Home News Wednesday News, July 10th

Wednesday News, July 10th

Authorities Investigate Tractor Accident

(Le Mars) — Plymouth County authorities responded to a tractor accident on Monday. The accident was reported at about 7:30 p.m. when a tractor was in the ditch of Lake Avenue and 310th Street. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene along with Hinton Ambulance and Hinton Fire.
The driver was identified as 73 year old Daniel Robinson of Hinton, Iowa.
Mr. Robinson was transported to Mercy One by the Hinton Ambulance with serious injuries. The accident is under investigation by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office.

 

 

New Stadium Making Progress, But Still Behind Schedule Due To Rain Delays

(Le Mars) — Progress is being made everyday with the new Le Mars Community stadium, as contractors are working long hours, weekends, and even during the 4th of July holiday in order to complete the project for the opening home football game scheduled for August 30th. Despite the construction progress,
Le Mars Community School Superintendent, Dr. Steven Webner says it may be close as to whether or not the new stadium will be completed in time of the initial football game. Webner says the continuous rains from this spring has pushed the construction back about two weeks.

In addition to seeing the turf field being installed, Webner says
improvements will be seen on the visitors side of the field.

The school district superintendent says work is also progressing with the grandstand.

Utility crews just recently were able to install the stadium’s lighting, which is yet another example of the stadium’s progress.

Webner says contractors are now trying to perform the finishing work with the grandstand seating and press box.

The school superintendent says there are more than 25 sub-contractors working on the stadium project.

 

 

Le Mars Downtown To Celebrate Crazy Days

(Le Mars) — Several downtown merchants have come together to offer shoppers an opportunity for bargains. It’s being called Crazy Days, and Michelle Bomgaars with Piece of Cake says it helps the small downtown businesses reduce their inventory.

Bomgaars says 13 merchants will participate in the Crazy Days shopping event.
Crazy Days begins today (Wednesday) and will continue through Saturday when Central Avenue will be closed in order to accommodate more businesses.

The owner of Piece of Cake explains how Crazy Days got its start.

Bomgaars says on Saturday, shoppers will be able to find a wide variety of items for sale from many types of vendors.

Crazy Days will get started with an event scheduled for this late afternoon at Cork-it.

Bomgaars says Crazy Days always proves to be beneficial for both the shopper and the small businesses.

(photos from 2018 Crazy Days event)

 

 

Argument At Car Show Prompts Off-duty Jailer To Brandish Gun

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Police say an off-duty county jailer caused fear when he displayed a handgun Saturday during a brawl at a popular car show at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
Three witnesses called 911 to report that a man had a gun at the 28th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals Giant Car Show in Des Moines. It featured 4,000 cars and had an estimated crowd of 10,000 at the time.
The man was identified by police Tuesday as Boone County Sheriff’s Department jailer John McCormick. He has not been charged but his gun was confiscated. Firearms are banned inside the fairgrounds.
McCormick, 45, of Madrid, allegedly brandished the gun while fighting with 69-year-old James Welshons of Des Moines. McCormick had accused Welshons of causing safety problems by doing burnouts with his car around children.
State Fair Police Commander Doug Phillips said he has conflicting
reports about who threw the first punch but that McCormick reported fearing for his life. He says McCormick and Welshons were removed and the incident remains under investigation.

 

 

Body Recovered In River

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have recovered a body in eastern Iowa believed to be that of a missing boater.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says the body was found Tuesday in the Cedar River about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) south of the boat ramp at Palisades-Kepler State Park. An autopsy was ordered and the search was called off.
The sheriff’s office says the body likely is that of 59-year-old
Ricky Veenstra, who lived in Cedar Rapids. Veenstra either jumped or fell from a boat on the river Sunday morning.

 

 

Eastern Iowa Man Dies From Fireworks Accident

ATALISSA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say an eastern Iowa man has died after being hit in the head by a firework.
The Cedar County Sheriff’s Office says the incident happened the day before July 4 in the town of Atalissa. Emergency responders were called to the scene just after 3 p.m. July 3, where they found 53-year-old James Don McMichael dead.
The sheriff’s office says the impact of the firework is the probable
cause of death of the husband and father of two sons who farmed near Atalissa. The incident has been ruled an accidental death.

 

 

Doctor Pleads Guilty To Fraudulent Medicare Claims

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A Webster City doctor has pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements in Medicare claims.
Federal prosecutors for Iowa say 76-year-old Joseph Latella pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of making false statements relating to health care matters. Prosecutors say Latella operated a private practice in Webster City and served as the medical director for several nursing homes, at the time of the offense.
Prosecutors say Latella falsely declared he had spent more time with patients than he actually had at two nursing homes to qualify for more expensive billing to Medicare and Medicaid. In total, Latella admitted that over a four-year period starting in 2014, he submitted 1,140 false claims to be paid nearly $108,000 by Medicare and more than $9,200 by Medicaid. Latella has agreed to repay those amounts as part of his plea deal.
He faces up to five years in prison when he’s sentenced at a later
date.

 

 

State Legislators Wanting To Overturn Governor Reynolds Veto On Medical Marijuana

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Lawmakers disappointed with the governor’s veto of a medical cannabis bill are calling for legislative leaders to convene an interim committee to study options for revising the state’s program.
Sen. Joe Bolkcom and Rep. John Forbes, both Democrats, on Tuesday released a letter asking Republican leaders who control committee assignments to appoint a study committee to allow input from advocates, medical experts and others.
Bolkcom says the committee could develop language that could be presented to the Legislature in January.
Efforts to get leaders to convene a special session to override Gov. Kim Reynolds’ veto failed.
The bill, which passed 96 to 3 in the House and 40 to 7 in the
Senate, would have increased the amount of THC – the psychoactive compound in marijuana that causes a high – allowed in medical cannabis.
Reynolds objected to the level of the increase but indicated
willingness to consider changes.
The Legislative Council, a group of leaders that appoints interim
committees and drafts legislative rules, meets Thursday.

 

 

Couple Takes Plea Deals After Confining Boy In Basement

ELDORA, Iowa (AP) – A man and woman accused of confining the man’s son in a basement in central Iowa have taken plea deals.
Hardin County District Court records say 31-year-old Alex Shadlow pleaded guilty Monday to kidnapping and two counts of child endangerment.
Prosecutors lowered the kidnapping charge in return for Shadlow’s pleas.
His girlfriend, 40-year-old Traci Tyler, pleaded guilty to three
counts of child endangerment causing serious injury. She was found guilty in April of misdemeanor false imprisonment.
Sentencings haven’t been scheduled.
Prosecutors say Tyler and Shadlow locked his 8-year-old son in a
space beneath the basement stairs of their Ackley home for at least nine hours a day in summer 2017. The boy told authorities he slept on concrete, had no access to a bathroom and food was withheld.