News

(Le Mars) -- The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department was called to a house fire at 6:22 a.m.  Saturday at the Cory Isebrand residence at 444 7th Ave. S.E.  Cory and his wife and son were home at the time of the fire and were awakened by smoke and carbon monoxide alarms sounding.  Upon arrival, firefighters encountered smoke coming from the roof line of the 2 story home.  Fire fighters entered the home and found heavy fire and smoke in the walls of the living room of the home behind the fireplace.  Fire fighters removed the fireplace assembly and had to open the ceiling in the living room to extinguish the blaze.  The fire did burn through the living room wall into the kitchen and also burnt a few rafters and blow-in insulation in the attic above the living room.  Fire fighters were on the scene for approximately 1 and 1/2 hours.  

An investigation into the origin and cause of the fire was conducted by Le Mars Fire Chief, Dave Schipper.  The origin of the fire was determined to be located along the fireplace in the living room.  The most probable cause for the fire was determined to be from the fireplace.  Fire spread through the wall of the fireplace insert and ignited nearby wood studs and insulation.  The fire then spread up the wall behind the fireplace and into the attic above.  Damage is estimated at over $40,000.       The  Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department was assisted at the scene by the Le Mars Police, Le Mars Ambulance, Plymouth County Sheriff and Campbell's Electric.

(Orange City) -- The Sioux County Sheriff's Office along with the Iowa Attorney General's office is investigating a possible scam involving Super Bowl tickets.  On Thursday, the Sioux County Sheriff's office began receiving complaints from numerous individuals within and outside of Iowa, regarding a possible Super Bowl ticket scam.  The complainants all named a Boyden, Iowa resident as an involved party in the situation.  The complainants advised the sheriff's office investigators they were told they would get Super Bowl tickets at a discounted rate through various ticket wholesalers.  As of today, those people have not received their tickets, with the game being this coming Sunday.  Upon further investigation, the Sioux County Sheriff's office has now referred the case to the Iowa Attorney General's office...Consumer Protection Division. Sioux County officials wouldn't say how many people have submitted complaints.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Air Force recommends retiring 21 F-16 fighter jets from an Iowa Air National Guard base in Des Moines and cutting the number of refueling tankers at a base in
Sioux City.
     Guard spokesman Col. Greg Hapgood says Friday the Air Force has proposed replacing the F-16s with remotely piloted aircraft at the 132nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines. The Air Force would cut the
number of KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft from nine to eight at the 185th Refueling Wing in Sioux City.
     The proposals are part of a plan to trim $8.7 billion from the Air Force budget in fiscal 2013.
     Senator Tom Harkin has requested a meeting with the secretary of the Air Force about the recommendations. The Iowa Democrat says the proposal is "not a final decision."

 MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) - A Mason City woman accused of filing fraudulent Medicaid claims for clients must serve 18 months on probation and pay restitution of more than $2,000.
     Sixty-six-year-old Catherine Weitzel received a deferred judgment Friday after entering an Alford plea in November to a charge of fraudulent practice.
     Under an Alford plea, defendants don't admit guilt but agree that evidence likely exists for a conviction.
     A deferred judgment means charges will be expunged from her record when probation ends.
     The Globe Gazette in Mason City  says Weitzel's defense attorney requested a deferred judgment citing no criminal history and her standing in the community.
     She's a former director of Parents United of North Central Iowa Inc., which provided treatment to victims of child sexual abuse and their families.

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(LeMars) -- Health care costs are on the rise, and especially so with prescription medicines.  Plymouth County Public Health Director Deb Steffen says there is a program in place that helps Plymouth County residents receive discounts on prescriptions.

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Steffen says only about 20 people from Plymouth County currently uses the program, but she wanted everyone to be aware of the option.  Steffen says prescription discounts apply to all types of medications.

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As for the discount itself, the public health officials says it can be substanial.

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Discount prescription cards can be obtained at the Floyd Valley Hopital, the Plymouth County Courthouse, many of the local pharmacies, and here at KLEM offices.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) - Gov. Terry Branstad is urging the Legislature to require lawmakers and other elected officials to pay more for their health care coverage.
     Speaking Friday on the public television program, "Iowa Press," Branstad suggested that elected officials pay 20 percent of their health care costs. He says that would set an example for
other state workers.
     Earlier this week, Republicans proposed that all state workers pay $200 a month toward their health insurance.
     The governor noted that union contracts wouldn't allow the state to force workers to pay the $200 a month, but lawmakers could set an example. He says the state needs to gradually collect more from state workers because 84 percent pay nothing for health insurance.
     The system was set as part of negotiations over wages and other matters.

(Des Moines) -- In our weekly legislative update, Le Mars Representative Chuck Soderberg says the Iowa House has rolled out its budget targets for the next year.  Soderberg, a republican, says the House is intent on holding the line on spending.

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Soderberg says he is comfortable with the budget projections for the upcoming year.  Earlier this week, the state House passed Senate File 93 on a vote of 96-1.  Soderberg says Senate File 93 deals with the penalty for domestic abuse, particularly with stranglation.
 

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A House panel has voted to ban the use of automated cameras to enforce traffic laws.
     The House Transportation Committee approved the ban Thursday on a 15-6 vote, sending it to the full House for debate.
     Backers say that public sentiment is overwhelmingly against using the cameras. They say the current enforcement system is based on the discretion of police officers and using the cameras takes
away that discretion.
     Some legislators initially sought to allow the cameras, but limit the amount that drivers would be forced to pay in fines. That effort was defeated.
     Opponents say it's clear the cameras make the roads safer and that should be the top priority for lawmakers. They argue there's nothing underhanded about the cameras, which are being used in
cities around the state.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Iowa Supreme Court says religious rights of a Mennonite teenager prevail over a county's concern about protecting its roads.
     The court on Friday reversed a Mitchell County citation against Matthew Zimmerman, who was cited for driving a steel-wheel tractor on a county road in 2010. He was found guilty of violating an
ordinance banning steel wheels on hard-surfaced roads.
     A district court judge upheld the citation, but the Supreme Court ordered the case dismissed. The court says the ordinance as applied to church members violates the First Amendment rights to
free exercise of religion.
     The county has argued the ordinance is neutral and doesn't interfere with anyone's religion. The ordinance was aimed at alleviating damage caused by the wheels.

(Nashville) -- The nation's cattle producers are in Nashville attending the National Cattlemen and Beef Association's annual meeting.  Kent Pruisman, a cattle producer from Rock Valley and a former president to the Iowa Cattlemen's Association says this year producers are optimistic and the demeanor is calmer.

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The Sioux County Cattle producer says the action may not have much bearing on the average cattle producer, but it will make the nomination process for leadership positions more transparent, and that's something he supports.   Pruisman serves on the National Beef Board, a position that allows him to oversee the one dollar per head checkoff program, which is used to finance promotion, research, and the development of new markets.  Cattle producers have debated  whether the checkoff rate should be increased.

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