Home News Thursday News, December 13th

Thursday News, December 13th

Iowa State Bank Is Robbed — Suspects Caught 

(Le Mars) — A robbery took place Wednesday afternoon at the Iowa State Bank of Le Mars. The incident occurred at about 2:25 p.m. The suspects, thought to be a man and a woman, fled the robbery scene in a U- haul truck. Multiple law enforcement agencies then began searching for the U-haul. Within minutes of the robbery, the U-Haul truck in question was
spotted by law enforcement agencies heading south on Highway 75. Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte informed the news media the pursuit then followed county roads.

Vande Vegte says authorities were successful at using “stop sticks” on the fleeing U-Haul.

Vande Vegte was not able to confirm whether a weapon was used during the bank robbery, however, he says a weapon was mentioned in the robbery.
Police are awaiting for a search warrant, but Vande Vegte says money was found in the U-Haul truck.

Police are continuing their investigation into the robbery. Vande Vegte says the identities of the suspects is still to be determined, but he did say the suspects are not from the Le Mars area. Robin Jungarius of The Brew from across the street witnessed the suspects fleeing the bank. She says the suspects, a man and a woman had parked the U-haul truck at the Brew’s parking lot.

Charges have yet to be filed based on the investigation. Vande Vegte says the bank robbery and subsequent arrest were assisted by the Le Mars Police Department, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Merrill Police, Hinton Police, Akron Police, Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and
the FBI.

 

 

Pam Floy Honored As Chamber “Employee of the Month”

(Le Mars) — An employee with Northwest Bank is the latest recipient of the Chamber of Commerce “Employee of the Month” honors. Pam Floy was recognized Wednesday morning during a Chamber coffee event held at Northwest Bank. Floy started working with the bank in April 1995 and has held many positions at the bank; from Residential Loan Officer, Retail Loan Manager and Personal Banker to her current position as Mortgage Loan Originator.
Pam Floy is a very caring person and has a special affection for her clients. She takes pride in getting what her clients want and need in banking services, and she has many repeat clients because of her caring attitude. She is always timely and efficient in performing her work duties and meets all challenges head on with a positive attitude.
Floy also does an outstanding job of extending great effort in helping and assisting her co-workers in many facets of duties at the Bank. She helps out whenever and wherever she is asked to, and many times without being asked.
Floy stays active outside the Bank with All Saints Parish on the endowment committee, The City of LeMars Planning and Zoning committee and is an Ambassador for the LeMars Chamber of Commerce.

 

 

Doug Van Meeteren Picked As “Boss of the Quarter”

(Le Mars) — For some, leadership is something that’s gradually assumed over the years. For others, it’s something that’s immediately embraced. Doug Van Meeteren’s time with Primebank reflects a little of both.

In 1981, Primebank had committed to the addition of a Computer Department allowing the bank to do in-house records processing. Shortly into the establishment of this Department, the bank was faced with the untimely death
of the person originally slated to head this area. Doug Van Meeteren, a banker from a neighboring community with experience in this area, was tapped to take over this leadership role.

Remaining with Primebank for what has now been 37 years, Doug’s initial leadership of the bank’s Computer and Bookkeeping Departments has expanded to include many other areas of the bank, garnering him the title of Chief Operating Officer. Working with these various departments, at one point or
another, Doug has supervised a large percentage of Primebank’s staff. As their boss, Doug’s staff has found him to be a patient teacher, a good listener, and when warranted, a strong advocate on their behalf.

In nominating Doug for this honor, Primebank Chairman and CEO Matt Ahlers commented that over the years Doug has been someone who can be counted on to take on any project assigned to him, leading and working with bank staff to see the project through to its completion. Matt added that it’s this natural ability to lead and supervise people that makes Doug Van Meeteren an
excellent recipient of this recognition.

Congratulations to Doug Van Meeteren, the LeMars Area Chamber of Commerce 4th Quarter Boss of the Quarter.

