Groundbreaking Ceremonies Set for New Care Center
(Akron) — It has been a long wait, but it looks as though the people of Akron will be getting a new care center facility. Groundbreaking ceremonies are scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 1st for the new 45-bed building. The new care center will be located at 991 Highway 3, across from the Akron Fire Department and Portlandville Heights New Housing addition.
Attorney General to Investigate Gas Explosion
(Des Moines) — Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller says his office plans to conduct an investigation into the gas pipeline explosion that happened near Hinton on Wednesday. The investigation will focus on whether or not the workers notified Iowa One Call prior to the digging of a trench. Spokesman, David Sheridan says the Iowa Attorney General could fine violators $10,000 a day up to a maximum fine of one half million dollars. A spokesman for Northern Natural Gas, which owns the pipeline, claims no one called.
Hit and Run Accident Injures Bicyclist
(Sioux City) — Sioux City Police have arrested a man following a hit-and-run accident involving a bicycle. Apparently, 31 year old William Kammerer of Sioux City was riding his bicycle near West 6th Street when the accident occured early Sunday morning.
Kammerer and his bicycle was lodged under the pickup truck and was dragged for approximately 150 feet until Kammerer was able to get loose. The suspect vehicle drove over Kammerer leaving him to lie in the roadway with multiple broken bones. A search of the area by police revealed the vehicle to be a white 1998 Chevy pickup truck, which was located in the 300 block of Isabella at about 8:30. The driver of the vehicle was discovered to be 21 year old Fernando Garcia, also of Sioux City. Garcia was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident, and was charged with failing to yield, and for not having any insurance for the vehicle. Sioux City Police are investigating whether alcohol was a factor and other contributing circumstances to the incident.
Man Convicted of Attempted Murder on Wife
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City man has been ordered to spend 25 years in prison for the attempted murder of his pregnant girlfriend.
The sentence for 21-year-old Thomas Rausch Junior was handed down Friday in Woodbury County District Court. He was convicted in March of attempted murder and willful injury in a January 2011
attack on Kasandra Smith, now 22.
Authorities have said Rausch walked up behind Smith at the home they had shared in Sioux City and cut her throat, then stabbed her six times. Smith was pregnant at the time. Her unborn baby was not harmed.
Rausch is seeking a new trial.
Supervisors Approve 5-year Strategic Plan
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors, along with the county elected government officials, and other key county department heads recently held a strategic planning seminar. At last week’s board meeting, the supervisors approved the plan. Chairman Jim Henrich says its always good to review the county status from time to time.
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Henrich says Plymouth County is in an enviable position.
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The Plymouth County Supervisor says a five-year plan was also created for road work on county highways and bridge repairs.
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We’ll learn more about the county strategic plan along with additional comments by Henrich in future news reports.
Legislators Still At Stalemate
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – As they return to the Statehouse for an overtime legislative session, Iowa lawmakers find they’re facing many of the same issues that confronted them when they convened
nearly four months ago.
And faced with disagreements over education reform, property taxes and how to boost the state’s economy, legislative leaders maintain they’re not in a rush to reach a compromise that might
violate their beliefs.
Republican House Speaker Kraig Paulsen and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal say negotiators are narrowing their differences, but it’s a slow process and neither would predict when
lawmakers will adjourn.
The session was scheduled to end nearly two weeks ago.
