Four People Arrested With Multiple Charges
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office arrested multiple individuals for multiple charges in LeMars on Tuesday, September 11th. At 4:20 am, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle at Holton Drive and 12th Street in LeMars after it left Wal-Mart with a suspected suspended driver. As a result of the traffic stop, 4 individuals were arrested.
The driver, Brittany Britton age 24 of Sioux City, was arrested for driving while license suspended (simple misdemeanor). Britton was suspended for non-payment of Iowa fines.
Britton was jailed at the Plymouth County Jail and bond was set at $300. Britton has been released on her own recognizance.
A passenger, Sopia Lillian Finauga age 23 of Kingsley, was arrested for providing false information (simple misdemeanor). Finauga also had an active arrest warrant out of Polk County Des Moines, IA for 2 counts of theft 3rd degree. Bond was set at $300 for providing false information charge. The Polk County warrant is a no bond warrant and Finauga is being held until she is extradited.
A passenger, Garrett Matthew Palmersheim age 28 of Ponca, NE, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor). Palmersheim also had an active arrest warrant out of Woodbury County for failure to appear on a domestic abuse assault charge. Palmersheim was jailed at the Plymouth County Jail. Bond was set at $300 for the drug paraphernalia charge. The Woodbury County warrant has a bond of $2,000 and Palmersheim has been released to Woodbury County.
A passenger, Dominique Juarez Burow Plummer age 31 of South Sioux City, NE, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine 3rd offense (Class D Felony) and possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor). Plummer was jailed at the Plymouth County Jail and bond was set at $5,000. Plummer has been released on her own recognizance.
Two People From Le Mars Involved In Motorcycle Accident
(Sioux City) — Two people from Le Mars were hospitalized following a motorcycle accident that happened Monday night in rural Woodbury County. Lt. Todd Trobaugh of the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Department says the accident occurred near the intersection of old Highway 141 and 260th Street at around
8:00 p.m.
The female passenger has now been identified as 34 year old Joy Nukuto of Le Mars. Nukuto was life-flighted to Sioux City by Mercy Air Care and the male driver, 42 year old Shawn Avise of Le Mars was transported by ambulance. Lt. Trobaugh says alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.
The sustained injuries for both victims is not thought to be life
threatening.
Officials Concerned About Motorists Passing Stopped School Buses
(Le Mars) –The problem of motorists passing a stopped school bus was briefly discussed during the Le Mars Community Board of Education meeting held Monday evening. When board members were reviewing the specifications and bidding
process for two new additional school buses, a school board director inquired about the request for cameras to be installed on the school buses. School superintendent Dr. Steven Webner informed the school board members that the cameras are being requested due to the high number of vehicles reported to
have passed a school bus while the bus had its lights flashing, and stop sign extended.
School has been in session for only three weeks, and so far, there have been a high number of violators that have passed a stopped school bus.
Webner reminds people of the recently passed law referred to as “Kaden’s Law” which stepped up the penalties for passing a stopped school bus. The Kaden’s Law was created because of a young girl who died after being hit by a motorist when they passed a stopped school bus with its lights flashing and stop sign extended. Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte tells of the
penalties from passing a stopped school bus.
The Le Mars Police Chief says many times law enforcement agencies need both the description of the violating vehicle, plus the description of the driver.
Vande Vegte says he favors having cameras equipped on school buses, and he encourages school officials to adopt the provision.
Newspaper Report Indicates City Of Des Moines Helped Firefighters Avoid Termination Due To Alcohol Offenses
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A newspaper reports the city of Des Moines has helped firefighters facing termination for alcohol offenses instead retire with disability benefits barred by state law.
The Des Moines Register reports that over the past 12 years, city
officials aided at least three firefighters who faced termination for alcohol-related offenses.
Since 2002 Iowa law has barred firefighters and police officers from applying for disability if they are not in “good standing” or are the subjects of investigations that could lead to dismissal. Des Moines has used that law in some cases to block some police officers or firefighters from collecting disability.
But court records, the firefighters union and sworn testimony by Fire Chief John TeKippe show the city has helped other workers who faced termination retire with disability benefits.
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Judge Orders Separate Trials In Different Locations For Couple Charged With Torturing Boy
ACKLEY, Iowa (AP) – Separate trials in new locations have been ordered for a central Iowa man and woman accused in the torture and basement confinement of the man’s 8-year-old son.
Hardin County court records say a judge granted a request Monday from 30-year-old Alex Shadlow, who’s pleaded not guilty to a kidnapping charge. Shadlow had requested separate trials, citing the likelihood that his defense would conflict with that of Traci Tyler, who’s also pleaded not guilty to kidnapping.
The judge tentatively set Tyler’s trial to begin Nov. 5 in Cerro Gordo County and Shadlow’s to begin Oct. 15 in Dickinson County. The new locations were sought because of pretrial publicity in Hardin County.
Authorities say the boy was locked up for at least 9 hours a day last summer in a space under the basement stairs at the couple’s Ackley home. He slept on concrete and had no access to a bathroom.
Emerald Ash Borer Now Detected In 65 Iowa Counties
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State agricultural officials say an insect that’s killed millions of ash trees has been found in central Iowa’s Grundy County.
Officials said in a news release Wednesday that emerald ash borer samples were found in a city-owned tree in Dike. The confirmation brings the state infestation total to 65 counties.
People are urged to report any suspected infestation. The Iowa
Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship says tracking the whereabouts of emerald ash borers across the state helps in formulating treatment recommendations.
Infected trees usually lose leaves at the top of the canopy and the die-off spreads downward. The trees usually die within four years.
The bugs are native to Asia and were first reported in the U.S. in
Michigan in 2002 and in Iowa in 2010.
