Home News Friday Afternoon News, February 14th

Friday Afternoon News, February 14th

Cherokee Woman Dies From Auto Accident Near Marcus

(Cherokee) — A 26-year old Cherokee woman has died as a result of a vehicle accident that happened Thursday afternoon on Highway 3 near the Marcus Junction Truck Stop at Marcus. Alexa Brewster was going southbound on Highway 143 and started to turn left, or eastbound, on Highway 3 when a semi truck owned by Ten Napel Trucking Company of Le Mars, and driven
by David Ten Napel collided into the Chevrolet Impala driven by Brewster.
Brewster was transported to the Cherokee Regional Medical Center by the Marcus Ambulance where she had died as a result of the sustained injuries.
The Iowa State Patrol is investigating the accident.

 

 

Get Ready To Be Counted For The 2020 Census

(Des Moines) — Every ten years, the U-S government conducts a count of the nation’s population. The 2020 census will begin with a mailing starting in mid-March. Maureen Schriner is with the Census Bureau and says its important that everyone completes the census form and be counted.

Schriner says the other reason the census is important is that it determines our legislative representation.

Complete Count Committees are forming across the nation to make certain everyone is counted for the 2020 Census. Schriner says Iowa Lt. Governor Adam Greg is setting the goal for Iowa to have the most complete census count.

Often times people wonder why should they complete the census form and answer the questions? They further wonder if the information is kept confidential?

We will have additional comments from Maureen Schriner about the 2020 Census during future news updates. Additional information regarding the 2020 Census can be obtained at the Le Mars City Hall.

 

 

Weather Services Say We Could Have Flooding In 2020

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The National Weather Service says there’s an elevated flood risk along the eastern Missouri River basin this spring. That’s because the soil remains wet and significant snow is on the ground in North Dakota and South Dakota. Communities along the lower Missouri River already were bracing for the prospect of more flooding this spring because many of
their levees remain in poor shape after last year’s massive flooding. Nearly everywhere that flooded last year in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri is at some risk to flood again because of the extensive damage to levees.

Pete Rogers is the meteorologist with the National Weather Services of Sioux Falls. He says those rivers and streams that feed into the Missouri River, such as the Big Sioux River, Rock River, and in South Dakota, the James River, and Vermillion River are also likely to see some spring flooding.

Last year, there were several weather factors that happened all at once that led to the massive flooding incident. Although Rogers says we could see additional flooding this year, he doesn’t expect to see the same conditions this year.

Rogers says the current conditions are a bit more favorable than this time last year.

State Senator Jim Carlin of Sioux City says additional money may be needed, especially if predictions for more flooding actually occurs.

On Thursday, Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation that would allocate $20 million dollars for flood relief efforts.

 

 

School To Pay $4.8 Million In Settlement After Bus Fire Killed Student and Bus Driver

OAKLAND, Iowa (AP) – A western Iowa school district will pay $4.8 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of 16-year-old girl who died in a 2017 school bus fire that also killed the bus driver. Riverside Community School District reached the settlement this week with the family of Megan Klindt. She died when the bus became stuck in a ditch, leading to a fire in
the engine compartment that spread to the passenger compartment. The fire also killed 74-year-old Donnie Hendricks. An attorney for the school district had said Thursday that the settlement terms were confidential, but the Iowa Freedom of Information Council later released the details.

 

 

Day Care Center Director Accused Of Killing 11-Week Old Baby

ANITA, Iowa (AP) – A western Iowa woman is accused of killing an 11-week-old baby at her day care by shaking her. Cass County court records say 36-year old Alison Dorsey, of Anita, was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. She remained in
Cass County Jail on Friday. Her attorney didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press. Authorities have said the child died Oct. 8 at an Omaha, Nebraska, hospital from internal brain bleeding – a condition commonly described as shaken baby syndrome.

 

 

Eastern Iowa Man Convicted Of Killing 5-Year Old

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – A man has been convicted of beating to death the 5-year-old son of his girlfriend in eastern Iowa. A jury found Tre Henderson guilty Thursday. The 28-year-old will be sentenced April 1 to life in prison without possibility of parole. Prosecutors say Ja’Shawn Bussell had 17 broken ribs, damage to internal organs and bruises from the top of his head to his ankles after Henderson beat him in April 2018. Henderson and the
boy’s mother, Jacqueline Rambert, were charged with child abuse for failing to seek prompt medical attention for the boy. They’re both from Chicago and were living in Davenport when Ja’Shawn died.

 

 

Jury To Decide Fate Of Man Accused Of Robbing And Killing Marijuana Dealer

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – A man accused of robbing and killing a marijuana peddler in Waterloo is waiting to hear what jurors say. The trial of 18-year-old Quintarius Brown began last week. He’s charged with robbery and first-degree murder for the slaying of Cedric “Skee” Craft on Dec. 11, 2017.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that a prosecutor said Brown and others had gone to Craft’s home and pretended to be interested in buying marijuana, and then Brown shot Craft in the face. Defense attorney Matthew Hoffey attacked the credibility of the state’s witnesses and told jurors there were inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case.

 

 

Iowa Democratic Party To Hire Attorneys To Investigate Caucus Problems

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Democratic Party officials have agreed to hire two high-profile lawyers to investigate the factors leading to a meltdown in the state’s lead-off presidential caucuses and how the party responded. The party’s State Central Committee voted Thursday night to spend up to $50,000
to retain Nick Klinefeldt, a former U.S. attorney, and Bonnie Campbell, a former Iowa attorney general. The Des Moines Register reports that officials hope the review will be completed within 45 days. The party has been reeling since the night of the caucuses Feb. 3 when problems with a mobile app and
other issues prevented it from immediately releasing results.