Teen Taken To Hospital After Accident

Hospers, Iowa — A Granville teen was taken to the hospital after an accident near Hospers.
Hospers Ambulance
The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Monday, January 4, 2016, at about 12:30 PM, 16-year-old Grasiela Doty of Granville was driving a 1996 Chevrolet pickup eastbound on 430th Street, about three miles south of Hospers when she lost control of her vehicle, which struck a bridge guardrail. It then left the bridge and came to rest on its side on a river embankment under the bridge.

The Hospers Ambulance took Doty to the Orange City Health System Hospital.

The Chevrolet sustained approximately $4,000 in damage. The guardrail sustained an estimated $200 in damage.

Doty was cited for no proof of motor vehicle insurance.

The Sheriff’s Office reports the Hospers Fire Department and Hospers Ambulance crew assisted on the scene.


Rock Valley Firefighters Respond To Care Facility.

Rock Valley, Iowa — Rock Valley firefighters responded to a fire call on New Years’s Day evening, and damage to a local institution was prevented.
RVFD Rock Valley Fire
According to new Rock Valley Fire Chief Brent Eshuis, the call went out about ten minutes before 8 PM on Friday night, January 1st, 2016. He says the call was to Whispering Heights at 2116 14th Street. Whispering Heights is an intermediate care facility attached to Hegg Memorial Hospital – Avera in Rock Valley.

He says when firefighters got there they discovered a fuse box on a water heater had burned. Eshuis says damage was minimal and was contained to the fuse box.


Beekeeping Classes Being Offered In Northwest Iowa

Statewide Iowa — Iowans who are considering taking up a new hobby in the new year might consider taking a course in beekeeping. A record number of beekeeping classes will be offered in the state this winter at locations all over Iowa. State apiarist Andrew Joseph says the courses are starting as soon as January 9th, just over a week from now.
bee

It can be a profitable hobby, Joseph says, and the number of beekeepers is growing.


Iowa’s 4,500 beekeepers manage more than 45,000 colonies of honey bees. Those bees produce about 4-million pounds of honey annually, valued at over $8-million. Honey bees are also responsible for the pollination of many Iowa crops, as well as home gardens and plants eaten by wildlife. The economic value of honey bees as crop pollinators in Iowa is estimated at $92 million a year. Joseph says the classes being offered by the state will be of help for those who are just starting out.


The state’s offering some 27 classes in beekeeping in a host of sites. There will be beekeeping training in Sioux Center in February, June, July, and October. Classes are scheduled for February and March in Spencer. The full list is at: www.abuzzaboutbees.com.


Roozebooms Jump From Plane

Rob & SharlaSheldon, Iowa — A Sheldon man who suffers from Muscular Dystrophy, along with his wife, had their first skydiving adventure during the Christmas holiday.

Rob and Sharla Roozeboom of Sheldon were spending Christmas with relatives in Phoenix, when they decided to go skydiving.  Rob, the President of Rise Ministries in Sheldon, tells us how it came about.

Rob talks about the preparation for the jump.

He says that, after waiting a couple of hours for the winds to subside, Saturday’s jump was canceled, since the winds were making it too dangerous.  He says, however, that by Monday weather conditions were ideal.

Roozeboom says the jump was from 13,000 feet, and describes his exit from the airplane.

Rob’s wife, Sharla, says she was nervous for him when she saw him being prepared for the jump.

Sharla says that, when Rob went out, the door on the plane partially closed, requiring the aircraft to circle the landing zone while it was prepared for the remaining jumpers.

Meanwhile, Rob describes the trip back to Earth.

Both Rob and Sharla describe their jumps as an extremely fun experience, and both say they want to do it again.

Here is a video of Rob and Sharla’s skydiving experience.

Here are some more photos from their skydive.

Rob & Sharla 2

 

Rob 1

 

Rob 2


UPDATE: Sheldon United Fund Meets Goal

Sheldon, Iowa — Earlier we had told you that according to Sheldon United Fund spokesperson Cindy Runger, thanks to some generous last-minute, end-of-the-year donations, the Sheldon United Fund came very close to meeting its 2015 goal. On Monday afternoon, January 4th, Runger advised KIWA that the drive has now met the goal.

The goal was $31,000.United Fund 2015 She says the fund has now finished the year at $31,181, which is more than $7000 in the last week.

The United Fund is a fundraising campaign designed so that non-profit organizations can raise funds through a single appeal and so that Sheldon residents are not approached by several different organizations throughout the year raising funds. You can choose which of the 25 different organizations receives your donation, or split your donation among any or all organizations.

Essays explaining each organization are available at Sheldon banks each year.

United Fund organizers thank everyone for their generous donations.


Fire Chiefs Ask Citizens To Dig Out Hydrants

Northwest Iowa — Northwest Iowa fire chiefs are asking for a little help.
fire hydrant unsnowed
Several fire chiefs have asked property owners and local citizens to help ensure that when there’s a fire, there’s no time wasted. There are a number of fire hydrants that have been buried with the snow or from the plows pushing the snow back. The fire chiefs say they would appreciate any help with digging out the fire hydrants and making them accessible to firefighters when seconds count.

Of course in an emergency, time is very critical to find and access the hydrants.

Fire chiefs say it takes less than ten minutes to dig out your neighborhood fire hydrant. While ten minutes isn’t very much time out of an average person’s day, it is ten minutes that that could mean tragedy in a fire.

They ask that you dig out a 3-foot area around the hydrant and a path to the street.

The chiefs ask everyone to please take a few moments to dig out the fire hydrant closest to your house or business.