(Undated) — The Iowa Caucus is one week away and the candidates are making a last push effort trying to court votes. One person who has been courted by each of the candidates and still has not offered an endorsement is that of Iowa Congressman Steve King. Earlier in the year, King had said he hoped that he would come out and show his support for a candidate, but he still hasn’t made a decision. The question now is will he offer his endorsement to a candidate with only one week remaining?
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/December2011/king support.mp3{/audio}
Texas Congressman Ron Paul has scheduled a stop in LeMars for Friday at 1:00 p.m. at the LeMars Convention Center and Texas Governor Rick Perry will be in Sioux City nex Monday at 12:30 p.m. at the Stoney Creek Inn.
(Remsen) — The Remsen Fire Department were called to fight a grass fire on Monday morning. The fire was located along County Road C-16. The Remsen Fire Department was able to control that fire within a few minutes.
(Orange City) — Two people were arrested on Christmas Eve afternoon by the Sioux County Sheriff’s office for drug violations following a traffic stop. The incident occured on Highway 75, just south of Sioux Center. Arrested were 21 year old Amber Wichers of Sioux Center. She was wanted for a Plymouth County arrest warrant. She was later charged with an OWI for the second offense, which is an aggravated misdemeanor and possession of marijuana, a serious misdemeanor.
Also arrested was 20 year old Randy Kirsch of South Sioux City Nebraska. He was a passenger in the car and was arrested for furnishing a controlled substance into a detention facility, a class D felony, possession of marijuana, a serious misdemeanor and possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.
(Orange City) — On Christmas Day at about 11:00 a.m. the Sioux County Sheriff’s office arrested 21 year old Erica Olivarez-Gomez of Sioux Center for introducing a controlled substance to a detention facility, a class D felony. Olivarez-Gomez had been arrested earlier in the day by a Sioux Center Police Officer pursuant to an arrest warrant. Upon further investigation by the sheriff’s office, a controlled substance was found among Olivarez-Gomez’ posessions.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The operator of the Argosy riverboat casino in Sioux City has backed out of a deal to keep a land-based version of the casino in Sioux City though January 2013.
Officials with Missouri River Historical Development, the nonprofit group that holds the casino’s license, announced the deal with Argosy owner Penn National Gaming Inc. fell through late
Friday. A spokesman for Penn National confirmed the development.
The two sides had earlier announced they had reached a six-month extension of their agreement, which expires in July.
It was believed the agreement was an effort to continue negotiations with Penn for a land-based casino.
Penn National spokesman Eric Schippers says the company is hopeful they can still reach a long-term deal with Missouri River Historical Development.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says he’s opposed to enacting a user fee to help spruce up the state’s parks and would rather rely on the Iowa State Parks Foundation to generate
donations for park maintenance.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Roger Lande says Iowans have told him they would be willing to pay such a fee to improve state parks.
Lande raised the possibility of reinstating a user fee during budget talks with Branstad.
DNR funding has declined since 2008 and with it the number of seasonal workers hired to maintain parks.
Public complaints resulted in more money for maintenance and the number of seasonal workers should nearly double from 80 in 2011 to 150 for the year that ends June 30.
(Des Moines) — Its the time of year when some people get bogged down with the blues, or what may actually be seasonal affective disorder or SAD. About five-percent of Iowans are hit with symptoms like low energy, no attention span and grouchiness during the winter. Dr. Kelly Fairbanks, a clinical psychologist says the Christmas season is not responsible for your feeling like a Grinch.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/December2011/Fairbanks1.mp3{/audio}
She explains that SAD is caused by the lack of sunlight during the winter months.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/December2011/Fairbanks2.mp3{/audio}
Fairbanks says there are relatively easy things you can do to beat the winter blues.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/December2011/Fairbanks3.mp3{/audio}
Fairbanks says those with severe symptoms may want to consider heading south or to another sunny destination that’s not Iowa for a few days.
Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/December2011/Fairbanks4.mp3{/audio}
Those who experience anxiety or depression are more likely to feel the effects of SAD. Therapy using a special type of light is helpful for some people, as well as vitamin supplements. Others may need counseling.
