Plymouth County Board of Supervisors Approve Funding Libraries
(Le Mars) — During its weekly meeting held Tuesday, the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors approved funding for each of the five libraries located within the county. The money is to be allocated during the 2018-2019 fiscal year. The Le Mars Public Library was given $25,059 which represents 5.21 percent of the entire budget of $480,911. Remsen’s library
will receive $22,661, that represents 31.29 percent of the public library’s annual budget of $72,420. Akron will get $19,071 which is just slightly below 20 percent of the fiscal budget of $97,745 for the Akron Public Library. The Kingsley Library is scheduled to receive $17,490. That figure is more than 18 percent of the Kingsley Library’s annual budget of $93,000.
Merrill’s library will get $10,718. The amount represents 35.5 percent of the Merrill’s library annual fiscal budget of $30,148.
Supervisors Proclaim October As Domestic Violence Awareness Month
(Le Mars) — Also during Tuesday’s county supervisor meeting, Cathy Van Maanen with the Council on Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence spoke before the county board to inform them of some of the facts and statistics related to domestic violence. Van Mannen mentioned October is recognized as “National Domestic Violence Month.”
Van Maanen says domestic violence happens most often to women, but she says men and boys are also victims. Van Maanen says when we hear about domestic violence and abuse, people immediately think of only the physical abuse.
But she says, domestic violence also leaves emotional and mental scars.
Van Maanen says she has witnessed victims of domestic violence become homeless, literally overnight. She says the domestic abusers think of themselves first, before any thought is extended to family members.
The Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence official says
unfortunately, the number of cases of domestic violence continues to rise.
Van Maanen says housing is in short supply for domestic violence victims.
She says through the program, a coordinated effort is utilized within the region to locate available housing for domestic violence victims.
Following the presentation, the members of the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors approved a proclamation naming the month of October as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month for Plymouth County.”
Political Signs Need To Be Posted Behind The Right-of-Way
(Le Mars) — The election is about a month away, and people are putting up yard signs indicating their favorite candidate. However, the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors want to make certain those signs are placed in the proper position. County supervisor chairman Don Kass says political signs cannot be within the street or road’s right-of-way.
Kass says some Plymouth County communities have rules as to the size of the political signs.
Kass also ask that people respect the posted signs indicating their political candidate of choice.
The Plymouth County Supervisor chairman says there isn’t any deadline that dictates when the signs need to be taken down following the election.
Prosecutor Accuses Defense Attorney Of Having Conflict Of Interest
AMES, Iowa (AP) – A prosecutor is alleging that attorneys for an Iowa man charged with killing an amateur golfer have a potential conflict of interest.
Prosecutor Timothy Meals is asking a judge to hold a hearing on the alleged conflict and to bar the media from attending.
The development comes in the first-degree murder case against Collin Richards. He’s charged in the Sept. 17 stabbing of Celia Barquin Arozamena.
Police allege Richards attacked the star collegiate golfer from Spain on a course near Iowa State University.
Richards is represented by Paul Rounds and Michelle Wolf of the
public defender’s office. Meals argues the attorneys have a potential conflict because their office has represented a prosecution witness in the case previously.
Rounds says he’ll object to closing the hearing and being
disqualified from the case.
Iowa Department Of Transportation To Hire Snow Plow Drivers
AMES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Transportation is looking to hire hundreds of snow plow drivers for the coming winter.
Television station KCCI reports that the department is looking to
recruit 600 qualified drivers to work at more than 100 garages across the state.
Applicants can apply online at www.iowadot.gov/careers .
Eligible applicants must have a valid Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License or Commercial Learner’s permit upon their hiring and must pass pre-employment drug and alcohol testing and participate in a random drug and alcohol testing program after hire.
The job pays $17.45 an hour.
Trump To Make Campaign Rally At Council Bluffs
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – President Donald Trump will return to Council Bluffs for a campaign rally.
Trump’s campaign announced the president will hold the event at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Mid-America Center.
It’s the fourth time he’s held a rally in Council Bluffs since he began his presidential campaign in 2015.
The president has been holding frequent rallies across the country in advance of the November elections.
Des Moines Settles Traffic Stop Lawsuit
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines agreed to pay $25,000 to an African- American driver who questioned a traffic stop in a lawsuit, but the city didn’t admit any wrongdoing.
The Des Moines Register reports Lonnie Porter of Des Moines recorded the Dec. 6 traffic stop on his phone.
Porter argued in his lawsuit that the officer’s reason for pulling him over was bogus. The public advocacy group Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement says the case may be an example of racial profiling.
The 41-year-old Porter didn’t receive a ticket during the stop. Officer Sean O’Neill said on the video that he pulled Porter over because a temporary license plate on the vehicle wasn’t fully visible.
Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek says O’Neill has an outstanding record and acts with integrity.
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