News

Local News
Have a Newstip? Let us know!
Call or Text 712-324-2597
Email to newstips@kiwaradio.com

Hay Destroyed In Fire

Little Rock, Iowa — Some round hay bales and cut hay was destroyed in a fire on Friday, May 6, 2016 near Little Rock.
Little Rock Fire Truck FD
According to Little Rock First Assistant Fire Chief Tom Ver Steeg, about 4:50 PM, the Little Rock Fire Department was called to the report of hay on fire at a cattle setup at 4523 170th Street, two miles south of Little Rock and a mile west.

The chief says the fire department saw about twelve round bales and a significant amount of chopped hay on fire in bunkers as they approached the scene. He says skid loaders were used to pull the hay apart. The fire department kept the equipment cool as they went in to take out the burning hay, and then they spread they hay apart and doused it with water and foam.

There were no injuries reported, according to First Assistant Chief Ver Steeg.

The fire department was assisted by the Sibley Fire Department. Ver Steeg says they provided water.

He says at this time the cause of the fire remains undetermined.

First Assistant Chief Ver Steeg says about 75 percent of the hay burned, but some was salvageable.

He says they used 10,000 gallons of water to fight the fire, and crews were on scene for four hours. The Little Rock Ambulance Crew assisted on the scene.

Sheldon Clean-Up Days Rapidly Approaching

community services center 02Sheldon, Iowa — The deadline is fast approaching for you to stop by the Sheldon City Office and pick up your flag for Sheldon’s Clean-Up Days.

If you live west of Washington Avenue, you must pay your $15 fee and pick up your flag before 3:00 pm this Friday, May 13th.  Pickup in the areas of the City west of Washington Avenue begin next Monday, May 16th.

If you live east of Washington Avenue, your $15 fee must be paid, and your flag picked up, by 3:00 pm a week from this Friday, May 20th.  Pickup in the area east of Washington Avenue  will begin Monday, May 23rd.

If you have electronics or appliances you’d like to have picked up, you’ll need to pay an additional $10 fee per item when you pick up your flag.  The additional cost will get you a sticker to attach to each item.

The City of Sheldon reminds you that you will NOT be able to pay at the time of pickup, all payments MUST be made at the City Offices by the date specified for your part of town.

All items must be placed at curbside by 7:00 am on the Monday of collection for your part of town.

For complete details on the Sheldon Spring Clean-up, click here.

Northey Says Farmers Could Resume Planting Soon

Bill NortheyNorthwest Iowa — Wet weather slowed planting in some areas last week, but Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, of Spirit Lake, says he’s happy with the progress so far.

Northey says some fields have to dry out before farmers can pull in the planter once again.

He says there haven’t been any planting problems he’s heard other than the weather.

Northey farms near Spirit Lake and says he still has some acres to get planted on his farm.

Matlock Fire Department Receives Grant

Matlock, Iowa — The Matlock Fire Department has received a $2,500 donation from the Monsanto Fund.
Matlock Fire Grant
Local farmer Dennis Vander Schaaf of Sioux County requested the grant through America’s Farmers Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund.

For six years, America’s Farmers Grow Communities says they have collaborated with farmers to donate over $22 million to more than 8,000 community organizations across rural America. Winning farmers have directed donations to nonprofits to help fight rural hunger, purchase life saving fire and EMS equipment, support ag youth leadership programs, buy much-needed classroom resources, and much more.

We talked with Matlock Fire Chief Bruce Steggemann, and he says they were glad to receive the grant.


Steggemann says the majority of the $2500 grant will go to purchase those new gloves and a few extra pair for backup. He tells us where the remainder will go.


America’s Farmers Grow Communities says they partner with farmers to support local nonprofit causes that positively impact farming communities across rural America. Other related programs include America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders and America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education. They say you can visit AmericasFarmers.com to learn more.

Photo courtesy Matlock Fire Department

City Of Boyden Without Natural Gas Service Overnight

Boyden, Iowa — It’s a good thing that temperatures were moderate Friday night into Saturday morning as the city of Boyden was without natural gas service.
natural gas or propane blue flame pilot light
The gas service was off because according to MidAmerican Energy, a tiling contractor had struck the gas line that serves the community on Friday.

MidAmerican Energy spokesperson Ruth Comer says the gas outage affected 277 customers.

Comer says they have made temporary arrangements to bring in some gas from another supplier while their line is repaired, and as of 7 AM on Saturday crews have begun relighting pilot lights and restarting appliances.

Comer says customers have received automated phone messages explaining the situation and offering to schedule the relighting at a time that may work better for the customer.

Child Endangerment Charges Filed After Missing Child Report

Rock Valley, Iowa — A Rock Valley woman now faces child endangerment charges after an incident in April.
lightbar with hand cuffs
The Rock Valley Police Department reports their officers arrested 36-year-old Christina Mauthe of Rock Valley this past week on a charge of Child Endangerment, an aggravated misdemeanor.

They report that the arrest is a result of a 911 call about a missing three-year-old child at 10:00 PM on April 4, 2016. Rock Valley officers responded to the report and discovered that Mrs. Mauthe’s child went missing while they were on a walk along the Rock River. Officers believe that Mauthe willfully deprived her child of proper supervision and left the child alone along the river. The child was located unharmed by the Rock Valley Fire Department about a half a mile from the Mauthe residence at about 10:35 PM.

After her arrest this past week, Mauthe was booked into the Sioux County Jail. According to jail records, she was released the following day after posting a $2000 bond

The Rock Valley Police Department says the Rock Valley Fire Department, Rock Valley Ambulance crew, and the Sioux County Sheriff’s Department assisted them with the original incident.