Home News Friday Afternoon News, July 28th

Friday Afternoon News, July 28th

Fair Attendance At 19,500 For Thursday

(Le Mars) — Fair officials are reporting the attendance for the second day of
the Plymouth County Fair was about two thousand people more than on the opening
day. An estimated 19,500 people attended the Plymouth County Fair on Thursday.
Cooler temperatures, and the rains from Wednesday are two reasons being credited
for the up-tick in attendance. The tough truck competition at the grandstand,
as well as the musical entertainment at Pioneer Village also are reasons for the nice attendance levels.  Fair officials are expecting a strong attendance level for Friday.

 

 

Ahlers Selected For State 4-H Hall of Fame

(Le Mars) — It was announced Thursday evening during the Farm Olympics competition that John and Deb Ahlers of Le Mars will be representing Plymouth County 4-H program as this year’s inductees for the State 4-H Hall of Fame. The
Ahlers will be formally recognized during a ceremony scheduled for August 20th at the Iowa State Fair. Our congratulations go to the Ahlers.

 

 

Cooking Seminar Scheduled For Friday Evening

(Le Mars) — Later this evening, inside the Century Hall beginning at 7:00 p.m. will be the annual cooking seminar.  Sandy Schnepf is the coordinator for the cooking demonstration show. She explains how the cooking seminar got its start.

 

 

Orange City Fire Department Battle Hay Fire

(Orange City) — The Orange City Fire Department responded to a hay fire Thursday afternoon.  The fire was reported at about 2:05 p.m. at 4280 Jackson Avenue.  Orange City Fire Chief Denny Vander Wel says the location of the fire was the same as a fire reported from last year.

Vander Wel says the Orange City Fire Department did ask its neighboring fire departments for mutual aid.

Vander Wel says firefighters were on the scene fighting the fire for nearly an hour and a half, but the clean-up process took a few hours more.  The Orange City Fire Chief isn’t certain about the dollar estimate for the damage.  He says there were no equipment or structures lost due to the blaze, and there were no injuries.

 

 

Trooper Still Receives State Disability Payments

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A state trooper who was granted an early retirement after an on-duty shooting in 2013 continues to collect disability benefits while working as a security guard for Des Moines Public Schools.
Tim Sieleman has received a $42,000-annual pension since the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s retirement system in 2014 found him “totally and permanently incapacitated for duty” due to mental stress.
In February, he started work for the school district.
Attorney Bill McGinn, who represented the suspect shot by Sieleman in 2013, says Sieleman’s dual compensation is “kind of outrageous.”
Iowa law declares that benefits received by disabled officers will end if they return to a “public safety occupation.” But Public Safety Commissioner Roxann Ryan says Sieleman’s dual compensation is allowed because school security work isn’t considered such a job.

 

Iowa Man Convicted Of Assaulting Police Officer

TYNDALL, S.D. (AP) – A jury has convicted an Iowa man of assaulting a South Dakota police officer with his vehicle.TYNDALL, S.D. (AP) – A jury has convicted an Iowa man of assaulting a South Dakota police officer with his vehicle. Thirty-seven-year-old Travis McPeek, of Sioux City, Iowa, was accused of striking Tyndall Police Officer Kelly Young with his vehicle during a traffic stop on Aug. 6, 2016, dragging him across a parking lot and driving away. Young suffered broken ribs, cuts, bruises and an injured foot. He was out of work for a month. McPeek was arrested in Arizona two months after the incident. The Daily Republic reports  that a Bon Homme County jury on Thursday deliberated for less than 15 minutes before convicting McPeek of aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer. McPeek will be sentenced later. His attorney declined comment.