Thomas To Speak About Overcoming Adversity
(Le Mars) — Overcoming adversity is the topic for a motivational speech scheduled for Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Le Mars Convention Center.
Aaron Thomas, is a high school basketball coach, but also the son of the famous legendary high school football coach Ed Thomas of Parkersburg. Thomas has a passion for impacting lives in a positive manner. Jason Vande Brake with
Northwestern Bank of Le Mars attended Drake College with Thomas, and says he is a charismatic individual that has the opportunity to turn heads when he walks
into a room.
Aaron Thomas
The town of Parkersburg saw a tornado destroy the community in May of 2008, leaving behind seven people that had died, and 70 others injured. Shortly after a year had passed, the community recovered from the damage left by the tornado,
tragedy struck again to the Parkersburg community, and to the Thomas family, as Ed, Aaron’s father, was shot and killed by a past student on June 24th, 2009.
Ed Thomas was honored by sports television network, ESPN and the NFL for his leadership qualities, and community support. He led the Applington-Parkersburg football team to several state tournament appearances, winning the title twice, and also had four of his players selected to play in the National Football League. Vande Brake says Aaron Thomas will challenge the attendees to examine their lives, and to make the best effort to help others.
There is no registration for the Wednesday evening’s event, and there is free admission to the public.
Panora Man Faces Kidnapping and Sexual Abuse Charges
PANORA, Iowa (AP) – A western Iowa man faces kidnapping, sexual abuse and other charges after authorities say he beat and raped a woman.
The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office tells Des Moines television station KCCI that deputies were called to a Lake Panorama home near Panora after midnight Wednesday. A woman told them that 34-year-old Michael Mackenzie Taylor punched her in the face and choked her until she passed out, then forced her into nearby trees where he raped her. She said Taylor threatened to kill her if she made a sound.
Deputies say the woman eventually managed to escape and run to a nearby patrol car.
Taylor is being held at the Guthrie County Jail on a $1 million cash-only bail. If convicted of all charges, faces life in prison.
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Ottumwa Student Arrested For Bringing Weapons To School
OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) – Police say a 16-year-old who took a loaded handgun into Ottumwa High School has been charged with a felony.
The Ottumwa Courier reports that the school resource officer and a school administrator found the gun and a knife blade in the student’s backpack Thursday morning. He was arrested and charged with carrying a weapon on school grounds. The Associated Press generally doesn’t name juveniles accused of crimes.
The school district says the boy showed the gun to another student, who then notified a teacher who alerted the resource officer. The officer and the administrator removed the boy from a classroom and then searched the backpack.
His parents were notified. It’s unclear why the boy was armed.
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Supreme Court Rules Woman Can Sue Her Boss
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court is allowing a woman to sue her boss and the small insurance agency company he led for sex discrimination and emotional distress.
The decision released Friday lets Joanne Cote take her case to a jury, but it’s more broadly significant because it means incorporated small businesses in Iowa cannot avoid compliance with the Iowa Civil Rights Act.
The case centers on the Derby Insurance Agency in Sioux City, its owner Kevin Dorn and Cote, the office manager. Cote alleged Dorn repeatedly showed his genitals at the office.
Cote sued in 2014 but Dorn tried to dismiss the lawsuit, citing a 1965 Iowa law exempting businesses with fewer than four employees, excluding family members, from Iowa Civil Rights Act compliance.
The court says incorporated businesses can’t use that law to escape civil rights actions.
Ankeny Woman Sues Iowa Department of Transportation
ANKENY, Iowa (AP) – A woman who was forced to view sexually explicit photos of her examiner during a driving test is suing the Iowa Department of Transportation for damages.
The 49-year-old was seeking a license when she was paired with John Alexander for the test at the Ankeny DOT station in 2016.
Records show Alexander instructed her to pull into a parking lot, handed her his phone and instructed her to delete several photos of his penis. He then forced her to view a video of him masturbating while making comments about her breasts and his sexual history. Alexander gave her a passing score but threatened her to keep quiet. She nonetheless reported the half-hour incident to police.
Alexander, 62, was fired, pleaded guilty to felony misconduct, and was sentenced to probation.
The lawsuit accuses DOT of being negligent in hiring Alexander and allowing him to be secluded with customers.
