Supervisors To Convene Today And Will Open Bids For Bridge and Culvert Construction Projects
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will convene for its weekly meeting at the county courthouse board room. The supervisors have a light agenda, however, they will open bids for four different construction projects that are scheduled for this spring and summer. They include three culvert projects and a bridge repair project. Plymouth County Engineer Tom
Rohe talks about the proposed construction projects slated for this year, including a paving project for 150th street between Highway 60 and Marble Avenue.
Rohe says the road was graded last year. He says the county will have a better idea as to when the mile and a quarter will be paved after the contractor bids are taken on March 12th. The paving project by the county landfill is the only scheduled paving project. However, Rohe says there are some asphalt projects scheduled for this year.
Rohe talks about the bridge repair projects and culvert projects scheduled for this coming summer.
Rohe says in addition to the three bridge repair projects, contractors and county employees will work on six different culvert projects. He says the letting of bids for some of those projects are scheduled for today.
The Plymouth County engineer says he hopes construction can begin for many of the scheduled projects in April or May, but he says conditions have to be right before any work can get started.
Plymouth County Still Within Budget For Snow and Ice Removal
(Le Mars) — While some Iowa counties are seeing their snow and ice removal budgets being stretched to the limit, Tom Rohe, Plymouth County engineer says Plymouth County’s winter budget for ice and snow removal is holding up well.
Rohe says for some counties that have already exceeded their financial allocation for snow and ice removal budget, may have to delay or forfeit a planned construction project until another year.
Plymouth County uses a mixture of calcium and chloride to melt ice and snow.
Rohe says they still have an abundance of available product to tackle any additional ice and snow for this winter.
City Council To Discuss Budget And Administrator Position
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council will begin today’s meeting by holding a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2019-2020 city budget. As for action items, the city council is expected to approve the funding recommendations as suggested by the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau advisory board, and there will be discussion concerning the new city administrator from the search committee’s recommendations. The Public Works Department as
well as the Public Facilities and YMCA will submit their annual reports during today’s city council meeting.
Kingsley State Bank Soon To Become Midstates Bank
(Kingsley) — A bank in northwest Iowa has announced plans to merge with a Council Bluffs based bank. The Kingsley State Bank has informed its customers that it will join the Midstates Bank on May 1st, pending regulatory approval. The Kingsley State Bank has three locations: Kingsley, Sergerant Bluffs, and Le Mars, and they will change their name to Midstates Bank. Midstates has six locations in Council Bluffs, Missouri Valley, Avoca, Harlan, and Mondamin. The bank’s statement says their staff and operating hours will remain the same after the merger.
Secretary of State Pompeo Visits Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in Iowa to discuss trade with farmers who are struggling to survive low commodity prices and tariffs that have hurt sales.
Pompeo, flanked by U.S. Ambassador to China and former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, spoke Monday to a group of young suburban Des Moines Future Farmers of America members at a high school in Johnston, Iowa.
During questions he defended President Donald Trump’s trade policies and withdrawal from an international climate agreement.
On the recent negotiations with North Korea, he says the U.S. made some progress but “didn’t get to where we hoped we’d be and I think there’s a lesson in that.”
In his visit to the Des Moines area, Pompeo also is touring a
DowDuPont agricultural research facility and giving a speech to hundreds of Iowa Farm Bureau members.
Iowa City Church Hit With Graffiti
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A reward has been offered for information about whoever spray-painted Bible verses, racist language and swastikas on an Iowa City church.
Police say the Greater Iowa City Church of the Nazarene building was defaced between 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 8:15 a.m. Sunday.
Iowa City Area CrimeStoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information about the crime.
Defense Attorney Claims A Prosecutor’s Witness Lied
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Defense lawyers for a man jailed in the 1990 death of a 9-year-old girl are accusing Iowa prosecutors of letting a key witness give false testimony at three trials in the case.
An attorney for Stanley Liggins says he has discovered new records showing that prosecution witness Antonio Holmes was given a favorable plea agreement in exchange for his testimony against Liggins.
Liggins has twice been convicted of killing Lewis, who was
kidnapped, raped, strangled and left dead behind an elementary school in Davenport, Iowa. Those convictions have been overturned. A jury deadlocked on whether he was guilty last year at a third trial. A fourth trial is scheduled next week.
Holmes had said he didn’t receive any benefit from prosecutors for his testimony.
Des Moines Police Officers Kill Carjacking Suspect
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines police say a suspect in a carjacking shot at officers who fired back and killed him.
Police say the carjacking victim called 911 around 3:50 a.m. Monday to report that he’d been shot in a leg when two people stole his sport utility vehicle. Police say the SUV was occupied by two men and a woman when it was spotted around 10 minutes later.
It went up a dead-end street and parked in a driveway. The three got out and walked away, and the woman and one of the men were soon detained.
Police say three officers then found the last suspect hiding near a
garage. Police say the officers told him to show his hands, and he responded by firing several shots at them. They returned his fire and killed him. He’s been identified as 36-year-old Luke Anthony Swann, of Des Moines.
The other man in the car, 21-year-old William Lee Weaver, was
charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He also had a warrant from Warren County for a probation violation. He’s being held in the Polk County Jail.
The three officers were identified as Brian Buck, Brian Minnehan and Ryan Steinkamp.
Des Moines Water Works Wants Zoo To Pay Water and Sewer Bill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A utility is demanding that a Des Moines zoo start paying its water and sewer bill but the foundation that runs the zoo says that could jeopardize programs such as free tickets for children.
The Des Moines Register reports that the Des Moines Water Works board is willing to forgive most of the $5 million in water and sewer services that Blank Park Zoo hasn’t paid since 2003. The utility wants $74,000 for water used last year.
Zoo president Mark Vukovich says the Blank Park Zoo Foundation was told it wouldn’t have to pay utilities when it took over operations from the city in 2003. The utility says the free water deal should have ended then.
City, utility and the zoo officials will meet this month to discuss
the issue.
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Dubuque Couple Waiting Sentencing After Robbing Restaurant
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – A Dubuque man and wife are awaiting sentencings for the robbery of the Dubuque restaurant where she worked.
The Telegraph Herald reports that 41-year-old William Brown used a gun to rob the Hardee’s restaurant where his wife, 38-year-old Mary Brown, was working the morning of Oct. 11.
Court records say William Brown has pleaded guilty to robbery and child endangerment and is scheduled to be sentenced March 11. His wife pleaded guilty to child endangerment and theft. Her sentencing is set for April 8.
Authorities say both were charged with child endangerment because their 7-year-old child was left home alone during the robbery.
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