Home News Thursday News, June 14th

Thursday News, June 14th

Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and Le Mars Police Involved With High-speed Chase

(Le Mars) — Last evening at about 6:50 p.m. both the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Le Mars Police Department were involved in a high speed chase as a Sheriff’s deputy attempted to make a traffic stop near the intersection of Plymouth Street and 5th Avenue in Le Mars. The vehicle immediately fled and continued to flee through the southeast portion of town.
The Le Mars Police Department joined the pursuit of the vehicle as it left the city limits of Le Mars heading south on 7th Avenue Southeast or county road K-49. The vehicle continued heading south on county road K-49 at speeds of excess of 100 mph. The vehicle then entered Woodbury County and then headed west on county road D-12. Woodbury county deputies were able to
deploy stop sticks and deflate and then completely flatten at least one tire.
The vehicle finally was stopped near the intersection of county road D-12 and Floyd Blvd. in Woodbury County, near Sioux City. The driver was a white male then fled on foot. After a short foot chase, he was taken into custody by a Woodbury County Sheriff’s deputy and his K9 partner. The driver, was
identified as 23 year old Alexander Summer of Cushing, Iowa. He is currently being held at Woodbury County Jail on numerous charges. He will also be charged in Plymouth County for aggravated eluding, and driving while license was suspended along with a long list of traffic charges. A female passenger
was detained at the scene, but ultimately was released without charges.
Plymouth County was assisted by the Le Mars Police Department, Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Department of Transportation.

 

 

 

Fatal Accident Involving Sprayer Equipment and Train At Buena Vista County

(Storm Lake) — A deadly accident occurred Wednesday morning at Buena Vista County involving an agricultural sprayer unit and a CN train. According to a release issued by the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office the accident happened at about 9:13 a.m. on Wednesday. The driver of the sprayer, 33 year
old Kyle Drey of Storm Lake had been ejected from the agricultural equipment he was operating. Drey was pronounced dead at the scene by the Buena Vista County Medical Examiner’s Office. Preliminary investigation indicates the train was eastbound, and the sprayer had been eastbound and turned north to cross the railroad tracks. The train collided with the sprayer causing it to roll into the ditch. The train was operated by CN Railroad out of Fort Dodge.

 

 

Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor To Make Major Changes

(Le Mars) — Major changes are in store for the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars. The popular ice cream parlor already attracts more than 200 thousand visitors each year, but officials with Wells Enterprises, the makers of Blue Bunny ice cream, believe with a multi-million dollar renovation project being planned, the ice cream stop will attract even more tourists.
Adam Baumgartner, Vice President of Wells Enterprises, Retail Sales says the redesigned parlor will provide for more than just a place to enjoy America’s favorite sweet treat.

Following the renovation of the popular ice cream parlor, Baumgartner says the Le Mars attraction will feature interactive displays and make the Blue Bunny parlor more of a tourist destination.

The new ice cream parlor will feature an outdoor rooftop seating area, as well as a virtual tour of the ice cream plant.
The parlor will close this autumn between October 1st and November 19th for construction to take place, and again next spring between March 1st and mid- June to complete the renovations. It is expected to open in time for Le Mars
150th Sesquicentennial-Ice Cream Days celebration scheduled for next June.

 

 

Mayor Kirchoff Says He’s Pleased With Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor Announcement

(Le Mars) — Le Mars mayor, Dick Kirchoff attended the Chamber coffee and listened to the announcement. Kirchoff says he’s pleased to learn about the renovations being planned for the ice cream parlor.

He says the ice cream parlor has already proven itself as a tourist destination, but with the improvements, Kirchoff says it will promote even more tourism to Le Mars.

 

 

Donlin Says He Intends To Remain In Le Mars Following Retirement

(Le Mars) — On Tuesday, it was announced Floyd Valley Healthcare Administrator, Mike Donlin, would be retiring from his position at Floyd Valley at the end of November.  The announcement had many people wondering what Donlin was planning following his retirement?  Specifically, if he, and
wife Patty would remain in Le Mars?

Donlin says he plans to continue as the chairman of the Le Mars Community Betterment Foundation, as well as other community commitments.

Donlin says he wants to see Le Mars continue to grow.

 

 

Day Two Schedule of Events For Ice Cream Days

(Le Mars) — Today is day two of Ice Cream Days, and we again check with Teresa Petty of the Chamber Ice Cream Days Committee about the schedule of events for this Thursday.

 

 

 

Waterloo Man Sentenced To Six Years In Federal Prison For Threatening Senator Joni Ernst

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A 34-year-old Waterloo man who sent threatening tweets to U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst has been sentenced to six years in federal prison.
Federal prosecutors say Joseph Hilton Dierks was sentenced Wednesday in Cedar Rapids’ federal courthouse. A judge noted at the sentencing Dierks’ criminal history, which included a prior conviction for harassing a Waterloo police officer and carrying weapons.
Prosecutors had said Dierks sent Ernst several threatening tweets in August, one which suggested he would shoot her and included a link to a 2010 movie in which a man shoots a woman in the head and kills her.
U.S. Capitol Police contacted the Waterloo police and officers sent to Dierks’ home say he promised to “tone it down.” Within 24 hours he was sending more threatening tweets to Ernst.

 

 

State Auditor Investigates County Soil and Water Conservation Office

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have launched another investigation into the suspected misuse of public money by an employee at an Iowa soil and water conservation district.
The latest case involves the Jasper County district in Newton.
A spokesman for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship tells The Associated Press the agency was notified May 25 about concerns involving a district employee’s use of funding, which were discovered during an audit of the district’s financial records.
State Auditor Mary Mosiman and law enforcement officials are now looking into the case.
A similar audit and criminal investigation have been going on for
months into an employee who allegedly misused funds while working as an assistant in the soil districts based in Black Hawk and Bremer counties.
A 2014 audit found that an employee in the Mahaska County district embezzled $280,000.

 

 

Cedar Rapids Man Loses Fingers From Exploding Fireworks

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – The city of Cedar Rapids says a man who lit a firework lost parts of several fingers after the device exploded while he was holding it.
Officials said Wednesday in a news release that the incident happened Tuesday evening, severely damaging one of the 19-year-old man’s hands.
Officials reminded the public that use of fireworks within city
limits is banned.
The Cedar Rapids Fire Department says it responded last year to 13 fire incidents involving fireworks, including three building fires. Hospitals in the area treated 21 patients last year for fireworks injuries.

 

 

Investigators Looking At Death Of Infant

DUNKERTON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say they’re investigating the death of a child in northeastern Iowa.
The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office says deputies and medics were called to a Dunkerton home around 7:40 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a child not breathing. Officials say the child was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and pronounced dead.
An autopsy has been ordered.
Dunkerton is about 15 miles northeast of Waterloo.
Authorities were not releasing other details, including the child’s
name and age, Wednesday afternoon.