Home News Thursday News, August 22

Thursday News, August 22

Le Mars Police Investigate Burglaries

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department is investigating four burglaries to local businesses.  The first burglary was committed sometime Tuesday evening, August 13th at the Bear Cave.

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The three other burglaries occurred sometime Sunday night to Monday morning.  Le Mars Police Chief Stuart Dekkenga says the burglaries took place at the Family Table Restaurant, Klassy Kloset, and Frydaze.  Dekkenga says police have reason to believe the three burglaries may have been committed by the same perpetrator(s).  In each instance a glass window or glass door was broken to gain access inside.  Dekkenga says with the Family Table Restaurant, the subject also entered an office area, presumably to look for cash.  Other than the damage done to the front door and office door, nothing else was reported missing.  Dekkenga says nearly the same incident occurred at the Fry Daze restaurant.  The Police Chief says the front door had a window broken, but nothing was reporting missing.  At the Klassy Kloset, entry was gained through a side door facing an alley.  An undetermined amount of cash, and the cash register, was stolen.  Dekkenga says a gasoline service station provided additional information relating to the suspected subject, and he believes the subject may reside outside the Le Mars area.

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He says other nearby communities have also reported numerous burglaries that occurred within the similar time frame.  Dekkenga reminds businesses to make frequent and daily deposits to insure the money is safe.  He is also asking the public to be on the lookout for a pink colored bicycle.  If you have information relating to any of these burglaries, you are asked to contact the Le Mars Police Department.

 

Students Return To School Today

(Le Mars) — It’s back to school time for both the Le Mars Community and Gehlen Catholic. 
Today, marks the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year. Students are returning to classes
following the summer break.  Dr. Todd Wendt, superintendent of schools says this year’s Kindergarten class has several students which will help with overall enrollment.

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At Clark Elementary, many parents were escorting their children and taking photos of their children in front of the building.  Many of the students were equipped with a backpack full of the various school supplies needed for the year ahead.  Some students were seen carrying boxes of tissue paper. Others, presumably Kindergartners and perhaps First Grade students, were carrying padded floor mats for their afternoon naps.  Some students were seen carrying a lunch box featuring a comic book super hero, or a Disney character princess.  Some of the teachers from Clark Elementary greeted their students in the doorway and welcomed them back to school.

Jeff Alesch serves as the principal for Gehlen Catholic Schools.  He describes the first day back.

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Gehlen has seven new teachers for the junior high and high school this year, and Alesch says both the teachers and the students are ready for classes to begin.

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Johnson Dad Given Probation After Son Brought Gun To School

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Johnston man whose 8-year-old son took a gun to school has been
given probation and a fine.  Louis Friestad IV was given three years of probation and fined $940 last month. He’d pleaded guilty to charges of child endangerment and making a gun available to someone under 21. Prosecutors had lowered the original charges against Friestad in return for his pleas.
Friestad’s son took the gun to Lawson Elementary School on May 7. Authorities say they didn’t believe the boy intended to use the weapon, but he was suspended from school. His father was arrested the next day.

 

University of Northern Iowa To Partner With Korean University On Degrees

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — The University of Northern Iowa has partnered with a Korean university to offer a double-degree program.
UNI says in a news release that the partnership with Kyungpook National University is aimed at students training to be teachers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and physical education.
The double-degree program will allow participants to graduate with a teaching qualification from both UNI and KNU. The National Research Foundation of Korea is supporting it through a $3 million grant.  At least 60 KNU students will study at UNI for two years with their tuition covered by the grant. UNI students will study for one year at KNU.  KNU students will begin arriving at UNI in the spring of 2015. UNI students will arrive on the KNU campus in the spring of 2014.


9-1-1 Recording Of Escaped Inmate’s Killing Released

BEDFORD, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released a 911 call in the fatal shooting of an escaped inmate who broke into an Iowa couple’s home.
In the call, 66-year-old Carolyn Mauderly quietly tells a dispatcher that an intruder is in her Bedford house. She gives her address before the call is cut off.
A dispatcher calls back and Mauderly says her husband, 71-year-old Jerome Mauderly, has shot Rodney Long. She says Long is lying in the middle of the kitchen floor.
The Taylor County Sheriff’s Department released the recording Wednesday.
Long broke into the couple’s home Monday night and held them against their will for several hours.
Authorities say Long escaped from a Clarinda prison Friday and was suspected in the
shooting of a sheriff’s deputy on Sunday. The deputy survived.

 

Wells Fargo To Layoff 2,300 People

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Wells Fargo is laying off more than 85 employees in the Des Moines region as part of a nationwide move.
The layoffs are in the bank’s mortgage unit called Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, which is based in West Des Moines.
The company, which announced more than 2,300 layoffs around the country Wednesday, says
consumer demand is down for mortgage refinancing.
Spokeswoman Angie Kaipust says the employees have been given two months’ notice of the
layoffs. She says the company will try to find openings for the employees in the business units.
Wells Fargo is the largest private employer in the Des Moines region, with more than 13,500
positions. The company has more than 270,000 employees around the world.

 

National Organization On Marriage Wants Ethics Board Chair Removed

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board will not remove its
executive director from an investigation into whether the National Organization for Marriage violated state law by not disclosing campaign donors.
A complaint filed in June alleges NOM did not disclose donors or all of its contributions when it funded campaigns against Iowa Supreme Court justices up for retention in 2010 and 2012.
The complaint claims NOM spent $635,000 in 2010 and about $100,000 in 2012 to defeat Iowa
justices who decided in 2009 that Iowa’s law prohibiting gay marriage was unconstitutional.
Three were forced from the court in the 2010 election.
NOM wants Ethics Board Executive Director Megan Tooker removed from the investigation
claiming she’s biased. The board unanimously voted Wednesday to allow her to investigate
the matter.