Bibler To Learn Verdict Today
(Le Mars) — A Le Mars man, accused of stabbing to death his sister two years ago, will learn his fate today at the Plymouth County Courthouse.
Judge Jeff Neary will hand down the verdict of Thomas Bibler. Bibler’s sister, Shannon Bogh, died in June of 2016 after being stabbed. The case was tried as a bench trial, that started last July. It was suspended until November when both the prosecutor and the defense teams offered their closing arguments.
Judge Neary says he will announce the verdict at 10:00 a.m.
Investiture of Judge Daniel Vakulskas Scheduled For Today
(Le Mars) — This afternoon, the investiture of Judge Daniel Vakulskas will take place at the Plymouth County Courthouse for the Third Judicial District of Iowa. The ceremony is slated to begin at 3:00 p.m. and will include a welcome and introduction of judges by Mark Sturgeon, followed by the pledge of allegiance, and the administration of oath of office by Honorable Patrick H. Tott. Nikki Vakulskas, the wife of Judge Daniel Vakulskas will don the robe on her husband.
School Board Proposes No Salary Increase For Teachers
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education has decided to hold the line on the teacher salaries. In the initial proposal offered yesterday during a special board meeting to the Le Mars Education Association, the Le Mars School Board has a position of no raises, maintaining the current base wage of $37,641. In their counter proposal, the school board and
administration acknowledge the state legislature has yet to approve a school funding supplemental aid package. The Le Mars Educators Association in their initial collective bargaining proposal submitted a request that would increase the base salary by $1,100 or nearly 3.2 percent. Both sides will begin negotiations for the collect bargaining contract for the school year 2019-2020, but are likely to wait until the state legislature passes a final bill relating to the school funding.
Brown Musical Family Opens Bed and Breakfast
(Le Mars) — The Browns musical family held an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday morning for their new Bed and Breakfast venue located above the Central Avenue Events Center at the corner of Central Avenue and Plymouth Street. Constructed for the four bed and breakfast rooms, along
with a loft apartment started in April of last year. Michaela Brown plans to occupy the loft apartment and oversee the Bed and Breakfast operation.
Shelly Brown talks about how the family got the idea to convert the upper level of the Central Avenue Events Center into a bed and breakfast.
Adam Brown believes the new Bed and Breakfast will add to the downtown area, and attract additional visitors to Le Mars.
Michaela Brown says each room has a musical theme. She describes the decor found in each bed and breakfast room.
The Browns say they are already taking reservations, with the first visitors scheduled to stay this Friday evening. Andrew Brown says the family took a lot of time, along with the contractors, to get the bed and breakfast ready for the public. He says, it was at times a challenge, trying to maneuver the large bed mattresses and other furnishings up a flight of stairs.
Each of the Brown family members are excited about the opportunity of holding a bed and breakfast in downtown Le Mars. The Browns expressed their appreciation to those who helped secure state grants, and to the city council for their assistance with financing the project.
Governor Kim Reynolds Inauguration Scheduled For Today
(Des Moines) — Later this morning, Governor Kim Reynolds will take the oath of office for a four-year term.
When Reynolds raises her right hand, she will rest her
other hand on the same Bible she used on May 24th of 2017. That’s when Reynolds took over as governor in the middle of a four-year term.
Reynolds plans to wear a bracelet with the imprint of a Bible
verse, too. It’s a gift from her daughters.
She’s now the first woman to be elected by Iowans to be governor. Her inaugural address will start between 10:15 and 10:30. Reynolds reached today’s milestone by defeating a Democratic challenger by about three percent — the closest race for governor in 62 years.
Mayor Arrested For Growing Marijuana
JAMAICA, Iowa (AP) – A central Iowa mayor and her husband have been arrested after sheriff’s deputies say they found a marijuana growing operation in the couple’s basement.
The Des Moines Register reports that 50-year-old Jamaica Mayor
LaDonna Kennedy and her husband, 58-year-old Randy Kennedy, were arrested Wednesday night and charged with manufacture with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and two counts of failure to affix a drug stamp.
Guthrie County Sheriff’s officials say deputies went on a tip to the mayor’s house looking for an attempted murder suspect. The suspect wasn’t found, but deputies called for a search warrant after they smelled an “overwhelming odor of raw marijuana” coming from the home. Investigators say 18 marijuana plants, several bags of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were
found.
The Kennedys were released Thursday on their own recognizance. A person who answered the phone at their home said they weren’t available and declined to comment on the charges.
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Rural Bankers Concerned About Farm Debts
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A monthly survey of rural bankers in parts of 10 Plains and Western states suggests banks are growing increasingly concerned about farm loan defaults in 2019.
More than 4 of every 10 bankers questioned for the Rural Mainstreet survey for January said they expect farm loan defaults to be the year’s biggest challenge.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says their outlook is being negatively influenced by tariffs, trade tensions, weak commodity prices and the partial federal government shutdown.
The survey’s overall index dropped to 51.5 from December’s 54.2. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy in the months ahead, while a score below 50 indicates a shrinking economy.
Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.
World War II Veteran Given Track and Field Medal From Drake Relays
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A 93-year-old World War II veteran has finally been given a medal he won at the 1944 Drake Relays track meet.
The Des Moines Register reports that Ted Williams, of Altoona, had finished second in the discus among high school boys while competing for Knoxville High School. But because of wartime metal rationing, he was given only a certificate that could be redeemed for a medal after the war.
Less than two months later Williams joined the Marines and
eventually served in the Pacific theater. After the war he married and became a history teacher and coach.
The certificate remained stuffed away in his home until his birthday Thursday, when he received a medal from Drake University in a surprise ceremony staged by his friends in a coffee group.
He was grateful for the acknowledgment of his accomplishment,
saying, “This is a very, very important thing to me.”
