Le Mars Man Involved With High Speed Chase
(Sioux City) — A Le Mars man was involved in the multiple-state chase that began with a robbery and stolen vehicle, and ended Friday afternoon after law enforcement officials arrested four individuals after they tried eluding the police. According to a news release from the Sioux City Police Department, authorities received a report of a robbery in the area of 18th Street and Grandview Boulevard at around 12:30 a.m. Friday. The victim
reported he was in the area dropping something off at a friend’s house when he was approached by a male armed with a pistol along with two females.
The man demanded the victim exit his vehicle, and the three suspects got in and fled the area.
At around 3:05 p.m. Friday, an undercover officer saw the stolen car on the west side of Sioux City. He followed the car while uniformed officers responded, and the vehicle was driven into North Sioux City, where officers made an attempt to stop the vehicle.
The driver attempted to elude officers at a high rate of speed, heading into South Sioux City before re-entering Sioux City. At the 2000 block of Wall Street in Sioux City, officers deployed a tire deflating device and stopped the vehicle.
Four people were arrested after the pursuit and a subsequent investigation: Kenneth Azure, 25, of Le Mars, who was charged with second-degree theft and felony eluding (Azure was not involved with the robbery); Angelia Zavala,
21, of Sioux City, who was charged with second-degree theft; Duane Twite, 30, of Sioux City, who was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia; and Rumor Schiltz, 21, of Sioux City, who was charged with simple eluding.
Officers from the Sioux City Police Department, North Sioux City Police Department, South Sioux City Police Department and the Iowa State Patrol all assisted in the incident.
Fire Department Responds To Apartment Filled With Smoke
(Le Mars) — At the end of their annual family Christmas party Sunday afternoon, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department was called to 1333 Holten Drive to an apartment complex that had its fire alarm sounding. As it turned out, one of the residents of the apartment dwelling had left a pan on the stove unattended. Smoke had filled the apartment as a result of the unattended pan, causing the smoke alarms to be sounded. There were no
injuries, and the fire department ventilated the apartment complex.
Le Mars Board of Education To Hear Report About Soccer
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education will hear a report from Activities Director, Karlton Hector regarding the new soccer program. Each of the building principals are scheduled to submit a report to the school board. The school
board will discuss the initial position and requests from the Le Mars Education Association for the 2019-2020 master contract. The school board will receive the proposal on January 7th. The school board will discuss the annual board and administrator retreat scheduled for January 28th. School superintendent, Dr. Steven Webner will provide the school board with the district’s fiscal year 2018 financial health report. The board of education
will discuss the superintendent’s progress on the goals established as part of the superintendent evaluation process. The school board is expected to approve two contracts: Morgan Staab, as Kluckholn head custodian, and Erin Zook as a part-time custodian.
Dustin Wright To Begin Hospital Administrator Position
(Le Mars) — Beginning today, Monday, December 10th, there is a new face at the helm of Floyd Valley Healthcare. Dustin Wright assumes the responsibility of C-E-O and hospital administrator succeeding Mike Donlin.
Wright says he is excited about the opportunity, and his first goal is to get acquainted with the medical staff.
Wright says one thing that is always certain with health care is that will be constantly changing. He says after getting acquainted with the staff, he will pursue opportunities available for Floyd Valley Healthcare.
Wright says he will want Floyd Valley to grow, and to continue to provide health care needs to the greater community, and wanting the community to always choose Floyd Valley Healthcare. Wright also addresses what he anticipates will be a challenge while leading Floyd Valley Healthcare.
Wright says he intends to become active within the greater Le Mars community through the participation of civic organizations. He says that is essential for the local hospital’s Chief Executive Officer.
Floyd Valley Welcomes New Physical Therapists
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare has announced the addition of Benjamin Green, PT, DPT to the Floyd Valley Therapies staff.
Green received his Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from Northwestern College in Orange City. He went on to receive his Doctor of Physical Therapy from Briar Cliff University. Green has special interests in sports and dry needling.
Jerry DeWit, Floyd Valley Therapies Manager, states, “We are excited to welcome Ben Green back to Floyd Valley Therapies. He spent some of his clinical time here so we knew his skill set would be great additions for our patients.”
Dordt College Has Open House For New Agriculture Stewardship Center
(Sioux Center) — Dordt College held an open house on Saturday for its new Agriculture Stewardship Center located about two miles north of Sioux Center. Dordt College Head of the Agriculture Department Gary De Vries says the new facility consists of 26,000 square feet and will anchor the Dordt
College’s Agriculture Department and the new Pro-Tech Department. De Vries says Dordt Collge has 158 students pursuing an agriculture-related major, and currently 12 students enrolled in the pro-tech curriculum, which together, represents nearly ten percent of the Dordt College total student enrollment. De Vries explains the purpose for the new Agriculture
Stewardship Center.
Normally, when you think of higher education in terms of an agriculture curriculum, either Iowa State University or South Dakota State University come to mind, but De Vries says Dordt has been able to expand its agriculture program since it first began in 1977. He says there are now seven different areas of agriculture featured at Dordt College.
De Vries says Dordt intends to expand its agriculture program, especially with the agriculture business and agriculture education curriculum.
The new Ag Stewardship Center doesn’t feature any livestock production, but De Vries says livestock production facilities are in the future plans for Dordt.
New Dairy Operation Receives Iowa Venture Award
(Des Moines) — A local up-start dairy operation was the recipient of the Iowa Venture Award. The Perry Creek Dairy of Merrill was presented the honor last week during a program held at Des Moines. The Iowa Venture Award is presented to Iowa companies that have made significant contributions to
the Iowa economy through investment, expansion, and the creation of job opportunities. The program is sponsored by the Iowa Area Development Group.
The Iowa Area Development Group is the business and community development leader for over 220 of Iowa’s rural electric cooperatives, municipalities and independent telecommunication companies. Since 1985, the partnerships
and economic development efforts of the IADG and their sponsors have assisted with more than 2,100 projects, generating in excess of $12 billion of capital investment and over 53,000 new or retained jobs for Iowa.
Pictured left to right are: Brad and Joyce Feuerhelm, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Carol and Alan Feuerhelm, and Jill and Scott Feuerhelm.
Ernst Announces She Will Seek Re-election In 2020
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa says she will run for a second term in 2020.
The Des Moines Register reports that Ernst told reporters Friday
that she would seek re-election. She also said she will support President Donald Trump for re-election in 2020.
The 48-year-old military veteran from Red Oak was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014 after serving four years in the Iowa Senate. She succeeded U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, a veteran Democrat, who retired from politics.
No one has yet announced a challenge to Ernst’s re-election bid, but Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price said Democrats will put up a fight when she runs for re-election.
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