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UPDATE: Missing Trucker Found In Sioux Falls

UPDATE:  Sioux Falls, SD — A missing trucker from George, Iowa has been found. According to Lyon County Sheriff Stewart Vander Stoep, 60-year-old Curt Kruger of George, who had not been heard from since October 1st, has been found alive and well in Sioux Falls.

Vander Stoep says that a trucker who heard about Kruger took it upon himself to search a truck stop in Sioux Falls, where he found the truck and called the Sheriff’s Office. Vander Stoep says a Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputy was on the way to Sioux Falls on another matter and he was re-directed to contact the occupant of the truck, who did turn out to be Kruger, who was alive and well. The Sheriff says the deputy had Kruger contact his family on the deputy’s cell phone to make sure that they knew he was OK.

The Sheriff says no other information is available as to why Kruger had not been heard from in so long, but he says it’s good news that he was found alive and well and has made contact with his family.

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Previous story from 12:00 PM, Monday, November 9th:

George, Iowa — A George man’s family doesn’t know where he is and is concerned about him.
kruger flyer
According to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Curt Kruger does not exactly meet the criteria for a “missing person” because he’s an adult and no foul play is suspected.

According to information released by the family, 60-year-old Curt Kruger of George has been missing since October 1st of this year. The flyer they released says Kruger is an over-the-road truck driver. He owns and is thought to have been driving a lavender 2007 Peterbilt truck.

The flyer says Kruger was last seen at his house in George. It says he got a jump start for his truck and talked about picking up a load at A & A in Brandon, SD. The family says his semi is not at home, but he never picked up the load.

Sheriff Stewart Vander Stoep says one problem they are having is that although it’s not like him, it’s possible Kruger may not want to be found.


Vander Stoep says they have very few leads at this point.


The Sheriff says that while it’s possible that Kruger has had a medical problem, he does not have a history of any medical or psychological problems that would be a concern.

He says that other than the voicemail activity on October 30th, there’s really no new information.


A Facebook page called “Find Curt Kruger” has been set up. That page says the missing truck is a lavender 2007 379 Flat Top Peterbilt with South Dakota plates “PR 27565”. The DOT number is 124871 and the MC number is 108419. DOT records indicate the truck is turquoise blue, but the family says it is lavender in color. Unfortunately, no picture of the truck is available at this time. The information has also been shared on the Missing Truck Driver Alert Network Facebook page.

If you see anything or if you have any information, the family and Sheriff’s Office request that you call the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office at 712-472-8300.

Missing Truck Driver Alert Network Facebook page
Find Curt Kruger Facebook page

St. Patrick’s Students To Hold Veterans Day Program

Veterans Day 2015Sheldon, Iowa — This Wednesday, November 11th is Veterans Day, a day set aside to say thank you to the brave men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces, and defended this great country.

On Wednesday morning, the students of St. Patrick’s School in Sheldon will be holding a Veterans Day Program at St. Patrick’s Church.  Bernie Wissink of the Sheldon American Legion tells us more.

Wissink says that, while everyone is invited to this program, the American Legion specifically urges veterans and their spouses to attend.

He says that the St. Patrick’s students do a wonderful job with these programs each year.

Wednesday’s Veterans Day Program will be held at 11 am at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sheldon.

Merry Money Being Sold Today

Sheldon, Iowa — Sheldon businesses are again offering shoppers a chance to buy “Merry Money” which can be used for making purchases at participating businesses until December 24th.

Sheldon Chamber Coordinator Allison Cooke says, as usual, Merry Money will be sold one day only. This year that’s Monday, November 9th.


The Merry Money will be sold in the Sheldon Community Services Center.

Cooke says this year, there will be a little more Merry Money available.


In previous years, a total of $100,000 dollars in Merry Money was sold. She tells us how it works.


Again, the hours are from 7 AM until it’s gone or 7 PM, whichever comes first — on Monday, November 9th in the Sheldon Community Services Center. And come early because it will probably go fast, as usual. Last year, it was sold out before 1 PM.

