Supervisors Discuss Weapons Ban Order
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors discussed the recent ruling handed down by Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice, Mark Cady regarding banning weapons inside courthouses. Justice Cady made the ruling on June 19th. Plymouth County already has a policy forbidding weapons to be brought inside the court house. Plymouth County is one of 72 Iowa counties that have posted notices saying weapons are forbidden inside the courthouse. However, many counties are confused since the state legislature passed a bill indicating that counties cannot ban weapons. Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond visited with the supervisors about the recent order and what it may mean to Plymouth County.
Under the advisement of Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond, he suggested to the county governing board, that the ruling may also apply to the Courthouse Annex since juvenile cases are heard in that facility, and Raymond says the supervisors may want to consider extending the policy to the Plymouth County Law Enforcement Center since Plymouth County Drug Court is held there.
Raymond says there is some confusion also with the ruling since it mentions “all public places” within a courthouse.
Raymond suggested to the county supervisors to add additional language to the previously posted weapon notices.
The county board of supervisors will take the action immediately.
County Supervisors Name Banks For County Deposits
(Le Mars) — In other action taken by the county supervisors, they approved the county banks to receive deposits from the county. Those banks include Northwest Bank, Primebank, American Bank, Iowa State Bank, Kingsley State Bank, People’s Bank of Rock Valley, Iowa Prairie Bank of Brunsville, and Northwest Iowa Credit Union.
Goodchild Submits Recorder’s Quarterly Report
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Recorder JoLynn Goodchild submitted her quarterly report to the county board on Tuesday. Goodchild reported the Recorder’s Office took in a total of $149,108.38 in which the state share accounts for nearly a third of the total. Goodchild informed the supervisors the vast majority of the revenue was from mortgages amounting to $19,070.
Motor Vehicle Falls Off Jack, Killing Victim
(Sioux City) — Woodbury County authorities are investigating a Tuesday morning accident that proved to be deadly. The accident occurred at about 10:56 a.m. when 64-year old Loren Jorgensen was working under a motor vehicle at 2396 Port Neal Road when the jack collapsed, causing the vehicle to fall on him. . Responding to the accident scene were the Sergeant Bluff Ambulance, Sergeant Bluff Police, Salix Ambulance, and Woodbury County Emergency Services. Jorgensen was airlifted to the Mercy Medical Center by Mercy Air Care. Jorgensen died as a result of the accident.
Former State Senate Aide Gives Testimony On Lawsuit
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former Iowa Senate Republican Caucus aide has testified in her sexual harassment lawsuit that sex, race and sexual orientation were regular topics of conversations and jokes in the office.
The Des Moines Register reports (https://dmreg.co/2tKB4RL ) that 39-year-old Kirsten Anderson testified in her lawsuit Tuesday. Much of her testimony focused on the behavior of a male senior analyst whom she said in 2010 seemed angry and daily referred to women using an obscenity.
The trial opened Monday in Polk County District Court. Anderson contends she was fired in 2013 as caucus communications director because she complained that she had been subjected to sexual harassment by male aides and lawmakers for years.
Republican officials deny she was harassed and say she was fired because of poor job performance. But Anderson’s attorneys say she was fired just seven hours after turning in a memo detailing her treatment at the Statehouse.
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Inmate Cleared From Prison Gang Rape
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Ending a case that’s been called a remarkable injustice, prison officials have dropped all sanctions imposed on an Iowa inmate for his role in an alleged 2009 gang rape that he says never happened. The decision by the Iowa Department of Corrections is a victory for Joe Byrd, who had denied involvement in the alleged attack through 7 1/2 years of hearings and appeals. Department officials will expunge the discipline from Byrd’s record as if the case never happened, shaving time off his sentence.
Authorities Identify Woman’s Body Found In River
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – Officials have identified a woman whose body was pulled from the Wapsipinicon River last month.
The Courier reports (https://bit.ly/2t0BSEN ) that the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the body found June 15 is that of 47-year-old Rhonda Apfel, of Waterloo.
Dr. Jonathan Thompson with the state examiner’s office says the cause of death hasn’t been determined and is pending further tests.
Authorities had been looking for Apfel since May 28 near the river near Dunkerton. A motorcycle and other items belonging to Apfel were found inside the Bruggeman Wildlife Area outside Dunkerton.
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Dogs Die From Being In Hot Vehicle
OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) – Police say three dogs that were locked in a hot vehicle outside a dog show in Ottumwa have died.
Police say two were found dead Saturday outside the American Kennel Club All Breeds Dog Show at the Bridge View Center. A third died at a veterinary clinic and a fourth lived. No arrests or citations have been reported.
Ottumwa Police Chief Tom McAndrew says the person or people responsible for the dogs are believed to have traveled from out of town for the show.
The National Weather Service says Saturday’s high in Ottumwa was 89 degrees.
Tornado Causes Damage To Farms And CropsÂ
CONROY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a tornado has damaged farmsteads and crop fields and high winds from other storms have torn at homes and knocked out power in eastern Iowa.
Iowa County authorities say the tornado touched down about a mile north of Williamsburg a little before 6 p.m. Tuesday and churned northeast, skirting Conroy before lifting. No injuries have been reported at the three damaged farmsteads.
Thunderstorms packing winds up to 75 mph (121 kph) downed trees and power lines in Dubuque County overnight, leaving thousands of people without electricity.
More than 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain has been reported in southern Clayton County, where authorities evacuated up to 20 homes because of flooding.
Quarter-size hail has been reported in the Holy Cross area.
