Pickup Truck Hits Child On Bicycle (updated)
(Le Mars) — Emergency rescue personnel responded to an accident this Thursday morning involving a vehicle striking a bicycle. The accident happened at about 7:38 a.m. in the alleyway of the 300 block Central Avenue near the intersection of Central Avenue and 4th Street SW. A nine-year old boy, on
his way to school, was hit by a pick-up truck driven by Steven Condon. The blue Dodge 2014 pickup truck was heading southbound in the alley approaching 4th Street Southwest. As Condon proceeded to cross over the sidewalk in the
10 Block of 4th Street Southwest, Condon failed to observe a bicycle heading east bound on the sidewalk. The victim was conscious and talking with firefighters as he was being treated for his injuries. The bicyclist attempted to veer away from the pickup truck, but was unable to stop or avoid the collision. The boy was transported by the Le Mars Ambulance to the Floyd Valley Healthcare with what are described as non-life threatening
injuries. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, Le Mars Ambulance Services, and the Le Mars Police Department responded to the accident. The bicycle was a total loss. No damages were reported to the Condon’s vehicle.
The incident is being investigated by the Le Mars Police Department.
Community Foundation Of Greater Plymouth County To Award Grants This Evening
(Le Mars) — The Community Foundation of Greater Plymouth County is scheduled to award grants this evening to various organizations. Kelly Nashleanas, the chair for the foundation explains the money is generated from gaming and casino revenue.
This year, $121,000 will be distributed to 23 different organizations. A total of 31 grant applications were submitted. In the past, every community within Plymouth County have received funding from the grant program.
Nashleanas explains the criteria in receiving a grant.
The awarding of the grant money will be held at the Wells Visitors Center and Ice Cream Parlor beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Floyd Valley Healthcare And Sioux City Musketeers Announce 20019-2020 Hot Shots
(Le Mars) — The Sioux City Musketeers, in partnership with Floyd Valley Healthcare of Le Mars, are excited to announce the 2019/2020 Hot Shots.
One Hot Shot has been selected for each month. They and their honor games include:
· Jaedyn Sanow from Le Mars, IA
October 19, 2019 against Dubuque
· Landon Ortmann from Merrill, IA
November 17, 2019 against Chicago
· David Vander Zwaag from Sioux Center, IA
December 31, 2019 against Omaha
· Jaxon Woodall from Meriden, IA
February 16, 2020 against Fargo
· Hayden Pippett from Le Mars, IA
March 28, 2020 against Des Moines
· Sarah Begnoche from Le Mars, IA
April 10, 2020 against Sioux Falls
This program was created with the goal of honoring Floyd Valley Healthcare pediatric patients with chronic health issues. Floyd Valley and the Musketeers are excited to give children an opportunity to have a fun time with their family, cheer on the team and just enjoy being a kid again for a night.
The Hots Shots will travel in a limo to their honor game as special guests of the Musketeers and will receive a commemorative Musketeer jersey, Musketeer memorabilia, an opportunity to meet the team and coaches, be a part of the ceremonial puck drop as well as a special mentions at their
game.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
(Le Mars) — One of every four women will experience some type of domestic violence during her lifetime. October is recognized as “National Domestic Violence Awareness Month” and Cathy Van Maanen with the Council of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence wants people to know how common domestic
violence is within our area of Plymouth County.
Van Maanen calls the statistics an epidemic.
You may have noticed purple colored ribbons hanging on doorways of area businesses, or even people wearing purple colored ties, scarfs, shirts, and other clothing items.
Van Maanen says the services provided by the Council on Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence is free and remains confidential.
The CSADV official tells of other ways the agency helps domestic violence victims.
Often times a victim of domestic violence will return to the abuser. Van Maanen offers an explanation as to why victims go back to be with those that inflicted the abuse. Van Maanen says the abuser will use power and control, along with intimidation on the victim, making that victim feel compelled to return.
Van Maanen says she deals with more than 150 reported cases of domestic violence in Plymouth County each year, and every week on average, two new cases of domestic violence are referred to her agency.
Muscatine Police Arrest Suspect Accused Of Leaving The Scene Of A Fatal Bicycle Versus Vehicle Accident
MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) – Police have arrested a man suspected of leaving the scene after his vehicle fatally struck a bicyclist in the eastern Iowa city of Muscatine.
County court records say 57-year-old Terry Gough, of Morning Sun, was arrested Monday. He’s charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.
Gough’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25.
Police say 49-year-old Devin Estabrook was struck Aug. 12 while riding his bike in south Muscatine. He was a member of the Grandview Volunteer Fire Department.
Two People Badly Burnt From Dubuque House Fire
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two people were badly injured by a house fire in Dubuque.
Firefighters were sent to the home about 9 p.m. Tuesday, and the Dubuque department says the blaze was largely contained within 15 minutes.
The man and woman injured were hospitalized. Their names haven’t been released.
Fire Chief Rick Steines says the fire burned mostly in the basement, but there was smoke damage on all the floors. The cause is being investigated.
State Audit Finds Southern Iowa Landfill Management Failed To Make Deposits of Nearly $62,000
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state audit report says nearly $62,000 is missing from deposits for the Wayne-Ringgold-Decatur County Solid Waste Management Commission.
The report issued Thursday says a special investigation requested by the commission showed that money from landfill fees wasn’t property deposited. The report says the undeposited collections were identified within a month of the hiring of an office manager in 2014, and no discrepancies were identified after the woman resigned in June 2018.
A news release from the state auditor’s office says the woman, Jennifer Nickell, told the Ringgold County auditor and a commission member that she’d taken money from the landfill office because she was experiencing financial difficulties.
Associated Press attempts to reach Nickell were unsuccessful. Court records don’t list any criminal charges in connection with the report.
Iowa Supreme Court Acts On Courthouse CyberSecurity
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court has issued orders changing how the state court system conducts security assessments after two cybersecurity workers hired by state court administrators were arrested for breaking into the Dallas County Courthouse last month.
Chief Justice Mark Cady signed an order Thursday that prohibits
physical break-ins of courthouses and entry outside of regular business hours as part of cybersecurity testing. Court administrators also must confer with local officials on systems testing.
In addition, Cady says security contracts must be reviewed by a lawyer and the court administrator must personally approve contracts with input from building security, sheriffs and others.
The courts hired an outside law firm to investigate after cybersecurity company Coalfire broke into the Dallas County Courthouse in Adel and Polk County Courthouse in Des Moines. Two workers were arrested at the Dallas County Courthouse.
The law firm concluded there were misunderstandings over contracts terms. It also found contract language was ambiguous and there was a lack of management, oversight and proper supervision of the testing program.
DNR Concludes Investigation Of Officers Involved With A Fight
(Des Moines) — The Iowa DNR has concluded an internal investigation into the incident on September 20th involving two DNR Conservation Officers, determining no violation of current DNR policies. Due to concerns raised during the investigation, the Iowa DNR plans to review our policies to ensure they fully reflect the expectations of conservation officers.
The two officers, Travis Graves and Derrick Slutts, were in Des Moines September 19-20 attending a training and when they were performing job related duties, they drove upon an ongoing fight between two women on Court Avenue. The officers intervened and broke up the fight. Both women were arrested and charged.
DNR Conservation Officers are sworn state peace officers in the State of Iowa.
