Sheriff’s Deputy Helps Elderly Couple Avoid Being Scammed For Money
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputies help save an elderly couple from possible being scammed out of potentially hundreds of dollars on Monday. Deputy Aaron Leusink says the incident began with a 9-1-1 call from a residence in southern Plymouth County.
The woman’s husband was on the phone downstairs with a caller claiming to be with the Internal Revenue Service. The supposedly “I-R-S” representative told her husband that the couple had owed some money, and he was sending law enforcement to their home if they did not comply to agree to pay what they supposedly had owed.
At that point the deputy got on the phone, with the fake I-R-S representative.
Luesink says by a timely coincidence, the deputy saved the elderly couple from giving out personal information, and making a costly mistake. Luesink reminds people that the IRS, or other authorities will never ask you for your bank account, or credit card information, over the phone, or ask you to go to Walmart and purchase gift cards in order to settle a debt.
Senator Ernst Visits Schuster Company
(Le Mars) — U-S Senator Joni Ernst was seated behind the steering wheel of a semi truck Tuesday afternoon as she toured the facilities of Schuster’s Company of Le Mars. Ernst says she wanted to learn more about the trucking industry and
some of its issues. Owner Steve Schuster and General Manager Jeff Arens showed the Senator how the local trucking firm has incorporated modern technology, including satellite technology, to always be tracking its fleet of more than 400 trucks and trailers.
The U-S Senator informed Schuster officials and the accompanying media how impressed she was with the local trucking firm.
An issue facing the over-the-road trucking industry is the electronic logs that are being installed and used in trucks across the nation. Schuster says their trucks have been equipped with the new electronic logs since 2011. However, truck drivers have encountered a bit of a problem with the new system. While
waiting for their load to be ready for pick-up, or if they are not moving due to traffic congestion, the electronic log keeps on ticking. Steve Schuster says it would be nice if federal regulators would allow a split electronic logging system.
Schuster says if truck drivers were allowed to have a split-timing electronic logs, they would become better drivers.
Ernst informed Schuster officials that she is hopeful different rules and regulations can be implemented to make the roads safer for the truck drivers, and for all motorists.
Yesterday’s visit was the first for the Republican U-S Senator to the local trucking firm.
Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Hosts Trivia Night
(Le Mars) — Nearly 130 people were scratching their heads, dusting off their brain cells, and testing their memory, trying to recall what many people consider as insignificant facts as they participated in the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce
Trivia Night. Teams of eight competed against each other Tuesday evening at the Le Mars Convention Center, answering two sets of 20 trivia questions. “Big Daddy” Denny Anderson, the morning radio announcer from Classic Rock 99.5 was the
evening’s host.
Anderson had random questions flash up on a screen. The questions were across the board and were not of any specific category. On a few occasions, contestants were showed a photo of a celebrity during their youth, or early years, and contestants needed to guess who was the featured celebrity.
Contestants had questions such as “How many rooms are in the White House?”
“Which President is considered as the father of the Constitution?” and “What is
the characteristic of a nimbostratus cloud?”
The teams had approximately a couple of minutes to write down their answer on a card, and submit that answer to the scorer’s table. Teams from Primebank, American Bank, Le Mars Community School, Northwest Bank, Schuster Trucking, Kingsley State Bank, and many others all tried their best at answering the trivia questions. When the evening had concluded it was the team “Healing and Feeling” from Floyd Valley Healthcare that
emerged victorious. By the way, the answers to the above mentioned trivia questions are: There are 132 rooms are in the White House, James Madison is the president considered the father of the Constitution, and dark clouds containing precipitation. The evening’s event proved to be fun for everyone, and the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce was able to raise funds for future projects.
Officials To Test Warning Sirens Today
(Le Mars) — This week marks National Severe Weather Awareness Week, a time when weather officials wants us to be prepared for any type of severe weather including flooding, thunder storms, and tornadoes. At 10:00 a.m. this Wednesday
morning, a mock tornado watch will be issued for the entire state of Iowa, followed by a practice tornado warning. Warning sirens across the state, region, and here in Le Mars will sound. Officials hope people will take the opportunity to practice their tornado drill and go to the most lower level in a building, or
an interior room, away from windows.
