Emergency Management Director To Speak Before County Supervisors
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County’s Emergency Management Director Duane Walhoff is scheduled to meet with the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors during this morning’s weekly meeting. Walhoff will provide an update with the county board the Hazard Mitigation Plan and he will provide public notice
for the public comment period. Shari Kastein, the executive director for the Family Crisis Center will provide information regarding services provided at the Family Crisis Centers. Surveyor, Dave Wilberding will submit for the supervisor’s approval, Droegmillers Split, a minor subdivision in Plymouth township. Wilberding will also submit JBD’s Pork Homesite, a subdivision located in Johnson township. County Conservation
Director, Nick Beeck will update the county supervisors on some grant funding, and County Engineer, Tom Rohe will submit for approval a construction permit by Westel Systems for work to be done in Marion township. Rohe will also present a resolution involving the Powder Players, Incorporated for their snowmobile trail system.
City Council To Again Address “No Parking Zone” Request
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council will begin Tuesday’s meeting with a public hearing regarding Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Plymouth County renewing a five-year lease agreement for the lower level offices located within the Le Mars Convention Center. As for action items, the city council will hear from auditors regarding the financial condition of Floyd Valley Healthcare. The council will act on a request from last
meeting asking for a “No Parking Zone” on 1st Avenue Southwest on the east side of the Plymouth County Historical Museum. Agri-Center made the request to better accommodate large grain trucks that are hauling grain to the local
grain elevator during the busy harvest season. The city council will continue discussion focusing on a Development Agreement with Choicewood Park Apartments. The city council will also hear from members of the Sesquicentennial Steering Committee to decide what should happen with the surplus of funds from the Sesquicentennial.
Good Samaritan Society To Hold “Falls Prevention Service Project”
(Le Mars) — On Saturday several volunteers will visit with senior citizens homes to help them in preventing falls. It’s all part of what was referred to as “Founder’s Day” as part of the Good Samaritan Society’s outreach program. This year, according to Teresa Petty, Marketing and Development
Director with Good Samaritan Society, the day will be known as “Falls Prevention Service Project Day.”
In past years, Good Samaritan Society distributed carbon monoxide detectors, and grab bars for around a shower or stair steps to aide seniors with maintaining their balance. Petty explains the volunteers this year will be presenting to the identified senior citizens a reach tool which allows the
elderly to retrieve an object that is out of their immediate reach, also included will be a nightlight, and a “file of life.”
Senior citizens interested in having a free falls prevention kit, including the “file of life” can contact Petty at the Good Samaritan Society.
Petty says the volunteers will gather at the nursing care facility at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday to be given an orientation session. They will then go to the selected senior citizens homes. Petty says the entire project should conclude by 11:30 Saturday morning. Petty is grateful for the sponsors of the program that include Lampert Lumber, Marvin Windows and Doors, Hardware Hank, and Thrivent Financial.
Farmers Trying To Catch Up On Harvest
(Le Mars) — Farmers are taking advantage of the drier and warmer temperatures for this week by trying to catch up with their harvest. Brian Kookier of Le Mars was harvesting corn Monday morning along county road C-38 about three miles southeast of Le Mars.
He talks about his experience with this year’s harvest.
Sioux City Council Votes To Reverse Ordinance Banning Pit Bull Dogs
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Sioux City has taken its first formal step to lift its ban on pit bulls in the city.
The City Council voted 4-1 on Monday for an ordinance that would remove the ban adopted in September 2008. It came after pit bulls or mixes accounted for a high number of dogs in the city that had been declared vicious or at risk.
The current ordinance describes a pit bull as an American pit bull
terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier or any dog that looks like or has characteristics of being one of those breeds.
Two more readings and votes on the new ordinance are required for the new policy. City staff research says animal control regulations across the country are moving away from breed specific provisions.
State Revenue Estimates To Show Slow Growth
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State budget experts say revenue growth likely will slow in the coming year.
The three-member state Revenue Estimating Conference said Monday revenue in the current fiscal year is expected to grow 1.4 percent to total $7.97 billion. Next year the panel foresees a 2.7 percent increase, taking the state tax collections to just over $8.18 billion.
The revenue growth estimates are significantly slower than last
year’s growth of 6.4 percent, in part because of tax policy changes.
The panel also blamed slow revenue growth on federal trade and
energy policies that have reduced sales of farm products. Iowa also lacks enough skilled workers to fill construction and manufacturing jobs, creating an economic drag.
Although a recession isn’t projected soon, panel members called for a cautious spending policy.
The group meets again in December. The governor must base her 2021 budget on that estimate.
Georgia Authorities Arrest Suspect In Fort Dodge Murder Case
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – Georgia authorities have found a man suspected in an Iowa slaying.
Fort Dodge police say in a news release that 19-year-old Damion Chavez was spotted by a sheriff’s deputy in Lowndes County, Georgia, on Saturday in a vehicle on Interstate 75. The vehicle was pulled over and Chavez was arrested without incident. Two other people in the vehicle were released.
Arrangements are being made to have Chavez returned to Iowa. Iowa court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.
Fort Dodge police say Chavez has been charged with robbery and first-degree murder in the slaying of 28-year-old Mohammed Yaqoub, who lived in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Officers sent to check reports of a shooting found Yaqoub. He’d been shot several times.
A 16-year-old boy also has been arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting a robbery.
Trial Set For Murder From 40 Years Ago
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A trial has been delayed for a man accused of killing an Iowa high school student almost 40 years ago.
The trial had been scheduled to begin Monday for 65-year-old Jerry Burns, of Manchester. Burns has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.
Police arrested him Dec. 19, 39 years to the day after 18-year-old Michelle Martinko was killed. Her body was found the next day inside her family’s car at a Cedar Rapids mall. She had been stabbed in the face and chest.
Burns’ attorney Leon Spies had sought the delay. He says the new tentative starting date is Feb. 10, but that could change if Burns were to request moving the trial out of Linn County.
Police say investigators matched a blood sample from the crime scene with a sample taken from Burns.
