Home News Thursday Afternoon News, December 21

Thursday Afternoon News, December 21

Library Director Comments On New Renovated Public Library

(Le Mars) — After several months of being closed due to renovation, the Le Mars Public Library is again open and operating from its home building. The library opened to the public on Wednesday, and many people took the opportunity to re- acquaint themselves with the newly remodeled library.  Library Services Director, Shirley Taylor says people have had a positive reaction to the new renovated library facility.

Taylor says young children have been attracted to the newly designed children’s area.

Taylor is hopeful when people see the improvements that have been made to the Le Mars Public Library, that they will want to use it more.

The Library Services Director says a first-time visitor to the Le Mars Public Library decided to sign up for a library card.

Taylor says the library is equipped with wireless internet capabilities, and she invites and encourages people to come to the library for computer services.

Taylor says the number of books and references that have been checked out on Wednesday overwhelms the number from a year ago.

The Le Mars Library Director says 783 people passed through the doors on Wednesday.  She says the city will probably hold an open house for the new library sometime in January.

 

 

Traffic Stop Results In Drug Possession Arrest

(Le Mars) — A traffic stop performed by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, resulted in an arrest for possession of drugs. The traffic stop was conducted on Tuesday, at 1:17 a.m. near the intersection of 4th Street southwest and 6th Avenue southwest in Le Mars. 44 year old John Collins of Le Mars was placed
under arrest. Collins was charged with possession of a controlled substance, and drug paraphernalia. He was later booked into the Plymouth County Jail.

 

 

Governor Reynolds Sets January 14th For Date For House Seat Special Election

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced a date early next year for a special election to fill a state House seat.
Reynolds says in a Thursday press release that the election for House District 6 will be held Jan. 16.
District 6 covers areas of Woodbury County in northwest Iowa. The seat became vacant after Rep. Jim Carlin, a Sioux City Republican, was elected to the Senate in a special election earlier this month.
The winner of the upcoming special election will serve Carlin’s remaining time in the House. He was in the middle of a two-year term.
The outcome of the recent Senate election and the upcoming House race will not impact Republican majorities in the Iowa Legislature. All seats in the House and half in the Senate will have elections in 2018.

 

 

Fire Is Blamed For Deaths From Bus Catching On Fire

OAKLAND, Iowa (AP) – An autopsy blames a fire for the deaths of a driver and teenager who were killed when a school bus burst into flames in western Iowa.
An autopsy from the Iowa State Medical Examiner released Wednesday found that 16-year-old Megan Klindt and 74-year-old Donnie Hendricks died Dec. 12 from smoke and soot inhalation and thermal injuries.
Their deaths were found to not be related to injuries from a crash.
It’s unclear what caused the bus to burst into flames as it backed out of a driveway and into a ditch. The fire happened shortly after Klindt was picked up at her family’s farm southeast of Oakland, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) east of Omaha, Nebraska.

 

 

Audit Shows University of Iowa Professor Misused Funds

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state audit says that a University of Iowa professor misused nearly $100,000 on hosting unauthorized conferences between 2011 and 2017.
Iowa State Auditor Mary Mosiman said Thursday that physics professor Michael Flatte improperly used his university procurement card to pay for $47,203.81 in expenses for three conferences. He also collected $44,161.69 in registration fees and used most of that for the conferences.
Flatte didn’t immediately respond to a phone message left at his office Thursday morning.

 

 

Delhi City Clerk Sentenced To Prison

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A Delhi city clerk has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to stealing more than $100,000 from the eastern Iowa city.
U.S. District Court Judge Linda Reade on Wednesday sentenced former Delhi City Clerk Angela Billings, of Anamosa, to 15 months in federal prison and ordered her to pay $133,915 in restitution to Delhi.
Billings had acknowledged stealing more than $100,000 from Delhi by using the city’s credit card for personal expenses and adjusting her own utility bill.
The thefts occurred between 2007 and 2015.
Delhi is a city of about 500 people, 25 miles west of Dubuque.