Sprayer Applicator Roll-Over Accident Near Remsen
(Remsen) — The Remsen Fire Department was called Wednesday morning at about 11:40 a.m. to the intersection of county road L-12 and 160th Street, about a mile north of Remsen when a sprayer applicator unit had slid off the
gravel road and rolling on its top. The driver of the sprayer applicator was able to escape with no injuries. The sprayer applicator is owned and operated by the Remsen Farmers Co-op. According to Plymouth County Sheriff’s officials, the sprayer applicator was hauling liquid fertilizer when it had turned a corner to short, causing the 1150 gallons of the liquid fertilizer
to shift, and resulting in the unit to lose traction on the gravel road and rolling over on its top. Firefighters, co-op employees, and nearby farmers used pay-loader tractors and front-end loaders to create an earth berm in order to prevent the spilled liquid fertilizer from entering Deep Creek.
Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputies estimate that all of the 1150 gallons had spilled. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has been notified of the spill.
Le Mars Woman Arrested For Methamphetamine Possession
(Le Mars) — A Le Mars woman has been arrested by Sioux County authorities for the possession of methamphetamine. On Tuesday, 21-year old Rebecca Hemmelman was initially stopped for a traffic offense. Upon further investigation, the Sioux County Sheriff’s deputy had determined Hemmelman’s driver’s license was suspended, and discovered methamphetamine in her
possession, and suspected she was under the influence of the drug. Hemmelman was charged with operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license, possession of a controlled substance, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated or drugged, fraudulent display of registration, and no motor
vehicle insurance.
Paullina Man Arrested For Drug Possession
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office arrested Brent Hauge, age 43, from Paullina, IA, for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. On June 14th a traffic stop was conducted by a Merrill Police Officer on Highway 75 at mile marker 116. A Sheriff’s Deputy assisted on the traffic stop. While the passenger, Brent Hauge of
Paullina, IA, was being detained, a methamphetamine pipe was found on his person. After a search of his remaining pockets, a small bag containing a crystal-like substance (believed to be methamphetamine) was also located on his person. Mr. Hauge was transported and booked into the Plymouth County Jail for possession of a controlled substance, 2nd and possession of drug
paraphernalia.
Sioux City Woman Arrested For Methamphetamine Possession
(Le Mars) — In a separate incident, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office also arrested Patricia Gordon, age 62, from Sioux City, IA, for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. On June 13, 2019, at approximately 8:43 p.m., a Sheriff’s Deputy stopped to check on a vehicle parked on the shoulder of Highway 75 north-bound around mile marker
114. After speaking with the driver, Ms. Gordon, it was made apparent she did not possess a valid form for proof of liability insurance on the vehicle.
After further speaking with her and her passenger this Deputy asked for consent to search the vehicle. A LeMars Police Officer and his K-9 were called to do an open air sniff of the vehicle. Prior to the dog finishing this, it was made known to the Sheriff’s Deputy that a methamphetamine pipe and methamphetamine were in the vehicle. The K-9 also indicated exactly where these items were found. Ms. Gordon was arrested and booked into the
Plymouth County Jail.
Sibley Business Loses Lawsuit
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A northwest Iowa company that’s been fined thousands of dollars for the stink coming from its plant has lost its lawsuit targeting the city’s odor ordinance.
The Sioux City Journal reports that Judge Leonard Strand of the U.S. District Court in Sioux City granted the city of Sibley’s motion for a summary judgment. Strand disagreed with Iowa Drying & Processing’s contention that the ordinance was unconstitutionally vague.
Iowa Drying & Processing had said the city’s enforcement unfairly targeted the company and interfered with its efforts to sell the plant, which had drawn residents’ complaints for years.
One resident, Josh Harms, sued Sibley after city officials threatened legal action against him for saying on a website that Sibley smelled like “rancid dog food.” Strand ruled against the city in Harms’ case, barring officials from making more threats and ordering the city to pay him $6,500 in damages and $20,000 in legal fees.
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Caseworker Arrested For Dependent Adult Abuse
ROCK VALLEY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have arrested a caseworker who they say beat a client in northwest Iowa.
Sioux County court records say 27-year-old Aaron Albaugh is charged with felony dependent adult abuse. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.
