Home News Saturday News, February 23rd

Saturday News, February 23rd

Bibler Sentenced To 50 Years In Prison For Fatal Stabbing Of Sister

(Le Mars) — Fifty years. That was the sentence handed down today for Thomas Bibler of Le Mars who was found guilty of second degree murder of stabbing to death his sister Shannon Bogh back in June of 2016. Judge Jeff Neary on Friday afternoon pronounced the sentence in the Plymouth County Court Room. During the sentencing, Bibler was seen wiping his eyes on a couple of occasions, otherwise he sat still showing no other emotion when the sentence was delivered. Bibler, through his Defense attorney, Billy Oydare, had requested a new trial, but Neary denied the request. Prior to the sentencing, Plymouth County Attorney Darin Raymond had read a letter prepared by Shannon Bogh’s mother-in-law, Lisa Bogh as part of a victim’s impact statement. In that letter, Lisa Bogh says “Shannon was a huge part of our family. She was a great step-mom and served as a role model for our grandchildren. Shannon was also a nurse — a caring individual. Her death has left a huge hole in our family.” Raymond then showed a power point presentation featuring different photos of Shannon Bogh with her step children and her own children. Raymond indicated at the time of Shannon’s death, she was 27 years old. The prosecuting attorney said Shannon Bogh was an “outstanding member of our community.” The power point presentation listed Shannon Bogh as a wife…mother…granddaughter…daughter-in-law…nurse and best friend. Bibler passed on the opportunity to address the court and offer a statement. Judge Neary then read the sentencing.

Neary says Bibler will be credited for time already served, and he will be subject to DNA profiling. Neary told Bibler he has the right to an appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court, and such appeal would need to be filed within 30 days. The family of the victim Shannon Bogh sat silently during the reading of the sentencing. Neary offered a bit of commentary at the conclusion of the sentencing of Bibler.

Bibler will be transferred to the Iowa Department of Corrections to serve his term.

 

 

White and Merrink Plead Not Guilty To Robbing Iowa State Bank

(Sioux City) — Two Sioux City residents accused of robbing the Iowa State Bank of Le Mars in December have pleaded not guilty to federal bank robbery charges. Phillip White and Karen Merrick entered their pleas Friday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City. Prosecutors say White robbed the Iowa State Bank in Le Mars on December 12th, taking $16,190 from a bank employee. Merrick drove a U-Haul van as the getaway vehicle. Officers managed to flatten the van’s tires after a pursuit and arrest the pair. State charges against the two suspects were dropped earlier this month in favor of the federal prosecution. Their trial has been set for April 1st in U.S. District Court in Sioux City.

 

 

Museum Will Postpone Sports and Arts History Program

(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Historical Museum in Le Mars is postponing its program, set for this Sunday afternoon, Feb. 24, at 2. The 2019 History Lesson on Sports and Arts will be rescheduled to Sunday, March 10.

 

 

Spilled Beans

(Sioux City) — Nobody was injured, but a lot of soybeans were spilled when an overloaded semi truck and trailer carrying soybeans rear ended another semi’s trailer also loaded with soybeans during the noon hour on Friday.

The accident happened near the Cargill Soybean Processing facility at the 500 block of Hoeven where the trucks were heading to drop off their loads at the grain elevator.  Both trucks were from the same company and police say when the lead truck came to a full stop, the following semi slid into the rear of the first trailer, rupturing it.  An estimated 300 bushels of soybeans had spilled out of the damaged trailer, and the street was closed for three hours for cleanup of the spill.  The driver that caused the collision was cited by the Sioux City Police for failure to stop, and by the Iowa Department of Transportation for hauling a load that was over the legal weight limit.

 

 

Ames Police Charge Four Men With Murder

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Police in central Iowa have announced charges against four men in the 2017 shooting death of a 21-year-old man in his Ames apartment.
Ames police say in a news release Friday that 24-year-old Albrea Winfrey, 25-year-old Jordan Bryant, 28-year-old Anthony English and 25-year-old Demario Woods, all of Des Moines, have been charged with first-degree murder in the November 2017 death of Xavier Shepley.
Police had said Shepley was shot to death during an apparent robbery in which witnesses say two masked men entered Shepley’s apartment.
Police say Winfrey was arrested Friday and is being held at the Story County Jail. Bryant, English and Woods were already in the custody of the Iowa Department of Corrections on unrelated charges.

 

 

Labor Commissioner To Resign

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro says he will retire amid controversy, following a long career in public service. The announcement comes amid allegations that Mauro and top aides oversaw a hostile work environment and retaliated against whistle blowers. Mauro says he’ll retire April 1, with four years left in his second six-year term as commissioner following his 2011 appointment by Gov. Terry Branstad.

 

 

State Senator To Work With Wind Turbine Industry

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former Iowa Sen. Jeff Danielson says he has taken a job as a regional state policy director for the American Wind Energy Association, a national trade group for the wind energy industry. Danielson, who unexpectedly resigned Feb. 14 after 15 years in the Senate, says in a statement released Friday he will work to help expand wind power in the organization’s 12-state central region. By state law, however, he is prohibited from lobbying Iowa lawmakers for two years.

 

 

Vilsack Says He Will Pass On Running For Senate Seat

(Des Moines) — Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack has decided against running for the U.S. Senate. For the past couple of months, Vilsack had been meeting privately with influential Democrats and supporters of his previous statewide campaigns in 1998 and 2002 — discussing a potential challenge to Republican Joni Ernst’s bid for reelection next year. I
Iowa Democratic Party chairman Troy Price issued a written statement Friday afternoon, saying Democrats appreciate Vilsack’s thoughtful and deliberate consideration of making a run for the seat. Price added there will be a “spirited primary” to select the Democrat who’ll challenge Ernst in 2020. A recent Des Moines Register Iowa Poll found Ernst’s public approval rate at 57 percent with Iowans. Vilsack got his start in politics as mayor of Mount Pleasant. He won election to the state senate in 1992. In 1998, Vilsack was the first Democrat elected governor in more than three decades. Vilsack briefly ran for president after serving two terms as Iowa’s governor. He served eight years as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture during the entire Obama Administration. Vilsack is currently the president and C-E-O of the US. Dairy Export Council.