Announcement of New Police Chief May Be Made On Wednesday
(Le Mars) — It may be Wednesday before Le Mars learns who will be the next Police Chief. Each of the five final candidates had a series of interviews that were held on Friday. However, city officials indicated before any announcement could be made, the list has to be submitted to the Le Mars civil board. The civil board will meet on Wednesday. Following the civil board, the name will go before the city council on July 18th.
Langel and Vacera Given Salary Raises
(Le Mars) — Following a closed session for performance evaluation with city administrator Scott Langel and assistant city administrator Jason Vacera, the Le Mars city council approved salary increases for both city officials. Langel will receive a $5,000 increase to be added to his current salary of $148,000
making the new annual salary at $153,000. Vacera was given a $10,000 increase which will begin with the fiscal year 2018 and will push his annual salary to $85,000 per year.
City Council Approves K-N-S Addition
(Le Mars) — In other action by the city council, the council approved a the third package bid for the Le Mars Public Library. The council also named Captain Tim Hop as the Acting Chief of Police until such time the new chief is appointed and takes office. The city council approved the rezoning of K-N-S third addition from rural to residential, and waived the third reading of the
ordinance. The city council approved a sewer refinancing loan up to $15,000,000. A public hearing has been set for July 18th. During general discussion session, council member Ken Nelson inquired about the new fireworks law, and how many complaints were filed with the city. Captain Tim Hop and Fire Chief Dave Schipper reported a total of 29 complaints were shared with city
officials. Most of the complaints dealt with the discharge of fireworks after approved hours.
Bike Rider Victim Of Hit and Run Accident
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a hit and run accident between a vehicle and a bicycle. The incident happened last Saturday, July 1st at about 7:33 a.m. Lisa Hoyt was riding her bicycle heading southbound on county road K-42. Hoyt says she could hear what sounded like a larger
vehicle approaching behind her also heading southbound. Hoyt says she attempted to get to the shoulder and let the vehicle pass, but was struck in the middle of the back by a piece of the vehicle. The vehicle proceeded southbound without stopping and identifying themselves. The driver of the vehicle did not provide
any aid and the vehicle is unknown. It is believed that the right mirror may have struck Hoyt and was recovered along with a piece of headlight. Hoyt suffered minor injuries due to the hit and run. No other details were provided as to the make and model of the vehicle. Hoyt says she did not see what struck
her.
Omaha Man Arrested After Making Threats Against Senator Ernst
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – An Omaha man has been arrested on suspicion of making threats against a Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa.
The FBI’s Omaha office says in a news release that the 64-year-old man was arrested Friday by FBI agents in Omaha.
The man’s case does not yet appear in federal online court records. The release says he will be taken to Council Bluffs, Iowa, for an initial court appearance.
An FBI spokesman in Omaha did not respond to questions from the AP about the nature of the threats. A news release from the Iowa office of the FBI says no other information or comments about the case will be made until court documents are filed.
Ernst’s office did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment.
Des Moines Woman Admits To Voting Twice
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa woman charged with voting twice for Donald Trump last fall has pleaded guilty to election misconduct.
Court records show Terri Lynn Rote entered a plea on June 27 to the felony charge and a district court judge in Des Moines accepted the plea. Sentencing is set for Aug. 15.
Rote, who is 56 and lives in Des Moines, told police she turned in two absentee ballots before the November election because she believed Trump’s unsubstantiated claims that the election was rigged and that her first ballot would be changed to a vote for Hillary Clinton.
She was arrested on Oct. 21 at a satellite voting station in Des Moines attempting to vote the second ballot.
Court documents show attorneys are recommending two years of probation and community service.
Iowa State University To Begin Bachelor’s Degree In Nursing
(Ames) — Iowa State University plans to launch a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program in the fall of 2018. Professor Ginny Wangerin, director of nursing education at I-S-U, says the program should appeal to registered nurses
who are already working in the field as well as recent graduates of approved nursing programs.
The campus-based program aims to meet a need as more hospitals and health care providers in the state are requiring — or are at least encouraging — nurses to get a B-S-N degree.
Nationwide, about 65-percent of R-Ns have a bachelor’s degree or higher, but the rate in Iowa is only around 46-percent, dropping to nearly 30-percent in rural areas. The program at I-S-U won’t likely help to reverse the state’s nurse shortage, but Wangerin says there will still be valuable benefits.
Studies find when hospitals or health care providers have more B-S-N-prepared nurses on staff, there are fewer medical errors, deaths, infections or injuries for patients, and patients spend fewer days in the hospital. Wangerin says about 88 to 90-percent of all nurses in Iowa are female.
