Attorneys Give Closing Comments On Bibler Murder Trial
(Le Mars) — The verdict on the Thomas Bibler murder trial now is in the hands of Judge Jeff Neary as both the prosecutor and defense teams offered their closing arguments on Friday. Bibler is accused of stabbing to death his sister Shannon Bogh. Plymouth County Attorney, Darin Raymond presented
a detailed timeline of the whereabouts and attitude of defendant Thomas Bibler on the day in question of June 11th, 2016. Raymond reviewed the testimony offered by Shannon Bogh’s mother-in-law, Lisa, her husband Phil, and law enforcement officers. Raymond indicated their was DNA and blood droplets, belonging to Shannon Bogh found on the window of Bibler’s pickup truck. Defense attorney Billy Oyadare said the state failed to prove their case, and asked Judge Neary to drop all charges. Oyadare claimed it was not Bibler who murdered Shannon Bogh, saying he had no reason to do so. Oyadare pointed the finger at Shannon’s husband, Phil, saying the police were looking in the wrong direction. Raymond says that Shannon said after being
stabbed “I’m going to die,” and when asked by her mother-in-law what has happened, Shannon responded by saying “Tom stabbed me.” Raymond pointed out that Thomas Bibler was the only Tom at the scene. Judge Neary did not offer
a specific date as to when he would render the verdict.
Local Law Enforcement Assist In Apprehension Of Sheldon Convenience Store Robbery Suspect
(Sheldon) — An armed robbery at a Sheldon Casey’s Convenient Store led officers from the Special Response Team consisting of Plymouth, Sioux, and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Offices, along with police officers from Le Mars and Cherokee to apprehend a suspect early Friday morning. According to a
release from the Sheldon Police Department, they were called to Casey’s West shortly before 2:30 Friday morning for a man who entered the store with a rifle, stole cigarettes, then left the store.
Authorities say officers from the Sheldon Police Department, Sanborn Police Department, and the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office immediately responded.
Authorities say the suspect left the store in a silver Oldsmobile Alero with South Dakota license plates. The staff at Casey’s was able to provide authorities with the vehicle’s license plate number.
Police say officers learned the vehicle was registered to an individual living in Watertown, South Dakota. Officials say Watertown Police were contacted and were able to make contact with the registered owner of the vehicle used in the armed robbery. The registered owner reportedly told police he had sold the vehicle to Thomas Tuttle, the suspect in the case.
Police say with that information officers were able to obtain a photo and driver license information of the suspect. It was also learned, according to authorities, that Tuttle had outstanding warrants in South Dakota. Officers also reportedly viewed the Casey’s security camera footage and showed the staff a photo of the suspect. The video, and witnesses, confirmed that
Tuttle was the individual who came into the convenience store with a gun and stole cigarettes, according to police.
Around 4:30 Friday morning a Sheldon Police Officer located the suspect vehicle in the 500 block of 7th Street. Additional officers were contacted, including the Special Response Team (SRT) consisting of officers and deputies from the Sioux County, Plymouth County, and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Offices, as well as officers from the Le Mars and Cherokee Police Departments.
Sheldon Police say the SRT arrived on scene and made contact with the suspect who was still seated in his vehicle. The SRT reportedly gained entry into the vehicle by breaking the drivers side window, then removed the suspect from the car. Police say that during this process the suspect resisted arrest, forcing officers to deploy a taser to gain control of Tuttle. Police say that after Tuttle was arrested a small baggie of a substance believed to be methamphetamine was found in his pocket. Police say
they also recovered a loaded 9mm Kel Tec carbine gun with a 31-round magazine laying on the passenger seat of Tuttle’s car.
Authorities say Tuttle was taken to the Sanford Sheldon Medical Center for examination and treatment of some minor injuries sustained during his arrest. He was reportedly released from the hospital a short time later.
Authorities say the interview revealed that Tuttle drove around Sheldon after robbing the Casey’s store with the intention of engaging with law enforcement in an armed conflict. Police say they also learned that Tuttle had intended to rob a Sheldon bank later Friday.
According to police, a search warrant was obtained and executed on Tuttle’s vehicle. They say items of evidentiary value were discovered in the vehicle including another loaded 17-round 9mm magazine, drug paraphernalia, a baggie containing prescription medication, baggies containing a substance believed
to be methamphetamine, a digital scale, and several face masks Tuttle stated he intended to use in a bank robbery.
