FIELD FIRES IN PLYMOUTH COUNTY
Strong winds fanned several fires across Plymouth County, and northwest Iowa Friday. Le Mars Fire Rescue fought three fires yesterday afternoon into the evening. The first call came at 1:40 p.m. to a field fire at 11316 Hwy 75. The wind was in excess of 40 mph when the fire happened. Le Mars Fire-Rescue called Maurice and Orange City Fire Departments for assistance. Upon arrival firefighters found a burn pile on the southeast corner of the property that had rekindled and spread into the nearby field. Firefighters used three grass rigs and three tankers to control the blaze. The fire was put out in about 40 minutes.
While the first fire was just finishing, Le Mars Fire-Rescue was called to 14618 Juniper Ave. for hay bales on fire and the fire spreading through a field very rapidly. Le Mars and Maurice Fire Departments responded immediately. While in-route the Ireton Fire Department was called to assist. Upon arrival several hay bales were burning, and a field was on fire spreading to the southeast. Firefighters put out a small hog confinement building that had caught fire next to the several hay bales that were burning. A house was also saved by actions of firefighters on 150th Street directly southeast of the original fire. The fire did jump 150th Street and into the next field. Sioux Center and Merrill Fire Departments were called to assist. Contact was also made with several farmers to bring tractors and discs to the fire. The fire burnt southeast across the mile section and jumped across the road at Kestrel Ave. At the time the winds were now gusting to 50 mph. Due to efforts of firefighters and eventually the 16 tractors and discs and an excavator that showed up the fire was controlled and stopped. Several buildings and houses were saved. Over 25-thousand gallons of water was used to fight the blaze.
The cause of this fire was a burn pile of trees that rekindled and spread to a ditch and then jumped Juniper Ave and ignited hay bales and a field.
Firefighters were on scene for over 5 hours. There were no injuries.
Fire crews from Akron and Kingsley were each called to a couple of fires, and Remsen’s crew was out also. Several fires were also reported in Sioux and Woodbury Counties.
Le Mars Fire-Rescue reminds everyone that even if you are not burning on a very windy day, if you have burned any piles, garbage, pits, etc., you need to check for rekindles. Even though you think the fire is out or it has been a long time since you burned, the material in the bottom or underneath can flare up with the high winds.
GOVERNOR SIGNS BILL TO MODIFY THE CIVIL RIGHTS CODE
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds Friday signed a bill which removes transgender persons from the Iowa Civil Rights Code. The governor says the bill safeguards the rights of women and girls.
Iowa District 3 Representative Tom Jeneary of LeMars says Republicans voted to reverse a move by Democrat lawmakers when they had majorities at the statehouse.
The courts then ruled against previous laws passed by the legislature.
Gov Reynolds says the bill strengthen protections for women and girls, and she believes signing it is the right thing to do.
There were three days of protests this week at the state capitol in Des Moines by many opposed to the bill:
DORDT SOCIAL WORK DEGREE PARTNERSHIPS
This week, Dordt University announced the formation of partnerships with two other schools for post-graduate education.
One is a partnership with Sterling College in Kansas. This partnership offers students studying psychology at Sterling an opportunity to accelerate their graduate studies in social work through Dordt’s Master in Social Work program.
The other is with Mid-Atlantic Christian University of North Carolina. This partnership helps MACU students fast-track a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree.
MACU students who are earning a Bachelor of Science degree in counseling and psychology may be eligible for credit at Dordt toward an MSW.
Dordt’s MSW program integrates Christian values that teach social workers how to serve and minister to their clients as image-bearers and to share the grace of the gospel, says Joe Bakker, dean for online, graduate, and partner programs at Dordt.
