Authorities Identify Hinton Student Fatal Accident Victims
(Le Mars) –– Authorities have now released the names of the two Hinton students killed in the auto accident that happened Tuesday morning. 18 year old Ella Holtzen and her brother 14 year old Harrison (Beck) Holtzen of Sioux City were killed as a result of their Honda Civic colliding with a pickup truck. The investigation shows the roads were icy at the time of the
accident. The driver of the Dodge Ram pickup truck, William Samuelson, age 66, also of Sioux City, was uninjured.
County Supervisors Approve Salary Increase, But Lower Than Compensation Commission’s Recommendations
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors are close to completing the fiscal year 2020-2021 county budget. During their meeting held Tuesday, the supervisors approved a two-and-a-quarter percent increase in salary for all county non-bargaining and non-elected officials. The motion was approved by a 5 to 0 vote. When it came to deciding on the salaries of elected officials and the supervisors, the board had a split
decision. Supervisor Gary Horton had made the motion to approve a three percent increase in salary for all elected county officials. The motion failed for not having a second. The Plymouth County Compensation Commission had suggested a 3.25 percent salary increase for elected officials, and a
2.25 percent increase in pay for the supervisors. Later in the meeting, a motion was made to have each of the elected officials, which would include the Sheriff, County Attorney, Auditor, Treasurer and Recorder receive a pay raise amounting to two-and-a-quarter percent…one whole percentage point
lower than the Compensation Commission’s recommendation. On the same motion, it was suggested the county supervisors would receive a two percent increase in pay. The motion passed on a 3 to 2 vote with Loutsch, Horton, and Meis voting in favor of the measure and Kass and Anderson voting against the smaller wage increase. It was discussed among the supervisors that they
should follow the recommendation set forth by the County Compensation Commission, or why would the Compensation Commission need to convene to submit any salary
recommendations.
Crop Advantage Meeting Scheduled For January 29th
(Le Mars) — Farmers looking ahead to the next crop season will want to attend the annual Crop Advantage meeting hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Plymouth County. The Le Mars meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 29th. Crops Specialist Joel De Jong says weather
will be front and center as a topic of discussion with State Climatologist Justin Glisten serving as the morning key-note speaker.
Probably at no surprise to anyone, De Jong says there is a surplus of moisture in the soil to begin the crop year.
De Jong says the afternoon session will look at China and how the Chinese view American agriculture. De Jong says the topic is relevant since the U-S and Chinese are about to approve a trade agreement allowing for more U-S agricultural goods such as soybeans, and pork to be shipped to China.
De Jong elaborates on more of what the agricultural economist will focus with his address.
De Jong says there will be several outbreak sessions that will focus on agronomy issues. Registration is $50 with the deadline to register scheduled for January 22nd.
Teacher Takes Plea Agreement With Charges Of Sexual Relations With Student
CRESCO, Iowa (AP) – A former teacher in northeast Iowa accused of having sex with a student has made a deal with prosecutors. Howard County court records say Tiffany Ranweiler-Oblander filed a written plea of guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor count of sexual exploitation by a school employee.
Prosecutors lowered the charge from a felony in return for her plea. The plea agreement calls for probation and a suspended prison sentence of two years. The Howard County Sheriff’s Office has said investigators have determined that Ranweiler-Oblander had sexual with the 18-year-old at his home during March and April 2018. She worked for the Howard-Winneshiek district.
Report Issued Showing The Damage Of Floods To Iowa And Nebraska
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A federal report says Nebraska suffered more than $3.4 billion in losses from disastrous weather last year while the toll was $1.9 billion in neighboring Iowa. The bomb cyclone in March caused most of the damage. The report says the rain and snowmelt runoff led to record flooding
in eastern Nebraska and in Iowa. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Nebraska drought of 2012 was the state’s costliest weather disaster on record, causing an estimated $4 billion in losses. Iowa’s costliest year was 1993, when the state sustained more than $11 billion in losses, mostly from
flooding.
