FATAL ACCIDENT WEST OF SIOUX CENTER
A two vehicle accident this morning west of Sioux Center took the life of one person, and caused injury to four others. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 9-1-1 report at the intersection B40 and K42, which is three miles west of Sioux Center. The accident report was called in around 5-30 a.m.
A vehicle travelling north on K42 failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of B40. It was struck by an eastbound car on B40.
A passenger in the northbound vehicle died at the scene. The two drivers, and three passengers were transported to Sioux Center Health for treatment. Later, two of the injured were transferred to Mercy Hospital in Sioux City and Avera McKennen University Health Center in Sioux Falls. The names of the accident victims are being withheld pending notification of family.
The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Patrol are jointly investigating the accident.
FIBER OPTIC PROJECT
Representatives of Premier Communications reported on fiber optic projects to the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors yesterday, including an effort to extend service into southwest Plymouth County.
Ryan Boone told the Supervisors that last fall, Premier was named to receive a grant to extend fiber optic services to that area of Plymouth County. The funds, 3.8 million dollars, come from the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program. This will help leverage a 12 million dollars project to bring broadband to the area. Boone says there are some 1-thousand locations for possible connection. The cost for the project is some 15 to 20-thousand dollars per location. GIven the terrain in that part of the county, it will be the most challenging build of the entire Plymouth County project. Engineering and site surveys will take place over the winter. Construction will begin next spring. Service will be available by early 2026.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Iowa House Speaker Pay Grassley announced committee assignments for the next legislative session.
Iowa Representative Tom Jeneary of Le Mars was named to the Environmental Protection, Health and Human Services, Labor and Workforce, and State Government, and Transportation Committees.
Representative Travis Sitzman of Kingsley was named to the Agriculture, Economic Growth and Technology, Environmental Protection, Labor and Workforce Committees, He was also named Vice Chair of the Administration and Regulation Appropriations Subcommittee.
Representative Skyler Wheeler of Hull was named Chair of the House Education Committee. He will also serve on the Higher Education, and Judiciary Committees,
Representative Zach Dieken of Granville was named to the Environmental Protection, and Public Safety Committees. He was also named to the Justice Systems Appropriations Subcommittee.
Representative Jacob Bossman of Sgt. Bluff will serve on the Appropriations, Commerce, State Government, and Transportation Committees. He will also chair the Transporation, Infrastructure, and Capitals Appropriations Subcommittee.
Representative Bob Henderson of SIoux City was named to the Education, Transportation, and Local Government Committees. He will also serve as Vice Chair of the Education Appropriations Subcommittee,
The 91st General Assembly begins January 13.
ICY ROADS CONTRIBUTE TO VEHICLE ACCIDENTS
The Plymouth County Sheriffs Office responded to several accidents Tuesday morning in the Le Mars area, due to icy road conditions. At approximately 8 am, an accident occurred at Iowa Highway 3 and Marble Ave. A vehicle slid on the ice and rear ended another that had pulled over. No injuries were reported.
At 8-06 am, the Sheriffs Office was called to the Le Mars bypass near Exit 120, where a box truck had gone into a ditch and rolled, landing on its wheels. The box of the vehicle was separated and cargo was scattered in the ditch. The driver, 26 year old James Carman Jr. of Sioux City, was driving north on Highway 75 when a semi entered his lane, causing Carman to lose control of the vehicle. Carman was transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare by Le Mars Fire Rescue. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Freezing rain and ice factored into the crash.
A third accident, in that time frame, resulted in a driver treated at the scene for minor injury. Further details of the accident have not yet been released
At 10:16 am, the Sheriffs Office was called to a single vehicle accident at C38 and Otter Avenue, four miles south and east of Le Mars. A vehicle driven by Jovanna Diaz, 36 of Storm Lake, went out of control due to icy conditions. The vehicle overturned and landed on its side. No injuries were reported.
REPORT: FEWER IOWANS ARE GETTING FLU SHOTS
Only about one in four Iowans have gotten flu shots so far this season, the lowest turnout in the past five years. A report from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services shows nearly 27-percent of Iowans have been vaccinated through last week, compared to almost 39-percent the first year of the pandemic. Elizabeth Scharon, a registered nurse and vaccine clinic manager at Gundersen Health System, recommends flu shots for virtually everyone. It can often take up to two weeks for the flu shot to become effective, so she says Iowans who are vaccinated now should be prepared for the upcoming holiday season. While Iowans who are young and healthy likely aren’t at great risk of getting severely ill from the flu, Scharon says they should still get vaccinated to protect more vulnerable people around them.
CONSUMER GOODS SHIPPED BY RAIL WAY UP IN NOVEMBER
A report presented to the state Transportation Commission today (Tuesday) shows an uptick in November in some types of rail traffic. The D-O-T’s Stuart Anderson says the numbers shows a lot of activity in consumer goods.
Anderson says the rail cargo increased dramatically.
While the amount of consumer goods increased, the rail numbers for manufacturing products didn’t match them.
Anderson says there is some better news for farmers in the rail numbers.
Anderson says there has been a lot of talk among the railroads about the potential impact on traffic from potential tariffs from the incoming Trump administration, and the D-O-T will monitor any changes.
TASK FORCE STUDYING OPERATIONS OF IOWA AEAS SEEKS MORE INFO
The task force lawmakers created to suggest improvements in Iowa’s Area Education Agencies has decided it needs more information before issuing a report. The legislature made changes this year to the funding and structure of A-E-As, which provide special education and other services to Iowa schools. The task force — which met for five hours on Monday — is requesting information about special ed funding, A-E-A staffing, and the impact of the new law. The panel plans to reconvene early next year.
FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT WARNS MASS DEPORTATIONS, TARIFFS COULD DAMAGE ECONOMY
American Farm Bureau president Zippy Duvall is warning there may be collateral damage in rural America if President-elect Trump follows through on mass deportations and increases tariffs. Duvall is in Des Moines for the Iowa Farm Bureau’s annual meeting. Duvall says the organization doesn’t support tariffs because it draws retaliation — and ag commodities usually take the first hit. Duvall says the Farm Bureau is very interested in learning the details of Trump’s plan to deport people who entered the country illegally. Duvall says a lot of farm workers are undocumented because there’s no other people who want to do that work and the Farm Bureau will try to make sure deportations don’t harm the food system, rural communities or farmers and ranchers.
REPORT CITES EMERGING UNDERGROUND ECONOMY IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
A new report suggests up to 10 percent of Iowa construction workers have been illegally underpaid because they’ve been incorrectly identified as independent contractors rather than employees. Sean Finn, who authored the report for Common Good Iowa, says it shows an underground economy is emerging in Iowa’s construction industry and it’s time for Iowa lawmakers to respond. Common Good Iowa is calling on the legislature and governor to hire more staff to investigate mostly out-of-state businesses that are avoiding up to 12-thousand dollars in benefits and taxes for each misclassified employee working at an Iowa construction site.
