Fire Officials Have Busy Weekend
(Le Mars) — Plymouth county fire officials were busy over the weekend. On Saturday morning at about 10:55 a.m. the Le Mars Fire Department responded to a smoke detector alarm at 1017 2nd Street Southeast. Later, at about 1:30 p.m. the Le Mars Fire Department responded to a fire call at the county landfill. The Remsen Fire Department and the Akron Fire Department responded to two separate accidents that happened on Sunday. Remsen assisted at an accident that happened shortly after 10:00 a.m. at 160th Street and County Road L-12, and the Akron Fire Department responded to an accident that occurred at 6:42 p.m. Sunday evening at on Highway 12, just north of 314th Street. It is believed a male subject suffered a broken leg during that accident.
Conservation Board Inspect Grasslands
(Le Mars) — Last week during their monthly meeting, the Plymouth County Conservation Board took the time to inspect four of their grassland areas, located within the county. Conservation Board Executive Director, Dennis Sohl says the purpose for the tour was to have the board be more familiar with the property either owned or managed by the Conservation Board. In many instances, the grasslands contain native prairie grass, and has never been plowed during the history of the land.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/August 2012/Sohl1.mp3{/audio}
The O’Brien grassland, found in the southeast portion of Plymouth County, and Sohl says it is unique and that is the reason for colleges and universities wanting to study the grassland.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/August 2012/Sohl2.mp3{/audio}
Plymouth County Conservation owns or manages more than 2500 acres. About 200 acres are virgin prairie grasslands.
Le Mars School Board To Discuss District Goals
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education is scheduled to meet this evening. The school board will discuss the district’s goals as presented by the District Learning and Instructional Impact Team. The school board will also act upon a resignation request by Paula Hodgson, as special education teacher at Kluckhohn, and they are expected to offer contracts to Carrie Campbell as a Middle School Academy Teacher, Missy McGee as a Flag Corps Sponsor, and Malori Price, as a special education teacher for Kluckhohn. Superintendent, Dr. Todd Wendt will discuss with the school board the proposed hiring procedures manual for board consideration. Dr. Wendt will also present recommendations regarding the Educational Philosophy section of the Board Policy Manual for board review and consideration.
Possible Abduction Avoided
GRIMES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two central Iowa boys ran from a man who they say told them to get into his truck so he could help them find their mother.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the man approached the boys around 1:20 p.m. Sunday in Grimes. The boys are 3 and 11.
The office says the boys refused and ran into the town library. The man drove away.
No arrest has been reported.
One Month Has Passed On Missing Cousins
EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) – Two Iowa girls have been missing for a month, but the FBI says leads make investigators believe the girls are still alive.
Ten-year-old Lyric Cook and her cousin Elizabeth Collins, who has since turned 9, were reported missing July 13 from the Waterloo suburb of Evansdale. The bikes were found at a nearby lake about
four hours after their grandmother had last seen them.
FBI spokeswoman Sandy Breault (broh) would not discuss the leads nor say whether investigators believe the girls were kidnapped for ransom, abducted by a relative or abducted by a nonrelative.
The likelihood of finding abducted children alive drops as time goes on, but Breault and others say it’s important for relatives and investigators to not give up hope.
—
Toddler Found In Street
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – A toddler found wandering a Waterloo street at night has been returned to his mother.
Police tell the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier that the boy, believed to be between 2 and 4 years old, was found on a street around 4 a.m. Saturday.
Police Sergeant Brooke Carter says the boy did not tell officers his name or age before the Department of Human Services picked him up. But he did say his mother was sleeping at home.
Carter says the mother realized the child was gone Saturday morning, called police and picked the boy up around 10:30 a.m.
No charges have been filed, but police are still investigating.
Schools About To Start — Drivers Reminded of Kadyn’s Law
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – With a new school year starting, Iowa drivers are being reminded of a new school bus safety law.
“Kadyn’s Law” is named for Kadyn Halverson, a 7-year-old girl who was hit by a pickup and killed last year while walking to her bus. Aaron Gunderson, of Northwood, was sentenced in January to 15
years for her death.
Cedar Rapids mother Mandy Norris tells The Gazette of Cedar Rapids that she and her two children live on a busy corner where the school bus stops, so she’s thankful for the new law.
The law increases penalties for failure to slow for a bus with flashing lights or stop when the stop arm is extended. Injuring or killing a child under those conditions carries more severe
penalties.
Romney and Obama Campaign In Iowa
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Mitt Romney and his new running mate, Paul Ryan, are pitching themselves as “America’s Comeback Team,” Republican turnaround artists willing to take on tough decisions.
President Barack Obama and his allies say adding the conservative Wisconsin congressman to the GOP ticket creates a sharp choice for voters on the future of the nation’s tax system and safety-net programs, such as Medicare and Social Security.
Romney’s selection of Ryan as his vice presidential running mate this weekend jolted the presidential contest and set the contours for the fall campaign.
Romney touts himself as a proponent of a friendlier business climate seeking to revitalize the economy and rein in federal spending.
Obama casts himself as a defender of middle-class families and
federal spending on health care, retirement pensions and education.
State Political Races Important To Iowans
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Most television ads and media coverage has been about the presidential race, but some believe lower profile legislative elections could make the most significant
difference to Iowans.
Republicans already control both the House and the governor’s office, and with a pickup of two seats they could win a majority in the Iowa Senate. Republicans say their focus would be on improving
the state’s economy and creating jobs, but Democrats and a political analyst say complete GOP control of state government could lead to passage of laws dealing with other issues, including
education and same-sex marriage.
Drake University politics professor Dennis Goldford says Republicans are focused on legislative races. He calls control of the Iowa Senate “at least as important if not more important to
them than the presidential race.”
