Grassley To Make Appearance In Le Mars
(Le Mars) — U-S Republican Senator Chuck Grassley is scheduled to make an appearance in Le Mars on Tuesday morning. Grassley will appear at Floyd Valley Healthcare during the early morning Kiwanis meeting beginning at 7:00 a.m. The event is open to the public.
Traffic Stop Results In Drug Arrest
(Le Mars) — A traffic stop conducted on Saturday, August 3rd by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office lead to an arrest for drug charges. 27-year old Raymond Michael West of Sioux Falls was stopped at the intersection of county roads K-22 and C-60 because of a speeding violation. Upon further investigation, West was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled
substance – methamphetamine, 1st offense and transported to the Plymouth County Jail.
Plymouth County Authorities Assist With Arrest Of Elk Point Man
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office received a call on Friday, August 2nd from the Union County Sheriff’s Office about a pursuit that Union County deputies had initiated in South Dakota. The pursuit entered Plymouth County and ended after the suspect vehicle drove into a dirt mound on a residence north of Westfield, Iowa on Highway 12. The driver of the vehicle
was then identified as Bryce David Densberger, age 18 of Elk Point, South Dakota. Bryce David Densberger was then placed under arrest, transported to the Plymouth County Jail and booked for eluding-speed 25 over limit, speeding (106 mph in a 55 mph zone) and failure to obey a traffic control device. The Union County Sheriff’s Office will have additional charges in
the near future for the violations that occurred in South Dakota during the pursuit.
Pickup Truck Goes Through Barn And Over Parked Vehicle
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office has released the details of an accident with unusual circumstances that happened last Wednesday.
Apparently, 59-year old Steven Hopkins of Elk Point, South Dakota, was traveling east on Highway 3 in his pickup truck when witnesses observed Hopkins was swerving back and forth traveling at a slower speed than posted.
After the witness passed Hopkins on the roadway, Hopkins then accelerated to a high rate of speed and continued through the T intersection of Highways 3 and 12. Hopkins then continued in a east-northeast direction on private property traveling through grass and some trees. Hopkins then struck a tree stump and continued through a barn. After exiting the barn, Hopkins struck
an unregistered parked vehicle, traveling over the top of the vehicle, and then coming to rest on its wheels. As of Thursday, Hopkins does not remember what happened, and the cause of the accident is unknown at this time.
“Rumors” Production Begins On Thursday
(Le Mars) — Thursday, marks the opening for “Rumors” the latest theatrical production of the Le Mars Community Theater to be held at the Postal Playhouse. Reservations are now being accepted. The dates for the Neil Simon comedy is August 8th through August 18th. Angela Drake tells us more about the play “Rumors”.
Two Bodies Found In Rail Car From Mexico
CENTERVILLE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two bodies were found in a rail car that had carried about 100 tons of steel from Mexico to south-central Iowa.
The Daily Iowegian newspaper reports that Iowa Southern Railway workers discovered the bodies Friday when decoupling cars from an engine about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) southeast of Centerville. The cars had been pulled there Friday after BNSF railroad dropped them off Thursday in Albia.
Authorities think the two people were killed by the tons of shifting steel that had been loaded in Monterrey, Mexico. It’s unclear when they got into the car.
The pair have yet to be identified. The bodies were taken to the
Iowa state medical examiner’s office.
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Second Trial Set For Woman Originally Found Guilty Of Murdering Daughter
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) – A second trial has been scheduled for a woman found guilty nearly five years ago of killing her daughter in south-central Iowa’s Mahaska County.
Court records say the trial of Alicia Ritenour is set to begin Sept.
30 and has been moved to Henry County because of intensive news media coverage of the crime and her first trial. Ritenour was convicted of first-degree murder in November 2014.
Authorities went to Ritenour’s Oskaloosa apartment in January 2014 following a 911 call. Officers found 17-month-old Ava Ritenour dead. An autopsy showed she died of head trauma.
Judge Daniel Wilson set aside Ritenour’s conviction in December,
agreeing with her arguments that her trial attorney had been ineffective.
Nurse Pleads Guilty To Tampering With Pain Killers
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A nurse anesthetist has pleaded guilty to tampering with opioid painkillers in northern Iowa.
Records for the U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids say Christopher West also pleaded guilty to obtaining a controlled substance by deception.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that West had been accused of ordering extra painkillers so he could use the leftovers. Prosecutors also say West reported several times that painkiller vials broke when he dropped his anesthesia kit at the Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City. Prosecutors say he actually stole the vials and used the painkillers himself.
Hospital officials who’d grown suspicious of West last year also
checked a supply of painkiller vials and ampules and found they’d been opened, the painkiller replaced with saline and then glued back together.
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Suspicious Death Investigated At Council Bluffs
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities are investigating what they say is the suspicious death of a Council Bluffs resident.
Police say medics called around 5:15 p.m. Sunday for officers to
join them at the residence of 52-year-old Jerrot Clark. He’d been found dead inside his home. Authorities have not said what caused his death.
No arrests have been reported.
Vehicle Going Wrong Direction Causes Fatal Accident
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two people died when a vehicle going the wrong way on U.S. Highway 30 in Cedar Rapids hit another vehicle.
The collision occurred around 11:40 p.m. Sunday, shortly after
police were notified about an eastbound vehicle traveling in a westbound highway lane.
Police say the collision killed both drivers. Their names haven’t
been released.
