Merrill and Le Mars Fire Departments Respond To A Structure Fire On Wednesday Morning
(Le Mars) — The Merrill and Le Mars Fire Departments were called to a structure fire at a home located at 30327 County Road C-44, about two miles east of Merrill. The fire was reported at about 8:45 a.m. Wednesday morning.
According to officials, fire was detected inside a wall of the home.
(photo contributed.)
Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire fairly quickly, and within an hour had left the scene to return headquarters. The fire is believed to have started from improper disposal of smoking materials.
Judge To Decide Verdict For Stabbing Suspect
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A judge is considering his verdict regarding a 19-year-old Sioux City resident accused of stabbing to death his ex- girlfriend and another man.
Testimony ended Monday in the non-jury trial of Tran Walker. He’s accused of killing 17-year-old Paiten Sullivan and 18-year-old Felipe Negron Jr.
Police say Walker was in a car with the other two on Jan. 28 last year when he stabbed Sullivan and then Negron when he tried to intervene.
Walker has pleaded not guilty to the two counts of first-degree murder.
A friend of Walker testified that the defendant said he had wanted to talk to the girl about their breakup and that he needed closure. Sullivan’s stepmother , Stevie Sullivan, testified that Walker and Sullivan broke up because he didn’t want her to finish school.
Judge Tod Deck told the courtroom that he didn’t know when he’d reach a verdict.
Davenport Man Accused Of Attempted Murder For Shooting At Police Officer
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – Court records say a man accused of shooting a Davenport police officer has been charged with attempted murder.
Scott County District Court records say 27-year-old Brett Dennis also is charged with weapons possession by a felon. His attorney didn’t immediately return a call Wednesday from The Associated Press.
The Scott County attorney’s office says in a news release that Dennis shot Davenport Police Officer Ryan Leabo on April 25 after a foot chase and struggle. The release says Dennis had run away when Leabo tried to talk to him and another man. They’d been seen rummaging through a car.
The release says one shot from Dennis hit Leabo in a leg and a second gunshot was stopped by Leabo’s bulletproof vest. The release says Leabo then shot Dennis in a leg. Dennis later told investigators he wanted Leabo to shoot him.
The release says Leabo’s use of force was justified.
Iowa Department Of Transportation Opens I-29 South Of Highway 34
(Council Bluffs) — The Iowa Department of Transportation opened travel on flood-damaged Interstate 29 between U-S Highway 34 and the Missouri border this (Wednesday) morning. D-O-T transportation planner, Scott Suhr says the opening comes after a lot of effort.
He says drivers will have to use caution.
Suhr says it isn’t normal traffic flow, but it does get traffic moving to help those who have had to detour.
Several crews are involved in the emergency repairs in southwest Iowa, and Suhr says there’s one big challenge each faces.
Suhr says they had been working hard to get Iowa Highway 2 at
I-29 open — but the continued rain and water over parts of the roadway has set that back.
Suhr says the I-29 opening comes earlier than planned, and they are continuing to try and get other roadways open before the end of this month.
You can check out the progress on the flooded roadways at the D-O-T’s website.
