Home News Wednesday News, January 11th

Wednesday News, January 11th

Sheriff Submits Budget Request To County Supervisors

(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo appeared before the county board of supervisors on Tuesday to review the Sheriff’s Office budget. Van Otterloo is requesting the county governing board to approve funding to hire another full-time employee for the County Corrections Division. The reason for the need to increase the jailers is because the U-S Marshal’s office has made an agreement with Plymouth County to send more federal offenders to the Plymouth County Law Enforcement Center while they wait for their trial. Van Otterloo says the agreement would allow at least 15 offenders to be housed in Plymouth County.

van-otterloo-mikeThe county receives $75 per day for each federal offender that they hold, plus the county is paid for the transportation costs to carry the federal offender to federal court in Sioux City. Supervisors Mark Loutsch and chairman Don Kass questioned whether one additional jailer would be sufficient, citing safety
factors. Loutsch asked Van Otterloo if possibly two additional full-time jailers would be better? Van Otterloo informed the supervisors that his budget includes the purchase of two more patrol cars. The sheriff is proposing a 4.18 percent
increase for the Sheriff’s Division, adding $44,600 to the current budget of $1.06 million dollars. For Rural Services, the sheriff is asking for a 13.5 percent increase from the current $381,425 to a figure of $432,831 for the next fiscal year. The Communications Division employs six people and the budget would have an increase of 3.8 percent from the current figure of $425,134 to the new figure of $441,290. Corrections is looking for a 7.8 percent increase which would include the additional jailer. Van Otterloo says the new budget reflects
the addition of another jailer. At present time, the corrections division employs 11 full-time jailers and six part-time employees. The budget would increase $92,378 and would go from $1,183,666 to $1,276,044. Sheriff Van Otterloo also shared with the supervisors the expected revenue for the fiscal year 2017-2018. The sheriff expects to see a total of $658,775 to be generated through the sheriff’s office.

 

Goodchild Submits Quarterly Recorder’s Report

(Le Mars) — County Recorder, JoLynn Goodchild, submitted her quarterly report to the county board of supervisors. Goodchild says Plymouth County took in a total of $152,706.68 for the period between October 1st through December 31st.
Goodchild says mortgages account for the greatest share of the revenue at $24,340. Goodchild reminded the county board of the $152,706 more than $90,000 goes to the state.

 

Johnson Awarded Chamber’s “Employee Of The Month”

(Le Mars) — An employee of the Le Mars Hy Vee supermarket with more than 17 years service is the latest recipient of the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce “Employee of the Month”. Don Johnson, the Manager of Store Operations was formally recognized during a Chamber coffee event held at Hy Vee. Johnson was nominated by Store Manager, Greg Rottinghaus. Rottinghaus says Don Johnson has an outstanding work ethic, and the ability to get things accomplished. He has been my “right hand” person for over a year, and has never backed down from a
challenge or task. Don has a great attitude and is not afraid to be challenged.
He has worked through 90 degree heat, bitter cold, and sometimes even worse conditions to help our store move forward for our customers. Don gets very little praise and continues to charge forward with his usual “can do” attitude.
This store stays on course on a daily basis because of Don. Because of his hard work and dedication, he has also been accepted into the Hy Vee University. This is a prestigious training program that only selects 15 to 20 employees from the
entire company to receive training to become a store manager someday. Some people apply several times before being accepted, and Don was chosen after applying just once. Don has most definitely earned this award, and I think any
employee or customer of the Le Mars Hy Vee store would agree. Congratulations go to Don Johnson, the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce January 2017 “Employee of the Month”.

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Kevin Eekhoff (right) presents the Chamber’s “Employee of the Month Award To Don Johnson of the Le Mars Hy Vee store.

 

Branstad Tells State Lawmakers His Priorities During “Condition of the State” Address

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says his priorities for the new Iowa Legislature include removing state funding for Planned Parenthood and prohibiting
public workers from bargaining for their health insurance.
Branstad highlighted his plans Tuesday during his annual Condition of the State address. It’s expected to be his last address before he becomes ambassador to China.
branstad-condition-of-stateBranstad says he supports redirecting funding toward organizations that don’t perform abortions, though no state taxpayer money is spent on abortions.
Republicans filed a bill Monday that would create a state-run program for distributing such funds. It’s unclear how that would affect federal dollars and how much such a program would cost.
Branstad says he wants to create one statewide health care contract for public workers, a move unions say would increase costs for those employees.

 

Holz Responds To Branstad’s Condition of the State Speech

(Des Moines) — State Representative Chuck Holz of Le Mars offers his thoughts and comments about the governor’s “Condition of the State” address.

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The Le Mars Republican lawmaker says some state agencies may take a harder hit from the budget restraints than other agencies. Holz says that’s all part of balancing the budget. Holz says the governor would like to see lawmakers work on a two-year budget, but Holz has some concerns about a two-year budget.

 

Sioux City Man Charged With Arson

EAGLE GROVE, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City man has been imprisoned for setting a fire that injured at least 11 people in Eagle Grove.
Court records say 21-year-old Luis Huerta-Valadez pleaded guilty to arson and was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison.
Police say the house fire started early in the morning on Aug. 9. Two police officers and one firefighter were among the 11 people taken to hospitals.

 

Driver Cited For Causing Accident Resulting In Fatality Of Police Officer

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A driver has been cited for a Dallas County collision in which a West Des Moines police officer died.
Online court records say 38-year-old Jeanette Keifer, of Stuart, was cited for failing to yield. Authorities say Keifer turned her car left into the path of 47-year-old Shawn Miller on Aug. 3 on U.S. Highway 169 near Interstate 80. Online court records don’t list an attorney who could comment for Keifer.
Authorities say Miller was driving back to West Des Moines on his personal motorcycle after testifying as an investigating officer at a court hearing in Adel. He’d been with the West Des Moines Police Department for 26 years.