Home News Thursday Afternoon News, December 12th

Thursday Afternoon News, December 12th

Gehlen Catholic To Feature “Joy To The World” Christmas Vespers Program

(Le Mars) — Tonight, at the All-Saints Parish, St. Joseph church at Le Mars will be the Gehlen Catholic Christmas Vespers program, “Joy to the World.”
Father Paul Eisele says the vespers program is more than just a Christmas concert.

Eisele says the word “vespers” dates back to Rome when priests and sisters were asked to pray.

Tonight’s program will feature the High School concert choir, the Junior High choir, the Chamber Choir, and the Triple Trio. Father Eisele who assisted with the rehearsals says the various choirs will be positioned at different locations through the church.

Father Eisele says the Gehlen Catholic Christmas Vespers Service has only been around for eight years.

The Gehlen Catholic Christmas Vespers is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.
Following the vespers program, refreshments will be served in the Richter Hall.

 

 

Plymouth County To Require “Bill Of Sale” For Vehicles Sold Privately

(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Treasurer, Shelly Sitzmann, has announced that effective January 1st, 2020, all transfer of titles involving motor vehicles to private parties will also require a bill of sale. A bill of sale, or purchase agreement is already required for vehicles purchased from a dealership. The Iowa State County Treasurer’s Association in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Revenue aim to substantiate vehicle purchase prices, which have a direct impact on the fees that are remitted to the
State’s Road Use Tax fund. Many counties already require a bill of sale between private parties and are allowed to do so pursuant to section 321.13 of the Iowa Code. Plymouth County will join other counties and require a bill of sale effective January 1st. The bill of sale should include the seller’s name, make of the vehicle, year of the vehicle, Vehicle Identification Number or VIN, buyer’s name, date of sale, purchase price, and signature of seller. Plymouth County does not require the form to be
notarized. A bill of sale form is available at the Plymouth County
Treasurer’s office, on the Plymouth County website, or on the Iowa Treasurer’s website.

 

 

Congressman King Says He Welcomes Debates With Other Primary Candidates

(Kiron) — Republican Congressman Steve King of Kiron says he is open to debate among the Republican Congressional candidates seeking nomination prior to the June primary. In a news release issued by his campaign staff, it states that in an effort to fully inform Iowa voters, Congressman Steve King will take part in multiple debates in his bid to continue as Iowa’s 4th
District Congressman. Campaign chairman, Jeff King, the son of the congressman, says “Congressman King is looking forward to debating his Republican primary opponents on stage for the benefit of Iowa’s 4th District Republican voters. We believe debates are to our advantage because they will clearly show Congressman King possess a depth of knowledge and
experience on the issues that Iowans care about that is unmatched in the current primary field. Those candidates seeking to unseat King include: State Senator Randy Feenstra of Hull, Woodbury County Supervisor and former Iowa legislator, Jeremy Taylor and former Irwin mayor, Brett Richards.

 

 

Sioux City Man Pleads Not Guilty To Murder Charge

(Sioux City) — A Sioux City man charged with first degree murder in the August, 2018 death of his girl friend’s child has pleaded not guilty to charges in the case. 23-year old Tayvon Davis also pleaded not guilty to charges of child endangerment resulting in death and multiple acts of child endangerment. Davis, and his attorney also requested a speedy trial in
filing the not guilty plea. Court documents state Davis was living with his girl friend in 2018 and took the 19-month old girl to a local hospital on August 22nd of that year. The child was transferred to an Omaha hospital where she died three days later. An autopsy showed the girl suffered blunt force injuries to her head and a kidney, and fractures to her vertebrae and
ribs. Davis remains in custody in the Woodbury County Jail on a one million dollars bond.

 

 

State Continues To See Errors With List Of Former Felons Eligible To Vote

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – State officials are confirming that 15 cases in just one small Iowa county were mistakenly recorded as felony convictions on the list they use to identify ineligible voters. The Associated Press reviewed all 359 Carroll County entries as part of an investigation into the error-riddled list, which has been blamed for causing confusion and wrongly
disenfranchising eligible voters. Fifteen of the cases – or more than 4 percent – were misdemeanor convictions that did not result in the loss of voting rights. A judicial branch spokesman says 11 of the cases were incorrectly coded as felonies and he’s looking into the source of the other errors.

 

 

Average Farmland Values Edge Higher

AMES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa State University survey says farmland values in the state rose 2.3% over the past year, despite the trade disputes and declining income. A report released Wednesday says it’s only the second increase in six years. An Iowa State economist says low interest rates,
strong yields and a limited amount of available land helped boost the statewide average to $7,432 an acre. But the figure is about 15% below the 2013 high of $8,716 an acre. Farmers still face challenges from the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, which has led to lower commodity prices and weaker farm income. The average land value for Plymouth County increased nearly $200 an acre to $9,284.

 

 

Powerline Protesters Taking Case To Federal Court

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Opponents of a power line in southwestern Wisconsin are taking their fight to federal court. The plaintiffs say state regulators have conflicts of interest that should have kept them from approving the power line project. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday by the Environmental Law
& Policy Center on behalf of the Driftless Area Land Conservancy and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. The groups say the Public Service Commission chairwoman and a commissioner have outside interests that should disqualified them from voting on the 100-miles high voltage line, known as Cardinal-Hickory Creek. The $492 million project was approved in September.

 

 

Wrong-way Driver Causes Fatal Accident

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a wrong-way driver and the driver of a vehicle he struck in northern Iowa have both died. The collision was reported around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday on Interstate 35, just north of Clear Lake. The Iowa State Patrol says 30-year-old Henry Robinson, of Newnan, Georgia, was driving south in the northbound lanes when his minivan hit a
pickup truck driven by 52-year-old Bryon Hendricks, of West Des Moines. Both men died. The patrol says the driver of a third vehicle wasn’t injured when it clipped Hendricks’ pickup.