Plymouth County Authorities Arrest Suspect Waving Gun At Motorists
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was notified on Friday, December 7th at about 5:00 p.m. of a vehicle traveling south on Highway 60 from the Sioux County line. A passenger in the car was displaying a handgun at passing motorists. Sheriff’s deputies and police officers from Le Mars,
Merrill, and Hinton began looking for the vehicle in question. At about 5:10 p.m. a witness called and reported the vehicle was parked at Casey’s General Store in Merrill. As law enforcement officials were arriving at Casey’s, the vehicle left, heading southbound on Highway 75. Deputies and officers were able to stop the vehicle at mile marker 111 heading southbound
on Highway 75. All three occupants of the vehicle were detained by deputies without incident and an investigation was conducted. As a result of the investigation, Baily Goebel, age 21 of Alton, and a passenger in the car was arrested for assault while displaying a dangerous weapon. Goebel’s actions
with the handgun while traveling on Highway 60 and Highway 75 put others in fear for their safety and well-being. Goebel was booked into the Plymouth County Jail on the single charge and later released on bond. Sheriff’s deputies seized a .45 caliber pistol from the vehicle. The driver and the other passenger were released without any charges.
Supervisors To Present Bargaining Contract Proposal
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to convene this morning (Tuesday) at the County Courthouse Board Room. The county governing board will hear a report from County Engineer Tom Rohe as he will submit to the board’s attention a permit request, and a resolution to
transfer road use tax to the Farm and Market fund. The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will present its position on the bargaining unit proposal for county employees. The supervisors have also scheduled to go into closed session.
Perry Creek Dairy Given Iowa Venture Award
(Des Moines) — A local start-up 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 are from left to right: Brad and Joyce Feuerhelm, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Carol and Alan Feuerhelm, and Jill and Scott Feuerhelm. (photo contributed)
FEMA Denies Reynolds’ Request For Flooding Assistance
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has again denied Gov. Kim Reynolds’ request for disaster assistance to flood victims in four Iowa counties.
Reynolds announced Monday that FEMA had denied her appeal of the agency’s earlier denial of help to victims in Buchanan, Dickinson, Polk and Winnebago counties. The request followed severe storms and flooding from June 6 to July 2. FEMA notified the governor in August that the impact wasn’t severe enough to merit individual assistance.
President Donald Trump declared the four counties presidential
disaster areas, making them available for other assistance.
Reynolds also issued a disaster proclamation for the counties and
has worked to provide more than $2.8 million in aid.
Last week, FEMA denied individual disaster aid to victims of July
tornadoes that hit Marshall and Polk counties.
Woman Given Probation Following The Death Of Son From Allergy Medication
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines woman whose infant son died after she gave him large amounts of an allergy medication has been given two years of probation.
Polk County court records say 34-year-old Latyia Johnson pleaded guilty last week to misdemeanor child endangerment. The judge also gave her a two-year prison sentence that was suspended.
Medics were sent in January to a Des Moines motel where she and her 6-month-old son were staying. The boy, Chance Alexander, died later at a hospital. An autopsy report showed high levels of an ingredient found in allergy medications and sleep aids.
The records say Johnson initially told officers that she’d awakened early on Jan. 24 to find her son unresponsive. She acknowledged that she’d given him more than an adult level of an allergy medication and a children’s pain reliever.
Iowa Corrections Director To Retire
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The director of the Iowa Department of Corrections is retiring after a 36-year career with the agency.
Jerry Bartruff said Monday that his last day with the department
will be Dec. 27. He served more than three years as director following his appointment by then-Gov. Terry Branstad.
Gov. Kim Reynolds thanked Bartruff for his leadership, saying he has helped “redefine the agency” as one that focuses on incarceration but also evidence-based rehabilitation.
She noted that the department’s registered apprenticeship program expanded during his tenure.
Bartruff started as a correctional officer in 1982, and later served
in a variety of leadership roles. He says he hopes “that I’ve been able to leave the department on a positive path for the future.”
There’s no word yet on who might replace him.
State Senator Challenges Sexual Abuse Allegation
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa lawmaker is challenging the accusations of a woman who filed an ethics complaint alleging he touched her inappropriately in 2015.
Sen. Nate Boulton filed a response Monday to the Iowa Senate
Committee on Ethics complaint, saying parts of the woman’s story “do not ring true.”
The woman, Des Moines attorney Sharon Wegner, filed a complaint Nov. 17 alleging Boulton repeatedly put his hand on her buttocks at a bar in November 2015.
Boulton, who was elected in November 2016, argues ethics rules don’t apply because he hadn’t taken office. And he contends the alleged actions didn’t violate Senate sexual harassment rules because they’re not tied to behavior in the workplace.
He also provided a signed statement from a fellow lawyer indicating the woman portrayed herself as having a romantic interest in Boulton that he didn’t return.
The accusations contributed to Boulton dropping his bid for the
Democratic nomination for governor before the June primary. He has refused to resign from the Senate.
Woman Agrees To Plea Agreement On Theft Of Narcotic Pills
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A woman accused of stealing narcotic pain pills while working for a Council Bluffs assisted living facility has taken a plea deal.
The Daily Nonpareil reports that 31-year-old Mandi Newsom was given two years of probation and fined $1,000 Friday. She also was granted a deferred judgment. That means Newsom’s conviction in the case can to be removed from court records if she fulfills her probation terms.
She pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge, and prosecutors dropped two related charges in return. Her trial was scheduled to begin Jan. 15.
Newsom was accused of stealing nearly 1,900 oxycodone and
hydrocodone pills from January 2017 to August 2017 while working at Bethany Heights Assisted Living.
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Wisconsin Man Dies At Workplace At Dubuque
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a Wisconsin man died in an accident at his job in Dubuque.
The accident occurred Thursday at A.Y. McDonald Manufacturing Co., which makes water works brass, plumbing valves, pumps and water systems, and high-pressure gas valves and meter bars.
Dubuque Fire Chief Rick Steines says emergency responders were sent after it was reported that the man was trapped in equipment. He died later at a hospital.
The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the accident.
The man’s been identified as 46-year-old Dennis Hall, who’d worked for A.Y. McDonald for five years. Hall lived in Potosi, Wisconsin.
Company President and CEO Rob McDonald said the company and its employees are reeling from the loss.
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