vickery in matters of community outreach.
Both Sgt. Kramer and SRO Vickery explained their roles to the public this week during a Lunch and Learn at the police headquarters.
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME “RAZZLE DAZZLE?”
Sioux City Art Center Curator, Christopher Atkins, says if you’re driving near downtown Sioux City, north on Nebraska or South on Pierce, you’ll see the Sioux City Art Center covered with fabric.
Atkins says the project is directed by Brooklyn-based artist Amanda Browder.
He praised Browder for her talent in making “Razzle Dazzle” a reality.
Razzle Dazzle will be on display starting today, in time for the 30th annual Art Splash festival Labor Day Weekend. It will be removed from the Sioux City Art Center October 31st.
NEW STATE WEBSITE TRACKS IOWA CHILD CARE OPENINGS
Governor Kim Reynolds has unveiled a state website that lists child care openings. A couple of years ago, the state created an online platform that licensed child care providers could use to track enrollment and manage payroll. The governor says the 35-hundred child care providers using that system are now part of this new website that shows child care openings and the range of services provided, although pricing is not listed. State officials believe Iowa is the first state to offer this kind of real-time data in one place online. The website is called Iowa Child Care Connect.
IOWANS NEED TO CHECK THEIR TREES FOR AN INVASIVE PEST
Most Iowans are familiar with the emerald ash borer and the insect’s threat to our foliage, but we’re also being asked to be on guard for another insect that’s equally as lethal to a much wider variety of trees. Rhonda Santos, a spokeswoman for the U-S-D-A, says August is “Tree Check Month” and homeowners should examine their trees for the Asian longhorned beetle and report any clues they find about the invasive pest. The beetle has black and white antennae, a black body with white spots, and six legs. They create round holes and scars in the tree bark, sawdust-like material around the tree. Unlike the emerald ash borer, the Asian longhorned beetle likes to feed on a host of trees, including: ash, birch, elm, sycamore, maple, buckeye, poplar and willow.
