Le Mars Ambulance Service To Hold Fund Raising Event
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Ambulance Services will be holding a fund raising activity scheduled for Saturday at the Municipal Park shelter house immediately following the Chamber of Commerce’s “Color Me Sweet” fun walk and run. Bill Rosacker is the director with the Le Mars Ambulance Services.
The Le Mars Ambulance Service has served the Le Mars Community since its establishment in 1975. The current crew is composed of twenty-five community members who donate their time and expertise to the crew and the citizens of Le Mars. The crew is made up of 2 full time employees and 23 compensated volunteers. Le Mars Ambulance Service staffs five crew members on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These shifts run from 6am-6pm and 6pm-6am. Not only does the Le Mars Ambulance Service serve the community of Le Mars, they also serve the communities of Struble, Brunsville, and Seney; they also assist the ambulance services of Oyens and Merrill as needed. Rosacker says as smaller communities continue to shrink and find it difficult to have enough volunteers to staff an ambulanace service, the Le Mars Ambulance Service will need to pick up the slack.
The Le Mars Ambulance Service handles nearly 1,000 calls a year. The anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 10th will feature a meal served from 11-3 by the crew members of LAS. Live music will be provided by the band BLT from noon-3. Events will include a silent auction and a raffle. Free will donations for the meal will be accepted and appreciated. All proceeds from this event will go to purchase of equipment for the service and to the purchase of a new ambulance.
Polk County Law Enforcement Investigates Officer’s Social Media Postings
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says it is investigating one of its officers for social media postings deriding Islam and calling the religion an “evil ideology.”
The Des Moines Register reports (https://dmreg.co/2r9d3p6 ) that a graphic on the Facebook page of Sgt. Dan Charleston said it included “verses from the Quran that inspire terrorists” and that Charleston accompanied the graphic with a comment: “No reasoning with this evil ideology.” The posting has been removed.
A phone listed for Charleston rang busy during several calls Friday. Department spokesman Rich Blaylock said “the Polk County Sheriff’s Office is very concerned with the messages posted on social media and are conducting an internal investigation.”
Charleston has twice run unsuccessfully for sheriff. He’s been a member of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for 19 years.
—
Marathon To Hold Last Marathon
MARATHON, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa marathon that gained national recognition for its small-town ethos and quirky name will end because of a lack of volunteers and organizers becoming exhausted.
Race director Al Pierce says the Marathon to Marathon will end after Saturday’s event.
The race starts in Storm Lake and ends in the small town of Marathon. It began in 1996 as a celebration of Iowa’s 150-year anniversary.
The race is USA Track and Field certified and sanctioned, which allows entrants to be eligible to qualify for the Boston Marathon.
Pierce says the final marathon has participants from nearly 40 states.
A spaghetti dinner for runners, supporters and community members will be offered the evening before the start of the race.
—
Mason City Man Faces Murder Charges Following Stabbing
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – A man originally charged with attempted murder now faces a murder charge in Mason City.
Court records say the new charge was filed Friday against 20-year-old Braedon Bowers. Authorities say the man Bowers is accused of stabbing May 30, Wraymond Todd, died Sunday at a hospital. Bowers’ court-appointed attorneys couldn’t be reached to comment for him Friday.
Bowers’ next court date is June 27 for arraignment.
Council Bluffs Man Charged After Spanking Child
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have charged a Council Bluffs man accused of spanking his 2-year-old so hard she was left with several bruises.
Court records say 25-year-old Ryan Rapier is charged with felony child endangerment resulting in injury. His attorney didn’t immediately return a message Friday from The Associated Press.
The Daily Nonpareil reports that the girl’s godmother had noticed
bruises on the girl’s face, legs and bottom, and she told investigators that Rapier had said the girl had fallen out of her crib.
Rapier told investigators that he’d spanked the girl twice Monday
because she kept getting out of her crib and throwing things around the bedroom.
He said he lost his temper and didn’t mean to hurt the child.
—
Muscatine Holds Opportunity For Barge Port
MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) – Muscatine leaders have been told their town has all the right attributes for a riverside container terminal and port district.
The facility would be located on a 100-acre Kent Corp. property just south of the Muscatine municipal boundary.
The Muscatine Journal reports that a consultant executive, Kevin Keller of HDR, told the City Council Thursday night that the site has highway and rail access, utilities and room for storage and warehouse buildings. Keller also says the location is ideal because the river there is deep enough to accommodate
larger barges, which would make the port more competitive.
He says an HDR study estimated the cost of planning the site, expanding the roadway and other construction is between $22 million and $40 million.
—
