Home News Wednesday News, December 10

Wednesday News, December 10

County Examines Wellness Program For Employees

(Le Mars) — During Tuesday’s Plymouth County Board of Supervisor meeting,   Jessica Trobough reported to the supervisors the county was able to save $78,000 through the county employee’s participation of a wellness program. 

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Trobough informed the county supervisors, that in 2015, Wellmark, the insurance company that insures the county employees, are asking county employees for more involvment in the wellness program.

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The county attorney’s office employee says Plymouth County employees are given additional incentives, besides lower premium insurance payments, when they think about wellness and implement ways to remain healthy.

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Plymouth County has nearly than 100 full-time employees.

 

County Compensation Board Offers Salary Recommendations To Supervisors

(Le Mars) — Representatives of the Plymouth County Compensation Board met with the county supervisors this morning to offer their recommendations for salary increases for elected county officials, and for the supervisors.  John Koley reminded the supervisors that Plymouth County is fortunate to have good employees, and in many cases, the people would be able to receive more money if they chose to pursue a similar position in the private sector.

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Larry Petersen, another county compensation board member echoed Koley’s sentiments.

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Mid Sioux Opportunities Makes Budget Request With Supervisors

(Le Mars) — Mid-Sioux Opportunities Executive Director, Dick Sievers appeared before the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to request funding for the coming fiscal year.  The agency serves five counties and offers assistance to the underpriviledged.  Sievers reported the agency saw a one percent drop in the number of requests for assistance this past year.

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The Mid-Sioux executive explains the numbers for the county supervisors.

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Sievers tells the county board of supervisors what areas are still seeing the most need for assistance.

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The Mid-Sioux Opportunities executive informed the supervisors the amount of requested dollars from the counties and communities is staying nearly the same as last year.

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Gonzales Found Guilty Of Murder

(Sioux City) — A jury has found a Sioux City man guilty of murder.  On Tuesday evening, a Dakota County, Nebraska jury found Raymond Gonzales Jr. guilty of first degree murder of Bonnie Baker of South Sioux City.  The shooting occured nearly exactly a year ago.  The 23 year old Gonzales apparently shot Bonnie Baker on December 15th of last year.  District Judge Paul Vaughan has scheduled sentencing for February 5th.  Gonzales faces a sentence of life in prison.

 

Handgun Found At Des Moines Airport

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A handgun has been found in a carry-on bag at Des Moines International Airport.
     The Transportation Security Administration says its staffers found the .22-caliber revolver during checkpoint X-ray screening early Monday. 
     The gun was confiscated and the man who’d been carrying the bag was cited.

 

Two Dead Bodies Found At Coralville Motel Room

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) – State and local investigators are probing the deaths of two people whose bodies were found in a Coralville motel room.
     Police say officers were called to the Suburban Inn a little after 6:30 p.m. Tuesday after a motel worker found the bodies. The names of the two have not been confirmed. 
     Investigators aren’t yet sure whether a crime was involved in the deaths. But Coralville Police Chief Barry Bedford says in a news release that the department doesn’t think Coralville residents are in any danger connected to the case.

 

Victim Identified From ATV Accident

  DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials have released the name of a man killed in an all-terrain vehicle crash in southeast Iowa.
     The state Department of Natural Resources says 83-year-old Allen D. Sindt, of Davenport, was deer hunting Monday afternoon in Stephens State Forest, northwest of Unionville in Appanoose County, when the all-terrain vehicle he was driving rolled over on top of him.
     Officials say Sindt was trying to maneuver over a downed log at the time. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
     The DNR says Sindt had a valid permit to operate the ATV in the state forest.