Two house fires in Le Mars over Christmas holiday
Two house fires occurred over the Christmas holiday in Le Mars, with both determined to be accidental.
Le Mars Fire-Rescue was called at 8:20pm on Christmas Eve to a home at 618 Plymouth Street SE. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke coming from the basement but was able to extinguish the fire quickly. The basement and main floor of the home suffered heavy smoke and soot damage but was able to be saved. No one was home at the time of the fire, but a dog was rescued from inside. The most probable cause of the fire was determined to be lithium batteries that exploded while being charged in a hoverboard. The exploded batteries were found blown across the basement. Damage to the structure is estimated at $95,000.
On Christmas Day, Fire-Rescue was called at 8:47pm to a home at 421 5th Street. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke coming from the second floor of the house but was able to extinguish the fire quickly. Firefighters had to ventilate the home, but only the second floor suffered minor smoke damage. The most probable cause of the fire was determined to be a heat lamp that tipped over into wood chips in a plastic kid’s pool being used for a pet. Damage to the structure is estimated at $1,000.
Le Mars Fire-Rescue would like to remind everyone to charge lithium batteries and devices on a hard, non-combustible surface, and to be careful with any alternative heating devices this winter season.
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Questions answered after Lyon County Courthouse burglary
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has released additional details about the burglary at the Lyon County Courthouse.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the two suspects, 39-year-old Brandon Lyle High Pipe and 18-year-old Luciano Eliseo Sanchez, were initially located inside of an apartment in Whitewood, SD two days after the burglary took place. While awaiting additional resources, the two suspects allegedly stole a vehicle and used it to drive to Spearfish, SD, before being taken into custody just before 1am on December 20th. The suspects are currently being held in South Dakota awaiting extradition to Lyon County.
Sheriff Brian Hilt answered additional questions about the incident in a news release. Hilt says the office hadn’t had any interaction with the suspects previously and says that they were in Lyon County thanks to a “distant connection.” Hilt further states that the office requested assistance from the FBI due to the suspects crossing state lines and the potential of the suspects being on a reservation. In response to concerns that personal information may have been compromised, Hilt stated that the potential that information was stolen is “very limited in scope” and that anything stolen was likely limited in information.
Hilt says that the suspects will be transferred to the Lyon County Jail, but the timing isn’t known for sure as of now.
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Le Mars Area Family YMCA announces new Child Watch program
The Le Mars Area Family YMCA has announced a new Child Watch program for members, starting this upcoming January.
Child Watch is a drop-in child care program for children aged 2 to 8 years old, giving the ability for parents to lift weights, take a class, or do other activities inside the facility while their child is cared for. The program is staffed by trained professionals, with a secure and active environment provided. The program is free for children with an active YMCA membership; otherwise, Child Watch is available for $5/30 minutes if the child doesn’t have a membership, if the parent or guardian has a membership, or for guests. No feeding or snacks will be offered.
Children are able to be in Child Watch for 2 hours per day. The program will be available every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 5-7:30pm starting in January. For questions about Child Watch, email the YMCA at info@lemarsymca.org.
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A year and a half after historic flooding in Spencer, final resident moves out of FEMA’s temporary housing
Some of the temporary trailers FEMA set up in Spencer to house people who were flooded out of their homes in mid-2024 were occupied for nearly a year and a half. Spencer City Manager Kevin Robinson says this fall, there were about a dozen individuals who were living in the trailers — but the last occupant was able to move into other housing Monday of this week.
The FEMA trailers arrived in Spencer on September 24th of 2024 and a FEMA spokesperson says they will be removed by the end of this month. Two temporary housing sites were set up in Spencer following the flooding in June of 2024. The FEMA trailers have been in a commercial area on the north side of Spencer. The State of Iowa set up a separate site, near the Clay County Fairgrounds and Robinson estimates at one point as many as 100 people who couldn’t find or afford housing were staying there.
At one point, 44 households were living in the FEMA trailers in Spencer. A FEMA spokesperson says the trailers will be put up for auction rather than moved to house storm victims in other parts of the country.
(Story via Radio Iowa)
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