Supervisors To Hear Budget Request From Fair Board
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will be meeting today, however they have a light agenda. The county board is expected to approve Dacia Bates as the new Liberty township clerk. The supervisors are also expected to approve permits from Southern Sioux Rural Water Association for work at Grant and Portland townships. The county supervisors will also hear from Plymouth County Fair Board president, Rich Benson as he makes a request for funding for the fiscal year 2017-2018.
City Council To Discuss Paving Projects, Railroad Crossing, and Salaries
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council is scheduled to meet this afternoon at the city council chambers. First, on their agenda will be an update of the Le Mars Area Betterment Foundation as presented by Foundation president Mike Donlin.
The city council will discuss an offer to purchase city real estate. The council is also scheduled to discuss the Business Highway 75 overlay project, as well as the 2017 Cresent Ridge Paving Project. The city council is scheduled to talk about county road K-49 widening project. Also on the agenda will be a discussion regarding a railroad crossing on Marble Avenue. The last agenda item for action items will be the discussion of the mayor’s and council’s salary.
Le Mars YMCA Conducting Community Assessment Needs Survey
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars YMCA is interested in knowing your opinion about your community. Todd Lancaster is the executive director for the Le Mars YMCA, and he says the local Y is participating in a community’s needs assessment survey.
Lancaster says he hopes to have several hundred people take five minutes of their time to complete the survey. He says surveys can be completed by going online to the Le Mars YMCA website.
The YMCA executive says many people may not know all of the programs available. He says the YMCA can be much more than just a gym and swim destination.
One of the goals listed in the Le Mars Community Betterment Project is to possibly expand the existing facilities of the YMCA. Lancaster says some of the popular youth-directed programs will require the additional space.
Again, the deadline for participating in the community assessment needs survey is December 9th.
Le Mars Police Report Increase Of Burglaries
(Le Mars) — Numerous burglaries that have occurred within Le Mars in recent weeks has prompted the Le Mars Police Department to remind people to lock their doors to their vehicles, and to their homes, during this holiday season. Le
Mars Police Chief Stewart Dekkenga says during the holidays is a prime time when more burglaries and robberies often occur. He says objects of value left in a vehicle are attractive to thieves.
Dekkenga says there have also been incidents where burglars would enter a garage of a home and steal valuables.
The Le Mars Police Chief says the thieves are grabbing items that can be easily converted into cash. He says the best way to prevent possible car burglaries is to simply lock your doors.
Dekkenga says the police department does have some leads to the recent burglaries, but he doesn’t want people to become complacent.
Dekkenga says if anyone notices some suspicious activity, they need to inform the police immediately, and not to wait.
The top cop has this advice for people.
Law Enforcement Break Up Juvenile Alcohol Party
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office responded to an underage party involving alcohol in the 1600 block of Highway 75 on Friday evening. Upon arrival, several minors were located in possession of alcohol. 12 minors under
the age of 18 were referred to Juvenile Court Services for Minor in Possession of Alcohol. Silas D. Buss, age 18 of LeMars was also cited for Minor in Possession of Alcohol. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the LeMars Police Department.
Man Arrested For Possession Of Drugs Following Accident
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office responded to a traffic accident on Highway 75 between Hinton and Merrill. The accident was reported last Thursday evening, December 1st, shortly after 7:00 p.m. An on-scene investigation found that a vehicle being operated by Erick Franke, age 34, of Le Mars was traveling north on Highway 75. Eric Franke lost control of the vehicle and it left the roadway and drove onto the shoulder of Highway 75 north bound. His vehicle then struck a vehicle on the shoulder of the road that was occupied by an adult female and her two-year old daughter. The vehicle on the shoulder and run out of gas and was off of the traveled portion of the road with the hazard lights running.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Eric Franke was placed under arrest for OWI 1st offense, driving while license suspended, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to control vehicle, and no insurance. A passenger in his vehicle, Aaron Franke, age 37, of Le Mars was also placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both individuals were booked into the Plymouth County jail.