Doug Van Meeteren, (left) accepts the Chamber’s “Boss of the Quarter” award from Chamber representative Pam Floy.  Matt Ahlers, Primebank’s CEO looks on.

 

 

Hoffman Selected As President Of The Iowa State Fair

(Des Moines) — A Le Mars man was recently elected to serve as the next president of the Iowa State Fair. Dave Hoffman will assume the helm overseeing one of Iowa’s largest tourist attractions. Hoffman was re-elected to the Board of Directors during the Iowa Association of Fairs Conference and Annual Meeting held at Des Moines last week. Hoffman was a
longtime member of the Plymouth County Fair Board.

 

 

Ernst And Grassley Split On Farm Bill Vote

(Washington) — Iowa’s two U.S. Senators parted ways in Tuesday’s approval of a new five-year Farm Bill. Joni Ernst voted in favor of the compromise bill, which has now also passed the House. Chuck Grassley was one of just 13 Republicans voting against the bill.

Grassley, a farmer from New Hartford, said on the floor of the Senate.
Grassley’s payment limitation amendment was removed from the Farm Bill in conference committee. He’s fought for years to place “hard caps” on subsidies from the government, saying the largest ag operations and even non-farmers are benefiting the most.

Grassley said farm policy should be “a limited safety net” to help farmers recover from natural disasters and other “unforeseen challenges.” This bill, he said, goes well beyond that.

Senator Joni Ernst served on the conference committee that drafted the compromise. In a prepared statement, she praised the bill as “farmer-focused” and said it includes her provisions to reform the Conservation Reserve Program and provide “critical mental health support” through the FARMERS FIRST Act.

 

 

Grassley Comments On Cohen’s Sentencing

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Sen. Charles Grassley says President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen may be truthfully pleading guilty to federal crimes but it’s difficult to believe him when he implicates the president in crimes.
Cohen was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for tax
evasion, lying to Congress and campaign finance violations. The campaign finance plea relates to illegal hush money payments made during the campaign to two women who allege they had affairs with Trump. Cohen says he paid them at the direction of Trump, potentially implicating the president in a crime.
During a call with reporters Wednesday, Grassley was asked whether he believes the president may have broken the law. Grassley said since Cohen lied to Congress, “to what extent do you want to put confidence in what a liar says?”
When asked if he thought Cohen’s guilty pleas were believable, he said Cohen could be lying about that too but “when you have somebody saying yeah, I did something wrong there’s no reason to doubt that.”

 

 

Council Bluffs Man Threatens Mayor

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A Council Bluffs man accused of repeatedly threatening to kill the city’s mayor and other city employees has pleaded guilty to first-degree harassment.
The Daily Nonpareil in Council Bluffs reports that 33-year-old Chase Points faces up to two years in prison and a $6,250 fine. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
Points was arrested after two incidents at City Hall. Authorities say Points left a handwritten note on Mayor Matt Walsh’s desk that said, “God is going to cut you down.” He later allegedly mentioned the note on Facebook and added, “If these stupid (expletive) don’t want to give ma job, kill them all.”
Walsh has said he doesn’t think the threats are political. He says
Points told him he’s homeless, going through hard times and can’t find work.

 

 

Judge Orders Landlords To Reimburse Payments

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A judge has ordered the city of Council Bluffs to refund more than $230,000 in fees to local landlords on grounds that the charges exceeded the work done by the city’s previous rental inspection program.
The Daily Nonpareil in Council Bluffs reports that the lawsuit covered a timeframe spanning from January 2010 through January 2015. Anyone who was a registered rental property owner in Council Bluffs during that time is likely entitled to repayment funds.

The court order says the city charged $725,013 in rental inspection
fees during the timeframe. Of that amount, the court found that the
program’s total actual costs were nearly $487,000.

Omaha attorney Rodney Dahlquist, who represented the plaintiffs, called
the ruling a victory for landlords and taxpayers.