Le Mars Man Arrested For Various Sexual Charges
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police, with the assistance of the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, arrested 56 year old Jerry Owings of 520 7th Avenue Lot G, Friday evening. The arrest was made at about 5:45 p.m. Owings has been charged with two counts of enticing a minor under the age of 16 for sexual purposes, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, two counts of 1st degree harassment, dissemination and exhibition of obscene materials to minors, two counts of supplying alcohol to a minor, and three counts of providing tobacco to a minor. Owings was transported to the Plymouth County Jail and is being held on a $20,000 bond.
Authorities Investigate A Semi Truck Accident
(Hinton) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s officials are investigating an accident involving a semi-truck and tanker that left the highway. The incident happened on Highway 75 about two miles north of Sioux City near county road C-80 at about 12:30 p.m. this afternoon. No other vehicles were involved. The truck was
heading north bound and entered the ditch and drove in the ditch for nearly a quarter of a mile, running parallel to the highway and to the railroad tracks.
The truck driver, identified as Kent Pigg of Laurel, Nebraska appeared to have some sort of medical condition that caused the semi to go into the ditch. Pigg was transported to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City. Plymouth County Sheriff’s authorities say there preliminary investigation points to a possible medical
issue with the driver. Hinton Police, Hinton Fire and Rescue, and the Iowa Department of Transportation assisted at the scene.
Holz And Anderson To Hold Legislative Forums
(Le Mars) — State Representative Chuck Holz of Le Mars and State Senator Bill Anderson of Pierson will hold four legislative forums within the district today.
The two republican lawmakers will begin this morning at 9:00 a.m. to meet with constituents at the Moville Fire Station. Then they will hold a legislative forum at the Pierson City Hall beginning at 10:00 a.m. From Pierson, the two legislators will hold a forum at the Kingsley Community Building at 11:15 a.m.
and they will complete the legislative forums this afternoon at the Three Sister Bistro at Remsen starting at 12:45 p.m. Representative Holz explains the purpose of holding the legislative forums.
Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet Scheduled For Tonight
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual awards banquet this evening with social hour set to begin at 6:00 p.m. with the dinner at 7:00 p.m. The awards program will honor those recipients of the “Employees of
the Month” and “Bosses of the Quarter” The evening will also honor the Main Street Volunteer of the Year, as well as the United Way Volunteer. The highlight of the evening will be the recognition of the “Business of the Year” and the
“Citizen of the Year”. The Chamber of Commerce annual awards program will be held at the Le Mars Convention Center.
City Officials Want Public Input On Budget
(Le Mars) — Legislation and policies go to those who show up, and Le Mars city officials are asking Le Mars residents and business leaders to show up for discussions relating to the city’s budget and for the comprehensive plan. City Administrator Scott Langel says the city council will hold a special meeting on
Tuesday, January 31st beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the council chambers.
Langel says the budget, as initially proposed is about $600,000 over the expected revenue.
Langel says the city’s financial status is in good shape, and therefore the property tax levy may be lowered by as much as a dollar per $1000 valuation.
The city administrator explains why the tax levy may be lowered.
Supreme Court Denies Des Moines Water Works Lawsuit On Nitrate Levels
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld a legal doctrine going back 100 years in Iowa that allows agriculture drainage districts to maintain immunity from lawsuits seeking monetary damages.
The ruling Friday presents an obstacle for the Des Moines Water Works, which is pursuing a lawsuit in federal court in Sioux City filed in March 2015.
The water utility for 500,000 Iowans alleges the three counties that oversee 10 agricultural drainage districts should be required to obtain federal water pollution discharge permits and pay the utility more than $1.4 million it has spent for increased filtration methods to remove the nitrates from water.
Northey Says Agriculture Needs Trade
(Des Moines) — One of President Trump’s first actions was to do away with the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Trump has also advocated imposing a tariff on goods shipped to the United States from Mexico, and also has threatened
to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA with Canada and Mexico, two of the best trading partners with the United States. Agriculture is a benefactor when it comes to trade agreements. Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey attended the Iowa Pork Congress and says he hopes President Trump can negotiate terms allowing the United States to be in a
better trading position, while at the same time, not jeopardizing agriculture’s stance with existing trade agreements.
Speaking about agricultural trade, Northey is scheduled to travel to China in March for what will be his ninth trip to communist oriental nation. He will be a guest of the Iowa Soybean Association.
Northey says trade missions are essential to further enhance a trusting relationship between the producer and the buyer with hopes of bettering the financial position of the American farmer.
The Iowa Agriculture Secretary says the trip is being funded through soybean producer check-off funds. He says China continues to be a growing market for the U-S farmer.
Arrest Made For Arson
HARTFORD, Iowa (AP) – Officials in southern Iowa have identified a man whose body was found inside a burning home last week.
The Warren County Attorney’s Office says an autopsy shows that 50-year-old Robert Paul Major died in the Jan. 20 fire.
Major’s son, 28-year-old Stephen James Major, remains in the Warren County Jail on charges of first-degree arson and operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent.
Officials say the investigation into the fire and cause of death is ongoing.
18 Year Old Guilty Of Shooting Vinton Girl
VINTON, Iowa (AP) – An 18-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the shooting death of a girl in Vinton.
Court records say William Hines Jr. entered the plea Thursday to a charge of involuntary manslaughter. His sentencing is scheduled for March 23. He was 16 at the time of the shooting on Feb. 24, 2015, but was prosecuted as an adult.
Prosecutors say Hines admitted holding the rifle but couldn’t remember whether his finger was on the trigger when it discharged, fatally wounding Emma Redlinger, a freshman at Vinton-Shellsburg High School who lived in Vinton.
Police say Hines was handling the gun obtained by another teen’s mother. She’s been convicted of providing a firearm to a prohibited person: her 16-year-old son, who she knew used marijuana.
