RED FLAG WARNING
The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a Red Flag
Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect
from 1 PM this afternoon to 7 PM CDT this evening. Plymouth, and all of its surrounding counties will see west winds 10-20 mph, gusting up to 30 mph. Relative humidities could drop t0 as low as 16 percent. Any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
Another spring system will move through the region from Tuesday into Wednesday, bringing strong winds, rain, and accumulating snowfall.
The current Le Mars forecast calls for up to 4 inches of snow Tuesday night into Wednesday.
PLYMOUTH COUNTY AUDIT
Le Mars accounting firm Williams and Company released it’s audit report of Plymouth County for fiscal year ending June, 2024.
The report says the county collected a total of 51.9 million dollars in property tax for the fiscal year, which included 1.5 million in tax credits from the state.
The county’s portion of property taxes was 12.2 million. The rest were forwarded to townships, school districts, cities adn other taxing bodies in the county.
Plymouth County revenues totaled 29.3 million dollars, a 19% increase from the previous year. Revenues for the previous year was 28.8 million, a 12.5% increase from the previous year.
A copy of the full audit report is available on the Auditor of State website at: auditor.iowa.gov/audit-reports
MEMBER OF IRISH PARLIAMENT IN EMMETSBURG
A member of the Irish parliament has been in northwest Iowa for Emmetsburg’s annual Irish Celebration.
Cathal Crowe says the connections to his country are evident.
Crowe has represented County Clare in Ireland’s parliament since 2020. He says March 17th is a wonderful day to celebrate the Irish — wherever they may be.
Emmetsburg’s annual week-long St. Patrick’s celebration got underway last Monday with its Junior Miss and Miss Shamrock contests. Crowe got to Emmetsburg last Wednesday and was the grand marshal of the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Parade this past Saturday.
FATAL FIRE
Three people have died in a house fire early Saturday morning in Lawton, Iowa.
Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan says firefighters were dispatched to the blaze in the 300 block of Oak Street around 1:15 a.m:
Sheehan says the three victims were all members of the same family and called 9-1-1 saying they were trapped on an upper floor of the home.
Their names had not been released as of Sunday afternoon:
The state fire marshall has been called in to assist in the investigation of cause of the fire.
COLLISION INJURES TWO
Two people are hospitalized following a head on collision in Sioux County Saturday evening.
The Iowa State Patrol says a car driven by 38 year old Henry Esquivel Villanueva of South Sioux City crossed the center line on Jackson Avenue and struck an oncoming car head on at the intersection with Highway 60.
Villanueva and a passenger in the second car, 26-year old Ashley Van Beek of Sioux Center were both injured and taken by ambulance to the Orange City Hospital.
The driver of the second car, 26-year-old Jeremy Van Beek, escaped injury.
Both vehicles came to rest in a ditch.
INJURY ACCIDENT
The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office investigated a motor vehicle accident that occurred on K64, three miles southwest of Boyden, IA. The accident occurred just before noon, Saturday.
Thomas Varady, age 23, of Sioux Falls, SD, was driving a van northbound on K64 when he lost control of the vehicle, entered the east ditch where the vehicle rolled onto the passenger side of the vehicle.
Varady was transported by the Boyden Ambulance to Orange City Area Health for treatment of his injuries sustained .
The GMC van sustained approximately $13,000 in damages.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Boyden Fire Department and Boyden Ambulance.
TWO VEHICLE INJURY ACCIDENT NEAR HULL
There was a two vehicle injury accident Saturday morning south of Hull, in Sioux County.
The Sheriffs Office says Aaron Statema, 29, of Hawarden, IA, was driving a pickup south on K52. Jayden Carstensen, age 21, of Jefferson, IA, was driving an SUV north on the county road. Statema lost control of his vehicle, entered the northbound lane and struck Carstensen.
Statema was transported by the Hull Ambulance to Sioux Center Health for treatment of minor injuries. Carstensen reported minor injuries and declined further medical treatment.
Statema was cited for failure to yield half of the roadway.
The accident occurred around 7 a.m. Saturday. The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Hull Fire Department and Hull Ambulance.
WHITING WOMAN CHARGED WITH MURDER
A Whiting, Iowa woman is in jail charged with first degree murder following the death of an unidentified male in a rural Monona County residence early Sunday morning.
Woody Gottburg has the details…..
The Monona County Sheriff says they received a 9-1-1 call at 12:05 a.m. Sunday from a residence on county highway K-42 in Whiting.
Deputies found the unresponsive male at the residence.
A joint investigation by the sheriff’s office and the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation resulted in the arrest of Veronica Kluge, who lived at the home where the body was found.
Kluge was charged with first degree murder.
DORDT GAMING COURSE
Dordt University Director of Gaming Dr. Brad Hickey has developed a new gaming and Christian faith course, which will be offered this fall.
It’s titled: Engaging the World of Gaming. The course explores the intersection of gaming culture and Christian faith, providing participants with a thoughtful framework for engaging with this rapidly growing cultural phenomenon.
The course will cover topics such as the history and influence of gaming culture, the meaning and value people find in gaming, and how to reflect on gaming culture from a Christian perspective. Designed for those seeking to connect with gamers in their families, churches, or communities, as well as those wishing to minister through gaming, the course provides valuable insights into this space.
The semester-long course is fully online and requires about 9 hours per week of study.
