Congressman King Holds Townhall Meeting
(Le Mars) — Congressman Steve King held an hour-long townhall meeting before 50-plus people Monday morning at the Le Mars Convention Center. King answered a variety of questions ranging from the farm bill, to windmill energy tax credits, to retirement working age. The position of gun control was asked of the Congressman, and his thoughts of Muslim infiltration in our colleges and universities. But a question from eleven year old Garrett Gorczynski of Oyens who asked the five-term Congressman when will the troops be coming home from Afghanistan brought silence to the group, and made King swallow hard before answering. Gorczynski has an older brother stationed in Afghanistan, and he was holding a small American flag while asking the question.
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One goal King shared with the group is that he wants to see a balanced budget come from Congress. Later, he was asked whether he believes the Republican leadership has the will to vote on a balanced budget.
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King says time is running out for the United States before something needs to be done with the ever-growing deficit.
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King says perhaps the only way to get a balanced budget is if it comes from the states as an amendment to the constitution, and he challenges Iowa to lead the nation on such ambitious plan.
Search Continues For Man Who Jumped Into Okoboji
OKOBOJI, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have resumed their search for a man who jumped from a boat into West Lake Okoboji (oh-koh-BOH’-jee) in northwest Iowa.
The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office says the man was reported missing about 5 p.m. Sunday. He reportedly jumped into the water but didn’t return to the surface.
A dive team and other officers are involved in the search. The man’s name hasn’t been released.
Charles City Man Dies From ATV Accident
CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say an 80-year-old man has died after crashing on his all-terrain vehicle in northern Iowa.
The Floyd County Sheriff’s Office says the accident occurred Sunday night in a rural Charles City pasture.
Sheriff Rick Lynch says a friend of Philip Jensen who was driving by found him pinned under the ATV.
Investigators say the ATV rolled after Jensen lost control of it. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Former Conservation Director Took Fuel For Personal Vehicle
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – State auditors say the former director of the Benton County Conservation Department charged more than $2,700 worth of fuel for his personal truck to the county.
A report filed Monday by State Auditor David Vaudt says William Heber told investigators with the sheriff’s department that he bought fuel for his own truck. He claims the pickup the county
provided had mechanical problems so he drove his own.
Auditors say Heber was not authorized to charge fuel for his personal vehicle to the county. The audit identified 45 improper fuel purchases in 2010 and 2011.
Heber, who was hired in November 2007 to oversee the county’s 10 parks, was fired in November 2011.
A current telephone number could not be located. No charges have been filed, according to online court records.
Iowa City Looking At Options With Loud Parties
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Iowa City is looking for more options to address loud parties.
The Gazette says city staff is proposing the city code be changed to allow police to issue civil citations for a disorderly house charge. Right now, it’s handled with a criminal complaint, but the occupants, typically college students, are increasingly refusing to answer the door. In those situations,
it means a search warrant to get inside, which requires a county attorney or a judge to sign off on it.
The City Council will vote on the issue Tuesday. Under the change, everyone who lives at the house would get a citation.
Greg Bal of the University of Iowa Student Legal Services believes it’s unconstitutional because someone who wasn’t at home during the party would also be cited.
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