Sioux County Sheriff Office Conducted A.L.I.C.E. Training
(Orange City) — Recently, the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office conducted A.L.I.C.E. training sessions with employees of Northwestern College, Northwest Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative, Unity Christian High School and the Orange City Area Health System.
A.L.I.C.E. is an acronym for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate. This is a common sense base training for violent intruder situations.
So far in 2017, the Sheriff’s Office has conducted A.L.I.C.E. training at several Sioux County schools and businesses. For some it’s been a refresher; for others it was their initial A.L.I.C.E. training.
The concept, that Sheriff’s Office A.L.I.C.E. instructors teach, is how a person should mentally prepare for a response to a violent intruder. The key parts of being ready is to “Do Something.” It also shows the participants the inadequacies of being passive and doing nothing.
The common sense strategies taught are lifesaving options that can be used if anyone finds himself or herself in a violent intruder situation. Deputy Waylon Pollema said, “It’s our hope that these proactive defense strategies we’re teaching help to develop a survival mindset for all who attend the trainings.”
Report Shows Iowa Hospitals Greatly Contribute To State’s Economy
(Des Moines) — Iowa’s 118 hospitals add nearly $6.8 billion to the state’s economy, according to a new report from the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA). Scott McIntyre (mack-IN-tire) is spokesman for the IHA.
Those employees, by themselves, spend more than $1.8 billion on retail sales and contribute more than $111 million in state sales tax revenue, according to the report. The economic impact report is compiled each year to demonstrate the importance of the industry to the state.
The study shows Iowa’s hospitals provide $4.5 billion in salaries and benefits and generate another $2.3 billion through other jobs that depend on hospitals.
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Ombudsman Report Shows State Boards Not Taking Job Responsibility Seriously
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An investigation by a state agency has concluded that Iowa’s professional licensing boards have become unaccountable to the citizens they are supposed to protect from misconduct.
An Office of Ombudsman report released Monday says the boards enjoy a culture of secrecy that produces “lackadaisical investigations, apathetic board members, poor documentation of deliberations, and questionable outcomes.”
The ombudsman is an independent agency that investigates complaints against state and local government. The report examined the system of 36 boards responsible for regulating trained workers, from doctors to barbers. The boards
investigate complaints and can discipline or remove licensees for misconduct.
Investigators found that many boards dismiss complaints without explaining their findings or rationale, angering complainants and breeding distrust in the outcome.
The report comes as lawmakers consider a bill to remove licensing requirements from several professions. The bill wouldn’t address the secrecy criticized by the report.
Sullivan Brothers Statue Is Moved
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – Crews have moved a statue that honors Waterloo’s Sullivan brothers to a Catholic high school, ensuring a long future for a memorial that honors five siblings killed while serving in the Navy during World War II.
The 60-year-old memorial has been relocated to an outdoor chapel on the grounds of Columbus High School. The statue’s 2-and-a-half-ton base is engraved with the brothers’ names and topped by an Italian marble Catholic statue of the Virgin Mary.
George, Francis, Joseph, Madison and Albert Sullivan died after their ship, the cruiser USS Juneau, was sunk by the Japanese on Nov. 13, 1942.
The statue was moved from Waterloo Knights of Columbus Council 700’s building, which is for sale. The statue was previously on the grounds of the former St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Sullivans’ parish.
Deadly Auto Accident Reported In Eastern Iowa
PEOSTA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a car has struck and killed a person in an eastern Iowa highway lane.
The Iowa State Patrol says the eastbound car on U.S. Highway 20 near Peosta hit the person around 11:40 p.m. Saturday. The person was pronounced dead at the
scene.
The patrol identified the car driver as 24-year-old Angela Young, of Cuba City, Wisconsin. The dead person’s name hasn’t been released.
It’s unclear why the person was in the roadway.
