Home News Tuesday News, February 26th

Tuesday News, February 26th

Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office Warns Public Of Scam

(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is reporting a scam that has been used on local residents. On Monday at approximately 5:30 p.m. the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office received a telephone call from a resident stating that the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office had contacted them
claiming that they had a bench warrant for their arrest. An additional resident also received a call from someone claiming to be a deputy with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office. The scammer is claiming to be a deputy and telling the public to get them gift cards to forgive the warrant. They also claim that there are warrants for failure to appear for jury duty. The scammer also requests the victim to go to a local store for pay pal or other
ways to take care of the alleged crime. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office wants the public to know that they never ask for gift cards, personal information, or payments to take care of fines and warrants. If you should receive a call like this please call the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office at (712) 546-8191, or your local Sheriff’s Office.

 

 

Supervisors To Hold Public Hearing On Proposed Budget

(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to convene this morning beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the County Courthouse Board Room.
The supervisors are expected to approve the elected officials salary resolution. The supervisors will hold a public hearing beginning at 10:00 a.m. regarding the proposed 2019-2020 fiscal year budget. Following the public hearing, the county governing board will hear a report from Justin Jacobsma and Andrew Hulstein as they review the county audit from the fiscal
year 2017-2018. The supervisors will hear from Doug Riediger who is seeking approval of Riediger Addition, a minor subdivision in Hungerford township.
County engineer Tom Rohe will appear before the county board of supervisors to submit construction permits from Century Link and Long Lines. Rohe will also submit the final plan for approval regarding a paving project on 150th Street near the county landfill.

 

 

Sioux City Diocese Releases Names Of Priests Accused Of Sexual Abuse

(Sioux City) — The Catholic Diocese of Sioux City has released a list of 28 priests they say were credibly accused of the sexual abuse of minors while serving in the diocese.

Bishop R. Walker Nickless says the list of incidents is from 1948
through 1995.

He condemned the past cases of abuse by the priests and says releasing the list is a way to show transparency and again apologize to the victims and their families:

Twenty-two of the 28 priests on the list are deceased.

A seven member Diocesan Review Board investigated every allegation and determined if each accusation was credible.

Storm Lake Police Chief Mark Prosser is a member of the review board which reviewed priest files dating back to 1902:

Prosser says many of the priests on the list were never formally
charged, but the evidence was deemed credible that they had committed acts
of abuse:

Thirteen of the priests were accused of one incident, 15 had multiple accusers.

Prosser says there were 107 total victims.

None of the six survivors on the list are currently serving as
priests and only one currently lives in Iowa.

The list was finalized over the last several months and includes a
review of all priest files dating back to the beginning of the diocese in 1902.

Father Brad Pelzel serves as Vicar General and says now any new accusations are immediately turned over to local law enforcement for investigation:

That involves extensive background checks of Diocese staff and
volunteers.

The announcement comes after Pope Francis held a summit at the Vatican the past few days where the Pope promised that guidelines used by national bishops conferences to prevent abuse and punish perpetrators will be reviewed and strengthened.

 

 

Business Leaders Work On Resolving Immigration Worker Program

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A group of 40 Iowa business leaders say they will work together to resolve federal immigration problems they say hurt worker recruitment efforts.
The Iowa Compact on Immigration includes several chambers of
commerce and development group leaders, including those from Ames, Burlington, Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City and Muscatine.
Greater Des Moines Partnership CEO Jay Byers on Monday noted
immigration is a federal issue and argued states shouldn’t offer their own piecemeal solutions.
Iowa lawmakers are considering several proposals, including
requiring that businesses use the federal E-Verify system to identify
workers eligible for U.S. jobs. It’s often criticized as inaccurate.
One of the group’s priorities is to create a system that accurately
and reliably determines who is permitted to work.
Byers says the message to Congress and the federal government is that temporary visa and agriculture guest worker programs don’t work and the U.S. lacks programs used by other countries to recruit workers and keep them.

 

 

Norwalk Voters To Decide On Multi-million Dollar Sports Complex

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – School officials in the Des Moines suburb of Norwalk say they will ask voters to approve $11 million for a new sports facility.
The Des Moines Register reports the Norwalk school district plans to put the proposal before voters in February 2020. Two years ago, voters approved a $32 million bond referendum to pay for a new elementary school and renovations to three other buildings.
The proposed Norwalk Physical Education and Competition Center would be adjacent to the high school, with completion expected in 2022. The 80,000-square-foot addition would include two gymnasiums, a wrestling room, walking track, classroom space and locker rooms.
A community group would raise about $3 million toward the project.
The plans reflect growth in the district, which has added more than 600 students in the last decade.

 

 

Three People Found Dead From Muscatine Fire

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say three people perished in a fire that heavily damaged a two-story house in the eastern Iowa city of Muscatine.
Firefighters dispatched around 6:40 p.m. Monday found flames coming from several doors and windows. One injured person found outside the home was taken in critical condition to a hospital.
The Muscatine Fire Department says firefighters found three bodies inside the home. Their names haven’t been released.
The department also says one firefighter suffered a minor injury.
The fire cause is being investigated.

 

 

Sentencing Set For Nurse Found Guilty Of Stealing Medications

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – A March sentencing has been scheduled for a nurse accused of stealing medications from patients at a nursing home in Dubuque.
Dubuque County District Court records say 38-year-old Jenny Tjaden, of Bellevue, pleaded guilty to tampering with records and to unlawfully obtaining prescription drugs. The Telegraph Herald also reports that she pleaded guilty in a separate case to driving while intoxicated.
Her sentencing is set for March 7.
Court records say Tjaden was working as a nurse at Stonehill Franciscan Services in October when she stole prescription drugs from three patients.