Akron Man Is Murdered – Suspect Arrested
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting in which the victim has died. Shortly after midnight, Friday morning, at about 12:15 a.m. the Plymouth County Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call regarding a medical emergency at a rural Akron residence. The caller stated
that someone had been shot and requested an ambulance along with law enforcement. The caller stated that the address where help was needed was 13203 Evergreen Avenue of Akron. When officers arrived they discovered a white male in his 40’s suffering from a gunshot wound. The Akron ambulance crew arrived
and transported the victim to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. The Woodbury County Medical Examiner was notified and has requested that an autopsy be conducted by the State of Iowa
Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny, Iowa.
Upon further investigation by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, it is believed that the manner of death is a result of an act of homicide. Assistance in processing the scene was provided by the Le Mars and Akron Police Departments. Law enforcement has been summoned to the residence in the past for incidents of domestic abuse and disturbances.
At approximately 12:15 p.m. Friday, 33 year old Becky J. Hebert of Akron, Iowa was arrested in Le Mars without incident and charged with Murder in the 2nd Degree, a Class B Felony. She is accused of willfully and deliberately causing
the death of another. Bond has been set at $25,000.
During a news conference, Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo describes the incidents leading up to the shooting and resulting in the death of the victim.
Sheriff Van Otterloo confirmed that the witnesses were relatives of the suspect, and he said the witnesses are not adults. Van Otterloo says the individuals at the residence had a no contact order issued. The Plymouth County Sheriff explains the next steps for the investigation.
Sheriff Van Otterloo told the news media he anticipates releasing the name of the deceased victim perhaps sometime on Saturday. No other individuals are being sought in connection with this homicide. Investigators are continuing to
work on the case and additional details may be released later.
Governor Reynolds Visits Craig To Applaud Rural Broadband Internet Services
(Craig) — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Greg were in Craig early Friday morning to call attention to the efforts of “Connecting Every Iowan, and Connecting Every Acre.” Governor Reynolds was on hand in the small Plymouth County rural community to applaud the efforts of North West Rural
Electric Cooperative, Evertek, and the Farmer’s Cooperative Elevator in Craig for establishing broadband internet services to areas of rural Iowa.
Reynolds says by expanding the internet broadband to rural areas of Iowa, it will insure more jobs to Iowa, and possibly will keep students from leaving the state.
The Governor continued to talk about the many benefits to Iowa by having a fast-speed broadband internet available to our rural communities.
Reynolds also mentioned how available internet services in the rural areas, will benefit Iowa’s farmers.
Communications units have been placed on top of Farmer’s Cooperative Elevator facilities to reach the rural areas of northwestern Plymouth County.
Farmers Cooperative Elevator of Craig Donates To Local FFA Chapters
(Craig) — During the governor’s visit to Craig on Friday, the Farmer’s Cooperative Elevator announced a couple of donations to local FFA chapters. The Farmer’s Cooperative donated money for the publishing of books directed toward elementary students to educate the students about farm safety. The Le Mars FFA
will distribute the books. The other donation was a check for $5,000 that was awarded to the Akron-Westfield FFA chapter. Doug Schurr is the general manager at the Craig Co-op grain elevator and talks about both donations, beginning with
the book about farm safety.
Schurr explains the contents of the farm safety book for the elementary school students.
As for the $5,000 donation to the Akron-Westfield FFA Chapter, Schurr says it will go towards the “Meals from the Heartland” program.
The meals consists of rice, soy textured protein, and dried vegetables.
Gun Found In Student’s Back Pack
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A 17-year-old student has been arrested after police say he brought a loaded handgun to his Des Moines high school and fought with a police officer.
Police say the incident happened around 10:30 a.m. Friday at Scavo High School.
Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek says the student was acting suspiciously and fled when he was confronted by an officer. Police say he fought with the officer before being subdued. The gun was then found in his backpack.
Parizek says after being arrested, the student threatened to return and kill the arresting officer. Police say the teen was taken to a hospital, but did not say whether he was ill or injured.
Police have not released the teen’s name. The Associated Press generally does not name juveniles charges with a crime.
Bicyclists To Ride Across Iowa In A Day
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A group of bicyclists is about to attempt a ride across Iowa in 24 hours. The Sioux City Journal reports that about 30 bicyclists will start at 4 a.m. Saturday in Sioux City. They have one day to complete the 335-mile journey
to Dubuque to officially complete the Ride Across Iowa in a Day event, known as RAID. This year marks the seventh time riders will attempt the trans-Iowa trek. Darren Johnson, the event’s organizer, is riding himself for the sixth time and has finished the full ride once, last year. Eighteen bicyclists finished the ride in 2016. Factoring in stops, riders will have to average 14 mph for all 24 hours to reach Dubuque in time. Johnson says he doesn’t recommend stopping. —
Residents Worry Levees Won’t Be Finished Before Flooding Occurs
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Officials in western Iowa are worried that $50 million in levee repairs won’t be completed quickly enough to avoid having an area deemed a flood zone, which would require costly insurance coverage. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is expected to remap Council Bluffs’ potential flood zones in 2023. Mayor Matt Walsh says the city should be able to complete repairs in time. But the Army Corps of Engineers’ lack of funding has slowed down the approval process on the city’s repair plans. Walsh says the Corps hasn’t reviewed and approved any levee-repair projects since last spring. Walsh says that if the project isn’t completed in time and the area is
deemed a flood zone, flood insurance costs could triple the cost of mortgages. —
Governor Candidate Forum
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa group is hosting a gubernatorial candidate forum with beer, break dancers, a live DJ and seven Democratic candidates who are seeking their party’s nomination. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that organizers wanted to do something different with its planned candidate forum. Misty Rebik, an organizer of the Political Party Live! Democratic gubernatorial forum, says they hope to
get the candidates in front of younger audiences. The forum is set for 8 p.m. Friday at the Englert Theatre in downtown
Iowa City. The event will offer free beer for the first 150 people who are of age. Each of the seven Democratic candidates will have five minutes to make their pitch to younger voters. —
