Le Mars Police Arrest Man For Sexual Abuse In The 3rd Degree
(Le Mars) –– The Le Mars Police Department has charged a 23 year old male with sexual abuse in the 3rd degree. The Le Mars Police Department received a request to check a child’s welfare. Staff members of the Le Mars Community School reported having contact with a 14 year old female wanting to register
for fall classes. During the registration process, staff members found out the female juvenile was living with her boyfriend and did not have any family members in the immediate area. Officers proceeded to 523 6th Avenue, Lot #1 to investigate the welfare and living circumstances of the juvenile.
During a visit to the residence, officers learned the couple had recently moved to the Le Mars area. The boyfriend was identified as 23 year old Saqueo Neptali Carreto Perez. At this point, the female juvenile was attempting to provide law enforcement with a date of birth listing her as 17 years of age.
Officers then inquired through past schools the juvenile had admitted attending, to ascertain the proper age and circumstances that brought her to Le Mars. With the assistance of the Department of Human Services and the El Paso, Texas Police Department, the juvenile was confirmed to be a reported 14 year old run-away. During further communication with the juvenile, officers learned she was currently pregnant and her boyfriend was the father of the child. The female juvenile was removed from the residence for her safety and well-being. On August 16th, Le Mars police officers conducted an interview
with Perez at the Le Mars Police Department. During the interview, Perez was arrested and taken into custody on the charge of sexual abuse in the third degree and transported Perez to the Plymouth County jail.
Local Candidates Filed Nomination Papers For General Election
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Auditor’s Office has announced the names of local nominees that have submitted papers to be included on the general election ballot, scheduled for November 6th. Five nominees have filed papers to be considered for the Plymouth County Extension Council. They include:
Steve Tonsfeldt, Karen B. Harrington, Cynthia K. Wolff, Tanya
Riemenschneider, and Julie Madden. Two people have filed for positions with the Soil and Water Conservation District, they include Jeff Petersen and Pat Winter. Wayne T. Pick has submitted petition nomination papers for the Fredonia Township clerk’s position, while Mike Schnepf and Mike Detloff have
filed to be a Fredonia Township Trustee.
Plymouth County Farm Bureau To Celebrate 100 Years Anniversary
(Le Mars) — 100 years ago, back in 1918, there were several significant agricultural events…the construction of the famous Tonsfeldt round barn in Plymouth County, John Deere acquiring the Waterloo Boy Tractor Company and starting manufacturing tractors, and Iowa State University began its extension program for Plymouth County. Another occurrence also happened in
1918, a group of farmers got together to form the Plymouth County Farm Bureau organization. Mark Bohner serves as the regional director for Plymouth County Farm Bureau. He says the organization will celebrate its century anniversary during its annual meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 4th at
the Century Hall at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. Bohner explains the origins of the farm organization.
Bohner says the membership dues were set at $5, but for 1918, that was thought to be a considerable amount.
Bohner says the important agricultural issues of the day in 1918 are many of the same issues facing today’s farmers. He says at that time, Farm Bureau was responsible for implementing the extension services.
Farm Bureau ranks as being the largest farm organization in Iowa, and Bohner says much of that is because of the insurance provided by Farm Bureau.
The Farm Bureau representative says the organization continues to evolve and grow, and identifying needed services for rural Iowa.
Bohner says during the annual meeting and banquet scheduled for Tuesday evening, the program will provide many opportunities to look back through the years and reflect on Farm Bureau’s growth, including a display of antique restored tractors.
The evening will also provide musical entertainment with Allyn Anderson and Dave Grosenheider.
Woman Found Guilty Of A Murder Of Truck Driver At Truck Stop
MARENGO, Iowa (AP) – A woman has been found guilty of killing a truck driver at an Iowa rest stop along Interstate 80.
Iowa County District Court documents say 44-year-old Mariana Lesnic was convicted Thursday of first-degree murder.
Authorities say she shot 60-year-old Ernest Kummer four times in the head inside his truck cab on Sept. 6, 2017, at the westbound rest stop near Victor, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of Iowa City. Kummer, who lived in Monroe, was an employee of Fridley, Minnesota-based Copeland Trucking,
where he had worked since 2010.
A first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Mason City Care Taker Makes Deal On Client Sexual Abuse Charges
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Mason City man accused of sexually assaulting two of his caretaker clients has made a plea deal.
Cerro Gordo County District Court records say 19-year-old Wasfie Alshara filed written pleas of not guilty Wednesday to two counts of misdemeanor assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. Prosecutors lowered the charges of felony sexual abuse in exchange for Alshara’s pleas.
His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 5.
The court records say Alshara raped one of his dependent adult clients on Nov. 21 and sexually assaulted the other in a group home on June 8. The records also say Alshara worked for an unidentified company that provides caretaking services.
Judge Rules University Of Iowa Must Pay Plumber
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A judge has ruled that the University of Iowa must pay nearly $21.5 million, plus interest, to a plumbing contractor for work done on the new Hancher Auditorium and university’s Stead Family Children’s
Hospital.
Television station KCRG reports that the Johnson County District
judge made the decision this week after the Iowa Board of Regents sought to have an arbitrator’s decision favoring Modern Piping Inc., of Cedar Rapids, overturned. The university was also ordered to pay arbitration and court
costs.
The children’s hospital project was originally estimated to cost
$270.8 million, but ended up costing more than $360 million and was delayed by months.
Modern Piping sued, saying it incurred substantial expenses because of miscommunication, budget overruns and design changes.
—
Two Iowa Congressional Members To Receive Financial Assistance From Koch Brothers
NEW YORK (AP) – The political network created by the billionaire Koch brothers is announcing plans to support its first wave of House candidates.
The sprawling conservative organization on Thursday pledged its
financial resources and activists to help re-elect eight vulnerable
Republicans deemed “principled” conservatives.
The Koch-backed candidates include: Reps. Rod Blum and David Young of Iowa, Dave Brat of Virginia, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Steve Chabot of Ohio, Will Hurd of Texas, Erik Paulsen of Minnesota and Peter Roskam of Illinois.
The announcement comes a month after President Donald Trump assailed the Koch brothers as “a total joke in real Republican circles.” Days earlier, network patriarch Charles Koch condemned Trump’s push for tariffs and the increase of government spending under the Republican president’s leadership.
MidAmerican Energy To Propose Plan To Help Birds At Wind Turbine Farms
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa-based MidAmerican Energy Co. has filed a plan that it says will help protect bald eagles and four bat species at the company’s wind farms.
The company says in a news release that the habitat conservation plan filed Thursday with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reflects four years of research.
The plan aims to help protect the bats by modifying nighttime turbine operations during certain months and making additional operational changes at wind farms with signs of higher bat activity.
The plan also proposes measures to reduce impacts on bald eagles, including educating nearby landowners about removing animal remains that may attract eagles. The company is seeking a 30-year federal permit to allow for an average of 10 turbine-related eagle deaths per year across its Iowa service territory.
