KWIT Local
(2009-11-17)
SIOUX CITY, IA
(kwit) -
In Iowa...
NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) - The Johnson County Sheriff's
department says four hunters were rescued by another hunter after
their boat overturned near the town of North Liberty.
Deputies were called to the Hawkeye Wildlife Area Monday
afternoon after a caller reported his friends needed help after
their boat overturned. While deputies were on their way to the
area, Stephen Schultz called the sheriff's office to report he had
found the party, and all four members were safe aboard his boat.
The hunters were identified as Kevin McCafferty of Willowbrook,
Ill., Eric Otte of North Liberty, and Wyatt Jans and Kurtis Kruger,
both of Iowa City.
Two members of the party were taken to University of Iowa
Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City for evaluation. The other two
didn't require treatment.
BOXHOLM, Iowa (AP) - A grain dryer explosion at a cooperative in
Boxholm has left two people injured.
Authorities said Monday two employers of the West Central
Cooperative were taken to nearby hospitals as a result of the
explosion. The names and conditions of the victims were not
immediately available.
West Central spokeswoman Sarah Dorman says damage was contained
to the dryer and there was no damage to a nearby grain elevator.
Dave Morlan of Boone County Emergency Management said there was
approximately 1,500 bushels of corn in the dryer.
Dorman says the cause of the explosion has not been determined.
In Nebraska...
HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) - A former Adams County treasurer convicted
of attempted tax evasion has been fined $1,000, more than a week
after she received probation in another case.
Julia Moeller was sentenced Monday in Adams County Court. The
conviction stemmed from her efforts in 2007 to avoid paying some of
the sales taxes owed after trading in a pickup for a sport utility
vehicle. She faced up to a year in jail and the fine for the crime,
to which she'd pleaded no contest.
Moeller was sentenced earlier this month to three years'
probation in a separate case in which she illegally registered a
motor home outside the state to avoid paying Nebraska sales tax on
it. In that case she was convicted of tax evasion and official
misconduct.
She resigned as treasurer in January.
PIERCE, Neb. (AP) - Authorities say a human body found by deer
hunters in northeast Nebraska over the weekend is that of a missing
Norfolk woman.
A news release from Pierce County Attorney Verlyn Luebbe
(LOO-bee) says an autopsy conducted Monday confirmed the body was
that of 19-year-old Lacey Anderson.
Her body was found late Saturday morning.
Anderson was reported missing this summer.
Law enforcement officials continue to investigate.
BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) - Heavy, wet snow is being blamed for power
outages in southeast Nebraska.
An estimated 6,200 customers in Pawnee City, Table Rock,
Burchard, Dubois, Humboldt, Dawson, Crab Orchard, Shubert and
Verdon were without power as of Monday afternoon.
The Nebraska Public Power District said that included about
2,000 of its customers and about 4,200 customers served by Norris
Public Power District, an NPPD wholesale customer.
Officials say the snow brought down tree branches, which damaged
power lines and poles.
The reports of power outages began Monday morning.
The state's southeastern corner has already seen several inches
of snow from the storm that forecasters say could drop as much as
10 inches in some areas.
In South Dakota...
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota lawmakers have approved the
preparation of a document that will help explain to the public why
a legislative committee recommended substantial increases in taxes
used to support state and local roads.
A study committee last month recommended a 10-cent-a-gallon
increase in the state gas tax, a 1 percent increase in the excise
tax on vehicle sales, and a boost in the annual vehicle
registration fee. That proposal will be considered by the
legislative session that opens in January.
The Legislature's Executive Board agreed Monday to have
legislative staff prepare a summary explaining how revenue has
declined while the cost of building and maintaining roads has risen
substantially.
The summary will be placed on the Legislature's Web site.
VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) - A spokesman for Mount Rushmore National
Memorial says Superintendent Gerard Baker is on an unexpected
medical leave and that an acting superintendent has taken over for
the next several weeks.
Spokesman Nanvit Singh says John Scott was brought in from
Arkansas, where he's the superintendent at Pea Ridge National
Military Park.
Singh says Scott is a National Park Service veteran who has
worked at Yellowstone National Park, Lake Meade National Recreation
Area and Crater Lake National Park, among others.
Scott could be in the temporary job until as long as
mid-December.
Singh says even though tourism has slowed down at the monument,
much planning and programming for next year is under way.
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - State Investment Officer Matt Clark says
gains in the stock market means two trust funds likely will be able
to contribute money to help finance next year's state budget.
The Education Enhancement Trust Fund and the Health Care Trust
Fund are not providing any money for the current state budget
because of heavy losses last year.
But Clark told the Legislature's Executive Board on Monday that
the two trust funds have earned about 14 percent so far during this
budget year. He says if those gains hold through the end of
December, about $3.9 million would be available for health care and
$13.8 million would be available for education in the budget year
beginning next July.
The South Dakota Retirement Fund's assets have gained 16.6
percent since July 1.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Dry weather continued last week in
South Dakota, and the weekly crop report indicates progress in
harvesting.
The report, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, says 93
percent of the soybean crop had been harvested as of Sunday - 17
percentage points more than a week earlier.
The corn crop is listed at 27 percent harvested. That compares
to a five-year average of 82 percent.
Fifty-nine percent of the sunflower crop had been harvested as
of Sunday, about the same pace as last year.
The report says two-thirds of the corn crop is in good or
excellent condition.
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