Westfield Accident Involves College Golf Team
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office has released additional
information concerning the motor vehicle accident on Highway 12, near Westfield that happened at about 6:30 p.m. The Jeep Renegade heading northbound on Highway 12 was being driven by 18 year old Schon Mack of 47993 314th Street of Akron. The Ford passenger bus was traveling southbound on Highway 12 and was being driven by Logan Wagner, age 24 of Parkston, South Dakota. The passengers of the bus were all part of a golf team from Mount Marty College of Yankton, South Dakota. All were taken to the Hawarden hospital with non-life threatening injuries. All members of the Mount Marty golf team have been treated and released. Mack was transported to Mercy
Medical Center with life threatening injuries. Officers conducting the investigation have learned that it appears the Jeep Renegade, driven by Mack, attempted to pass another northbound vehicle and hit the bus head on in the
southbound lane of travel. The Mount Marty golf team was returning from a tournament in the area. The Iowa State Patrol and Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office are continuing their investigation.
Akron To Host Scarecrow Contest
(Akron) — Today, the town of Akron will again be celebrating the 18th annual autumn festival of the Scarecrow Contest. The events take place at the city park beginning at 10:00 a.m. LeAnn Phillips is assisting with the coordination of the festival’s events.
Philips says for those people wanting to submit a scarecrow for the judging competition, scarecrows need to be brought to the park between 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. She says there isn’t any registration fees required. Philips says the scarecrows will be judged on a variety of criteria with cash prizes.
Besides the judging of the scarecrows, Philips explains there are plenty of other activities at the park.
According to Philips, the variety of foods offered will be another highlight of the festival.
Philips says the scarecrow festival will also feature vendors with craft items for sale.
Admission is free to the public for Saturday’s Akron Scarecrow Contest.
Hubbel Fined By Arizona Tax Officials For Arizona Home
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A property tax official in Arizona says Iowa Democratic candidate for governor Fred Hubbell was fined $600 after his home was improperly designated as his primary residence.
Hubbell owns a home in Des Moines that he listed as a primary
residence. The designations reduced his property taxes in both states.
Hubbell owns a $2 million home in Scottsdale, Arizona, built in 2007 and it carried the primary residence designation qualifying it for a $600 a year tax credit.
Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen says a new Arizona law in 2012 cracked down on absentee owners, denying the exemption for homes not permanently occupied. He says more than 100,000 parcels have had the exemption removed.
Hubbell failed to respond to several notices, allowing the assessor to impose a $600 fine and remove the credit in 2014.
A $1 million Des Moines home Hubbell owned from 2007 to 2016 also received a homestead exemption of up to $231 a year.
A spokesman for Gov. Kim Reynolds’ campaign criticized Hubbell for talking about wasteful tax giveaways but “when no one is looking he lines his pockets with our tax dollars every chance he gets.”
Hubbell campaign spokeswoman Remi Yamamoto says Maricopa County misclassified many homes and Hubbell’s was one of them, and he’s glad they reclassified it in 2014. She says he’s never asked for nor wanted a $600 rebate.
Former Virginia Governor To Visit Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is
scheduled to visit Iowa next week to campaign for Democrats as he weighs a
campaign for the 2020 presidential nomination. Iowa holds the leadoff caucus
in the presidential race.
According to a press release from the Iowa Democratic Party,
McAuliffe is the guest at the first in a series of voter outreach events aimed at encouraging turnout for the Nov. 6 election.
McAuliffe, a former Democratic National Committee chairman, has been in touch with some influential Democratic operatives in Iowa and nationally who say he is seriously considering a 2020 campaign.
The announcement follows last week’s announcement that New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, also weighing a 2020 campaign, is scheduled to headline the Iowa Democratic Party’s marquee fall fundraiser on Oct. 6.
FEMA Denies Disaster Assistance Request For Polk and Marshall Counties
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A federal agency has denied disaster assistance for residents and business owners of Marshall and Polk counties who endured tornadoes in July.
Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office announced Friday the Federal Emergency Management Agency had denied the governor’s request for assistance through the Individual Assistance Program for losses from the July 19 tornadoes. In denying the governor’s request, FEMA stated that the impact from the tornadoes wasn’t severe enough to warrant the help.
The program helps survivors with housing, property replacement, medical expenses and legal services.
Reynolds has 30 days to file an appeal.
In August, FEMA also denied Reynolds’ request for assistance through the same program following severe storms from June 6 to July 2. The governor has submitted an appeal of that decision.
Nebraska Man Sent To Prison For Kidnapping
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Nebraska man has been imprisoned for holding several people at gunpoint and beating some of them inside a western Iowa apartment.
The Daily Nonpareil reports that Derrick West-Jones, of Omaha,
Nebraska, pleaded guilty and was sentenced Thursday to 20 years. He’d been charged with kidnapping, assault and other crimes before charges were amended.
Police say he pulled a gun June 18 after a disturbance in the Council Bluffs apartment and wouldn’t let anyone leave. Police say he also pistol-whipped and beat some of the captives with a wrench, holding them about two hours.
Two people were taken to a hospital.
A Council Bluffs woman charged in the case has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and other crimes. Jawanna Moten is scheduled to go on trial Oct. 9.
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West Nile Virus On The Increase In Iowa
(Des Moines) — Iowa is experiencing its worst West Nile virus outbreak in 15 years. State Deputy Epidemiologist Ann Garvey says 73 cases of the mosquito-borne virus have either been confirmed or are under investigation.
West Nile activity in Iowa peaked in 2003, when six people died and nearly 150 were sickened.
The three deaths in Iowa this year are the most from West Nile since 2003. Garvey is calling on Iowans not to let their guard down.
Confirmed cases of West Nile are likely to increase in the coming weeks. Garvey suggests heavy rains this summer, combined with warm temperatures, have boosted the mosquito population in Iowa. The pests won’t stop biting until the first hard frost.
Warm weather is in the weekend forecast, meaning many Iowans will be spending time outdoors. They’re urged to take precautions to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes – especially in the early morning and evening when the bugs are most active.
Garvey says ALL Iowans are at risk for West Nile virus if they’re outdoors and not wearing mosquito repellent. The epidemiologist says seniors are especially at risk of contracting West Nile Virus.
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