Back To School
(Le Mars) — Be aware of school buses, as today marks the first day of school for Le Mars Community and Gehlen Catholic. Le Mars Community is welcoming seven new faculty members, while at Gehlen Catholic six new staff and faculty members will begin the school year.
Dr. Steve Webner serves as the superintendent for the Le Mars Community School District. Webner says both the teachers and the students are anxious for the school year to begin. He says new this year for the middle school is an earlier start time.
Also new this year, Le Mars Community elementary will be the introduction of a literacy program.
Webner says the school district continues to push technological advancements in the classroom.
The school superintendent says the Le Mars Community school district wants its faculty to expand its learning skills to be able to be better teachers.
Webner says the topic most likely to be discussed throughout the year involves the football stadium.
Webner discusses the new faces that will appear at Le Mars Community.
Superintendent Webner identifies the challenge for the school district each year is to meet the educational needs of every student. He says the Le Mars Community faculty has done an excellent job of making that happen.
Le Mars Fire Trucks Pass Annual Pumping Tests
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department has announced that each of the trucks within their fleet have passed the annual pumping endurance tests. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says the testing serves two purposes. First, he says it is a good idea to know if the equipment can withstand the rigors of continuous pumping, and be assured your equipment can
be reliable. Second, the annual testing helps with the city of Le Mars lower its insurance premiums, and improve on its insurance rating. Each of the communities within Plymouth County had their fire trucks tested this week. A total of 17 trucks were tested, with each passing.
That testing was conducted at the Fire Station #2 on 12th Street Southeast.
A Danko Fire Equipment representative is seen testing a fire truck from the Remsen Fire Department.
Secondary Roads Department Closes 220th Street For Installation of Culvert
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Secondary Roads Department has closed 220th Street between Impala Avenue and Iris Avenue. A bridge is being replaced with a culvert. The work is expected to be completed on Friday, September 14th.
Plymouth County Authorities Involved With High Speed Chase
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that on Saturday evening, August 18th, at about 11:10 p.m. a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle on Highway 3 near Noble Avenue for a traffic violation. The vehicle immediately fled north on Noble Avenue to 160th Street, and then east. The vehicle continued to flee from law enforcement heading generally east through
rural Plymouth County. During the pursuit, the suspect’s vehicle reached speeds of 99 mph on the gravel roads. The vehicle ran numerous stop signs during the pursuit. The deputy continued to follow the suspect’s vehicle tail lights and dust trail, but ultimately lost sight at 510th And Avenue D in rural Cherokee county. With assistance from Cherokee County, Marcus
Police Department, and the Iowa State Patrol,the vehicle was located at a residence at 5290 Avenue E in the grove of trees. The Plymouth County officer attempted to locate the individual on the property, and during the investigation, determined the suspect was hiding in the residence. A family member talked the subject into coming out and surrendering to law enforcement. As a result, 29 year old Matthew Specht of Marcus was taken
into custody at 12:50 a.m., without further incident. He was taken to Plymouth County jail and was charged with aggravated eluding, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, driving while license is suspended, failure to obey stop signs, speeding, two outstanding warrants from Plymouth County for probation violations, and a warrant for Pottawatttamie County for probation
violation. Plymouth County was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Remsen and Marcus Police Departments, and the Cherokee Police Department.
Suspect In Mollie Tibbetts Murder Was A Reliable Employee Says Employer
BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) – For years, his employer said the young man from Mexico presented himself as a legal U.S. resident and reliable worker at a family dairy farm in small town Iowa.
But now Cristhian Bahena Rivera is accused of illegally living and
working in the U.S. on fraudulent documents and of being a predator who kidnapped and killed a beloved young woman.
Rivera appeared in court Wednesday on a first-degree murder charge in the death of 20-year-old college student Mollie Tibbetts. He was ordered jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond.
The turn of events stunned the farm family that employed him the last four years. They said even after Tibbetts disappeared on July 18 while out for an evening run in the town of Brooklyn, Iowa, Rivera kept coming to work.
Judge Agrees To Move Starvation Death Trial To Another County
ADEL, Iowa (AP) – A judge has approved a motion to move the trial of an Iowa couple charged in the starvation death of their 16-year-old adopted daughter.
The Des Moines Register reports that a judge on Wednesday agreed that pretrial publicity surrounding the case necessitated moving the trial of Marc and Misty Ray out of Dallas County.
The Rays have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, child
endangerment resulting in death and other counts related to the May 2017 death of Sabrina Ray in her Perry home.
Authorities say the girl weighed just 56 pounds when she died. Her brother, Justin Ray, was sentenced to 10 years in prison earlier this year for drop-kicking Sabrina down basement stairs, leaving her unable to walk, talk or eat in the days before her death. The girl’s adoptive grandmother was sentenced to 20 years for failing to seek medical help for Sabrina and for abusing other children in the household.
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Kimballton City Clerk Accused Of Theft Of City’s Funds
KIMBALLTON, Iowa (AP) – The clerk of a tiny western Iowa city has been criminally charged after a state audit that found nearly $90,000 in undeposited collections and improper disbursements.
Audubon County Attorney Sarah Jennings says that Kimballton City Clerk Tammy Thompson turned herself in Thursday and was booked on four counts: ongoing criminal conduct, fraudulent practices, theft and unauthorized use of a credit card. She was release on her own recognizance. Her preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 10.
Thompson did not immediately return a phone message left Thursday morning.
Iowa State Auditor Mary Mosiman said in a release Thursday that an investigation found more than $42,400 of improper disbursements, including checks issued to or redeemed for cash that went to Thompson and improper purchases on the city’s credit card.
The report also found more than $37,000 in undeposited utility
collections and nearly $9,000 in unsupported disbursements.
Kimballton is a town of about 350 that lies about 85 miles west of Des Moines.
Southeastern Iowa Counties Receive Disaster Assistance
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Farmers and ranchers in two southeastern Iowa counties who’ve suffered losses and damages from recent drought may now be eligible for federal emergency loans.
That news came Wednesday as the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that Appanoose and Van Buren counties have been designated as primary natural disaster areas.
Producers in the contiguous counties of Davis, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Lucas, Monroe, Wapello and Wayne, along with several in Missouri, also are eligible to apply for emergency loans.
Producers have until April 8 to apply for emergency loans announced Wednesday to help cover losses.
FEMA Turns Down Request For Emergency Disaster Funding For Iowa Counties
(Des Moines) –– Homeowners, renters and businesses in four counties hit by flash flooding and severe weather in June and early July are not eligible for federal disaster aid.
Governor Kim Reynolds says she is “extremely disappointed” that officials in the Federal Emergency Management Agency have denied her request. She was seeking individual assistance grants from FEMA to help Iowans in Buchanan, Dickinson, Polk and Winnebago Counties repair and rebuild after storm damage. FEMA officials sent a denial letter to the governor, saying the magnitude of damage to homes and businesses in those four counties was not severe enough to warrant federal help. Reynolds announced Wednesday night she plans to appeal that decision.
Glenwood Teacher Accused Of Having Sexual Abuse With Student
GLENWOOD, Iowa (AP) – A 39-year-old art teacher and track coach has been accused of groping a student in western Iowa’s Mills County.
Court records say Christopher Irvin was charged Tuesday with felony sexual abuse and two counts of sexual abuse by a school employee. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.
A girl reported that Irvin groped her earlier this summer and had
other sexual contact with her in April. The criminal complaints say the incidents didn’t occur on district property.
The records say Irvin lives in Pacific Junction and works for the
East Mills School District. District superintendent Paul Croghan (crahn) says Irvin will be placed on administrative leave until the investigation is complete.