A court document says Albaugh worked for Hope Haven, which offers a variety of services, when he met with the 23-year-old man May 5 at an apartment in Rock Valley. The document says the man suffered sinus and skull fractures from the assault.
The document doesn’t say what else occurred during the encounter.
Judge Determines Board Of Regents Violated Collective Bargaining Rules
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A state board has ruled the Iowa Board of Regents didn’t negotiate in good faith with unions from two public universities because it delayed negotiations until passage of a law limiting public employee bargaining rights.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the Public Employment Relations Board ruled last week that the regents deliberately delayed holding meetings starting in mid-December 2016 with the Campaign to Organize Graduate Students at the University of Iowa and United Faculty at the University of Northern
Iowa while it waited for lawmakers to approve limits on public-sector union bargaining rights.
The board ordered the regents to not repeat such delaying tactics.
The regents also must post flyers at the universities in the fall notifying employees they violated the law.
The changes approved by legislators reduced the number of mandatory subjects for negotiation to only base wages.
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FEMA To Award Federal Disaster Assistance To Iowa Counties
(Des Moines) — Gov. Kim Reynolds today received word that additional damage caused by the severe weather and flooding that began March 12, 2019, will be eligible for federal disaster assistance.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted Iowa’s request to reopen and extend the incident period for the Presidential Disaster Declaration that was granted for Iowa by President Trump on March 23. The incident period, which defines the period of time during which damage occurred is eligible for federal assistance, had previously been March 12-May 16. That incident period has now been extended to June 15.
Governor Reynolds Says She Is Changing The Direction Of Her Administration
(Des Moines) — Governor Kim Reynolds says “a lot of factors” went into her decision to replace a key agency director. Jerry Foxhoven’s exit as director of the Iowa Department of Human Services on Monday came two years after she appointed him to the job.
Reynolds was asked Wednesday by statehouse reporters if there were any issues with Foxhoven’s performance or behavior — or any disagreements she may have had with Foxhoven about the agency’s direction.
Reynolds appointed Foxhoven as the D-H-S director six days after she took over as governor when Terry Branstad resigned in 2017, in the middle of his sixth term as governor. Reynolds says she will conduct a national search for a new director for the state’s largest agency — someone to carry out her new
plans.
Reynolds says later this week she’ll name a new director for the state agency that handles personnel matters in state government. Next week, Reynolds plans to name a permanent Department of Natural Resources director. An interim
manager has been at the helm of that agency for more than two years.
Reynolds says she’s looking to promote a “one team culture” in state government. Earlier this month she named a new director for the Iowa Department of Corrections. She named a handful of new state administrators this past January as well, around the time she took the oath of office for a full, four-year term as governor.
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Iowa State University Graduate Student Accused Of Sexual Abuse
AMES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa State University graduate student accused of sexually assaulting a woman in April at his apartment has pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.
The Des Moines Register reports that 33-year-old Jona Paulus entered the plea Monday. In exchange, the court agreed to sentence Paulus to 90 days in jail with credit for time served. Paulus also must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Police say Paulus held the victim down and sexually assaulted her on April 6. When the woman was able to get up, she began recording Paulus with her phone and can be heard telling him, “I told you no.” Police say he replied, “I know. I know.”
Paulus has also been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of an image of a minor in a sex act in a separate case.
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Cedar Rapids Workers Win Lottery
CLIVE, Iowa (AP) – One lottery ticket buyer’s loss is the gain of group of Cedar Rapids workers.
The Iowa Lottery says a group of 34 workers at Collins Aerospace, which designs and makes aircraft components, won the $1 million top prize in a lottery promotion to give away an unclaimed Powerball prize. A winning $1 million Powerball ticket was bought in Nevada last year, but never claimed before expiring in April.
Under state law, the money from unclaimed lottery prizes goes into prize pools for future games and promotions, so the lottery decided to hold a “Woo Hoo A Million For You” giveaway for the $1 million. Under the promotion, lottery players could enter any Powerball ticket bought in Iowa from May 29 through June 11. Players made a total of 165,265 entries.
The winning ticket held by the Cedar Rapids group was bought at an Anamosa convenience store.