Senate Republicans Eliminate Economic Growth Committee
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Republican-controlled Iowa Senate has eliminated a committee that focused on economic growth, and the decision has sparked criticism from the new minority party.
Caleb Hunter, a spokesman for Senate Republicans, released an email Monday that says the Senate Economic Growth Committee will no longer exist when the Iowa Legislature returns in January. Hunter says such a committee is redundant and unnecessary.
Committees in both chambers decide whether proposed bills can advance into possible laws. The Republican-majority House plans to continue with its separate economic growth committee.
Sen. Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids, the Senate Democratic minority leader, says the committee monitored the economic development efforts of state agencies. He asked Republicans to reconsider their decision.
Hunter says Senate Republicans are following through on reducing the size of state government.
State Forfeiture Team Disbanded
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa officials have disbanded a state forfeiture team and agreed to pay $60,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by two California gamblers whose bankroll was seized by State Patrol troopers in 2013.
The unit’s key focus was to stop suspicious vehicles on Interstate 80. It was part of the Iowa Department of Public Safety and had become a target in recent years from critics who alleged the team used unconstitutional practices to seize private
property for law enforcement profits.
Iowa troopers seized more than $100,000 from William “Bart” Davis and John Newmerzhycky in April 2013 after pulling over their vehicle on I-80 in Poweshiek County for failure to use a turn signal. Troopers justified the search partly on
Newmerzhycky’s fidgeting and nervousness.
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70 Percent Of Registered Voters Voted In Election
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials say more than 70 percent of registered voters in Iowa participated in this year’s general election.
The Iowa Secretary of State’s office says Monday that an official vote tally shows more than 1.5 million ballots were cast in the state in connection to the Nov. 8 election. Roughly 8,500 more ballots were cast in the 2012 general election, which holds the record for most votes cast.
There were more than 800,000 votes recorded for President-elect Donald Trump. The Republican won Iowa over Democrat Hillary Clinton by roughly 147,000 votes, or nearly 10 percentage points.
Voters cast more than 40,000 ballots for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee. That amount makes the Libertarian Party of Iowa eligible for full political party status.
Regents Approve Tuition Increase
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – Thousands of undergraduates at Iowa’s three public universities will pay at least 2 percent more in tuition next year – and maybe an additional 2 percent the following year.
The Iowa Board of Regents voted Monday to raise tuition for resident undergraduate students for the 2017-2018 academic year.
The proposal also envisions a 2 percent increase for the 2018-2019 year, but that could be adjusted depending on how much funding that state lawmakers approve for the universities this spring.
The vote means that tuition will increase to $7,270 at the University of Iowa and $7,240 at Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa.
The vote came during a meeting at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.
Insurance Commissioner Resigns
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s top insurance regulator has resigned.
Gov. Terry Branstad’s office announced Monday that Iowa Insurance Commissioner Nick Gerhart’s resignation will be effective Dec. 23. Deputy Commissioner Doug Ommen will serve as interim insurance commissioner.
Gerhart helped oversee the insurance and securities market in Iowa, including the sale of health insurance. He has made final decisions regarding rate increases on individual health insurance plans offered in the state.
Gerhart says in a news release that his term was ending soon and it was the right time to move toward other opportunities and focus on family.
Branstad named Gerhart commissioner in 2012 and he formally took over the post in early 2013. Gerhart previously worked in the private sector.
Trooper Injured During Auto Accident
BRANDON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say an Iowa state trooper was injured when a woman’s car slid into the trooper’s sport utility cruiser.
The Iowa State Patrol says the accident occurred around 9:20 a.m. Sunday along Interstate 380 near Brandon. The patrol says the trooper had stopped to help another driver and was in his parked cruiser when it was struck by the car.
Patrol Sgt. Mike McCormick says the car driver, 22-year-old Brittany Anderson, of Charles City, had lost control of it while trying to pass a semitrailer in the winter weather.
Trooper Brad Bartz was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids for treatment of his minor injuries. The patrol says Anderson wasn’t hurt.
