Ernst Brings Political Campaign To Le Mars
(Le Mars) — Republican U-S Senator Joni Ernst is bringing her “Fighting for Iowa R-V tour” political campaign to Le Mars. The senator is seeking re-election and is in a close race against Democratic challenger Theresa Greenfield. Ernst will make her appearance at the Brown’s Century Theater Friday morning beginning at 9:00 a.m. Scheduled to appear with Senator Ernst will be Iowa’s other Republican U-S Senator, Chuck Grassley, along with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, and Texas U-S Senator Ted Cruz. Following their visit in Le Mars, the Joni Ernst caravan will make a stop at Sioux Center.
Le Mars Police Department Urges Trick And Treaters To Be Safe
(Le Mars) — Halloween is tomorrow (Saturday) and the Le Mars Police Department wants all trick and treaters to be safe while wandering the neighborhoods seeking candy. Although the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce has cancelled the downtown daytime Halloween activity due to COVID-19 concerns, Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte says if people desire, they can participate in the annual autumn evening event.
Vande Vegte asks motorists to be careful and to watch for the children dart across the street.
As for the children who will be trick or treating, Vande Vegte has some advice and suggestions that they should follow.
The Le Mars Police Department has free bags available that are reflective and can be picked up at the police department headquarters on Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Vande Vegte says if residents don’t want to participate in Halloween activities, or if they run out of candy, they simply need to shut off their outdoor porch light. The Le Mars police chief says children should visit the homes they know, and parents should inspect all the candy before allowing children to consume the candy.
Local Game Warden Says Hunters Will See Plenty Of Pheasants For Season Opener
(Le Mars) — Pheasant hunting season begins on Saturday, and a local game warden with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says there should be plenty of birds. Chad Morrow serves Plymouth and Cherokee counties and says the pheasant population for the northwestern counties maybe slightly higher from past years.
Morrow says the Iowa DNR has seen an increase in the number of pheasant hunting licenses issued for this year.
He says it is important for hunters to wear orange colored clothing.
The game warden reviews some of the rules, regulations, and other considerations hunters need to remember when hunting.
Morrow says only the male pheasant, or roosters, can be shot and bagged. He says if hunting with a group it is a good idea for hunters to shout to their colleagues as to whether the bird is a rooster or a hen. He says the roosters are easily identified with red and black head, along with a white ring around the neck. Morrow says three pheasants are the daily limit for each individual hunter. Morrow says hunters need to ask permission of the landowner or farmer before hunting, and always respect the posted “No Hunting” or “No Trespassing” signs.
(Pheasant photos courtesy of Don Poggensee Photography)
Iowa Secretary Of State Says Ballots Are Safe
(Des Moines) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says state, federal and military experts as well as a private contractor have scanned the state’s election systems.
Pate, along with top officials from state agencies and an F-B-I agent, held a news conference Thursday to discuss cybersecurity issues.
Pate announced at the beginning of October that a San Francisco firm would be conducting a cyber security check of Iowa election systems. Pate’s office also partnered with several dozen researchers who’ve examined online systems for flaws.
Iowa still uses paper ballots, which means online hackers cannot change votes. Pate just wrapped up his term as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State.
Vice President Pence Rallies Trump Supporters in Des Moines
(Des Moines, IA) — Vice President Mike Pence says Iowa is a huge key to another win for him and President Trump in 2020. Pence told supporters in Des Moines Thursday, “the road to victory goes right through the Hawkeye State.” Pence touted 33-percent G-D-P growth in the third quarter, claiming the “great American comeback is on.” Vice President Pence told people attending a rally at Des Moines International Airport they should vote for Republicans – all of them on the ballot. Pence spent 45 minutes talking about increasing military spending, the way the Trump administration has handled the COVID-19 pandemic, and the U-S economy. He presented next Tuesday’s election as voters making a choice between freedom and socialism. Pence connected many of President Trump’s accomplishments to U-S Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa. The vice president urged Iowa Republicans to support the re-election of U-S Senator Joni Ernst.
Senate Candidate Greenfield Tests Negative For COVID-19
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — Democratic U-S Senate candidate Theresa Greenfield is back on the campaign trail following a negative COVID test. Greenfield canceled campaign events Wednesday after some of her staff had been around a person last week who later tested positive for coronavirus. Her campaign says Greenfield has had two negative tests in the past week. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds ridiculed Greenfield last night during a GOP rally. Reynolds said, “Theresa didn’t get very far on her R-V tour, did she? No, no. She’s been hiding in the basement because she might have to answer a question.” Iowa Democratic Party chairman Mark Smith called the governor’s remarks “an example of the cavalier attitude Republicans have taken toward the pandemic.”
2469 New COVID Cases in Iowa, 11 Additional Deaths
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Department of Public Health is reporting a record two-thousand-469 new positive COVID tests, increasing the state’s total to 121-thousand-913 cases. Eleven more Iowans have died of coronavirus complications which brings the death toll to one-thousand-691. The 605 patients hospitalized with COVID is another daily record. One-hundred-35 patients are in intensive care units and 56 are on ventilators. More than 91-thousand-400 patients are considered recovered. Twenty-five Iowa counties now have a two-week average positive rate over 15 percent.
Kossuth County Man Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in Girlfriend’s Stabbing
(Algona, IA) — A Kossuth County man faces up to 50 year prison for the March 2018 stabbing death of his girlfriend. Forty-seven-year-old Chad Dietrick was convicted of second-degree murder in the stabbing of 38-year-old Krista Hesebeck. Dietrick was charged with first-degree murder and found guilty of a lesser count. He claimed self-defense and said he was attacked by Hesebeck inside their Lakota home. Toxicology reports presented at the trial showed the victim had high amounts of methamphetamine in her system on the night in question, something the defense used to bolster their self-defense claim. The State Medical Examiner’s office testified that Hesebeck suffered 64 different sharp-force injuries from the incident while Dietrick had a single cut on his left forearm. Sentencing is set for December.
Iowa School Districts Offering Incentives To Substitute Teachers
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa school districts say they are anticipating the need for substitute teachers will be greater this school year. Full-time teachers could get sick in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. That’s why many districts are offering incentives to those substitutes. The Des Moines Public School district has increased pay rates by 15-dollars-a-day and added a 500-dollar sign-on bonus. The new pay rate is 150-dollars-a-day for substitutes and nurses. To receive the full 500-dollar bonus the substitute would have to work three days-a-week for eight weeks.
