Law Enforcement Agencies Involved In High Speed Chase
(Le Mars) — Law enforcement agencies were involved in a high speed pursuit that happened early Friday morning at around 1:30 a.m. Authorities with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office say they were notified of an active vehicle pursuit traveling south-bound on Highway 75 from Sioux County. The vehicle
entered Plymouth County and continued south-bound on Highway 75. The pursuit continued through the city of LeMars, and the vehicle was eventually stopped on 200th Street near Kestrel Avenue just outside of the city limits, near the
Wells Enterprises corporate offices. The pursuit resulted in the arrest of all three occupants. The driver, Lucas Packard, age 29, of South Dakota was arrested for aggravated eluding. Passengers William Highhawk, age 27, of South Dakota was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled
substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, and Natasha Demarrias, age 22, of South Dakota, was arrested on an active warrant for the Department of Corrections for a parole violation. The incident originated from Canton, South Dakota, crossing over the Big Sioux River into Sioux County, then
heading south into Plymouth County. The suspects were taken to the Plymouth County Jail. Both the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Le Mars Police Department participated in the pursuit and resulting arrests.
Lucas John Packard William Jacob Highhawk
Natasia Rose Demarrius
Woodbury County Authorities Investigate Fatal Vehicle Roll-over Accident
(Sioux City) — Woodbury County authorities are investigating a one-vehicle roll-over fatality accident that happened at around 5:30 a.m. Friday near Hornick. The accident occurred at the 2900 block of Grundy Avenue. A passerby located the vehicle in the ditch. Upon arrival of first responders, it was determined the vehicle was occupied by one person, and he was deceased. The identity of the victim will be released at a later date and time.
Wastewater from Quimby No Longer Spilling Into The Little Sioux River
QUIMBY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a city’s untreated wastewater no longer is flowing into the Little Sioux River in northwest Iowa’s Cherokee County.
The Iowa Natural Resources Department had said a sewer main break was reported Monday morning by the town of Quimby. River flooding has kept repair crews from finding the break and fixing it, allowing more than 15,000 gallons (56,780 liters) of untreated wastewater to flow into the river each day.
The department said Thursday that Quimby hired a manure hauler who’s begun moving wastewater from a pump station to the city’s wastewater lagoon.
The city is working with an engineering firm to determine how best to fix or replace the sewer main.
No More Boat Traffic Allowed On Missouri River
(Sioux City) — The ongoing high water on the Missouri River has resulted in the U-S Coast Guard and Army corps of Engineers closing the river to all boat traffic effective immediately. The Missouri River is closed to all navigation traffic from St. Louis, Missouri to North of Sioux City at mile marker 750. The agencies say vessel traffic may cause damage to, or over-topping of flood levees. There is also a hazard from drifting objects in
the high water. The will be closed indefinitely until the level recedes.
That is not expected to happen for weeks as releases from Yankton’s Gavins Point Dam will continue at 75,000 cubic feet per second through at least the end of this month.
Branstad’s Attorney Files Motion To Supreme Court To Dismiss Civil Lawsuit
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The attorney for former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has filed an unusual request to the Iowa Supreme Court that seeks to stop a civil trial now in its third day, arguing rulings by a judge are unconstitutional.
Branstad and two former staff members were sued by former Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Christopher Godfrey, who claims he was pressured to quit after Branstad took over as governor in 2010 and cut his pay cut by a third. Godfrey claims it was because he’s gay. Branstad denies he knew Godfrey was gay.
An eight-person is hearing the case in Polk County District Court.
Branstad attorney Frank Harty says in a document filed with the Supreme Court Thursday that the trial judge is allowing Godfrey to put on trial Branstad’s positions on gay marriage and the Republican Party’s “anti-gay” views.
Harty says such a trial violates free speech rights of Branstad and all Iowans by chilling political speech. He says the trial should be stopped and the constitutional claims considered.
Regents Approve Tuition Increase For University of Iowa and Iowa State University
(Des Moines) — The board that governs the state’s public universities has approved a nearly four percent increase in undergraduate tuition for students at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University. There will be NO tuition increase at the University of Northern Iowa. The three-point-nine percent
increase in tuition at Iowa and Iowa State takes effect this fall. The 2019 legislature did not provide as much of a boost in state taxpayer support of the schools as the Board of Regents requested. The tuition hike is nearly one percent higher than the board predicted last November. Regent Milt Dakovich
says it makes sense for the board of wait until state funding
decisions are final.
That meant after approving tuition rates in November for the NEXT fall, the board might vote AGAIN in the spring to hike the rate if state funding was below expectations.
The legislature provided a 12 million dollar increase in taxpayer support of the schools for the next academic year. Each institution will get four million dollars. IN OTHER ACTION YESTERDAY, the board approve contract extensions for the three university presidents. Northern Iowa President Mark
Nook’s employment contract was extended to June of 2025. The contracts for University of Iowa president Bruce Harreld (HAIR-uld) and Iowa State president Wendy Wintersteen were extended through June of 2023.
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