Trial Date Is Set For Murder Suspect Thomas Knapp
(Le Mars) –– A trial date has been set for the rural Merrill man accused of shooting his wife’s son. 82-year old Thomas Knapp has been charged with first degree murder for the shooting and killing of 51-year old Kevin Juzek.
The incident happened on May 11th in rural Plymouth County. Knapp is accused of killing Juzek using a shotgun. Knapp’s trial is set to start on December 15th in Plymouth County District Court. Earlier this week, Knapp had pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Hit-And-Run Boating Accident Suspect Turns Himself Over To Authorities
(Spirit Lake) — A 20-year-old has turned himself in to authorities and has been charged in connection with a hit-and-run boating accident on West Lake Okoboji.
The accident happened just after 10:30 on Tuesday evening. A report from the Department of Natural Resources indicates a boat operated by 52-year-old Vaughn Wickham of Spirit Lake was hit from behind and Wickham was seriously injured. Officers say they found the other boat involved in the accident
Thursday, up on a hoist at a home on the north end of West Lake Okoboji.
After officers seized the boat, 20-year-old Zachery Kruse of Spirit Lake turned himself in. According to a D-N-R news release, Kruse admits he was driving the boat at the time of the crash. He’s been charged with an aggravated misdemeanor for failing to give aid in a vessel, resulting in a serious injury. State officials haven’t revealed what led to their discovery of the boat, but they’re crediting a number of helpful citizens for assisting
in the investigation.
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Attorney General Offices Says Some Masks Do Not Protect Against COVID-19
(Des Moines) — A consumer alert is being issued for Iowans to avoid certain types of face masks that are being sold using deceptive claims and which may not offer protection from COVID-19. Lynn Hicks, a spokesman for the Iowa Attorney General’s office, says they’re asking stores to remove masks from shelves that are labeled as K-N-95 Stereo Protective Masks.
The masks are advertised as “protective,” which Hicks says is misleading. The packaging also contains confusing and nonsensical content, such as “use funny meltblown filter material,” and “children under three have low vital capacity
and are not recommended.” Some masks are priced at $12.99 for a pack of two, while other K-N-95 masks on Amazon sell for about $3 each.
The masks were being sold in at least five stores, including Iowa-based Hy-Vee, which Hicks says has agreed to remove the masks from shelves. While most Iowans don’t need the N-95 level of mask, for those who do, this is an important purchase.
He notes, the CDC does -not- recommend the general public wear N-95 respirator masks, as they’re considered critical supplies reserved for health care workers and other first responders.
Iowans Enjoying “Sales Tax Free” Weekend
(Des Moines) — If you need a new shirt, a pair of pants or some sneakers, this is the time to go shopping. What’s known as the State of Iowa’s Sales Tax Holiday is underway today (Friday) and tomorrow. John Fuller, spokesman for the Iowa Department of Revenue, says the rules are fairly
straightforward.
Iowa shoppers are about to enter their second decade of these sales tax holidays.
Iowans who prefer to do their browsing for new duds on the computer instead of in the store are also in for a discount.
The tax free weekend is in place from 12:01 a.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Saturday.
More Iowans Now Eligible for Rent and Mortgage Assistance
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Finance Authority says more people could now be eligible to receive assistance through their COVID-19 Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention program. Spokeswoman Ashley Jared says those who were ineligible because they received the 600-dollar federal unemployment benefit are now eligible for the program. She says even if you applied in the past and were denied because of that benefit, you are more than welcome to reapply to see if you are eligible for rent or mortgage assistance. Jared says people having trouble paying rent during the pandemic can get up to 32-hundred dollars up to four months that is paid directly to your landlord. The program can also help homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage due to a COVID loss of income with up three-thousand dollars in assistance. The money come from the federal CARES Act.
Marion Man Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries in Cedar Rapids Explosion
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — A Marion man is hospitalized with serious injuries after a home explosion Thursday in Cedar Rapids. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says 24-year-old Joshua Thomas was working on the property at the time of the explosion. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries including severe burns. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.
