Knights of Columbus Present Phone-a-thon Check To Life Skills
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars chapter of the Knights of Columbus presented a check to Life Skills Training Center during their breakfast held Sunday morning. The total of $37,088 and 41 cents was the amount raised from last fall’s K-C phone-a-thon. The amount represents 90 percent of the total raised, as the remaining ten percent goes to help support Iowa’s Special Olympics. Justin Freking, the president of the Knights of Columbus and Bob Peutz, the chairman of the phone-a-thon presented the check to Life Skills Training Center executive director Rose Nicols and Marketing and Development Diretor Shelly Thomson.
American Legion Participate In “Wreaths Across America” Ceremonies
(Le Mars) — Members of the Wasmer Post #241 American Legion of Le Mars participated in the annual “Wreaths Across America” celebration held Saturday morning at the Plymouth County Veterans Park. The wreaths originated from Maine, with more than 1400 locations nationwide, including Arlington National Cemetery, placing wreaths at veteran graves. The local American Legion placed seven different wreaths, one for each
branch of the military, Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard, plus a wreath for the POW’s and MIA’s and the Merchant Marines. Past post commander, Wayne Schipper, served as emcee of the local program.
Following the placement of the wreaths, Le Mars mayor, and member of the Wasmer Post #241 American Legion Dick Kirchoff offered these words.
The memorial wreaths can be seen at the Plymouth County Veterans Park at Le Mars.
School Board To Hold Special Meeting On Wednesday
(Le Mars)— The Le Mars Community Board of Education will not hold their monthly meeting this evening, but rather they have scheduled a special meeting to take place on Wednesday, December 19th at 12:00 noon at the Superintendent’s Conference Room.
Franklin Elementary Administrative Assistant Awarded “Employee of the Month”
(Le Mars) — Last week, the Le Mars Community School District awarded its “Employee of the Month” honors to Cheryl Plueger, the administrative assistant for Franklin Elementary School. Cheryl Plueger was nominated by the entire Franklin Elementary staff. They say of Plueger, she goes above and beyond every single day at Franklin. She knows all the students from
Kindergarten through 5th grade by name. She is the first line of
communication between parents and teachers. Cheryl can be counted on to do anything extra that any person needs to have done, such as fixing a student’s glasses, taking a student’s temperature, and handing out medication, finding clothes for students who are in need of something from home. Cheryl can be found in the office taping books, cutting lamination,
and putting packets together for teachers. In all the years that she has been at Franklin, we do not know of a time when she has ever said “NO” to anyone for anything. She is greatly appreciated by everyone for all that she does. Cheryl Plueger has been an employee of the the Le Mars Community School District for 21 years.
Le Mars Police Make Arrest After Domestic Abuse Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department responded to a report of domestic abuse at 127 9th Street southeast last Wednesday, December 12th. The report came in at about 12:30 p.m. As a result of the investigation, Natham Bell,
age 38 was arrested for assaulting a person living at the residence. He was taken to the Plymouth County Jail and charged with domestic abuse with a first offense.
Sioux County Authorities Investigate Fatal Accident
(Orange City) — Sioux County authorities are investigating a fatal accident that happened Friday, December 14th at about 5:25 p.m. The accident happened on Highway 75, three and a half miles southwest of Hull. Molly TeSlaa, age 30 of Rock Valley was driving a 2007 Buick Rendezvous northbound on Highway 75. Wally Jansma, age 42 of Sioux Center was going southbound on Highway 75 with his 2008 Chevrolet Uplander. Apparently, TeSlaa lost control and entered the southbound lane of travel where the two vehicles collided. Jansma was transported by the Hull Ambulance to the Hegg Memorial Hospital in Rock Valley for treatment of his injuries. TeSlaa was transported by the Hull Ambulance to the Sioux Center Hospital where she was
pronounced dead as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Hull Fire Department, Hull Ambulance, Sioux Center Police Department, Rock Valley Police Department and the Iowa State Patrol. The accident remains under investigation.
Cedar Rapids Woman Dies From Injuries From Apartment Fire
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a woman injured in a Cedar Rapids apartment fire has died.
A Cedar Rapids news release says 43-year-old Sharon Garnett died Saturday afternoon at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City.
Firefighters sent to battle the blaze Friday afternoon had found
Garnett in her bedroom. Authorities say a medical condition made it difficult for Garnett to escape.
Investigators think the fire started atop the stove in the kitchen.
Authorities Pull Body Out Of Des Moines River
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in Des Moines say rescue crews have pulled the body of a man from the Des Moines River.
Television station KCCI reports that the man’s body was found late Saturday afternoon after an hours-long search.
Police say witnesses reported they saw the man go into the water just before 1 p.m. Saturday just north of the Grand Avenue bridge. Police say he had been wading in the water a few yards from the bank before he went under.
Authorities did not release the man’s name Saturday afternoon. His body will be taken to the state medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.
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Clarke County Attorney Arrested For Second OWI
OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) – The Clarke County prosecutor has again been arrested.Television station KCCI says outgoing Clark County Attorney Michelle Rivera was arrested Friday on suspicion of operating while intoxicated.
Rivera, who lost her re-election bid in November, was arrested in
October on suspicion of being drunk on the job in a Clark County courtroom.
A sheriff’s deputy said in a criminal complaint that he noticed Rivera “slurring her words and stumbling on her feet” in the Osceola courtroom. He arrested her after she refused to take a breath test. She was charged with public intoxication.
She later apologized and asked voters to give her another chance.
Rivera’s office was closed Saturday and was not accepting messages.
A home phone number for Rivera could not be found.
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Waukee School Chief Operation Officer Charged With Improper Spending
WAUKEE, Iowa (AP) – The chief operating officer for Waukee Community School District in central Iowa has turned himself in on charges related to improper spending at the district.
Waukee police say 50-year-old Eric Rose turned himself at 7 a.m. Saturday. He’s charged with two counts of solicitation to commit a felony and one count of felonious misconduct in office. He was freed on $15,000 bond.
A special state audit report released earlier this month said
administrators improperly used state credit cards and spent nearly $129,000 on items and services that “were not in the taxpayers’ best interest.”
Earlier in the year, the district agreed to pay more than $1 million to two former district employees who said they were forced out of their jobs after reporting what they said was misconduct by Rose.
An email Saturday from a district spokeswoman says the district
learned of Rose’s arrest from news reports and that the Waukee board will meet Monday to discuss his employment status.
Iowa Democratic Party Elects Officers
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Democrats in Iowa have re-elected Troy Price as chairman of the state party.
It’s Price’s second term as state party chairman. Before first being elected last year, Price was part of several Democratic campaigns in Iowa, including those of former President Barack Obama and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Price also had served as the party’s executive director and led One Iowa, an LGBT advocacy group.
In a written statement Saturday, Price regaled the accomplishments the party made in 2018, including flipping two congressional seats and the state auditor’s office.
The party also elected Andrea Phillips as first vice chair, June
Owens as second vice chair, Ken Sager as treasurer, and Don Ruby as secretary.
