City Opens Phase 2, But Closes Phase 4 Of Business Highway 75 Overlay Paving Project
(Le Mars) — Le Mars city officials have announced they have closed Phase 4 of the Business Highway 75 overlay paving project. Phase 4 extends from the Family Table Restaurant heading south to the Yamaha Golf. This will also close the intersection at Business Highway 75 & 6th Ave. S.W./6th St. S.W. by Dairy Queen and the intersection of Blue Diamond Drive & Business Highway 75. The city has opened phase 2 that runs from 12th St. S.W. North up to Yamaha Golf. City officials report McDonalds and Bomgaars are accessible from 12th St. S.W, Access to Total Motors will be off of 8th Ave. S.W. and use the access road just on the South side of the Amber Inn Motel.
City Council Continues Discussion About Stray Dogs
(Le Mars) — At the recent Le Mars city council meeting, the issue of stray dogs was again discussed. Councilman Clark Goodchild informed the council he wants to see some type of action taken, before anyone is bitten by a wandering dog. Goodchild says he is not going to drop the issue, and he says it is a serious issue.
City Ordinance Code Enforcement officer Greg Smidt says the problem is Le Mars doesn’t have any facilities to house stray dogs. He says when the police are notified, they do respond to the incident, but they have limited options, especially if the dog’s owners are not located.
Smidt says it could get costly to transport captured stray animals to Sioux City at the Humane Society.
No action was taken, but discussion did center on whether the city should again have a designated dog catcher along with a dog pound.
Plymouth County To Auction Surplus Property
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County will hold a public auction on Saturday to reduce its surplus property. The auction will begin at 10:00 a.m. from the parking lot of the Plymouth County Courthouse and the Courthouse Annex basement. County auditor Stacey Feldman says the auction will feature three pick-up trucks, several computers and monitors, deer tree stands, an assortment of office furniture including desks, chairs, filing cabinets, and desk lights. Included with the auction is a camping tent, a tool box for a pick-up truck, a floor jack, air compressor, chainsaw, and a fire safe. Feldman says there are a few unusual items that were acquired through confiscation by law enforcement. They include an electric razor, an omelette maker, coffee pot, toys, used golf clubs, tape measure, sewing machine, gloves and a coat. A complete list of sale items can be seen by going to the Plymouth County website.
Chamber Agriculture Committee Awarded Statewide Grant For Round Barn Agricultural Educational Exhibit
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee was recently notified by the Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation that it was one of five state-wide recipients for a $1,000 challenge grant. The grant is given to organizations that have an objective to educate the public about agriculture. Officials with the Le Mars Chamber Agriculture Committee indicate the grant money will be used for a display to educate visitors to the famous round barn during the Plymouth County Fair, about the benefits and importance of agriculture. The exhibit, “aROUND the farm in the BARN” showcases Plymouth County agriculture. In past years, the exhibit has focused on commodities grown or raised in Plymouth County, agricultural and food processing companies, farm safety, and even the history and advancement of agriculture technology.
Yanney To Speak At Museum’s Annual Meeting
(Le Mars) — Tickets are still available for the Plymouth County Historical Museum’s 53rd Annual Meeting, set for 6 p.m., Thursday, May 11, in “Old Central” Gym.
The evening will begin with dinner music by Father Paul Eisele of All Saints’ Parish.
Timmy’s Catering will be offering a Carved Certified Angus round of beef and the trimmings.
This year’s featured speaker will be Charese Yanney, a well-known Siouxland business woman who is a company partner for Guarantee Roofing, Siding and Insulation Company. She is a columnist for the Sioux City Journal and serves on many boards, including the Iowa Department of Transportation Commission., and Iowa Vision. She was involved in promoting the completion of Hwy. 20 across Iowa.
Included in the evening will be a brief business meeting. Following the event, all five floors of the Museum will be open to the public.
Dale Donlin, who has served as vice president of the board, is the outgoing board member. Nominees for the board are Brandon Kneip and Brian Nitzschke, both of Le Mars.
