AKRON FIRE OFFICIALS RESPONDED TUESDAY MORNING TO A RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRE IN RURAL PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

UPON ARRIVAL ALONG 298TH STREET, VISIBLE FLAMES WERE COMING THROUGH THE ROOF OF THE RESIDENCE AND THE INTERIOR OF THE STRUCTURE WAS FULLY ENGULFED.

AN ENTERIOR ATTACK WAS MADE BY THE FIRE FIGHTERS UNTIL THE FLAMES COULD BE PUSHED BACK AND THE STRUCTURE WAS SAFE FOR ENTRY.

FIRE FIGHTERS REMAINED ON THE SCENE UNTIL 6 O'CLOCK LASTNIGHT AND HAVE DECLARED THE STRUCTURE A TOTAL LOSS.

THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

WOODBURY COUNTY WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITS PROPOSED 2013 OPERATING BUDGET ON MARCH 13TH.

BUDGET DIRECTOR DENNIS BUTLER SAYS THE PROPOSED BUDGET STILL HAS A DECREASE IN THE CITY AND RURAL TAX LEVY RATES:

BUTLER SAYS IOWA COUNTIES ARE STILL IN A DIFFICULT BUDGET POSITION BECAUSE THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS STILL NOT DECIDED ON HOW MUCH MENTAL HEALTH CARE FUNDING COSTS THEY ARE GOING TO PASS ON TO COUNTIES:

BUTLER SAYS IF FUEL COSTS KEEP SKYROCKETING, THAT WILL IMPACT COUNTY COSTS TOO, BECAUSE NO ONE COULD PREDICT WHERE GAS PRICES WILL END UP:

THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE WOODBURY COUNTY BUDGET IS SET FOR 10:30AM ON MARCH 13TH.

R-S-V IS A RESPIRATORY VIRUS THAT AFFECTS YOUNG CHILDREN. A RECENT SEVERE OUTBREAK IN SIOUX FALLS HAS FORCED SANFORD CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL TO OPEN AN AUXILLARY WING TO FIND MORE BEDS FOR ILL YOUNGSTERS.

THE SITUATION IS MUCH BETTER HERE IN SIOUX CITY. DR. STEVEN JOYCE OF MERCY MEDICAL CENTER SAYS R-S-V CASES ARE ABOUT NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR:    

DR. JOYCE SAYS R-S-V SYMPTOMS ARE SIMILAR TO A HEAVY COLD, AND THAT CAUSES BREATHING PROBLEMS FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS:

DR. JOYCE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE YOUNGSTERS HYDRATED WITH BED REST AND TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE BREATHING WITHOUT A LOT OF DIFFICULTY.

HE ADVISES TO CHECK WITH YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY IF THE CHILD IS TWO YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER.

A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE FOOD BANK OF SIOUXLAND AND WESTERN IOWA TECH IS REAPING BENEFITS FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS.

A SEMI TRUCK LOADED WITH FOOD ORDERED FROM A FOND-DU-LAC WISCONSIN FACILITY WAS DELIVERED TO THE FOOD BANK TUESDAY MORNING BY STUDENT DRIVERS FROM W-I-T. 
FOOD BANK DIRECTOR LINDA SCHEID CALLS IT A WIN-WIN SITUATION:

SCHEID SAYS THE DELIVERY BROUGHT 40-THOUSAND POUNDS OF MUCH NEEDED FOOD TO SIOUXLAND WHILE IT PROVIDED REAL WORLD DRIVING EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENTS.

THE FREIGHT COSTS WERE ALSO LOWER BECAUSE OF WESTERN IOWA TECH'S ASSISTANCE.
SHE SAYS THE FOOD IS CRITICAL BECAUSE LOCAL SUPPLIES ARE LOW:

THE FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTES A MILLION AND A HALF POUNDS OF FOOD ANNUALLY TO AROUND 125 CHARITIES IN AN ELEVEN COUNTY AREA.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE, CHECK THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.SIOUXLANDFOODBANK.ORG.
--