(LE MARS) Larry Peterson of the Compensation Board presented a recommendation of a 4% pay raise for all county elected officials, at the regular meeting of the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
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He added that their recommendation is just that, a recommendation. Ultimately the decision of whether or not to raise pay is up to the Board of Supervisors.
Last week Plymouth County Board Supervisor Craig Anderson told the Compensation Board that the supervisors were not asking for a pay raise. Supervisors are paid 28-thousand 609 dollars a year.
Peterson says the Compensation Board may get together again to further discuss.
The County Board has until mid-March to adopt a new budget which would include the pay for elected officials.
The Nutcracker to be performed in Le Mars Saturday
(LE MARS)– The Nutcracker will be performed in Le Mars this Saturday under the direction of Tina McMurray. McMurray is the owner of The Dance Studio in Le Mars and Sheldon. She said that bringing the Nutcracker to Le Mars was the brainchild of one of her instructors in 2008. It’s purpse is to be a vehicle for showcasing Le Mars area talent.
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The 2010 performance features the choreography created by Agriopoulos (AGRI-OP-O-LUS) for the 2008 performance. New this year is updated costuming throughout the production.
The 52 person cast includes many young dance students and adults from the Le Mars area. The party scene features 6 adult couples. Dennis Folkema is participating in that scene.
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Shelly Manley is in the party scene as well, this is her second time involved.
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The group has been rehearsing since September.
Beth Sitzman, is an instructor at The Dance Studio and is returning in her roll as the Nutcracker. She’s excited to be involved again.
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The Nutcracker will be held at the Le Mars Community Middle School Auditorium, this Saturday at 7pm. Pre-sale tickets are available at the Arts Center or the Dance Studio…$6 for adults and $5 for students. At the door the cost is $8 for adults and $7 for students.
Dickens Woman Injured When Traveling on Icy Roads
(SPENCER) According to the Clay County Sheriffs Department ice covered roads were the cause of a one vehicle accident near Spencer this morning.
35 year old Alana Heying of Dickens, Iowa was traveling west on 350th St when she lost control of her vehicle just west of the railroad tracks in the 2400 block. The 1999 Ford Explorer was totaled when it went into the north ditch and rolled onto its side. Heying was then extricated from the vehicle by Dickens Fire and Rescue and was transported to the Spencer Hospital by the Spencer ambulance.
Iowa inmate returns late from Chicago funeral trip
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) A Linn County inmate has returned to jail two days after authorities expected him back from leave to attend his grandfather’s funeral in Chicago.
29-year-old Jamal Baylis thought he was supposed to be back by next Monday after being freed on Friday for the funeral.
Baylis says he was never intending to run and that he was surprised when he read on the Internet that he was being listed as an escaped inmate.
Baylis is awaiting sentencing next month for a robbery in Marion and is facing trial for possession of a controlled substance. A jail spokeswoman confirmed Thursday that Baylis returned on Wednesday.
Iowa town under boil alert for drinking water
RICHLAND, Iowa (AP) State officials are advising residents of the southeast Iowa town of Richland to boil their drinking water because of a water main break.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the break happened early Wednesday causing the water system to lose pressure and creating the potential for bacterial contamination.
Officials say residents should not drink the water without boiling it first.
The city is repairing the water main and will flush the system and then test it. The boil advisory will be in effect until the water is safe to drink.
Washington may release man who nearly killed cop
RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) Gov. Chris Gregoire is deciding whether to block the release of a man convicted of nearly killing a Richland police officer 28 years ago.
The Tri-City Herald reports Jerry Dean Lain is scheduled for release Monday by order of Washington’s Indeterminate Sentence Review Board.
The governor apparently has the authority to overrule the board, but the power hasn’t been used in 30 years.
Former Richland officer Mike Fitzpatrick asked the governor to intervene. He was stabbed seven times and shot in the face and abdomen in 1982. Lain was convicted of assault and has been in prison ever since.
If Lain is released he is supposed to go to Iowa where he was wanted on violating parole for a stabbing in a bar fight.
Mason City man fined for killing 2 trumpeter swans
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) A Mason City man who shot two trumpeter swans has been ordered to pay $3,000 in damages.
The Mason City Globe Gazette says 29-year-old Johnny Kirkbride pleaded guilty to killing nongame species.
Kirkbride also must pay $795 in fines and court costs.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says Kirkbride shot and killed the two birds on Oct. 30 in the Shell Rock River Greenbelt Area north of Nora Springs.
Iowa’s `DJK’ hires high-profile defense attorney
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Iowa wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos has hired one of the state’s most high-profile criminal defense lawyers to represent him against drug charges that ended his Hawkeye career.
Des Moines lawyer Alfredo Parrish filed paperwork Wednesday to represent Johnson-Koulianos. At his initial appearance on charges of possession of cocaine, marijuana and prescription drugs and keeping a drug home, Iowa City attorney John Beasley represented the player fans call “DJK.”
Parrish has represented other Hawkeye athletes who have faced legal troubles in the past, including former basketball player Pierre Pierce.
Parrish is also representing former Iowa football player Abe Satterfield, who was accused of assaulting a woman in a residence hall room in October 2007 with teammate Cedric Everson. Parrish helped broker a deal in which Satterfield pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.
Drake’s Taylor, UNI’s Zlab earn All-America honors
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Drake lineman Dain Taylor and Northern Iowa lineman Austin Zlab (zuh-LAHB) have been named to All-America teams by The Associated Press.
Taylor, a senior defensive end, was a second-team All-America pick by the AP.
Taylor had 13.5 sacks this season and was named the Pioneer Football League’s defensive player of the year.
Zlab, a senior center for the Panthers, was a third-team selection.
Zlab was a first-team All-Missouri Valley Football conference pick after helping lead the league’s top-ranked rushing attack.