Police say Tuttle has been charged with: 1st Degree Robbery, a Class B Felony; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, a Class C Felony; Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a Class D Felony; Possession of Methamphetamine 3rd or Subsequent Offense, a Class D Felony; Unlawful Posession of Prescription Drugs, a Serious Misdemeanor; Possession of Drug
Paraphernalia, and Interference With With Official Acts, both Simple Misdemeanors.
Assisting the Sheldon Police Department in this case are: O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office; Sanborn Police Department; Sioux County Sheriff’s Office; Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office; Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office; Le Mars Police Department; Cherokee Police Department; and the Iowa State Patrol.
(information from KIWA Radio)
Honor Flight Fundraiser Event Scheduled For Tonight At Merrill
(Merrill) — Local veterans and the general public are invited to attend the “Rock 4 Vets” fundraiser scheduled for this evening at the Oleson-Halweg American Legion Post 125 of Merrill. The event kicks off with a dinner at 5:30 p.m., followed by a program at 6:30 p.m. and then a dance featuring the music of “The Jammers.” The event is to raise money for a Midwest Honor
Flight that covers eight counties within northwest Iowa. The Oleson-Halweg American Legion Post 125 of Merrill along with the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association have joined into a partnership to provide an evening of music and information to honor and say thank you to all who served, or are currently serving in the military. Representatives of Honor Flight, Iowa
Rock N Roll Association, Plymouth County Veterans Affairs, VA Clinic of Sioux City will all be on site to offer information on what is available to veterans. The American Legion and the Rock N Roll Association are currently in the process of solicitating funds to raise money for the Honor Flight program. It is estimated at over $100,000 to fly a plane loaded with veterans to Washington DC. All donations go to the Honor Flight, this is not a fundraiser for the American Legion. The event is being held at the
Kissinger Community Center in Merrill. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. The event is free of charge for all veterans and active military personnel. A $10 charge is for all others. Food will be served for a free will offering.
Throughout the evening will be various door prize drawings. A raffle is also being held with tickets for the raffle at $5 each or five tickets for $20.
Political Science Professor Comments On Endorsements And Polling Questionnaires
(Sioux Center) — Election day is only four days away. So, what issues are on the minds of voters to get them to the polling place? Jeff Taylor, Political Science professor with Dordt College of Sioux Center says it all depends upon the person’s political preference.
It has been said that voters will vote based on their pocketbooks. Aside from agriculture, the state’s economy has been doing well. Taylor comments on how the economy will affect this year’s balloting.
Several newspapers throughout the state have given their endorsements to candidates, but do those endorsements actually benefit a candidate, and do voters make their decision based on the endorsements. The Dordt College political science professor doesn’t believe newspaper endorsements carry the weight that they once did with past elections.
Leading up to the election day, people are constantly informed of the latest polling numbers indicating how certain demographics are likely to vote.
But, often polls are incorrect. The best example may be with the last presidential election. Polls prior to the election day had shown that Democrat Hillary Clinton was leading the polls over Republican Donald Trump.
Taylor explains why polling is sometimes misleading.
Taylor says there may be some instances when potential voters don’t necessarily reveal to pollsters all the information.
Election day is scheduled for Tuesday, November 6th.
Marshalltown Schools To Pay Back Taxes To IRS
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) – Marshalltown Schools has paid nearly $603,000 in IRS penalties after a district employee failed to properly process payroll tax deposits for 14 months.
The Marshalltown Times-Republican reports that former payroll tax specialist Allison Meyer resigned in June after the issue came to light. Officials say the district was required to make payroll tax deposits the day after employees were paid, but that didn’t happen.
Meyer told the newspaper in a statement that she “followed instruction as it was given to me” in making the deposits from April 2017 through June.
Officials say the $602,900 in payments and fines were paid immediately out of the district’s $65 million general fund to avoid further penalties. The district is now seeking a waiver from the IRS to have the penalties reimbursed.
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Iowa City Residents Asked To Compost Pumpkins
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Officials in Iowa City are reminding residents to compost their fall pumpkins and leftover Halloween jack-o-lanterns instead of trashing them.
To do this, residents are asked to put pumpkins with yard waste collection, which is composted. Officials say to compost, remove any candles or lights from inside pumpkins and place them in the organics container, or in a brown paper yard waste bag. Then set it at the curb for normal collection. Residents are limited to 50 pounds per cart or bag.
Residents who do not receive curbside services can take pumpkins at no cost to the City’s compost facility located at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center.
