Goodchild Seeks Re-election For County Recorder Position
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Recorder, JoLynn Goodchild, has submitted her name as a candide seeking re-election as a Republican for the County Recorder position. Goodchild’s name will appear on the June 3rd primary election ballot.
City Twig, Grass, And Leaf Disposal Site To Open April 2nd
(Le Mars) — The City Twig, Branch and Grass Drop-off site behind Riverview Ball Complex will open on Wednesday, April 2nd from 2:00 P.M. to 6:00 PM weather permitting, and will be open every Wednesday from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. and every Saturday from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., April through November. The site will be monitored by Staff. There will be no curbside pick-up of twigs and branches by the City. Only tree twigs, branches, grass and leaves may be dropped off at the site. If any other waste is mixed with the twigs, branches, grass or leaves it will not be accepted. No tree stumps are allowed. No plastic bags or boxes will be allowed! The City will still conduct cleanup of downed branches after major storms, as needed. Twigs, Branches and Grass will also be accepted at the Plymouth County Landfill: Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM and the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month 8:00 AM – 12:00 P.M.
Le Mars Community and Akron-Westfield Students Win At History Contest
(Sioux City) — Several students from Le Mars Community Middle and High School and Akron-Westfield were recently honored as winners in the Northwest Area Education Agency’s “History Day”. The contest was held on Tuesday. Rights and Responsibilities was the theme students could elect to make an entry in the categories of website, exhibit, documentary, performance, or reseach paper. Le Mars Community Middle School students have Jeanne Rust as their teacher. Those students include : Chloe Evans, Alex Burnett, Sam Vacera, Noah Holder, Jacob Looyenga, Oliver Wallace, Benjamin Wadle, Morgan Boehme, Tate Hogrefe, and Joan Meis. Le Mars Community High School was represented by Kelli Susemihl. Akron-Westfield winning entries include : Emily Knuth, Laken Mullinix, Brynn Van Eldik, Jordan Neubrand, Max Anderson, Nash Lininger, Jack Anderson, Logan Smith, Daytona Foley, McKenna Van Eldik, Megan Swancutt, Autumn Stowe, Chase Stowe, Courtney Waterbury, Danika Smith, Aaron Hartman, Dominic Trobaugh, Kayla Johnson, Kily Kenny, Cole Moffatt, and Kailee Tucker. Val Philips is the history instructor for Akron-Westfield.
Woodbury County Investigate Three-vehicle Accident On Interstate 29
(Sioux City) — Woodbury County authorities are investigating a multiple vehicle accident that happened on Interstate 29 Wednesday afternoon at about 3:30 p.m. Officials have determined a pickup truck driven by 40 year old Mitchell Smith of Sioux City was traveling northbound, crossed the median and struck a southbound semi truck and trailer driven by 68 year old Wilbert Burmeister of Glenwood, Iowa. Smith’s vehicle was then struck broadside by a second semi truck and trailer being driven by 35 year old Jason Weatherton of Beresford, South Dakota. 30 year old April Wayman of Sioux City was a passenger in the pickup truck. Both occupants of the pickup truck were extricated by Sergeant Bluff’s Fire and Rescue unit and was transported to Mercy Medical hospital for their injuries.
UNI Officials Doubt Source Of Identity Theft
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – University of Northern Iowa officials doubt one of the unencrypted laptops noted in a state audit was the source of the mass identity theft at the university.
A state audit report released last July said auditors found that encryption software had not been installed on all laptop computers and portable storage devices that could store sensitive information.
Dozens of university employees have reported that they’re victims of identity theft, following a data breach at the school.
Director of UNI relations Scott Ketelsen says UNI officials have no reason to believe an unencrypted laptop is the source. Ketelsen says all the machines “that have even a remote chance of any kind of personal or sensitive information on it have been encrypted since 2006.”
House Passes Bill To Crack Down On Human Trafficing
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa House has unanimously voted in favor of a measure meant to crack down on human trafficking involving minors.
The House approved the legislation 97-0 Wednesday. It now returns to the Senate for further consideration.
The bill as approved removes training requirements and a victim support fund included in the Senate’s original version. It maintains provisions to toughen penalties for those who sexually exploit minors.
Democratic Representative Sharon Steckman of Mason City says taking training out of the bill is a mistake. Representative Phyllis Thede, a Bettendorf Democrat, says she’s disappointed in the funding elimination.
Representative Greg Heartsill, a Republican from Melcher-Dallas, says despite conflicting opinions, the legislation will send the message that sexual exploitation won’t be tolerated in Iowa.
Lawmakers agree discussion on the topic must continue.
House Passes Sexual Preditors Bill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa House has passed a bill intended to keep sexually violent predators off the streets.
Lawmakers unanimously approved the measure 97-0 Wednesday. It now returns to the Senate for final review.
The bill would allow people convicted of a violent sexual offense as a juvenile to be sent to a civil containment unit for sexually violent predators upon release from prison.
Republican Representative Greg Heartsill, from Melcher-Dallas, says taking this step is needed to ensure the safety of all Iowans.
Democratic Representative Mary Lynn Wolfe, from Clinton, says predators like Michael Klunder, who authorities say abducted and killed 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard last year, would have been kept in civil containment instead of being freed. Wolfe says the Shepard case may have been different had the legislation been in place.