Nearly $3000 Given To United Fund In Last Week

Sheldon, Iowa — After a slowdown for a few weeks, the Sheldon United Fund got some nice donations in the last week that amounted to nearly $3000 or nearly 10 percent of the goal.

The drive continues through the rest of the year. The goal this year is $31,000.United Fund 2015 The funds are now at $18,228.

The fund drive is now 54% finished. The funds are at about 59% of goal. Over $12,000 has yet to be raised. To finish on goal, the drive now needs to average about $1,700 per week through the rest of the year. In the last week, donors gave $2,919.

Contributions may be left at any of the four Sheldon banks, or you can also send them to PO Box 41, Sheldon, IA 51201. Essays explaining each organization are available at the banks.

Each week we’re mentioning a few of the organizations that benefit from your donations. This time the list includes:

  • Rise Ministries, Inc.
  • Sheldon Ministerial Association
  • Sheldon Prairie Museum
  • Sanford Sheldon Home Health & Hospice
  • Sheldon Trails Committee

The United Fund will be assisting 25 different organizations in Sheldon and the surrounding communities this year, and they thank you for your contribution.

Primghar Teen Entering Ag Mechanic Field

Primghar, Iowa — A northwest Iowa teen has been recognized with a National Proficiency Award at the recent National F-F-A Convention in Louisville, Kentucky in a field that doesn’t have a lot of women.
Kellie-Einck2
Kellie Einck, from Primghar received the award in the Agricultural Mechanics and Repair and Maintenance category for her work at the local John Deere dealership. Einck is a student at South O’Brien and says the award honors students for their supervised agricultural experience, and is one of the highest honors given.


Einck says she didn’t grow up on a farm, but always enjoyed diesel trucks, and working on those trucks. She completed a diesel mechanics course through Northwest Iowa Community College and says F-F-A allowed her to follow her passion into a career when an opening became available at John Deere farm equipment dealer ICON Ag and Turf in Paullina.


Einck has been working as a farm equipment mechanic for a year-and-a-half. She says on occasion she will get some strange looks from farmers when they first realize it is a young woman working on their tractor, combine, or other farm equipment. She says the reactions are mixed.


Women make up more than 45 percent of the total national F-F-A membership. Just to give you an idea of how young women have made a difference in the agricultural organization, of the six selected national officer positions, this year’s national officer team consists of five women, including the new National F-F-A president.

Story from Radio Iowa

Flag Etiquette Reminders Given

Sheldon, Iowa — With Veterans’ Day coming up on Wednesday now is a good time to go over some points of flag etiquette.
Flag
According to the US Flag Code:
The flag is to be displayed from sunrise to sunset on buildings and stationary flagstaffs in the open. When a patriotic effect is desired the flag may be displayed 24-hours-a-day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness. If displayed with flags of other nations, all flags are to be flown at the same height. However, state and local flags are flown lower.

When used during a marching ceremony or parade with other flags, the U.S. Flag should be to the observer’s left. When placed on a podium the flag should be placed on the speaker’s right. Other flags should be placed to the speaker’s left.

When the flag is used to cover a casket, it should be placed so that the union (that’s the blue field with the stars) is at the head and over the left shoulder.

When flown at half-staff, the flag should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.

When saluting the flag, if you are in uniform (military, police, fire, etc.) you should render the military salute. Members of the armed forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. Everyone else should face the flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the heart, or if applicable, hats or other headdresses should be held with the right hand and held at the left shoulder, with the hand over the heart.

The flag should be disposed of properly, normally by burning.

The flag should not be dipped for anyone or any other flag or vessel. It should not touch the ground or anything below it such as water or other objects. It should not be fastened or tied back. Always allow it to fall free.

The flag is also not to be used as decoration. For patriotic decoration, bunting with the blue on top, then white, then red is to be used.

The American Legion has a page all about how to handle the flag. It can be found at www.legion.org/flag/code.

Incidentally, to honor our veterans and the flag they served, J W Voigt of the Commodity Office in Sheldon and Le Mars, and KIWA Radio are giving away American flags in the days and hours leading up to Veterans Day. Keep listening to KIWA for the details.

Remember this Wednesday, November 11th, is Veterans’ Day. Honor our vets by displaying the flag.