City Announces Names Of Police Chief Finalists
(Le Mars) — The search for a new Le Mars Police Chief has been narrowed to five finalists, two of the finalists are officers of the Le Mars Police Department.
The city received a total of 40 applications from 20 different states for the position of police chief. Stuart Dekkenga has announced he plans to retire from the Le Mars Police Department on June 30th. Le Mars mayor Dick Kirchoff explains the process used to narrow the field.
The five finalist include: Robert Bendlin of the Le Mars Police Department, Shane Brevik with the Spirit Lake Police Department, Ray Eickholt with the Storm Lake Police Department, Deric Gress is with the Ypilanti, Michigan Police
Department, and the fifth finalist is Kevin Vande Vegte with the Le Mars Police Department. Mayor Kirchoff talks about the qualifications of the candidates.
Le Mars chose to utilize the services of a consultant for the search for a new police chief. Kirchoff explains how the Cayler Consulting of Carroll, Iowa, helped with the police chief selection process.
All candidates will attend a public reception scheduled for July 6th at 6:30 p.m. at the Le Mars city council chambers. The public is invited to attend to meet with the police chief candidates. Candidates will have an opportunity to interact with members of the public and answer any questions they might have.
BPI and ABC News Settle Lawsuit
(Elk Point) — The $1.9 billion dollar defamation trial filed by Beef Products Incorporated against ABC Broadcasting and reporter Jim Avila came to an abrupt halt Wednesday morning.
Judge Cheryle Gering began proceedings by announcing to the jury that a settlement had been reached in the case and they were being dismissed:
Wednesday’s settlement comes after the jury was sent home Tuesday morning because of what Gering called a “major legal issue”,came up after court adjourned following Monday’s testimony.
BPI Attorney Dan Webb says the settlement vindicated the company’s lean finely textured beef that Avila and ABC News reports had referred to as “pink slime”
Webb says the settlement also affirms the quality of BPI’s beef
product:
BPI’s founder and C-E-O Eldon Roth declined to comment, but ABC Reporter Jim Avila spoke with the media after the settlement was announced:
Avila added that he will return to work for ABC news next week. He had been in court every day for the three and a half weeks of the trial in Union County district Court in Elk Point.
Fire Department Trains For Aircraft Accident
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, along with Wells Enterprises, Plymouth County Emergency Management Services, and the Le Mars Municipal Airport coordinated their efforts last evening for a rescue drill
simulating a plane crashing into a fuel tanker hauling Jet fuel. The drill was held at the Le Mars Municipal Airport. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the simulated drill went well. He says the fire and rescue crews were training at three separate areas.
Schipper says it is important to rehearse for an aircraft disaster. He says the Le Mars Airport has more corporate jets and small planes that fly in and out of the facilities than what most people realize.
Schipper says the drill offered the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department the opportunity to work with a fire retardant product and trailer that was provided by Plymouth Energy.
The Le Mars Fire Chief says the drill allowed the entire firefighting crew an opportunity to work with the product. Schipper says the drill also allowed the members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department a better understanding of
aircraft.
Total Sales To Have Ground Breaking Ceremony Today
(Le Mars) — Le Mars’ only G-M auto dealer, Total Motors, will hold a ground-breaking ceremony this morning at 10:30 a.m. for the start of their new auto sales and repair services facility. The ground breaking ceremony will be held 801 Hawkeye Avenue southwest, or business highway 75. When the construction
project is completed, the new facility will be expanded, capable of holding additional vehicles for the showcase display, and a larger service and repair area.
Protesters Arrested At Des Moines Air National Guard Base
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have arrested four people at a protest blocking access to the Iowa Air National Guard base at Des Moines International Airport.
Several of the 20 or so protesters left at police request Wednesday morning. The four who remained, connected to concrete barriers, were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and interference with official acts. Firefighters gave the four masks and other protection from debris as they were cut from the barriers.
A protest organizer who wasn’t arrested, Frank Cordaro, says protesters want the Air Guard unit to end its work of controlling military drone aircraft flying missions overseas.
A Guard spokesman, Col. Greg Hapgood, says the 132nd Wing of the Iowa Air National Guard remotely operates MQ-9 Reaper aircraft that mostly fly intelligence-gathering missions.
Thunderstorms and Tornadoes Hit Iowa On Wednesday
PRAIRIEBURG, Iowa (AP) – Thunderstorms running across Iowa have injured at least one person, mowed down crops and damaged homes and farm buildings.
Tornadoes were reported Wednesday in several eastern Iowa counties. Linn County authorities say a woman was injured when her home collapsed near Prairieburg. Pieces from damaged farm structures littered the ground around Prairieburg after the storm passed.
Another tornado reported near the Linn County Fair on the southeast side of Central City sent fairgoers to shelters. Trees and tents were damaged but no fairgrounds buildings.
Golf ball-size hail and heavy rain were reported in the Des Moines area.
Fremont County authorities in western Iowa say a tornado touched down in a rural area between Sidney and Shenandoah, flattening crops. A home near Farragut was damaged, but no injuries have been reported.
