Home News Thursday News, January 18th

Thursday News, January 18th

Akron Proposes New Aquatic Center

(Le Mars) — Three members of the Akron Family Aquatic Center Committee met with the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to discuss the proposed plans for a new water park for Akron. Char Hodnefield, Kourtney Nicholson, and Dan Rolfes shared with the county governing board the timetable and fund raising goals for the new aquatic center. Hodnefied, who serves as the president of Akron’s park and recreation board explained the major goals of the project.

Akron’s city administrator, Dan Rolfes, informed the county supervisors some of the problems with the existing swimming facilities.

The proposed aquatic center project is estimated to cost around $2 million, with an expected opening in May of 2020. The three members showed the supervisors an architecture drawing of the new aquatic center, and Rolfes informed the county board of its features.

Other features will include a lap swim area, a grass area for sunbathers, a slide tower, lily pads, and an area for shade.

The committee is requesting the county to consider funding $25,000 for the Akron aquatic center over a five-year time span. The three gave assurance to the county supervisors they intend to pursue several grant opportunities to assist with the funding of the community project.

 

 

Good Samaritan Society of Le Mars To Hold “Classic Rock Night” for Spring Fling

(Le Mars) — This year’s Good Samaritan Society of Le Mars Spring Fling will take on a “Classic Rock Night”. The 12th annual Spring Fling is scheduled for Thursday, February 22nd to be held at the Le Mars Convention Center. Karen Mousel, Administrator for the Le Mars Good Samaritan Society says the annual
event has a dual purpose – to raise funds to benefit current and future residents, and to raise awareness of the senior living and healthcare services offered by Good Samaritan Society. Eddie Webb, a Le Mars native, and now nationally known voice over artist and host of the nationally syndicated VH1 Classic Rock Nights will serve as one of the emcees for the event. Webb will be joined by Teresa Petty of American Bank. Webb got his start  at KLEM radio. He has interviewed and/or worked with several iconic names within the Rock musical industry, including Ozzie Osbourne, Guns and Roses, AC/DC, and many others. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. In honor of the Good Samaritan
Society of Le Mars 60th anniversary, the goal is to raise $600,000 towards the endowment campaign to benefit current and future residents. The evening will include a silent auction, a photo booth complete with “classic rock” outfits, and a style show featuring the latest spring and summer fashions from area
retail clothing stores. Dinner will be provided by M’s Catering, and an assortment of hot drinks will be provided by Habitue.

 

 

City Water Department Issues Annual Report

(Le Mars) — Many of the Le Mars city departments are reporting their annual and quarterly reports. The city water department submitted its annual report to the city council during Tuesday’s meeting. In the report, Rich Sudtelgte says the city pumped a total of 1.035 billion with a (b) gallons of water during 2017.
The daily average was at 2,727,917 gallons, which is up 20,084 gallons from the 2016 average. Perhaps, not all that surprising the month of July had the highest amount of water usage at 127,634,000. Sudtelgte says the percentage of non-accountable water usage was at 2.8 percent.

 

 

Sioux City Police Arrest Two Boys For Destroying Bee Hive Business

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City police have arrested two boys in connection with vandalism at a honey business that resulted in the destruction of roughly half a million bees.
Police arrested the boys, ages 12 and 13, on felony charges of criminal mischief, agricultural animal facilities offenses and burglary. They boys also were charged with the
aggravated misdemeanor possession of burglar tools.
Their arrest followed the December vandalism at Wild Hill Honey, where owners found all of their 50 hives had been knocked over, killing at least 500,000 bees. Damage was estimated at $60,000.
The operation wasn’t insured, as companies typically don’t offer beehive coverage. However, people have donated tens of thousands of dollars, and owners Justin and Tori Englehardt say they will rebuild their business.

 

 

No Charges For Spencer Shooting

SPENCER, Iowa (AP) – No charges will be filed in the shooting death of a man who broke into a home in Spencer.
The Clay County Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that 26-year-old Andres Ramos was justified on Sept. 1 when he shot 30-year-old Nicolas Bandomo, who had broken into a home. Authorities say Bandomo, of Albert City, was prohibited from making contact with residents of the home by protection orders.
Ramos, of Sibley, fired a single shot, hitting Bandomo, who then fled to a nearby home. Bandomo was taken to a hospital in Spencer, and then transferred to a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, hospital, where he died.
The attorney’s office says Ramos was justified under Iowa law in using deadly force.

 

 

Department of Human Services Trying To Fix Privatized Medicaid Program

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Human Services is still trying to fix errors in its database of health care providers enrolled in a new state-funded family planning program.
DHS Director Jerry Foxhoven told reporters Wednesday the agency continues to have problems with a list that’s supposed to help the public find services.
Among the issues are duplicate names.
Foxhoven added preliminary data indicates a drop in the number of people using family planning services under the state program, which went into effect last July. He cautioned some health care claims are still pending. He says DHS
must better advertise the program.
The Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature passed legislation last spring giving up millions in federal dollars to create a state-funded family planning program that excludes abortion providers. No state or federal dollars pay for abortions in Iowa.

 

 

Governor Speeding Lawsuit Trial Set For April

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An investigator fired after complaining about routine speeding by the governor’s state vehicle claims he faced harsher discipline than other employees because he embarrassed then-Gov. Terry Branstad.
Former Division of Criminal Investigation agent Larry Hedlund was removed from duty in 2013, days after he reported that an SUV in which Branstad and current Gov. Kim Reynolds were riding was speeding and complained to superiors that it was a safety hazard. He was soon fired for what his bosses called
insubordination that they say began before the speeding.
In documents part of a wrongful termination lawsuit, Hedlund’s lawyers argue that other Iowa Department of Public Safety supervisors committed more serious infractions but suffered lesser consequences.
The trial in April looms at an awkward time for Reynolds, who is running for re-election.