Mercy Health Center Hires New President
SIOUX CITY, IA: Following an extensive national search and interview process which included members of the management staff, medical staff and board of directors, Mercy Health Network Iowa (MHN) and Trinity Health are pleased to announce the selection of Beth Hughes as the next president of Mercy Medical
Center – Sioux City.
Hughes currently serves as the vice president of hospital operations and strategy at The Advis Group in Mokena, Illinois. She brings more than 27 years of experience in health care and a long list of accomplishments to Siouxland. Prior to her current position, she served as president of St. Elizabeth’s Medical
Center in Boston, Massachusetts. While there, she grew several lines of service and increased the patient referrals to St. Elizabeth’s by 18 %. Before St. Elizabeth’s, Hughes served as the regional president and CEO of Presence Health
(formerly Provena Health) in Chicago, Illinois. Under her leadership, physician partnerships were strengthened and the hospital experienced tremendous growth in services offered. Hughes is also credited with the addition of a new 25,000
square foot medical office pavilion, and a new 30,000 square foot Senior Health Pavilion. In addition, she implemented Presence Health strategic initiatives and assisted in the creation of a new operating model, resulting in a more unified and integrated health system.
Corbett Will Not Appear On Primary Ballot
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state review panel says Ron Corbett, the sole Republican challenging Gov. Kim Reynolds in Iowa’s gubernatorial race, failed to qualify for the primary ballot because of paperwork.
The State Objection Panel concluded Tuesday that Corbett didn’t submit enough valid signatures to be on the June 5 ballot. The panel agreed duplicative signatures put Corbett below the 4,005-signature threshold by just eight names.
The panel ultimately voted 2-1 to reject his paperwork.
Corbett’s attorneys argued signatures that had initially been crossed off the submitted paperwork should count, but the panel disagreed.
The decision means Reynolds will not have a formal primary challenger, allowing her to focus on the November general election. Six Democrats and two libertarians are also running for governor.
A GOP strategist had challenged Corbett’s duplicative signatures. Corbett says he’ll consider legal options, but he believes they’re limited.
Funeral Services Planned For Iowa Family That Died In Mexico
CRESTON, Iowa (AP) – Funeral arrangements have been scheduled for an Iowa couple and their children who died at a Mexican resort.
A visitation is set for Friday at the Powers Funeral Home in Creston for 41 -year-old Kevin Sharp and his wife, 38-year-old Amy Sharp, and their children, 12-year-old Sterling and 7-year-old Adrianna.
A Mexican prosecutor says a gas leak in a water heater is suspected of killing them inside their rented condominium in Tulum. Their bodies were found Friday.
The Des Moines Register reports that a memorial service is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in the gymnasium at Southwestern Community College in Creston,
where Amy and Kevin Sharp took classes. The burial will be closed to the public.
The family was reported missing by relatives about a week after they left for vacation.
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Jury Tampering Being Investigated
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A judge is refusing to order a new trial after receiving an anonymous letter claiming a juror was bribed to favor the University of Iowa in a medical malpractice case.
Judge Chad Kepros ruled Tuesday he believes the letter was likely a hoax written by an upset juror but he can’t rule out other possibilities.
He says a two-year investigation turned up no evidence any bribe was offered, and overturning the verdict would be “contrary to the fair administration of justice.”
Jurors ruled 7-1 that UI Hospitals and Clinics was negligent in treating a Tama mother during delivery but rejected the family’s claim that her daughter’s severe brain injuries could have been prevented.
Kepros received a letter purporting to be from a juror who claimed a man handed him an envelope containing $5,000 and urged him to side with defendants. The dissenting juror is considered the prime suspect.
Iowa Man Faces 240 Years In Prison For Child Pornography
TIPTON, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa faces up to 240 years in prison when he’s sentenced for producing child pornography involving a prepubescent child and for trading child pornography.
A jury convicted 40-year-old Christian Hansen, of Tipton, on Friday of multiple child sexual exploitation and child pornography counts. He’ll be sentenced at a later date.
Prosecutors say Hansen was already a registered sex offender for crimes in Nebraska when he took photos of a child’s genital area last year and emailed the photos to other people. Hansen also traded child pornography with others and had the pornography on multiple devices.
Hansen was convicted in 2011 of three counts of possession of child pornography in Nebraska.
