Fire Department Responds To Pickup Truck On Fire
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a pickup truck that had caught on fire Saturday evening. The burning pickup was near the Cleveland Castle Park and was reported at about 10:42 p.m. Firefighters were
able to extinguish the blaze, but not before the pickup truck was lost to the fire.
photo contributed.
Fire Department Issues March Monthly Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a total of 26 calls during the month of March, that according to the latest monthly report.
There were 12 fires, two rescue calls, three investigations, seven requests for services, and twice the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department offered mutual aid, once with Merrill, and the other time with Oyens. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says during March, 34 firefighters were put through the smoke trailer for training at
the Western Iowa Technical Community College fire school, and 139 people attended the Fire and Rescue Department’s annual awards banquet.
Le Mars Police Investigate Domestic Assault Cases
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department has issued several news releases involving recent cases. The police report that on March 23rd at approximately 11:30 p.m. a victim of a domestic violence incident entered the police department to file an assault complaint. During the investigation, officers were able to
obtain a photographs of injuries sustained by the victim from being attacked by the defendant, 20-year old Austin Loers-Peters. Loers-Peters was later located and arrested for serious domestic assault.
(Le Mars) — The police also investigated a separate domestic assault incident. This case was reported on March 25th at about 5:00. 28-year old Eric Tilstra was the suspect in a domestic violence assault which occurred at a residence in Le Mars. Tilstra had already fled with the victim’s vehicle prior to the officer’s
arrival on scene. At approximately 6:40 p.m. officers received information that the suspect Tilstra, and the vehicle, could be located at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Tilstra was taken into custody at that location without incident. Tilstra was jailed on charges of domestic assault impeding air flow with injury, a class
D felony, operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent, an aggregated misdemeanor, interfering with an emergency communication, a simple misdemeanor; and driving with a suspended license.
April Is Designated As Distracted Driving Month
(Des Moines) — April has been designated as Distracted Driving Month. Distracted driving is one of the fastest growing safety issues on the roads today. Distracted drivers aren’t just a threat to themselves: they’re a danger to everyone else on the road. With more portable technology now than ever, driver distractions have risen to unprecedented numbers. We live in a world where people expect instant, real-time information 24 hours-a-day and those desires do not stop just because people get behind the wheel of a vehicle. Not all distractions are caused by electronic devices but drivers using hand-held devices while
driving are FOUR times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves or others.
Teen Driver Cell Phone Statistics: 11 teens die every day as a result of texting while driving. According to an AAA poll, 94% of teen drivers acknowledge the dangers of texting and driving, but 35% admitted to doing it anyway. 21% of teen drivers involved in fatal accidents were distracted by their cell phones.
To combat distracted driving, the Iowa Legislature passed a more comprehensive electronic communication devices law. Effective July 1, 2017, Iowa’s distracted driving law became a primary law meaning a law enforcement officer can stop any
driver who is texting (reading, writing, or sending) or using any other portable electronic device, unless the motor vehicle is at a complete stop and off the traveled portion of the roadway.
Be part of the solution: “Put it Down” when driving!
Mike and Cheryl Wells To Construct Events Center
(Le Mars) — With the goal in mind to make Le Mars a destination, Mike and Cheryl Wells recently acquired some land, located north of Le Mars, to construct an events center. Cheryl Wells first made the announcement at a recent Chamber
coffee. Wells talks about her goals.
Wells says it has been a dream of hers and husband Mike for several years to have an events center.
Wells says the location will be ideal for Le Mars, Sioux Center, and Orange City.
She says the event center will go hand-in-hand with their wedding cake business.
Cheryl Wells says the new events center will serve as another destination for Le Mars.
She says specific plans for the new events center have not yet been drawn up.
Iowa State University Lecturer Pleads Guilty To Public Intoxication
NEVADA, Iowa (AP) – A former Iowa State University lecturer arrested last year for public intoxication during class has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge.
The Des Moines Register reports that 56-year-old Gordon Branch Knight has pleaded guilty to first-offense public intoxication, a simple misdemeanor.Knight had been charged with second-offense public intoxication, a serious misdemeanor with penalties of up to a year in jail.
Knight was fined $200 plus court fees at a mid-March court hearing in the case.
Knight, who was philosophy and religious studies lecturer, was teaching a class in November when campus police arrested him. Court records showed it was his third alcohol-related arrest in little more than a year.
Knight is no longer employed at the university.
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Des Moines Police Identify Dead Woman’s Body
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a 71-year-old woman whose body was found in her home on the north side of Des Moines.
Police identified her as Nancy Heimbaugh.
Officers were called Friday afternoon to the home for a report of a death, which police have deemed suspicious. No arrests have been reported.
Police have not said how Heimbaugh died. An autopsy was ordered
Police say the woman’s car was missing from her home when officers arrived but it was later found elsewhere.
