Orange City To Host RAGBRAI
(Orange City) — RAGBRAI officials announced on Saturday evening the over-night communities that will host the 45th annual bike ride across Iowa. For the first time in the history of the annual bike ride, Orange City was selected to be the
host community to the 20,000 plus bicycle riders, and their support teams. Deb DeHaan is the mayor for Orange City and explains the reaction of the Sioux County community when they learned they would host RAGBRAI.
De Haan says she was made aware of Orange City being selected from watching the announcement party hosted by The Des Moines Register.
She says, already, Orange City residents are forming committees and showing interest to volunteer for the annual bike ride.
It is estimated that RAGBRAI brings in over $17 million dollars to the state, and De Haan says Orange City will have another opportunity to showcase the community.
The Orange City mayor says hosting RAGBRAI will show others that Orange City is more than just the spring tulip festival.
Other over-night towns include: Spencer, Algona, Clear Lake, Charles City, Cresco, Waukon, and Lansing.
Le Mars Community School Board To Hold Educational Retreat
(Le Mars) — Instead of holding their bi-monthly meeting, the Le Mars Community Board of Education on Monday will participate in the Board and Administrator retreat. The session is scheduled to last four hours. Angela Catton serves on the Le Mars Community Board of Education and assisted with organizing the retreat. Catton says during the retreat, the school board will be focusing their attention on the integration of technology with the classroom.
The school board will also hold a round table discussion and learn how the Le Mars Community School District is assisting students with career choices.
Le Mars To Host 2017 Crop Advantage Meeting
(Le Mars) — Le Mars will be the site for the next 2017 Crop Advantage Seminar scheduled for Tuesday at the Le Mars Convention Center and sponsored by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Joel DeJong, Iowa State University
Extension Crops Specialist says the Crop Advantage meeting will feature two well-known and respected speakers with Elwynn Taylor, Extension Climatologist and Chad Hart, Iowa State University Extension Grain Marketing Specialist.
DeJong says Timmy’s Catering of Le Mars will provide the noon lunch. Then following the lunch break, the seminar will continue featuring break-out sessions of various topics.
The Iowa State University Extension Crops Specialist says registration is set at $60, and you are encouraged to contact the Plymouth County Extension and Outreach office to register for the meeting.
Legislators Consider Bill To Have Bicycles To Be Equipped With Lights
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A northwest Iowa man who hit five cyclists without bike lights several years ago is now pushing for stricter bike laws.
Daryl Hasche hit five teenage girls with his motorcycle while riding in the dark five years ago. The cyclists were riding side by side, and didn’t have any lights on their bikes.
Now, he shares the story of the accident in order to encourage cyclists to use bike lamps and to call attention to the topic for Iowa lawmakers.
Republican Rep. John Wills says a bill requiring flashing rear-facing lights on bicycles between sunset and sunrise could be introduced through the Iowa House Transportation Committee this session. But, he says the bill’s language has not yet been finalized. Currently, state law only requires a bicycle to have a front-lighted lamp.
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Des Moines Odor Board Member Says She Doesn’t Receive Needed Information
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines officials are taking another look at the city’s odor board rules after a panel member said she didn’t have access to needed information.
The Des Moines Register reports (https://dmreg.co/2jRgj3U ) board member Heather Ryan complained to city officials after an inability to look at odor logs. Staffers told her she’d need to submit a public records request to see the information.
Council member Skip Moore, who appointed Ryan to the committee, says it is unclear what authority the group holds or how it operates. The council will discuss the matter Monday afternoon.
The board is intended to provide a monthly record of odor complaints for Des Moines enforcement officials, but it meets only twice a year.
Moore says he wants a board that can respond to odor complaints.
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March Trial Set For Parents That Emaciated Child
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A March trial has been scheduled for the parents of an emaciated West Des Moines teenager who died in October.
Nicole Finn and Joseph Finn Jr. pleaded not guilty at a hearing Monday. Both are charged with kidnapping, two counts of child endangerment and one of neglect of abandonment of a dependent person. Nicole Finn also is charged with first-
degree murder. Some of the counts involve at least two other children. The Finns’ trial is set to begin March 27.
A medical examiner found that 16-year-old Natalie Finn died from denial of critical care. Prosecutors say in court documents that the girl was starved and tortured by her parents.
Cedar Falls Man Sentenced To Prison For Storing Hazard Materials
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A Cedar Falls man has been given two years in federal prison for unlawfully storing hazardous waste.
Prosecutors said in a news release Monday that 62-year-old Richard Delp was sentenced last week in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. He’d pleaded guilty.
Prosecutors say that from about Jan. 1, 2004, to about Oct. 23, 2012, Delp stored drums, tanks, totes and vats containing corrosive and toxic hazardous waste at his now defunct Cedar Valley Electroplating facility in Cedar Falls, without a permit authorizing the storage.
Prosecutors say Delp abandoned the hazardous waste when he closed the business in September 2011, which eventually cost the public more than $789,000 to clean up. He was ordered to make restitution of that amount.
