City And County Officials Encourage RAGBRAI To Consider Le Mars
(Le Mars) — City and county officials are hoping the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, or known as RAGBRAI, will select Le Mars and Plymouth County for its next ride. During their weekly meeting, the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors approved a letter of support encouraging RAGBRAI
officials to consider starting the bicycle ride across the state at the “Ice Cream Capital of the World.” It was 2005 when Le Mars hosted RAGBRAI. The letter that was approved and signed by the county supervisors states, “Le Mars and Plymouth County will continue to achieve what it takes to provide a wonderful and safe experience for all RAGBRAI participants. There is also a
great economic benefit to the city of Le Mars, and to our communities within Plymouth County to have RAGBRAI 2019 begin their journey here, and we welcome the opportunity for that priviledge again.” The city of Le Mars has written
a similar letter inviting RAGBRAI officials to consider Le Mars. RAGBRAI officials will announce the chosen route next February.
Paul Niebuhr Honored For “Excellence In Education”
(Le Mars) — Gehlen Catholic is fortunate again to have another faculty member selected to be honored with the “Excellence In Education” award, and to have that individual recognized at the upcoming Bishop’s Dinner later this autumn. This time, the chosen teacher is Gehlen Catholic’s instrumental music instructor, Paul Niebuhr. Niebuhr was informed of his selection
following the Mass services held Wednesday morning. Niebhur has been the band teacher for 22 years at Gehlen Catholic. Prior to teaching at Gehlen, Niebuhr taught at Ida Grove and Sutherland. Niebuhr says the honor was unexpected, and he admits to being humbled for being recognized.
Niebuhr says he enjoys teaching instrumental music to Gehlen students, and he says his education philosophy is to always provide assistance to the students.
The Gehlen band teacher says he even enjoys hearing the sounds made by a 5th grade student that is just learning how to play an instrument.
Niebuhr has for many years taken the Gehlen Catholic band to various bowl games for national performances. Those trips have been to San Antonio, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Orlando, Florida. He says there is nothing else that compares to the thrill of excitement and charged energy that you can get when a band performs before a filled stadium.
Niebuhr will be formally recognized during the annual Bishop’s Dinner as part of the Sioux City Diocese.
Zebra Mussels Found In Storm Lake
STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) – Officials have confirmed that invasive zebra mussels have been found in western Iowa’s Storm Lake.
The Iowa Natural Resources Department says juvenile and adult zebra mussels inhabit several lake locations. Officials say the mussels probably arrived on or in a boat that had been in an infested water body, such as the Spirit/Okoboji chain of lakes or the Missouri River.
The small, black and white mussels are native to eastern Europe and voracious eaters that gobble up plankton many native freshwater fish need to survive. The mussels can attach themselves to boat motors, bait buckets and dam mechanisms and cause damage to motors and facilities.
Boaters are urged to clean, drain and dry watercraft to prevent the spread.
Hubbell Releases 2017 Income Tax Returns
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Democratic candidate for governor Fred Hubbell says he and his wife earned $3 million in 2017 and gave $1.3 million to charity.
Hubbell’s campaign released details of his 2017 income and giving in announcing Wednesday that he would only release one year of his tax returns.
The campaign said his 2017 returns would be made available to reporters Thursday and, if elected, he’ll release them annually.
Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has released 10 years of returns online, showing 2017 income of $163,000 and $17,000 donated to charity. She has made Hubbell’s wealth a campaign issue, suggesting he’s out of touch.
Hubbell’s campaign said that federal adjusted gross income for him and his wife Charlotte was just over $3 million. They gave $817,000 to charities, leaving a taxable income of $1.6 million. Their foundation donated an additional $458,650.
Hubbell served as a corporate director in 2017 and reported income from investments and other holdings. His family wealth dates to the 1800s.
Starvation Death Trial Moved To Sioux City
ADEL, Iowa (AP) – The trial of an Iowa couple charged in the starvation death of their 16-year-old adopted daughter has been moved to Sioux City.
Dallas County District Court records show a judge last week set the trial of Marc Ray and Misty Bousman-Ray to begin Feb. 4 in Woodbury County District Court. The judge agreed that pretrial publicity surrounding the case necessitated moving the trial.
The couple 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.
Authorities Confirm Found Body Is That Of Missing Autistic Student
LA PORTE CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in northeastern Iowa have confirmed the human remains found in a creek earlier this month are those of an autistic teen who vanished from his small hometown in April.
La Porte City Police Chief Chris Brecher said Wednesday afternoon that the remains are those of Jake Wilson, who was last seen April 7 when he went for a walk blocks from his home along Wolf Creek.
Brecher says Wilson’s cause of death has not been determined. The remains were discovered Aug. 14 in the creek by kayakers.
Wilson’s disappearance led to a massive search involving the FBI, state and local police officers, and hundreds of volunteers in the town of about 2,300.
Wilson’s family said he didn’t have his glasses when he went for the walk. Wilson was 16, but his family has said that he had the mental capacity of a 9-year-old boy.
Ankeny Man Wins Lottery Twice
ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) – More good luck has struck an Ankeny man who’s won his second six-figure Iowa Lottery scratch-off ticket prize in 12 years.
The Des Moines Register reports that 54-year-old Gary West bought two tickets last week at a Casey’s store in Altoona and scratched them off in his car. One was a big winner: $250,000. He won a $100,000 scratch-off ticket prize a dozen years ago.
Lottery officials say that when West claimed his prize Monday, he told them with a chuckle that it was his “second time, so I’m feeling more experienced.”
He says he plans to shop for a car and share some of his lottery
winnings with his family.
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Veterans Administration Director Tells Veterans The Program Will Never Be Privatized
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The new secretary of veterans affairs has pledged to the American Legion that he won’t privatize the agency even as it increases options for veterans to seek private sector treatment.
Robert Wilkie, who was sworn in last month, also pledged better
customer service as a result of the VA overhaul signed recently in response to the long waits for appointments at VA medical centers across the country.
He told the Legion’s 100th annual convention on Wednesday in
Minneapolis that the VA owes veterans “the same kind of dignity and devotion” they gave to America.
He says it’s essential to have specialized caregivers who know what veterans have been through, and that’s “not an option that the private sector can provide.” He says the private sector can’t replicate the VA’s expertise.
