Vehicle Hits Lampe Auto Sales In Merrill
(Merrill) — Reports of an erratic driver heading north on Highway 75 lead to an accident involving a vehicle striking the Lampe Auto Sales of Merrill. At about 12:35 p.m. Thursday afternoon, law enforcement and rescue crews were
summoned to the scene of an accident involving a car that crossed the median, traveled through the ditch and consequently hit a parked van that was for sale on the Lampe Auto lot, causing both vehicles to then strike the building. Both the
parked van and the vehicle involved, collided with the building doing damage to the corner of the structure. Shortly before the accident was reported, calls to the Plymouth County Communications Center were received regarding an erratic
driver heading north. The driver of the vehicle, a male victim, was transported to Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars. No one inside the Lampe Auto Sales was injured. The Merrill Police Department is investigating the accident.
The Merrill Fire Department, Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Le Mars Ambulance, Merrill Ambulance, Merrill Police, and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office all responded to the scene.
Two People Arrested For Drug Possession Charges
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office have arrested two people for drug possession charges. The arrests were made on Monday at about 9:00 p.m. following a traffic stop near the Highway 12 and county road K-18 south intersection. The driver of the vehicle, 20 year old Alfred Cisneros Hernadez of Sioux City, was charged for a second offense of possession of a controlled substance. Meanwhile, the passenger, 18-year old Madison Otter of Sioux City was placed under arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia. Both individuals
were later booked into the Plymouth County Jail.
Kingsley Woman Arrested For Outstanding Warrant
(Le Mars) — A rural Kingsley woman was arrested by Plymouth County Sheriff’s officials on a warrant for failure to appear in court. 38 year old Krista Ann Brown was arrested on Wednesday. The original charge was for failure to pay fines associated with a charge of theft. Brown was held on a $500 bond.
Plains Area Mental Health Names New President-CEO
(Le Mars) — Plains Area Mental Health has selected a new president and Chief Executive Officer. Kimberly Keleher has been promoted to the position of President and CEO of Plains Area effective immediately. Keleher was appointed Interim President last May when the former President & CEO Patrick Schmitz left
to accept a similar position in the Kansas City area. Keleher’s efforts the past 7 months to stabilize the organization, provide transparency where needed, and work to build relations with employees and stakeholders, has been exemplary.
Plains Area continues to do the honorable work addressing the mental health needs in NW Iowa, within the turbulent mental health environment. Keleher and her team have guided Plains Area to be fiscally sound, and is staffed with excellent employees, as we make plans for 2018 and beyond.
Plains Area Mental Health is a non-profit community mental health center providing services to residents of Buena Vista, Calhoun, Carroll, Cherokee, Crawford, Greene, Ida, Monona, Plymouth, Sac, and Sioux Counties.
Supervisors Hear Plan To Help With A Kingsley Water Quality Program
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday were told of a proposed water quality project to be implemented near Kingsley. Bridget Durst is the Source Water Community Facilitator with the Conservation Districts of Iowa appeared before the county governing board. She says the effort is to help protect source water.
Although the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have not taken formal action on the proposal, Durst says they were interested in the project. She says through out the state, agricultural organizations, civic groups, and public and
private entities have expressed an interest in assisting with the water quality projects.
Durst says the efforts for the Kingsley project are just getting started.
A meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, December 14th at the Kingsley Community Center in Kingsley beginning at 11:30 a.m.
DNR Investigates Hunter Shooting Accident
WOOLSTOCK, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a pheasant hunter in north-central Iowa was accidentally shot when a dog stepped on a shotgun trigger guard and the gun fired.
The Iowa Natural Resources Department says the shooting occurred around 1:20 p.m. Wednesday at a public hunting area near Woolstock in southwestern Wright County. The department says four hunters and two dogs were looking for the game birds when one of the hunters placed a loaded 12-gauge shotgun on the ground. It went off when one of the dogs stepped on the trigger guard, and shotgun load sprayed another hunter. The department says several pellets lodged in the back of William Rancourt, of Lebanon, New Hampshire, but he was able to walk soon after being wounded.
He was taken to a hospital in Fort Dodge for treatment.
State Runs Out Of Legal Options Regarding Lawsuit
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa has exhausted its challenges to a lawsuit filed by a former state employee who said an agency fired him because of a work injury, and the costs to the state could top $1 million. The Iowa Supreme Court declined this month to hear an appeal from the state connected to a 2013 lawsuit filed by former Iowa Department of Natural Resources worker John Vetter. The move affirms a May 2017 ruling from the lower Iowa Court of Appeals that sided with Vetter. Vetter alleged he was fired in 2013 after a work-related injury to his back. Following a 2015 trial, a district court judge ordered Iowa to pay more than $930,000. The state appealed. The judge is now determining final costs associated with the appeal. Vetter’s lawyers say new expenses like interest and attorneys’ fees have increased the total due to more than $1 million. A spokesman for the attorney general’s office declined to comment.
Law Enforcement Center Needs To Remove Mold
JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Law Enforcement Academy is seeking expert guidance on whether to fix its moldy facility or relocate.
The academy in Johnston trained more than 11,000 law enforcement personnel last year. It underwent a cleaning after tests in December 2015 showed high levels of mold.
The underlying causes of the mold have not been removed, however. Academy director Judy Bradshaw told The Des Moines Register the sources are the plumbing and HVAC systems.
The academy is seeking $10 million from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund, which is funded in part by Iowa gambling revenue.
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Trial For Boarding School Employee Remains In Lee County
KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) – The sex abuse trial of a former boarding school owner will remain in South Lee County District Court.
On Tuesday Judge John Linn denied the prosecution’s request for a change of venue regarding Ben Trane, who owned and operated the now defunct Midwest Academy in Keokuk. Linn says the prosecution’s evidence and arguments regarding
pretrial publicity and Trane’s extensive community ties didn’t convince him that an impartial jury couldn’t be empaneled.
Investigators allege Trane used his position at the for-profit academy to pursue sexual relationships with teenage students. A judge has awarded a default judgment to parents and former students who sued, alleging the school used isolation boxes and allowed sexual harassment and abuse.
The trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 12.
