Rock Valley, Iowa — A small chicken building was destroyed in fire on Thursday (5/16).

The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office reports that the Rock Valley Fire Department was paged about 11:05 AM to 3471 Garfield Avenue. That’s about six miles southeast of Rock Valley.

When they got there, fire crews saw that the building was fully engulfed by the fire.

No injuries were reported, but the building is considered a total loss.

The cause of the fire is believed to have been a heat lamp.

The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Rock Valley Fire Department and Rock Valley Ambulance at the scene.

Photo courtesy of Brad Van Meeteren

Sheldon, Iowa — The cause appears to have been electrical in nature. That’s all we really know this point about the fire that caused a lot of damage at Budd-Z’s Sports Bar & Grill in Sheldon on Tuesday (5/14).

According to Sheldon Fire Chief Jerry Meyer, the building is basically totaled. He says a state investigator suspects an electrical malfunction, but the investigator ultimately declared the cause as “undetermined”.

The fire happened at 6:45 Tuesday evening. Sheldon Fire immediately called for mutual aid from the Boyden and Sanborn Fire Departments to help fight the fire.

The fire was put out in about 40 minutes but not before the structure and its contents suffered major damage. Fire crews were on scene for about three and a half hours.

Hull, Iowa — The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office is reporting a scam targeting seniors in northwest Iowa.

The following is a release from the Sheriff’s Office:

On Friday, May 17 at 11:19 AM, a resident of Hull reported an incident of fraud to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office.

Upon further investigation of this incident the sheriff’s office found that dozens of people in Iowa, South Dakota and other states have been reporting similar phone calls to law enforcement officials. The caller claims to represent the company “Life Alert.” The caller is either a live person or a recording. The caller will often say this service is a gift given to the recipient by a relative. If you continue to speak with them their intent is to keep you on the phone and try set up that first appointment.

In the incident reported in Hull the fraudulent caller did exactly that. He repeatedly tried to set up a visit with the person. The calls appear to be coming from a local number, but, according to the Better Business Bureau the caller is using a fraud method called “caller‐ID spoofing.” Spoofing calls is the practice of causing the telephone network to display a false local phone number on the recipient’s caller ID display. This often tricks the recipients into thinking that the caller is someone they may know or it causes them to feel more comfortable in giving the caller their personal information.

Life Alert has issued a fraud alert on their company website that can be found here: http://goo.gl/OlcOq.

For more information click on this link to a recent Keloland news story about these calls: http://goo.gl/Jc7JN.

There are many scams targeting the public, primarily the elderly. It’s important to know who you’re doing business with and don’t be pressured into a “quick deal.”

Sheldon, Iowa — This year’s American Cancer Society Relay For Life in Sheldon this June will be even more special — it’s the Cancer Society’s 100th birthday this year.

On Friday, June 21, more than 450 walkers will team up at the Sheldon High School track in the battle against cancer. The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of O’Brien County starts at 7 PM that night, and runs until 1 AM.

Cindy Runger, event chairperson says that this coming Wednesday May 22, the American Cancer Society will celebrate 100 years of saving lives from cancer and creating a world with more birthdays. It’s the progress we’ve made together – as a community– that has helped us reach this incredible milestone with tremendous success, she says.

There are many activities planned for the Relay For Life of O’Brien County, including local singers and local cancer survivors sharing their inspiring stories. There will be food and fun games for the whole family, including a Kids Zone and Minute To Win It games throughout the night.

Event organizers say that one of the most touching moments during a Relay For Life event is the Luminaria Ceremony which takes place after sundown, honoring the community’s cancer survivors and remembering those lost to the disease. This year the Relay For Life of O’Brien County would like to reach a goal of 700 luminaria bags around the track. There is also a contest for the best-decorated Luminaria this year. You can ask for details when you contact Loretta Vander Linden for your Luminaria at 324-2273. You can also get them by visiting www.relayforlife.org/obriencountyia.

For more information about Relay For Life, you can contact Cindy Runger at 324-4833.

Incidentally, every county in our four-county coverage area has a Relay For Life coming up. In Sioux County, theirs will be June 14-15, from 7 PM to 6 AM at the Sioux Center Track. You can contact Shari Den Herder for more information at 605-759-2133. In Lyon County, the Relay for Life will be Friday, June 28, from 6:30 PM until 1 AM at the Central Lyon Track in Rock Rapids. You can contact Jill Funke for more information at 470-4856. Osceola County’s Relay For Life will be Friday, August 2 from 7 PM to 1 AM at the Sibley-Ocheyedan Track. You can contact Jackie Kannegieter for more information at 461-1919.