Missing Remsen Woman Located In Vermont — Doing OK
(Des Moines) — The Iowa Department of Public Safety has confirmed Nicole Trometer of Remsen has been located in Vermont and is safe. A Missing Person report was filed when family members and others didn’t know the whereabouts of the 27 year old female. The Remsen Police Department had issued a news release on Sunday, September 2nd indicating that Trometer and two vehicles were reported as missing. At or about 12:30 PM on September 3, 2019, Nicole Trometer contacted Iowa Law Enforcement Officials and advised she was in Vermont. Law Enforcement requested she go to the nearest Law Enforcement Agency and positively identify herself. As of 1:20 p.m., The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in Vermont confirmed that they spoke with Nicole Trometer and positively identified her by her Iowa Driver’s License. Franklin County authorities advised Nicole was in good health, Nicole told Vermont authorities she traveled with Daniel Kitteredge willingly to Vermont. At this time the missing person’s investigation will be closed.
Le Mars Police Department Hires New Officer
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department has hired a new officer. JayCee Vander Berg of Sioux Center took the oath of office today (Tuesday) during a badge-pinning ceremony held at the city council chambers. Vander Berg will begin her patrol duties with the Le Mars Police Department on Monday,
September 9th. She has previously worked as a corrections officer and communications dispatcher with the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office since December of 2018. Mayor Dick Kirchoff administered the swearing of oath prior to the start of the city council meeting. Vander Berg holds a Criminal Justice degree from Northwestern College at Orange City. Several members of the Le Mars Police Department, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office,
Sioux County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies were on hand to witness the badge pinning ceremony. Vander Berg’s father pinned her badge to her uniform.
City Council Passes Second Reading Of Proposed Fireworks Ordinance
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council approved the second reading of the city’s proposed fireworks ordinance. Although nobody appeared at the city council meeting to voice an opinion one way or another on the issue, Mayor Dick Kirchoff informed the council members that he had received a second letter from Kyle Plath asking the council to consider having an entire week
for the discharge of fireworks, instead of the proposed three-day window.
Plath also included a petition with 73 signatures asking the city approve a fireworks ordinance from July 1st through July 7th. Plath, in his letter, indicated the three days allowed to discharge fireworks as proposed by the city’s public safety committee, may not always fall on a weekend. Plath suggests the city council consider allowing the fireworks to be discharged to include a weekend. Plath suggested that people will continue to
discharge fireworks beyond the window of opportunity, and he stated they more than likely will not follow the provisions as outlined by the proposed city ordinance. Plath further stated in his letter that law enforcement agencies will not be able to properly enforce the fireworks ordinance. Le Mars Police Chief, Kevin Vander Vegte responded to the letter by addressing
council members, and informing them that he favors the three-day window to discharge fireworks, and he assured council members the officers of the Le Mars Police Department “will do their best to enforce the rules.”
The city council will hold a third and final reading with regards to the proposed fireworks ordinance during the next council meeting, scheduled for September 17th.
Wells Enterprises To Purchase Nevada Ice Cream Facility
(Le Mars) — Wells Enterprises of Le Mars, makers of Blue Bunny Ice Cream, have announced a purchase agreement with a Nevada ice cream manufacturing facility located at Henderson, Nevada. The purchase from Unilever will expand Well’s current manufacturing capacity and diversify its ability to support
customers geographically to help meet future demand and adds an important footprint in the western United States. The sale is expected to be completed in September. 250 employees of the Henderson facility will join Wells. Wells Enterprises is the #2 ice cream manufacturer in the US with a strong house of brands including signature brand, Blue Bunny®, along with private label and co-pack business. The company is headquartered with two manufacturing plants in Le Mars, Iowa, a manufacturing plant in Dunkirk, New York and a manufacturing plant in Lakewood, New Jersey.
Toel Pleads Not Guilty To Vehicular Homicide
(Sioux City) — A Le Mars man charged with vehicular homicide for having his cousin killed during an auto accident has pleaded not guilty. The Sioux City Journal is reporting Darrick Toel entered his written plea Tuesday in Woodbury County District Court. Besides the vehicular homicide charge, Toel was also charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. According to
court documents, Toel was driving approximately 90 mph at about 7:50 p.m. on July 1st in the 7200 block of Old Lakeport Road when he lost control of his Saturn Ion, left the road, partially rolled and struck a tree. His passenger, Ryan Toel, 37, of Struble, Iowa was seriously injured and died
two days later.
Dine At The County Line Offers Consumers To Meet With Farmers To Ask Questions About Food Production
(Le Mars) — Everyday, consumers are questioning the foods they eat, and are often confused by messages they hear about various types of foods, and how those foods are produced and processed. The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are wanting to help answer those questions by placing consumers and farmers at the same table to talk about the foods that are produced.
It’s a program entitled “Dine at the County Line.” Joel DeJong, one of the organizers for the dining experience says this marks the third year for the event.
DeJong says at each table will be six non-farming people who will share the table with a farming couple in order for the consumers to ask questions of the farm couple as to why they do the things they do when producing food.
In the past, organizers were targeting educators and health officials.
DeJong says representatives from various commodity organizations will be present to help answer consumer questions.
DeJong says the event is full and they are no longer taking any more reservations for the event. “Dine At the County Line” will be held at the Lowell and Judy Vos farm located on the border between Plymouth and Woodbury Counties. The event is slated for Thursday evening beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Agency Keeping Secret About Criminal Offenders Given Security Credentials
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa agency is keeping secret a list of about two dozen former criminal offenders who were improperly granted credentials to work for private security firms.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety denied an open records request Friday that sought the identities of those individuals whose security cards were recently revoked.
The revocations came after the discovery that the department granted 5,800 private security employees credentials to work in Iowa without undergoing mandatory federal criminal background checks. The department has for a year worked to retroactively complete those checks. Commissioner Stephan Bayens said it has revoked 20 to 25 cards of those found to have disqualifying criminal histories.
In keeping the list secret, department lawyer Catherine Lucas cited a state law that says names of employees of licensed security firms “shall be held as confidential.”
But it’s unclear whether that law applies to those revoked. Other
parts of the law allow the department to release information about disciplinary action taken against licensees and to confirm whether an individual is an employee of a licensed agency.
Business Supply Managers Say Economy Is Slowing Down
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A new report says an August survey of business supply managers suggests slow or no economic growth over the next several months in nine Midwest and Plains states.
The report issued Tuesday says the Mid-America Business Conditions index dropped below growth neutral in August, hitting 49.3 compared with 52.0 in July. The index had remained above growth neutral for 32 straight months.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he blamed the slowdown on weak farm and manufacturing sectors, produced in part by tariffs and a global economic slowdown.
The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth.
A score below that suggests decline.
The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
Woman Who Claimed To Be Kidnapped In Pennsylvania Found In Iowa
STUART, Iowa (AP) – A woman who told police she’d been kidnapped at a Pennsylvania truck stop in July has been found in Iowa.
Authorities say the woman, a resident of Smyrna, New York, called 911 Saturday morning from a convenience store in Stuart. She reported that she’d met a truck driver on a social media site and that he picked her up on or around July 20 in Pennsylvania at the truck stop. She says he assaulted her several times, wouldn’t let her out of the cab or let her contact anyone as they traveled through several states.
On Saturday the woman told officers the driver let her go only after she promised him she wouldn’t call police. She was taken to Adair County Memorial Hospital for treatment.
He told officers after his arrest that his relationship with the
woman was consensual. Iowa court records don’t yet show the man’s been formally charged.
