Wendt To Announce To School Board Plans To Retire
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education will convene this evening,
and after they elect the new officers, and hear building reports from each of the
school district’s principals, and listen to the annual progress report as given by
Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Steven Webner, the school board will act upon the
request from school superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt as he will announce his
retirement and resign as the superintendent of schools at the conclusion of the
2016-2017 school year. This year marks the 17th year that Dr. Todd Wendt has been
the school superintendent for the Le Mars Community School District.
Semi Truck Crashes Into Liberty Used Auto Lot
(Merrill) — The Merrill Police Department is investigating an accident involving
a semi truck and trailer that collided into the Liberty Used Auto Sales lot. The
incident happened early Saturday morning at about 2:20 a.m. Apparently, the semi
truck was traveling southbound on U-S Highway 75 and missed the curve coming into
Merrill. Police officers believe the truck driver may have fallen asleep. Tracks
show the truck had left the roadway and entered the used auto lot striking several
vehicles. A total of 16 autos in the lot were damaged, with many listed as being
totaled. In addition to the cars, the sales office building also sustained damage.
Merrill Police say the semi truck pushed a couple of cars into the building.
Police did not have an estimate of the total damage. The driver of the truck did
not sustain any injuries. Police did not identify the truck driver, but indicated
he is from Minnesota.
Semi Truck Loaded With Hogs Has Accident In Osceola County
SIBLEY, Iowa (AP) – Officials say all the hogs packed into a trailer were killed
in a rollover crash north of Sibley on Iowa Highway 9.
The Osceola County Sheriff says the crash happened Tuesday when the semi’s
26-year-old driver swerved to try to avoid a cow in the road. The semi tipped,
landing partially in a ditch.
The driver was taken to a local hospital with injuries.
Officials say all the pigs were killed – a loss estimated at $30,000. The
semi and trailer, estimated at $145,000, were destroyed.
Deputies say the cow, owned by a Sibley farmer, also was killed.
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Le Mars Ambulance Service Issues Quarterly Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Ambulance Service has submitted its quarterly report for
the period between June 1st and August 31st. The Le Mars Ambulance Service had a
total of 266 calls which was an increase of 19 calls or 7.7 percent from the same
period one year ago. So far for this year, the Le Mars Ambulance Service has
responded to 660 calls compared to 668 calls, or a decrease of 1.2 percent from
the same time period in 2015.
Woodbury County Sheriff Ask Motorists To Be Aware Of Farm Equipment
(Sioux City) — The Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind
motorists to be aware of farm equipment that will be sharing the roadways this
fall. According to the news release by the Woodbury County Sheriff’s office,
harvest season is fast approaching and the rural roads will see more slow moving
tractor traffic. Motorists are asked to be mindful of additional farm machinery
on the roads and to give those large pieces of equipment room to maneuver.
Wayne Marty Competes In Sprint Tri-athlon With Granddaughter
(Le Mars) — Two competitors in this year’s Le Mars YMCA Sprint Tri-athlon held on
Saturday made up the “Extreme Team”. The Extreme Team is Le Mars’ own Wayne
Marty at age 84, the oldest competitor, and his granddaughter Sasha at age 15, one
of the youngest competitors. Saturday was the ninth time Wayne Marty has competed
in the Sprint Tri-athlon. Although he and his granddaughter split the duties.
Sasha did the swimming and running events, while Wayne rode the bicycle the 15
miles. This is the first time Sasha has competed in a tri-athlon, and after
crossing the finish line, she talks about her performance.
Wayne Marty says the bicycle ride portion of the triathlon gave him some
challenges.
Sasha runs cross-country for West Des Moines, and says that helped her prepare for
Saturday’s event. Although she admits to trying a similar tri-athlon in the past,
but did not finish.
Wayne Marty says once there were three generations of the Marty family that
participated in the Sprint Tri-athlon, and he hopes to encourage his family to
again participate in a future Le Mars Tri-athlon.
Sasha says she hopes to return next year to compete again, and as for Wayne? He
says its too early to know.
Sex Offenders Moved To Newton
NEWTON, Iowa (AP) – Iowa has moved about 800 sex offenders to the prison in Newton
where they will now be housed.
State officials decided to move the sex offender treatment program to the Newton prison because it is more secure than the Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility it was based at
before.
The Newton facility uses prison cells while the Mount Pleasant facility has a
dormitory-style environment.
Associate Warden Sean Crawford says having a secure facility with cells gives
the program options. When an inmate has a behavioral problem or other incident,
the staff can work with him at the Newton prison without having to transfer him to
a more secure facility.
The Newton prison has 1,264 inmates. About 800 of that total will be sex
offenders.
Marshalltown Prosecutor Resigns After Pleading Guilty To Trespassing
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) – A former Marshalltown prosecutor has pleaded guilty to
misdemeanor theft and trespassing charges following his arrest in late August for
stealing underwear from a co-worker.
Ben Stansberry entered the pleas Friday and will pay more than $200 in fines
and court costs.
Stansberry resigned from his job in the Marshall County Attorney’s Office on
Aug. 26, days after a co-worker called police after finding a pair of her
underwear in her driveway. Investigators say Stansberry was alone in the woman’s
house shortly before she found the underwear and determined he entered her bedroom
without permission to take them.
Stansberry also submitted a letter of resignation Friday from his position as
a member of the Marshalltown Community School District board. The school board is
set to act on that request Monday.
