CERT Team Called To Arrest Man Accused Of Domestic Assault
(Le Mars) — Le Mars police responded to a possible domestic assault around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to Casey’s General Store. The investigation found that a woman and her father were assaulted at their residence earlier in the evening. Police were informed the defendant was possibly in possession of a
weapon. The CERT team was called to assist. Dillon Lou Dark-Horse Anderson was later located at another residence and taken into custody. He was transported to the Plymouth County jail and booked on two counts of assault.
Rescued Horse From Ice And Cold Waters Later Passes
(Le Mars) — We have an update regarding a story that was reported here on KLEM. You may recall we had mentioned the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was involved in rescuing a horse on Tuesday that had gotten stuck in some ice. Sheriff’s Deputies, along with assistance from Stockton Towing were able to remove the stuck horse from the ice and ravine. However, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is reporting the horse did not survive the
ordeal. The horse, after being rescued from the ice, was checked out by a local veterinarian. The horse had passed about an hour after being removed from the ice and water. The owner believes the horse’s demise was a combination of extreme hypothermia and age. There wasn’t any negligence on the part of the owner in this matter. It appears the horse simply lost its footing while trying to get a drink of water, and tripped into the creek.
Floyd Valley Healthcare To Offer Heart Program
(Le Mars) — February is heart month and on Tuesday evening the Floyd Valley Healthcare of Le Mars is hosting a seminar focusing on heart healthcare.
Dr. Roque Arteaga is a cardio specialist and will answer questions about heart disease. Kari Daale is the Education Director for Floyd Valley.
Daale says Dr. Arteaga will feature different devices used for checking, monitoring, and maintaining a good heartbeat rhythm.
Daale says the evening’s event will begin with a catered dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m. with the program to follow. She says everyone is welcome to attend.
Although the dinner and event are free of charge, Daale ask that people interested in attending the program to pre-register by the close of business on Friday, February 21st.
People interested in attending Floyd Valley Healthcare’s heart program are asked to contact Kari Daale at 546-3401.
Hull Fire Department Responds To Home Fire
(Hull) — Early Wednesday morning at about 2:14 a.m. the Hull Fire Department responded to a report of a fire that occurred inside a home located at 703 2nd Street in Hull. Fire was discovered in a second-story room of the house. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the room.
The residents of the home were able to escape the blaze, however, one of the residents sustained minor injuries and was transported by the Hull Ambulance to Hegg Memorial Hospital in Rock Valley for treatment. In addition to the room that had suffered from damage from the fire, there was some smoke
damage throughout the home with damage estimates at $30,000. The Hull Fire Department were assisted by the Hull Ambulance, Rock Valley Fire Department, Rock Valley Police Department, Sioux Center Police Department, and the Sioux
County Sheriff’s Office.
State Senate Committee Passes Felon Voter Restoration Bill
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa Senate committee has advanced a bill that would require convicted felons to pay restitution before they could get their voting rights restored. If passed this year, the bill advanced Wednesday would be effective only if a separate constitutional amendment
that would automatically restore felon voting rights upon completion of a sentence also passes. It’s unclear if the restitution requirement would withstand a legal challenge, though. A federal appeals court on Wednesday ruled against a similar Florida requirement. Iowa is the only state with a
broad revocation of voting rights for felons, requiring restoration of voting rights from the governor.
State House Committee Approves Felon Voting Restoration Bill
(Des Moines) — A House committee has unanimously voted to jump-start the process of restoring felon voting rights for the 2020 election.
In 2005, then-Governor Tom Vilsack issued an executive order that automatically restored voting rights when paroled felons complete their sentences. Governor Terry Branstad rescinded that policy in 2011. Last night, the House State Government Committee voted to add the language from Vilsack’s order to an election-related bill. Republican Representative Bobby Kaufmann, the chairman of the committee, says it’s a new pathway for Iowa to stop being the only state in the country that requires released felons to get approval from the governor before they may vote. Last year, Governor Kim Reynolds called on the legislature to permanently resolve the matter and draft a constitutional amendment that would automatically restore felon voting rights. Her fellow Republicans in the House took steps last year to do so, but the Republican-led Senate has not. This week, a Senate committee voted to set up a system that would kick in IF a constitutional amendment is approved by Iowans. It would require felons to pay the full amount of court-ordered victim restitution before they may vote. It also would forever bar felons convicted of murder, manslaughter and certain sex crimes from voting.
State Senate Committee Passes Medicaid-Work Bill
(Des Moines) — Six of seven Republicans on an Iowa Senate committee have endorsed a plan to require more of the Iowans getting health care benefits through Medicaid to work or volunteer in their community. Senator Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, is chairman of the Senate Labor
Committee.
The bill does have exceptions. The parents of young children and disabled Iowans would not be required to fulfill the requirement, but other adults between the ages of 18 and 64 would have to
show state officials they’re working 20 hours a week. Schultz says his constituents want the state’s welfare programs to promote the Iowa work ethic.
Lana Shope of the Iowa Community Action Association says nearly 80 percent of the working-age adults enrolled in Medicaid already have a job — but many have inconsistent work schedules.
The bill is now eligible for debate in the full senate.
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Driver Charged With Vehicular Homicide
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A driver has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide following a Des Moines collision in which two men died.
Police say the crash occurred around 11:45 a.m. Thursday, when a southbound car struck an eastbound car that had just entered the roadway. Two men in the eastbound car died after being rushed to a hospital. Police have identified them as 26-year-old Mauricio Ruiz Quintana and 22-year-old Brayan Martinez Ruiz. The other driver has been identified as 23-year-old Alejandro
Contreras. Court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.
Iowa City Approves Construction Of Resident Halls For University
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Officials in Iowa City have approved the construction of two 15-story residential towers near the University of Iowa campus. The City Council approved the buildings Tuesday night and granted special height bonuses that will allow the buildings to reach 15 stories.
The Gazette reports the buildings are on the southern fringe of downtown and the university campus. They would house 820 units and 1,575 beds. Opponents of the project had argued it was too large and could disrupt vacancy rates across Iowa City. Construction isn’t expected to begin for more than a year.
