A BLAST OF COLD, THEN A WARMUP
A cold front passing through last night produced strong winds and low temperatures. After a night in the single digits, and below zero wind chills, forecasters say high temperatures will only be in the teens and 20s. After that, there’s a recovery through the weekend, with high temperatures in the upper 30s Friday, and low to mid 50s Saturday and Sunday.
DRIVER IDENTIFIED IN FATAL PICKUP ACCIDENT
Plymouth County authorities say an Orange City man was the victim of a fiery pickup crash late last month. The Sheriff’s Office says a vehicle fire occurred on November 20 near Brunsville, resulting in the death of an occupant. The deceased party has been identified as David Raymond Ruden, age 79 of Orange City, Iowa.
On November 20, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office received report of a possible field fire in the area of 160th St and Impala Avenue. Upon arrival a pickup truck was located fully engulfed in flames. During the recovery operation a subject was discovered deceased in the driver’s seat. The crash investigation showed that the driver of the pickup truck left the roadway and traveled for some distance in the ditch before getting stuck on the roadway embankment. The vehicle then started on fire and for unknown reasons at this time the driver did not escape the vehicle. The vehicle fire resulted in a total loss.
SIOUX CITY CONSTRUCTION FIRM SOLD
An Ames construction firm says they’ve purchased a long-time Sioux City contractor. Story Construction announced the purchase of L & L Builders Co. Story Construction will do business in the Sioux City region under the L & L Builders name.
L & L Builders Co. was founded in Sioux City by brothers Larry and Lonny Book in 1960. Over the years it has expanded its project portfolio to include new commercial construction and major renovations in the medical, industrial, government, restaurants, and historic restoration markets.
Story Construction has reached employment agreements with L & L Builders Co. leadership and will retain the firm’s workforce.
Story Construction has been in business since 1934. It is a general contractor, construction manager and design-builder serving a variety of commercial markets in central Iowa and across the state. The company is 100% employee-owned through an employee stock ownership plan since 2022.
This week, L and L Builders this week was awarded a contract for construction of a water well, part of a new water treatment facility in Le Mars.
GOP LAWMAKERS AIM FOR PROPERTY TAX REFORM IN 2025
Republican lawmakers are promising to product a plan that reduces property taxes. House Republican Leader Matt Windschitl of Missouri Valley says legislators heard complaints about property taxes repeatedly during the 2024 campaign.
Windschitl says a previously-passed cap on property tax growth will be part of the equation.
Senator Mike Bousselot, a Republican from Ankeny, says Iowans are seeing big increases in property taxes collected by cities and counties.
House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst says if the property tax cuts are too deep, it may leave cities high and dry when the time comes to pay for the roads.
Senate Democratic Leader-elect Janice Weiner says she believes in local control — giving officials at the city and county level authority to do their jobs.
Weiner served on the city council in Iowa City before winning a seat in the Iowa Senate in 2022.
SIXTH SAFE HAVEN BABY TURNED OVER TO STATE
A baby girl has been turned over to the state under the Safe Haven program. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services the girl was born on November 11th and will be placed with a foster family until permanent placement is determined. This is the sixth baby turned over to the state this year. There was a boy and girl turned over in both March and May, and a girl was turned over in August. A total of 72 babies have been turned over under the program which allows babies up to 90 days old to be given up without any questions asked.
WOODBURY COUNTY OFFICIAL VIOLATED IOWA LABOR LAW
The Iowa Employment Appeal Board has ruled a Woodbury County Supervisor violated Iowa labor law by interfering with the constitutional rights of county workers who are members of a union. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.
SPENCER WASTE WATER PLANT HAS UP TO $5 MILLION IN FLOOD DAMAGE
An engineering study indicates between four and five MILLION dollars in repairs are needed for Spencer’s waste water treatment plant, which was damaged by catastrophic flooding in June. Kevin Robinson, Spencer’s Acting City Manager, says city officials are reviewing the study.
Robinson says some FEMA disaster money could be used to improve the plant. Spencer officials are also considering a plan that would use city and federal funds on a project to tear down seven apartment buildings in Spencer that were swamped by flooding in June. The city would spend 300-thousand dollars to aquire the property. Spencer’s Acting City Manager says the city would then apply to use federal funds to demolish the apartments.
Robinson says Spencer officials have discussed the plan with two state agencies that are involved in housing development projects.
Eighty percent of the structures in Spencer were either damaged or destroyed in June by flooding or backed up sewer water. Spencer sits at the convergence of the Little Sioux and Ocheyedan Rivers.
