Hull Auto Repair Business Catches On Fire
(Hull) — Fire damaged an auto repair business in Hull during the weekend. Hull Fire Chief Greg Van Roeckel says the Hull Fire Department, Rock Valley Fire Department and the Sioux Center Fire Department responded to the alarm at about
4:40 a.m. Sunday morning.
Van Roeckel says the fire is under investigation. He is not certain as to the cause and origin of the fire, but suspects the fire is believed to be due to an electrical system malfunction. Chief Van Roeckel says the business sustained about $10,000 in damages. Fire crews were on the scene for more than two hours.
Democratic Nominating Committee Selects Wendt
(Merrill) — Former Le Mars Community school superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt accepted the nomination from the Democratic nominating committee to be the candidate for the State Senate District 3 position. The Democrats met on Saturday in Merrill to discuss their choice of candidates. Wendt was the only
candidate interested in the position. He made a short speech to introduce himself, as well as to share with the nominating committee his thoughts and the reasons why he is interested in seeking the State Senate 3 seat. The Republican nominating committee will meet this evening at Sioux City. They will decide
between current House member Jim Carlin of Sioux City, and Akron city councilman Alex Pick. The special election is scheduled for December 12th. State Senate District 3 involves most of Plymouth County, as well as the northern section of Woodbury County along with a portion of the Morningside neighborhood in Sioux City.
Facebook Chooses Des Moines For Digital Business Center
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Facebook has chosen Des Moines as one of 30 cities for a program that helps equip small businesses with digital skills.
The Des Moines Register reports that the program will help businesses build their digital presence on the social media giant.
Facebook officials say the company has invested $1 billion into supporting small businesses since 2011. In 2016, it offered similar training for small businesses in Iowa City and Altoona, where it operates a $1.5 billion data center.
Aneesh Raman, who works on Facebook’s policy team, says the company’s goal is to have a lasting impact on the businesses that receive guidance. Raman says most of the 70 million businesses with a Facebook presence are small and medium
firms.
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Assistant Attorney General Wants To Challenge For State Auditor
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former Iowa assistant attorney general plans to challenge the Republican state auditor in next year’s midterm elections.
Rob Sand, a Democrat who served with Attorney General Tom Miller between 2010 and earlier this year, announced his candidacy for state auditor Monday against incumbent Mary Mosiman.
Sand gained attention in the AG’s office for prosecuting a jackpot scandal that involved a former lottery programmer admitting to rigging computers that enabled him to pick winning numbers in several lottery games. Sand also prosecuted fraud related to the state’s filmmaking tax credit program.
Mosiman was appointed state auditor in 2013 following the resignation of former State Auditor David Vaudt. She was elected to a full four-year term the following year.
Algona Teacher Loses Teaching License
ALGONA, Iowa (AP) – A state board has suspended the teaching license of a northern Iowa teacher and coach was accused of being intoxicated at school.
The Globe Gazette in Mason City reports that the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners ordered the suspension of Chad Ahlers’ teaching and coaching licenses for two years. He also was ordered to complete a 15-hour ethics course for educators.
Ahlers was a math teacher and track and cross country coach at Algona High School. He says he has struggled with depression and alcohol use and apologized to his friends, family and former co-workers.
Ahlers resigned in May after an investigation found the 46-year-old had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit to drive while he was at work.
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