Home News Wednesday News, July 24th

Wednesday News, July 24th

Akron Woman Apparently Lied To Law Enforcement Officials Regarding Husband’s Death

(Le Mars) — An Akron woman originally charged with killing her husband has pleaded not guilty to making a false report. Plymouth County court records say 35 year old Becky Hebert, or rural Akron, entered the written plea Friday. The records don’t show that a trial has been scheduled. Hebert was originally charged with second-degree murder for the October 6, 2017
shooting death of 40-year old Jeremy Hebert. The charge was dismissed just weeks later. Deputies reported that she said numerous times that she had shot her husband…statements that they later concluded were lies. No other arrests for the slaying have been reported.

 

 

4-H Exhibit Building Has Over 1500 Exhibits

(Le Mars) — 4-H static exhibits were judged yesterday at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. The judging serves as a kick-off to the fair activities. This year, according to Janelle Johnson, co-coordinator of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for Plymouth County, she says there are more than 1500 exhibits entered by 4-H members, and she admits to
being impressed.

Inside the 4-H building, visitors will see photography exhibits, woodworking displays, clothing, cooking, and several posters educating the public. But one category shows the creativity of the young 4-H members as they were presented with a bucket of old iron parts. From there, the 4-H members had to use their imagination as to what could be created using only the old iron
parts. Johnson says the “Bucket of Junk” category is becoming more popular with Plymouth County 4-H members.

The Extension Services co-coordinator says in many cases, 4-H members have turned something old into something new. She says if there is a prominent theme to the exhibits inside the 4-H building, it would be animals. She says one exhibit explains African Swine Fever, which is on every pork producer’s mind.

Johnson encourages everyone to visit the 4-H Exhibit Building. She says you may be amazed at the quality of exhibits.

The 4-H Exhibit Building opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 10:00 p.m.

 

 

Wednesday’s Schedule Of Events At Plymouth County Fair

(Le Mars) — This is the first day of the Plymouth County Fair, and it is entry day for livestock and other animal exhibits, plus open class entries can be brought to the fair between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. All livestock entries are to be weighed and checked in prior to 12:00 noon. The 4-H and FFA livestock judging contest will begin at 2:00 p.m. The live milking
demonstration classroom will happen at 3:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. and at 7:00 p.m.
The round barn opens at noon and will close at 10:00 p.m. The bucket calf judging takes place in the covered arena at 6:00 p.m. As for the evening’s entertainment, the crowning of the king and queen will take place at the Pioneer Village stage at 7:00 p.m. and The McEwyn Band will perform at 5:30 and again at 8:00 p.m. Motorcross races will take place at the grandstand,
beginning at 7:00 p.m.

 

 

Sheldon Feed Mill Explodes

(Sheldon) — An explosion rocked a northwest Iowa feed mill Tuesday afternoon.
No one was injured in the explosion at Deluxe Feeds in Sheldon, but the facility was damaged. According to a statement from Muscatine-based Kent Feeds — which owns the feed mill — “the cause of the explosion is under investigation.” The facility produces livestock feed that’s shipped to swine, beef and dairy producers in Iowa and three other states. A 37-million
dollar expansion of the plant began in 2017 and has not been completed.

 

 

Boone County Jailer Now Charged After Brandishing A Gun At A Car Show

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – After initially saying he acted in self-defense, police have charged an off-duty jail employee who brandished a handgun during a fight at a car show at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
The Iowa State Fair Police announced Tuesday that John McCormick is charged with assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, carrying a weapon under the influence and impersonating a peace officer.
The charges came after some witnesses said they were outraged that McCormick created a public safety scare but wasn’t arrested for the July 6 incident at the Good Guys car show. They wondered whether McCormick received special treatment since he works for the Boone County Sheriff’s Department.
McCormick has said he wasn’t the “primary aggressor” in the fight and that he pulled the weapon in self-defense to protect himself and his wife. State Fair Police Commander Doug Phillips said initially that McCormick feared for his life.
Multiple witnesses disputed that account, saying that McCormick
instigated the fight with a 69-year-old driver and pulled the concealed handgun and made threats after the man fought back.

 

 

Police Officer Resigns After Past Problems Arise

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa police officer facing growing claims of misconduct has resigned, two weeks after the release of a video that showed him striking a motorcyclist during a 2017 traffic stop.
Robert Smith resigned Monday after a closed City Council meeting in Durant. Smith was one of three full-time officers in the town of 1,800.
Durant hired Smith last year after he resigned from the Iowa State Patrol following an investigation into his arrest of Bryce Yakish.
Problems in Smith’s past came to the public’s attention after Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington banned Smith and other Durant officers from bringing suspects to his jail in May. Wethington said he couldn’t vouch for their credibility.
Video obtained by The Associated Press shows Smith pointed his gun at Yakish and knocked him down.

 

 

Inmate Discusses Murder-For-Hire Plan With Undercover Officer

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A man already in federal prison on gun convictions has been sentenced to another 20 years for trying to hire a hitman from behind bars to kill two northeastern Iowa people.
Federal prosecutors say 45-year-old Jason Harriman was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Harriman was convicted in January of two counts of murder-for-hire.
Prosecutors say Harriman began serving a 15-year federal sentence in 2011 on gun charges and made multiple phone and email contacts from prison with someone he thought was a hired killer. The person was actually an undercover federal agent.
Investigators say Harriman met with the agent in prison and agreed to pay the “hitman” $21,000 for the murder of two people – even signing a contract.
There is no parole in the federal system.

 

 

Police Officer Uses Pepper Spray On Boys Holding Knives

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Police say an officer used pepper spray on a 9-year-old and his 8-year-old brother who were carrying butcher knives on the north side of Des Moines.
Police Sgt. Rod Santizo says someone who saw the boys and the knives at a convenience store called police just before noon Tuesday. The boys ran when the first officer on the scene approached them. They soon turned around, and one began arguing with the officer.
Santizo says the officer used the pepper spray when he saw the knives.
The boys were soon taken into custody and their eyes flushed with water.
They were taken to a hospital as well.
Santizo says the boys stole a couple of drinks from the store but
didn’t use the knives to do so. They told officers they were carrying the knives for protection.
The names of those involved haven’t been released.