Additional Charges Filed On Orange City Man Accused Of Having Sexual Abuse With Minors
(Orange City) — Additional charges have been filed against an Orange City man for sexual assault. 56-year old Scott McAdam was originally arrested on November 20th from a sexual assault investigation by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office.
The arrest stemmed from a report that McAdam had inappropriate and unwanted sexual contact with two minors. Deputies discovered that McAdam had sexual contact with the two minors several times over the past two years. McAdam was
initially charged with two counts of 2nd degree sexual assault, and four counts of 3rd degree sexual assault, lascivious contact with a minor and assault.
After conducting an investigation, the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office have added 16 more charges against McAdam. The Orange City man has now been charged with six counts of exploitation of a minor, one count of possession of material
exploiting a minor, and nine counts of invasion of privacy.
Holz Attends Forum On Nursing Care Facilities
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Good Samaritan Society along with the Iowa Health Care Association hosted a legislative forum Wednesday morning that focused on various health-related issues, nursing care, assisted living, residential care, and home
health care. Iowa State Representative Chuck Holz of Le Mars attended the forum and says it was beneficial for him as a state lawmaker.
Holz says he was particularly disturbed to learn the bureaucratic red tape, along with regulatory fines for Iowa nursing care facilities, are much stricter for what could be considered as minor infractions, when compared to other nursing care facilities in other states with similar infractions. Holz says
many times, cases under review are transferred to the federal level in Kansas City, when they could be dealt with on either a local, or a state level.
As Iowa’s population continues to age, more money will need to be diverted to long-term care facilities in order to offer adequate nursing to the elderly and the handicapped. The problem for the state legislature is the state has been running short on its revenue sources. So, is there enough funding to support
the nursing home industry with all their needs and requests?
Several officials from northwest Iowa nursing care facilities attended that forum.
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. Kim was appointed Interim President last May when the former President & CEO Patrick Schmitz left
to accept a similar position in the Kansas City area. Kim’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. Kim 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 Information About A Kingsley Water Quality Project
(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.
Le Mars Community And Gehlen Catholic Dance Teams To Compete At State Dance Contest
(Le Mars) — Both the Gehlen Catholic, and the Le Mars Community Dance Teams are scheduled to compete at the Iowa State Dance & Drill Team Association’s 2018 Team Championships at the Wells Fargo Arena/HyVee Hall in Des Moines. Gehlen will perform on Thursday, while the Le Mars Community Dance team will show off their moves on Friday.
Gehlen Catholic Dance Team Moderator, Jackie Heissel says the team will compete in the Kick & Lyrical categories in Class 1A. Meanwhile, the Le Mars Community Dance Team will perform its pom routine on Friday morning, and its jazz set will be performed Friday afternoon. Terri Martin, the Le Mars Community Dance Team Coordinator says former team members Katie Driggs and Linsay Martin-Lync choreographed the Le Mars Community Dance routine.
The 2017-2018 Gehlen Catholic Dance Team is comprised of:
Senior: • Carlyn Bretey, the daughter of Dr. Keith & Teri Bretey of LeMars, a 4 year veteran;
Juniors:• Alleana Aquino, daughter of Albert & Dr. Ellen Aquino of LeMars, a 3 year veteran;• Sage Goergen, daughter of Dan & Carla Goergen of Granville, a 2 year veteran; • Isabelle Kessenich, daughter of Chris & Dawn Kessenich of Kingsley, a 2 year veteran; • Grace Kreber, daughter of Chad & Jennifer Kreber of Alton, a 3 year veteran;
Sophomore: • Sydney Logan, daughter of Rick & Tammy Logan of LeMars, a 2 year veteran;
Freshmen:• Olivia Budden, daughter of Austin & Lori Budden of Alton; • Elizabeth Hansen, daughter of Jeff & Jill Hansen of LeMars;• Lillian Kessenich, daughter of Chris & Dawn Kessenich of Kingsley;• Emily Klein, daughter of Jim & Mary Klein of LeMars;• Ella Kreber, daughter of Chad & Jennifer Kreber of Alton;• Karoline Kroll, daughter of Theresa Kroll & Josh Kroll, both of LeMars; &• Chloe Otto, daughter of Dean & Sarah Otto of Hospers.
Le Mars Community has 17 members in its Dance Club, and they include: Jayden Wiltgen
Katelyn Lewis
Regan Albers
Samii Murra
Sydney Louison
Cassidy Pravecek
Kim Arreola
Haley Majeres
Isabelle Majeres
Rachael Minar
Hailey Kellen
Jenna Laughton
Carlie Arens
Zoey Campbell
Anna Sullivan and
Hannah Albert.
photo contributed.
Sioux City Overcharging Communities For Sewer Service
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City officials have found they were mistaken about a wastewater service charge to three neighboring cities.
The officials thought they’d discovered the neglected charge during an audit and notified officials in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; North Sioux City, South Dakota; and South Sioux City, Nebraska, that Sioux City would begin imposing the 7 percent charge.
Sioux City officials have since learned they were wrong. Utilities director Mark Simms told the Sioux City Journal Wednesday that additional research uncovered a nearly four-decade-old document that showed the service charge was folded into the existing rates.
Simms says Sioux City has notified the other cities that it had made a mistake and would not be levying the charge.
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University Presidents Talk With Governor Reynolds About Budgets
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Presidents of Iowa’s three state universities are asking for funding to pay for more financial aid for undergraduate students. But stagnant tax revenue could make additional spending unlikely. The Des Moines Register reports the university presidents requested $12 million on Tuesday from Gov. Kim Reynolds. Iowa State University and the University of Iowa each requested $5 million, while the University of Northern Iowa asked for $2 million. The requests come after Reynolds cautioned that Iowa may face another tight budget next year. But she says she’s committed to working with the presidents to provide quality education. State funding at the universities was slashed by more than $30 million this year. The university presidents also requested $40 million for major campus construction projects.
