FATAL SEMI ACCIDENT
The driver of a grain truck in Plymouth County this morning died when his truck overturned. The accident occurred around 8:45 a.m. on County Road C38, near Fawn Ave, about nine miles east of Westfield. The Plymouth County Sheriffs Office says the accident was reported as a semi rollover with the driver trapped inside. The Sheriffs Office says the semi, pulling a grain trailer, was travelling east on C38, when the semi left the road and entered the south ditch. The vehicle rolled on the passenger side. The driver was was trapped inside, and was removed by Akron Fire Department. He was transported to Mercy One Hospital in Sioux City with serious injuries. He later succumbed to his injuries, and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The victim’s name is not being released at this time.
BIOFUELS GRANT BENEFITS LE MARS FIRM
Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig announced that the Iowa Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program Board has awarded grants to 114 Iowa gas stations. Hy Vee in Le Mars is one of the grant recipients, along with four others in northwest Iowa.
The grants cover new and expanded ethanol and biodiesel projectgs. The HyVee fuel station on 12th Avenue will receive a grant of 11-thousand, 200 dollars.
Other grants include 75-thousand dollars apiece for Kwik Star projects in Orange City and Sergeant Bluff. Two grants totaling 12-thousand dollars will benefit two Sheldon gas stations, at the HyVee and one of two Casey’s stores there.
The grants are helping gas stations come into compliance with the E15 Access Standard, which requires most fuel retailers and gas stations to offer E15 by January 1, 2026.
RECORDER’S QUARTERLY REPORT
The Plymouth County Recorder this week reported that the office did 219-thousand dollars in business over the January through March quarter.
Jolynn Goodchild of those total fees, some 55-thousand dollars was Plymouth County’s share. Receipts to the county included 14-thousand dollars in transfer tax, some 17% of the total. Another 13-thousand came from mortgage documents; and 88-hundred dollars in passport applications and passport photos were received. A total of 2,315 documents were processed in the quarter, almost half of them boat fees, titles, and liens.
DEAL REACHED ON EXTENDED DISABILITY, DEATH BENEFITS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
A bill that’s won approval in the Iowa Senate would make state troopers, firefighters and police officers in Iowa’s municipal retirement system eligible for accidental disability and death benefits if they’re diagnosed with any form of cancer. Current law limits benefits to 14 types of cancer. Senators added a stipulation to the bill — a small increase in what most full-time first responders in Iowa should pay toward their benefits. The House is expected to accept the senate’s change and sent the bill to the governor. Firefighters are exposed to cancer-causing chemicals in burning buildings, plus the protective gear they wear contains PFAS (pee-FAHSS) — so-called “forever chemicals” that make it water repellent. According to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, firefighters have a nine percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer than the general population.
COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a final voucher for a repaving project that will be reimbursed by federal transportation funds.
The intersection of county roads K64 and C30 was rebuilt in 2024. The total cost of the project was 780-thousand dollars. Farm to Market road funds of 500-thousand dollars will be reimbursed to the county.
The Supervisors approved plans for a bridge replacement project to be bid next month.
The bridge is located across the West Fork of the Little Sioux River on Roosevelt Ave., two miles north and east of Kingsley. An 80 foot steel truss bridge will be replaced with a steel girder bridge. Bids will be opened on May 6.
ORANGE CITY SCHOOL PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
Orange City officials have decided what to do with a former elementary school property near downtown. City Administrator Earl Woudstra said the council wanted to consider various proposals for the property.
But the council wanted to see more ideas for developing the property. One proposal carried a mix of housing types, and another was a combination of commercial and residential development. Woudstra said the proposal that brought the city council’s approval focused on housing with an appeal to the city’s Dutch Heritage.
Woudstra said the council favored plans that included primarily residential development.
Details for the property transfer need to be negotiated.
How soon before homes go under construction there.
The development would be governed by a homeowners’ association.
DONATE LIFE MONTH
April is National Donate Life month and Sioux City’s Mercyone Medical Center and the Iowa Donor Network joined to host a flag-raising ceremony Wednesday to celebrate transplant recipients who have been given a new life and honor donors and their families.
Jennifer McDonald shared the story of her late husband Steven, who donated organs to save others:
Jennifer told the story of one of those whose life was saved by the donation of her husband’s organs:
John Jorgensen of the Iowa Donor Network says the state had a record number of donations in 2024:
He says it was the second straight year the state set a record for tissue donations. There are more than 104,000 Americans currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. 600 of them live right here in Iowa.
You can register to save lives at iowadonornetwork.org.
DEAL REACHED ON EXTENDED DISABILITY, DEATH BENEFITS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS
A bill that’s won approval in the Iowa Senate would make state troopers, firefighters and police officers in Iowa’s municipal retirement system eligible for accidental disability and death benefits if they’re diagnosed with any form of cancer. Current law limits benefits to 14 types of cancer. Senators added a stipulation to the bill — a small increase in what most full-time first responders in Iowa should pay toward their benefits. The House is expected to accept the senate’s change and sent the bill to the governor. Firefighters are exposed to cancer-causing chemicals in burning buildings, plus the protective gear they wear contains PFAS (pee-FAHSS) — so-called “forever chemicals” that make it water repellent. According to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, firefighters have a nine percent higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer than the general population.
BILLS WOULD ELIMINATE STATE SALES TAX ON TOILET PAPER, DETERGENT
A slate of bills advancing in the Iowa House would eliminate the state sales tax on everyday items like toilet paper and laundry detergent and extend a state tax credit for child care expenses to all Iowa households. House Speaker Pat Grassley — the lead sponsor on these bills — says the intent to help Iowans facing higher household costs due to inflation. Another bill advancing in the House expands the state tax credit for child care expenses to all families. Under current law, it’s limited to households with an annual income of 35-thousand dollars or less.
