Remsen Fire Department And Ambulance Respond To Early Morning Accident
(Remsen) — The Remsen Fire Department and the Remsen Ambulance were dispatched to a two-vehicle accident that happened at the intersection of county road C-38 and Highway 140. The accident was reported at about 6:40 a.m. this morning. Mercy Air Care helicopter has been notified to transport one victim to Sioux City. There are at least two injured victims from that accident.
Le Mars Woman Given Probation For Forgery Charges
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Le Mars woman accused of passing counterfeit cash at a Sioux City casino has been given two years of probation.
Court records say 28-year-old Jackelen Hartsock, of Le Mars, pleaded guilty Tuesday to forgery after prosecutors dropped a theft charge as part of a plea agreement. She also was given a five-year suspended prison term.
Police say Hartsock, 29-year-old Brittany Derby and 27-year-old Kurt Jones made several cash transactions Aug. 5 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Police say the bills were later found to be counterfeit.
The records say Jones has pleaded not guilty to forgery and is scheduled to begin trial Tuesday. A Feb. 28 hearing is scheduled regarding a plea deal pending for the 29-year-old Derby.
House Agriculture Committee Hears From Secretary Bill Northey
(Le Mars) — The Iowa legislature has finished its second week of the General Assembly, but without having any bills come before the Iowa House to be voted upon. State Representative Chuck Holz of Le Mars reports a lot of work was done in the committee level during the shorten week, due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Holz serves as the vice chair for the Iowa House Agriculture Committee. He says the committee heard from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.
Holz says Northey discussed some of the issues facing the state agriculture department.
The Le Mars Republican says the state agriculture department is requesting the additional funding as a result of the Avian Bird Flu that struck the state’s poultry industry a few years back.
Holz says Northey also discussed with the State House Agriculture Committee the efforts to help improve Iowa’s water quality.
As mentioned, the legislators have not taken any votes as of yet, however, Holz believes the water quality bill may be voted on next week.
Iowa Senate Hires H-R Consultant
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Senate has hired an outside consultant to provide harassment prevention training to lawmakers.
Justine Morton tells The Associated Press on Thursday she will provide training through her company Morton Consulting. She confirms senators will receive training on Jan. 23 and Jan. 24. Senate staff, clerks and others will get training on Jan. 22 and Jan. 26.
Senate President Charlie Smithson says the training will cost up to $5,000 and the money will come from the chamber budget. Lawmakers and staff in the House received harassment training recently from the Iowa Civil Rights Commission for $250.
The Iowa Legislature is still responding to the aftermath of a $1.75 million lawsuit settlement involving a former Senate Republican staffer who says she was fired after reporting sexual misconduct in the workplace.
Ice Cream Days Parade May Need To Find Alternative Route Due To Planned Construction On Central Avenue
(Le Mars) — Plans for an overlay paving project scheduled for Central Avenue may interrupt the annual Ice Cream Days. During the recent city council meeting, a public hearing was held regarding the overlay paving project. The council approved the project which will accept bids on March 20th and the contract to be awarded on April 3rd. Pat Bickitt with Schlofeldt Engineering informed the city council the Iowa Department of Transportation has set the project’s last start date to be May 1st.
Assistant city administrator Jason Vacera was asking if the Central Avenue overlay paving project would be completed in time for Ice Cream Days, and in particular, for the Saturday parade.
Councilman Clark Goodchild posed the question if it would be best to propose a new parade route for this year’s Ice Cream Days?
Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Neil Adler told the city council members to allow the Ice Cream Days committee study the plans, and let them come up with a suitable alternative route.
Le Mars annual Ice Cream Days are scheduled for June 13th through June 16th.
City Officials To Close 1st Street SE On Sunday
(Le Mars) — City officials have announced Well’s North Ice Cream plant will be shutting down 1st St. S.E. between 1st Ave. S.E. and 2nd Ave. S.E. starting on Jan. 21st around 6:00 p.m. and will reopen it on Monday Jan. 22nd around 6:00 p.m. weather permitting.
Prison Guard Assaulted By Inmate
FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) – Officials say an inmate attacked a guard at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, inflicting minor injuries.
The assault occurred around 2:45 p.m. Thursday when the guard was searching an inmate’s cell. The Iowa Corrections Department said in a news release that the inmate used his fists in the attack. The guard and a colleague soon gained control of the situation.
The guard’s scratches and bruises were checked out, and he returned to his duties. The inmate was taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City for treatment.
Warren County Told To Close Its Jail
INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) – The state has told Warren County officials they must closed their troubled county jail by Feb. 2.
The Iowa Corrections Department said in a notice issued Thursday that the state order “is the result of years of ongoing issues with the jail facility.”
Among its problems: failing a state fire marshal’s inspection, inadequate water supplies, inmate escapes, mold, inadequate food storage, cleanliness. The jail is on the third floor of the county courthouse in Indianola
Iowa’s chief jail inspector had warned the county supervisors the state would close the jail if the county did not set a bond referendum vote by Jan. 31 to pay for renovations or a new structure. The board was expected to set a May 2 bond vote, but the item was removed from Tuesday’s agenda.
