Le Mars Public Library Request For An Additional Full-time Employee
(Le Mars) — City council members debated Tuesday whether or not to approve a request for a full-time employee position with the Le Mars Public Library.
Library Board president Robin Hermsen, along with Le Mars Public Library Director Shirley Taylor appeared before the council to offer information as to why the new position is warranted. Hermsen informed the city council the library has witnessed an increase of traffic and more people are using the library’s resources. He says another employee is needed to help enhance the library’s services and to help stabilize the staff scheduling,
City Administrator Scott Langel says he is not against adding an employee to the library staff, but he says there remains several questions about the position.
Langel indicated he was uncertain as to the requested employee’s title, and subsequently, the amount of benefits that would be extended to the new employee.
The city council did not take any action on the employee request, and have decided to table the issue to a later date.
Sioux City Police Arrest Three Men Suspected Of Breaking Into Radio Transmitter Tower Facility
(Sioux City) — Sioux City Police have identified and issued citations to three men suspected of breaking in to the KSCJ transmitter building on July 31st.
23-year-old Joshua Gardner, 19-year-old Jeffery Grillet and 18-year-old Chance Packard are charged with criminal trespass.
Detective Jeff Harstad says the three men claim that they were on an expedition to find paranormal activity.
The would be “ghostbusters” were armed with airsoft or BB guns.
Harstad says carrying items that look like real firearms while on other people’s property could easily have resulted in a tragedy.
Police say tips from the public helped lead to the identification of the suspects.
Missing Canoeist Found and Identified
(Sioux City) — Woodbury County authorities have identified the body of a canoeist that was found dead at the Synders Bend Lake on Tuesday noon. The male victim, identified as 70-year old Ronald Cooper of Sergeant Bluff, was first reported missing Monday evening. Officials found an empty canoe floating on Synders Bend Lake when he searched the area. The cause of
Cooper’s death has not yet been released by the state medical examiner. The investigation is continuing.
Land Leasing Meeting Scheduled For Monday At Extension Services
(Le Mars) — The ISU Extension and Outreach Plymouth County will be hosting the Farmland Leasing Meeting on Monday, August 13th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Plymouth County Extension Office. ISU Extension and Outreach Farm Business Management Specialist Gary Wright will be leading the meeting. The
cost of the meeting is $20 per person if pre-registered or $25 if registering after Friday, August 10th.
Iowa State University Settles Lawsuits
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State University has paid $125,000 to settle two lawsuits brought by a former university administrator who accused the school of blocking her efforts to investigate sexual assault reports.
Robinette Kelley said in her lawsuits that she knew Iowa State was not complying with a federal law that requires public schools to provide equal opportunities to students regardless of sex. Kelley alleges the university tried to intimidate her into ignoring her concerns.
Pence Scheduled To Visit Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Vice President Mike Pence has scheduled a Des Moines visit to promote tax cuts.
He is scheduled to appear at 1 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center’s grand ballroom. The doors open at 11 a.m.
The event is being promoted by America First Policies, a nonprofit group established to support Trump’s policies.
The speech is open to the public. Reservations can be made at the American First website .
Pence talked about taxes and other topics on July 11 when he visited Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids.
Acting EPA Director To Visit Iowa State Fair
(Des Moines) — The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be in Iowa on Monday. Governor Kim Reynolds says acting E-P-A administrator Andrew Wheeler will visit the Iowa State Fair and meet with “a small group of commodity leaders” as well as state officials.
Reynolds says she will press Wheeler on trade issues as well.
Wheeler replaced E-P-A chief Scott Pruitt a month ago. Pruitt resigned after a series of scandals and conflicts with corn-state senators like Joni Ernst, who called Pruitt “swampy” and accused him of favoring the oil industry over ethanol and biofuel producers. Pruitt’s replacement is a lawyer who is a former congressional staffer and lobbyist for the coal industry. Iowa’s
congressional delegation invited Wheeler to Iowa last month, shortly after he took the top job in the E-P-A.
Trial Scheduled For Man And Woman Who Tortured Boy
ACKLEY, Iowa (AP) – A trial has been scheduled for a woman accused of helping her boyfriend torture his 8-year-old son by locking him in a basement enclosure, withholding food and making him endure dog bites.
Hardin County District Court records say 39-year-old Traci Tyler on Monday has entered a written plea of not guilty to a kidnapping charge. Her trial is set to begin Sept. 11. The boy’s father, 30-year-old Alex Shadlow, is scheduled to enter a plea Monday.
An arrest affidavit says the boy was locked for at least 9 hours a day last summer in an enclosed space under the basement stairs at the Ackley home, where he slept on concrete and had no access to a bathroom.
Police say Tyler also urged her dog to attack the boy, which left scars on his back and limbs.