Other nominees are welcome. Representatives are especially needed from the Akron, Craig, Hinton, Kingsley, Merrill, Oyens, Remsen, Struble, and Westfield areas.
Tickets may be obtained at the Museum during open hours or from board members at a cost of $10.
Judge Denies Emergency Injunction For Three-Day Waiting Time For Abortions
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Polk County District judge denied an emergency injunction that would have halted a mandatory 72-hour waiting period for abortions in Iowa.
The ruling Thursday afternoon by Judge Jeffrey Farrell was prompted by Gov. Terry Branstad’s announcement that he will sign a bill into law Friday that includes the waiting period. The bill will go into effect immediately when signed.
Alice Clapman, a lawyer for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, says 44 scheduled procedures will be made illegal if Branstad signs the bill as planned.
Lawyers seeking the injunction say they will appeal the ruling to the Iowa Supreme Court.
Iowa Solicitor General Jeffrey Thompson argued there is not a constitutional right to an abortion on demand.
Jury Awards Meyer Lawsuit Against University of Iowa Athletic Department
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A jury has ruled that former University of Iowa athletic administrator Jane Meyer was the victim of discrimination, retaliation and unequal pay and awarded her $1.4 million in total damages.
Judge Michael D. Huppert says the eight-person jury found in favor of Meyer on all five counts.
Meyer alleged she suffered workplace discrimination as a gay woman in a relationship with field hockey coach Tracey Griesbaum, that the school retaliated against her for complaining about Griesbaum’s firing, and that she was paid less than a male counterpart for similar work.
The trial lasted nearly three weeks and featured testimony from Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz and wrestling coach Tom Brands.
The jury began deliberating Wednesday. It delivered its sealed verdict on Thursday.
Retired Colonel Now Heads Up Iowa Veterans Home
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A retired U.S. Army colonel has been named the new Iowa Veterans Home chief operating officer.
Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Thursday the selection of Timon Oujiri for as commandant of the veterans home. He replaces Jodi Tymeson, who became executive director of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday.
Oujiri begins his new role on May 22.
Oujiri served in assignments in both the regular U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve on active duty for 31 years. He retired December 2004 from active service and was asked to return to active duty in 2005 to join the Army staff in Washington, D.C. He served as the senior board member at the Army Review Boards Agency.
Escaped Inmate Accused of Killing Deputy Awaits Extradition
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A man accused of killing a deputy and wounding another while escaping from an Iowa jail before being recaptured in Nebraska is going back to Iowa to face charges.
Wesley Correa-Carmenaty agreed during a hearing in Omaha on Thursday to be extradited to Iowa to face charges of murder and attempted murder, among others.
Matthew Wilber, the head prosecutor for Iowa’s Pottawattamie County, says officials will likely wait until after the slain deputy’s funeral on Monday to retrieve Correa-Carmenaty. They have 10 days in which to do so.
Authorities say Correa-Carmenaty had just been sentenced to 45 years in prison in an unrelated case when he managed to grab one of the two deputies’ guns while being transferred to a Council Bluffs, Iowa, jail. He shot them both and used a van to escape but was recaptured across the state border in Omaha. d shoot them, killing one and wounding the other.
Correa-Carmenaty To Be Held In Woodbury County Jail
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a man accused of killing a deputy and wounding another while escaping from an Iowa county jail before being recaptured in Nebraska will be held at a different county jail once he returns to Iowa.
Twenty-three-year-old Wesley Correa-Carmenaty agreed to extradition during a hearing Thursday in Omaha.
Woodbury County Sheriff Dave Drew said Correa-Carmenaty will be held at his jail in Sioux City and that his officers will take great caution in handling him. Sioux City is 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of Council Bluffs, where Correa-Carmenaty escaped Monday.
Authorities say Correa-Carmenaty had just been sentenced to 45 years imprisonment in an unrelated case when he managed to grab one of the two deputies’ guns while being transferred the Council Bluffs jail.
