LE MARS)–More than eighty-eight hundred Plymouth County voters went to voting locations or chose absentee ballots for Tuesday’s election.
According to auditor Stacey Feldman, the Plymouth County Auditor’s office handled 29-hundred absentee ballot requests with about 27-hundred returned. The numbers were down from the Presidential election but higher than four years ago.
Listen here
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Feldman will compare the county’s 49.95 percent voter turnout of 8, 887 voters to other counties.
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Voter turnout in Sioux County totalled 7,180 There were 1,503 voters in Cherokee County.
About 200 absentee ballots had not been returned yet. If they arrive with Courthouse mail now with a November 1st postmark, Feldman says they can be counted. Election results are unofficial until they’re reviewed by the Board of Supervisors in a process called a canvass.
There are 17, 824 registered voters in Plymouth County. Voter turnout in Sioux County totalled 7,180 There were 1,503 voters in Cherokee County.
For election results in Plymouth County www.co.plymouth.ia.us
Downtown water line break repairs underway
(LE MARS)–A water line break is affecting some city of Le Mars Water customers today (Wednesday).
The break was reported about 11:30 last night with a call to the Le Mars Fire-Rescue Department for a water problem in downtown Le Mars at Central and Plymouth Street.
City crews and contractors are working to make repairs. As of news time, water is expected to be shut off from Fourth Avenue to Central Avenue on Plymouth Street for most of the day. Repair work may extend into tomorrow.
“Boss of the Quarter” is managing partner of business with employee longevity
(LE MARS)–The managing partner of a Le Mars law firm who is described by employees as their friend and boss is the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce “Boss of the Quarter.”
Attorney Patrick Murphy was surprised with the honor today (Wednesday). He began his law career with what was called the Dull Law Firm in Le Mars in February of 1973.
His employees say the longevity of employees at Murphy, Collins and Bixenman is a tribute to Murphy’s professionalism. Recognizing the value of family, employees credit Murphy for understanding and allowing them to leave work for family illnesses or school activities.
The nomination also indicates he is generous with time, talent and donations to many non-profit groups.
Murphy serves as President of the Le Mars Community Board of Education is a member of the Plains Area Mental Health Center and American Bank Boards of Directors. He is also attorney for the city of Merrill.
Lange concedes to Braley in Iowa’s 1st District
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) Republican challenger Ben Lange has conceded to Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley after a very close race for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District.
Unofficial results from Tuesday’s election show Braley winning his third term in the U.S. House by just 3,955 votes.
Lange’s campaign early Wednesday delayed conceding, saying it wanted to review the vote tallies.
Campaign spokesman Cody Brown says Lange called Braley at midmorning to congratulate him.
Lange says in a statement that he hopes his campaign has “brought to light new solutions to confront our greatest challenges.”
Braley spokeswoman Caitlin Legacki (leh-GAK’-ee) says the conversation was “warm and friendly” and they wished each other the best moving forward.
Iowa City votes to keep 21-only ordinance
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Voters have upheld Iowa City’s 21-and-older bar law.
Voters on Tuesday retained the City Council-approved ordinance that bans those younger than 21 from being in a bar after 10 p.m. The age limit had been 19.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen says the unofficial vote is 52 percent to 48 percent.
Opponents of the law, including many college students and bar owners, sought to repeal it.
Mayor Matt Hayek, who supported the ordinance, says Iowa City doesn’t want to be known as an “alcohol mecca.”
Small plane makes emergency landing in NE Iowa
FREDERICKSBURG, Iowa (AP) Authorities say no one was hurt when a small plane made an emergency landing on U.S. Highway 18 near Fredericksburg in northeast Iowa.
KWWL-TV reports that the Chickasaw County sheriff’s office says David Wiesen, of Cottonwood, Minn., was flying a single-engine plane on Tuesday when he radioed in mechanical problems about 1 p.m.
Wiesen landed the plane on the highway about 4 miles west of Fredericksburg.
Authorities say Wiesen and his passenger were not injured and there was no damage to the plane or to anyone or anything on the ground.
A flatbed truck took the plane, a 2005 RV6A, to the Charles City airport.
Police ID man who died in Iowa City
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Authorities have released the name of a man who died after he was found under a bridge in Iowa City.
The Gazette in Cedar Rapids says police have identified the man as 49-year-old Mark Brown.
Police say a passer-by found him bleeding and unresponsive on a bike trial under the Highway 6 bridge on Monday. He died at a hospital.
Investigators say Brown wasn’t riding a bicycle, and his death is not considered suspicious.
Police say Brown was homeless and was last known to stay in Iowa City.
Police ID woman who died in Waterloo fire
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) Authorities have released the name of a woman who died in a house fire in Waterloo.
KWWL-TV says police have identified her as 32-year-old Stacie Lyn Timmer, of Waterloo.
Firefighters found Timmer’s body Monday afternoon after a passer-by reported flames coming from the house.
Police Capt. Tim Pillack says an autopsy shows she died of severe burns and smoke inhalation.
Pillack says the cause of the fire remains under investigation, but no foul play is suspected.
Muscatine police chief retiring
MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) Muscatine Police Chief Gary Coderoni is retiring after 20 years.
The Muscatine Journal says Coderoni, who became police chief in 1990, announced his retirement on Tuesday.
In a letter to city leaders, he says he plans to move to Richmond, Va., where he’s considering teaching opportunities at two colleges.
Coderoni has taught law enforcement and communications classes at Muscatine Community College.
City Administrator Gregg Mandsager he’ll meet with the mayor and human resources officials on hiring a new police chief.
Alliant Energy to close Dubuque Generating Station
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) Alliant Energy plans to close its Dubuque Generating Station by 2015.
The Telegraph Herald in Dubuque says the company announced the closure on Tuesday as part of a plan that was filed with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. The plan provides a blueprint for meeting the electrical needs of customers. It also includes details on a process to retire older, smaller and less-efficient equipment.
Alliant spokesman Scott Drzycimski says the plant has about 35 employees.
He says the Dubuque Generating Station is about 100 years, and its shutdown will not affect the supply of electricity to consumers.
Alliant Energy is based in Madison, Wis., and provides electric and natural gas to customers in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
