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Sheldon 3rd Graders Visit KIWA

Mrs Arnold's ClassSheldon, Iowa — The third grade classes from East Elementary in Sheldon went on a tour of downtown Sheldon recently. This tour coincided with their social studies unit on the history of Sheldon and their reading unit about changes.

The students visited the Sheldon Public Library and met with the Children’s Librarian and Prairie Queen Bakery, where they had the opportunity to see how bakery items are made. They made stops at the Sheldon Community Services Center, where they met with Mayor Tricia Meendering, and also toured the Police Department, visiting with Police Chief Lyle Bolkema. In touring downtown Sheldon the students stopped at Northwestern Bank to view old pictures and see the cornerstone.

The students also made a stop at KIWA Radio. While here, they learned about all the different jobs held by the employees at the radio station, they toured one of the studios, and they recorded the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mrs. Snyder's 3rd Grade Class
Mrs. Snyder’s 3rd Grade Class

 

Mrs. Jansen's 3rd Grade Class
Mrs. Jansen’s 3rd Grade Class

 

Mrs. Arnold's 3rd Grade Class
Mrs. Arnold’s 3rd Grade Class

Sanborn Man Going To Prison As Habitual Offender

Michael RydstromOrange City, Iowa — A Sanborn man will spend up to 20 years in prison following his sentencing Monday in Orange City on a Sioux County charge of Possession of Methamphetamine, Third or Subsequent Offense as a Habitual Offender, a Class D Felony.

Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle says the case against 48-year old Michael Eugene Rydstrom, of Sanborn, was prosecuted by the Sioux County attorney’s office in a collaborative effort with O’Brien County Attorney Micah J. Schreurs for crimes committed by Mr. Rydstrom in both Sioux and O’Brien Counties.

According to Kunstle, the case arose in March of this year, when Sioux County deputies were patrolling Highway 60 for illegal drug interdiction. A deputy recognized Mr. Rydstrom’s vehicle and initiated a traffic stop for speeding. Kunstle says Rydstrom consented to a drug dog walking around his vehicle. After the dog indicated drugs were present, Rydstrom admitted he had a scale used to measure methamphetamine inside the vehicle. The scale was found which still contained methamphetamine.

According to Kunstle, Rydstrom was sentenced to a prison term of up to 15 years, with a mandatory minimum of three years.  The sentence was ordered to be served consecutively to the sentence imposed in an O’Brien County case, and concurrently with a case in Plymouth County, for a total term not to exceed twenty years in prison.

Rock Valley Man Sentenced For Perjury

Clarence WernerOrange City, Iowa — A Rock Valley man was sentenced in Sioux County District Court Monday for Perjury, a Class D Felony; and Gathering where Controlled Substances are Unlawfully Used, a Serious Misdemeanor.

Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle says that the case against 46-year old Clarence Earl Werner of Rock Valley, arose during a civil protective order hearing on February 2nd of this year.  Kunstle says Werner’s ex-wife testified that Werner violated the no contact order by calling her on December 23, 2014.  Werner confirmed this by testifying under oath that he did call her one day when he was in treatment.  Werner was later criminally charged with a Violation of a No Contact Order and the trial was held April 7th of this year.  Kunstle says that, after being placed under oath at the criminal trial, Werner gave conflicting testimony that he did not call his ex-wife.

Werner was sentenced to five years in prison on the Perjury charge and to 365 days in jail on the Gathering charge, where he will serve 45 days with work release and the prison term and remaining jail time was suspended.

DNR Investigating Fish Kill

Fish KillNorthwest Iowa – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a fish kill running about 20 miles along Stoney Creek northwest of Spencer.

The fish kill was reported north of Everly Monday morning, but residents in the area said they’d been seeing dead fish over the weekend.

Two crews from the DNR’s Spencer field office found heavy concentrations of dead fish west of Fostoria, then traced dead fish northwest to the Osceola-Dickinson county line, about 11 miles west of Milford.

So far, the DNR says they have not identified the pollutant source, but believe it is from fertilizer or animal manure because of elevated ammonia levels found just west of Spencer.

DNR Spencer Field Office Supervisor Ken Hessenius says his office has had a number of calls into the field office, mostly from people concerned about watering their cattle from the creek.  He says they may or may not be able to track down the source of this fish kill, because it likely occurred several days ago. He says that if people would remember to call the field offices or the 24-hour spill line as soon as they see something that would increase their chance of finding the pollutant source.”  The DNR spill number is 515-725-8694.

Hessenius say the dead fish are mainly minnows and chubs, but include some larger fish. He says the pollutant slug has likely moved into the Ocheyedan River, become diluted and passed through Spencer by now.

He says the DNR will continue to look for the source of the pollutant.

In another investigation, the Spencer field office looked for the source of a second, but smaller, fish kill near Meridan in Cherokee County. A fisherman reported hundreds of dead chubs and minnows Saturday morning.

 

Tractor, Auger Destroyed In Fire

Sanborn, Iowa — A tractor and auger were destroyed in a fire on Saturday, September 26, 2015 near Sanborn.
Sanborn FD
According to Sanborn Fire Chief Randy Lyman, about 10:30 AM, the Sanborn Fire Department was called to the report of tractor on fire near the home of Kent Douma at 5468 310th Street, a mile north and a little over two miles west of Sanborn.

The chief says the fire department saw an early 2000’s John Deere 6420 tractor fully engulfed with both rear tires blown and burning as they approached the scene. He says they used water and foam to fight the fire, and had to cut one tire open so they could apply enough foam to extinguish it.

Lyman reports that there were no injuries to people, pets, or livestock.

He says the cause of the fire is believed to have been electrical in nature as a witness said it appeared to have started in the back of the tractor near the wiring harness.

Chief Lyman reports that both the tractor and the auger to which it was attached were totaled in the fire.

He says they used about 1000 gallons of water and five gallons of foam to fight the fire, and crews were on scene about an hour and a half.

Harvest Season Increases Traffic Hazards

combine JDNorthwest Iowa — Harvest season is beginning, and with it comes traffic hazards that we don’t see at other times of the year, namely, slow moving farm implements on the roadways.

Iowa State Patrol Trooper Vince Kurtz says that if you haven’t seen farm implements on the road yet this fall, you soon will.  He says that vehicle drivers and implement operators share responsibility for avoiding collisions.

Kurtz talked about some of the requirements for implement operators.

The Trooper also has advice for motor vehicle operators.

He says that, as implements get bigger they also become harder to pass safely.

And of course, slow moving vehicles aren’t the only harvest time traffic hazard.  As the corn comes out of the field more deer will be on the move, increasing the frequency of car/deer accidents.  So please drive with care this harvest season.