Fire Fighters Respond to Corn Field Fire
(Hinton) — The Hinton, Merrill, and Le Mars Fire Departments responded to a corn field fire that happened on Saturday afternoon at about 1:30 p.m. Hinton Fire Chief Chad Beck says the call was initially reported a corn crib was on fire, which lead him to believe it was a structural fire. However, when fire
fighters arrived at the scene, they realized it was not a structural fire, but a round corn stalk bale that was burning. Fire fighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze, containing it to the one bale and a small area of the harvested corn that was burnt. Beck believes a bearing on the baler perhaps got
too hot which ignited the corn stalk bale on fire.
Le Mars Police Make Arrest For Marijuana Possession
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department responded to a suspicious vehicle Saturday morning that was located at Sunrise Villa 524 Sunset Drive. Officers located the vehicle and found three subjects inside smoking marijuana. Two of the subjects were minors and were cited into juvenile court for possession of
marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. 18 year old Nicholas Erichson of Le Mars was taken to the Plymouth County jail and booked on a possession of controlled substance – marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
School Board To Review District’s Audit
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education will hear from representatives of the Williams and Company accounting firm as they offer a report regarding the annual school district’s audit. Dr. Steven Webner, the assistant superintendent will give a report to the local school board regarding the Blue Ribbon School Award presentation. Dr. Webner traveled to Washington D.C. to represent the Franklin Elementary School as being named a “Blue Ribbon School” by the U-S Department of Education. Each of the building principals will deliver a report to the school board. Discussion will also focus on the upcoming State School Board Convention which is scheduled for November 16-18th.
The Le Mars Community School Board will be receiving the Association’s Award of Achievement Plaque for the 16th year in a row. Also on Monday evening’s agenda
will be discussion on the proposed 2017 Legislative priorities for the Iowa Association of School Boards. The school board is expected to appoint their bargaining team for the 2017-18 contract negotiations. Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt will present the district’s application to the school budget review
committee for modified supplemental amount for increasing enrollment and excess English Language Learner costs for board consideration. The recommendation is to approve the application for modified supplemental amount in the amount of
$315,049.80 for increasing enrollment and $15,950.22 for the English Language Learner instruction beyond five years. Superintendent Wendt will also present his recommendations regarding the “Student Personnel” series of the board policy
manual for consideration.
Woman Sent To Jail After Probation Violations
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A woman on probation for her role in a staged Sioux City bank robbery is now behind bars.
19-year-old Heaven Zevenbergen, of Holstein, was ordered to spend 30 days in jail.
Zevenbergen admitted to smoking marijuana in August and quitting her job for two months – both violations of her probation. District Judge John Ackerman told her Thursday that she would likely go to prison if she violates her probation again.
Zevenbergen and her friend, 19-year-old Angelica Perez, were sentenced in February to five years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree theft, but had their sentences suspended in May. Prosecutors said Perez entered the
bank in disguise and passed Zevenbergen, who was a bank teller, a note demanding cash.
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Northey Says Good Weather Has Farmers Finishing With Harvest
(Le Mars) — The recent spell of warm and sunny weather has allowed many farmers to either finish, or soon will complete this year’s harvest. While in Le Mars on Friday afternoon, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey addressed the state’s harvest activity.
The Iowa Agriculture Secretary says Iowa farmers will be producing record yields
for both corn and soybeans.
Northey, who farms near Spirit Lake, Iowa, says his harvest is completed, but he
was returning to his farm following his Le Mars visit to do the necessary post-
harvest work. The Agriculture Secretary says he had a good harvest, but it was
not his best.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, (far right with back to camera) is visiting with Ralph Klemme, State Representative Chuck Holz, and Norm Barker all of Le Mars while he was at the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor on Friday.
Branstad Says He Would Like To See One Minimum Wage For The Entire State
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has called for a single statewide minimum wage, rather than a hodgepodge of wages that vary by county, and a new Republican majority in the Legislature could give him a clear path to enact uniform pay rates.
That worries some supporters of higher minimum wages who fear the state could couple an insignificant wage increase with a ban on local jurisdictions approving their own higher wages, as four counties have already done.
More than a dozen states have passed similar so-called pre-emption laws regarding minimum wage.
Branstad said in October that a single minimum wage was better because businesses are being negatively affected. Some county officials say any legislation challenging local control must include a meaningful raise to the minimum wage.
West Des Moines Police Chief Resigns
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The West Des Moines police chief who had been accused in a lawsuit of discriminating against three women has resigned. The Des Moines Register reports that West Des Moines City Manager Tom Hadden asked
Police Chief Shaun LaDue to resign. City officials wouldn’t say whether the request was linked to the sex discrimination lawsuit or LaDue’s testimony last week.
Lawmakers Want To Strengthen Laws For Shooting Police OfficersÂ
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers are considering imposing tougher penalties for violent acts against law enforcement officers following the fatal shootings of two officers earlier this month. Republican State Rep. Ken Rizer
tells the Des Moines Register he thinks tougher penalties are needed after the Nov. 2 attacks that killed 24-year-old Urbandale Officer Justin Martin and 38- year-old Des Moines police Sgt. Anthony Beminio.
