Home News Tuesday News, October 31st

Tuesday News, October 31st

Judge Dismisses Murder Charge Against Becky Hebert

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – A judge has dismissed a murder charge filed against an Akron woman at the request of prosecutors who want more time to investigate the case. District Judge John Ackerman on Monday granted the request to dismiss a
second-degree murder charge against Becky Hebert. She was arrested after the Oct. 6 shooting death of her husband, 40-year-old Jeremy Hebert. Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond sought more time to investigate medical and lab reports and cellphone records. The attorney for the 34-year-old Hebert didn’t resist the motion. —

 

 

Judge Also Dismisses Case Against Sorensen

(Le Mars) — A Plymouth County judge has also dismissed theft charges against Angela Sorensen, the former city clerk of the city of Westfield. Prosecutors say more time is needed to investigate the case.

 

 

Woodbury County Requests To Leave Sioux Rivers Mental Health Region

(Le Mars) — The governing board of Sioux Rivers Mental Health Region held a meeting Monday afternoon to discuss Woodbury County’s request to leave the mental health region.  Sioux Rivers consists of Woodbury, Plymouth, and Sioux Counties. According to Woodbury County supervisor, Jeremy Taylor, there are
several reasons why Woodbury County wishes to leave the regional mental health system.

Taylor continues to explain why Woodbury County wants out of the three-county agreement.

The Sioux Rivers Mental Health Regional Board voted down Woodbury County’s request, and now the two sides will need to appear before a mediator, or at the least the decision may fall squarely on the shoulders of the Director of the Iowa Department of Human Services. Taylor was asked if the families of mental health clients will be losing out of services, due to Woodbury County’s desire to leave the region.

The chairman for Plymouth County Board of Supervisors, Don Kass, is a member of the Sioux Rivers Board, and says Woodbury County never took the opportunity to attempt to resolve the dispute between Plymouth and Sioux on one side, and Woodbury on the other side.

Kass says Woodbury County may find itself spending additional money for legal services and arbitration, than what it will save by dissolving the relationship.

Taylor says Cherokee County initially opted out of the Sioux Rivers Mental Health Region a few years back, and he says there needs to be questions that need to be asked, which up to this point have gone unanswered.

 

 

Plymouth County Board of Supervisors To Meet

(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will meet this morning (Tuesday) at the Plymouth County Courthouse Board Room.  The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m.

 

 

 

 

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit By Public Union

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A judge has dismissed a lawsuit by one of Iowa’s largest public workers unions that challenged the state’s new collective bargaining law. The ruling Monday by District Court Chief Arthur Gamble concludes the law’s new classification for public safety workers is rational. The American
Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Iowa Council 61 argued in its lawsuit that the classification – which allowed some workers to keep bargaining over working conditions taken away for others – violated the state
constitution. AFSCME Council 61 President Danny Homan says in a statement the union is considering its legal options, including an appeal. The decision comes after a separate judge dismissed a similar lawsuit filed by the state’s largest teachers union. Iowa State Education Association says it’s considering an appeal