Hundreds of People Enjoy Parades At Le Mars And Oyens
(Le Mars) — Hundreds of people lined Central Avenue between the 8th Street Blvd and the Le Mars Arts Center on Thursday morning to view the Friends of the Fourth parade. The American Legion lead the parade followed by the Legion Riders motorcycle club. At Oyens, several hundred people had gathered for the traditional Loutsch family tractor parade. This year, more than 100 antique tractors representing the companies of John Deere, International Harvester, Farmall, Allis Chambers, and Case could be seen at the parade.
Tractors of all sizes, models, and years strolled through the streets of Oyens.
Fire Department Called To Dumpster Fire – Delaying Start Of Fireworks
(Le Mars) — Last night, just minutes before the start of the 2019 fireworks Sky Show was to begin, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department was called to the southeast corner of town to the Eastgate Apartment Complex at 12th Street southeast and 7th Avenue southeast for a dumpster that was on fire. The
dumpster fire was sitting approximately three feet away from a 17-stall car garage. The fire, momentarily, delayed the start of the fireworks show for about ten minutes. Once the fireworks started, people at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds, and surrounding area, including those parked at the Floyd Valley
Healthcare parking lot were able to enjoy a fireworks show that lit up the sky for approximately 20 minutes.
Two West Des Moines Police Officers On Administrative Leave After Shooting Suspect With A Hunting Knife
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Two Des Moines-area police officers are on paid administrative leave after fatally shooting a man who brandished a knife at them when they responded to a domestic disturbance call.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says West Des Moines Officers Nathan Grove and Matthew Wood fired Wednesday night on 26-year-old Jonathan Pingel when he refused their commands to drop a “hunting-style”
knife.
The officers were called to a home on the city’s north side. The
division said when Pingel advanced on them with the knife, each shot him.
Their body cameras recorded the incident.
Pingel received medical help at the scene but died after being taken to a Des Moines hospital.
The division is investigating the shooting and plans to turn over its findings to the Polk County Attorney’s Office.
Court Of Appeals Overturns Judgement
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Court of Appeals has overturned a $3.25 million jury award against a Des Moines-area couple’s lawyer over a failed adoption where the baby boy later was murdered.
The Des Moines Register reports that a three-judge panel ruled
Wednesday that adoption attorney Jason Rieper’s conduct fell short of the legal threshold permitting Rachel and Heidi McFarland of Ankeny to recover damages for emotional distress from alleged malpractice.
They sued because Rieper failed to get the birth mother’s signature in 2014 on a crucial document. Rieper said she changed her mind.
The infant lived with the couple for two months before he was
returned to his mother. Five weeks later, he was found dead in her apartment.
The father pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 50-year prison sentence.
New Law Sets Aside Lottery Money For Firefighters and Law Officers Families For Health Insurance
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A new Iowa law will set aside part of the state’s lottery revenues to help the families of firefighters and law enforcement officers keep insurance after their deaths.
The Des Moines Register reports the law that took effect earlier this week will allow the Iowa Lottery to provide $100,000 to a new Public Safety Survivor Benefits Fund.
It will provide money to organizations assisting the families of
firefighters and law enforcement officers who die on duty by helping cover their health or accident insurance costs.
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the legislation in May, following a years-long discussion about how to help the families of fallen firefighters and law enforcement officers.
State and local governments are allowed to cover families’ insurance costs, but not all agencies can afford it.
State Audit Looks At Webster City Chamber of Commerce Finances
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state audit has found nearly $240,000 in improper spending from the Webster City Chamber of Commerce over more than four years.
Iowa Auditor Rob Sand says his office investigated after being
contacted in July 2018 by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation about suspicious activity in chamber accounts.
Sand says former administrative assistant Leah Mulholland admitted to misusing funds to chamber officials and was fired in June 2018.
She had worked there since October 2013.
Sand says the audit found improper payments for hotels, restaurants, a cellphone, a credit card and a hair salon.
The Hamilton County attorney did not respond to a message about whether charges would be filed.
A telephone number listed for Mulholland rang unanswered.
Sand’s audit recommended increased board oversight of chamber finances.
Wetlands Grant
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says the federal government will give Iowa a $1.5 million grant to install wetlands in targeted locations to improve water quality.
The Environmental Protection Agency grant will help install up to six wetlands in the Middle Cedar River watershed. The project is designed to reduce the nitrogen content in the river.
Naig says his department will work with Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Waterloo and agriculture groups to design and implement the wetland areas.
The areas will be seeded with pollinator-friendly plants to attract bees, butterflies and other pollinator species in addition to providing a filtering mechanism for nitrogen that comes from fertilizer placed on cornfields.
Naig says his staff, city officials and industry associations are
identifying potential project locations and are visiting with interested landowners. The first wetlands are expected to break ground next year.
Extension To Offer Food Preservation Workshop
(Le Mars) — Have you ever thought about how great it would be to have some of summer’s foods during the autumn and winter months? Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Plymouth County will hold a workshop seminar entitled: “Preserving the Taste of Summer.” Janelle Johnson, coordinator
with the Plymouth County Extension explains.
Johnson says the preserving workshop will be held next Tuesday, July 9th at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Struble.
The Plymouth County Extension official says the workshop will begin at 5:00 p.m. and continue until 9:00 p.m. Johnson says more people are taking an interest in preserving food.
Johnson says interested people will need to register with the Plymouth County Extension and Outreach office. They will not need to bring anything to the preserving workshop seminar, but they will leave taking home some items.
Those interested in attending the preservation workshop seminar will need to register with the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Plymouth County.
