Le Mars Police Department Issues Quarterly Report
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department has issued its quarterly report. Officers investigated 220 complaints. The police had over 1000 calls for service. Officers issued 475 traffic citations and 353 warnings. The police had to assist with 62 accident investigations. During the last three months, the Le Mars Police made 143 arrests, and devoted 164 hours of training. The Le Mars Police received a grant for $8,593 from the Iowa Law Enforcement Intelligence Network for a cellbrite device which helps officers recover evidence from cell phones. The Le Mars Police Department renewed a contract with the state to participate in the STEP program. During the quarter, the local police worked with the fire department establishing a standard response protocol for Gehlen Catholic School, Le Mars Community, and Wells Dairy. The police were able to sell 28 bikes, and they issued 10 liquor licenses, and provide traffic control for various events. The SRT team was called one time in Sioux County with a peaceful resolution. The police also participated in several community events.
Folkema To Retire From Le Mars Police Department
(Le Mars) — After 33 years as a Le Mars Police officer, Captain Dennis Folkema is scheduled to retire. His last days on the force are this coming Saturday and Sunday. Folkema says he has enjoyed every day of his 33 years as a Le Mars Police officer.
Listen to
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During the KLEM’s 10:00 news update, we will have more comments from Police Captain Dennis Folkema.
Absentee Voting Can Start Today
(Le Mars) — Absentee voting for the General Election can start today. Cheri Nitzchke, Plymouth County Deputy Auditor says interested voters can cast their votes at the Plymouth County Courthouse at the Auditor’s office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Supervisors Counter Secondary Road Employees Salary Requests
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have proposed a two percent increase in salary and benefit pay over the next three years to the Secondary Road Employee Association. The Secondary Road Employee Association had submitted a request asking for a six percent increase. Supervisor Don Kass read the County’s counter proposal during the weekly supervisor meeting. In addition to the two percent increase in pay, the Supervisors also stipulated no reimbursement for accumulated sick leave as stated in the road crew bargaining proposal. The Supervisors also indicated they were not in favor of a four-hour minimum in pay with snow and ice removal. Instead, the supervisors countered with a two-hour minimum call-in to be allowed. The County Board of Supervisors and the Secondary Road Employee Association will begin negotiations for a three-year contract. The Supervisors are also in negotiations with the Sheriff’s employee association for a new three-year contract.
King and Vilsack To Debate Tonight At Orange City
(Orange City) — A fourth debate for the 4th district is slated to occur this evening from the campus of Northwestern College in Orange City. Republican Congressman Steve King of Kiron will face off with Democratic challenger Christie Vilsack of Ames. The debate is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. from the Christ Chapel.
Political Action Committees Release New Television Ads
WASHINGTON (AP) – A conservative political action committee is launching a $10 million campaign to sway voters who backed President Barack Obama four years ago to now support his Republican
challenger, Mitt Romney.
The Ending Spending Action Fund, bankrolled by billionaire Joe Ricketts, is airing 30-second ads on national cable and television in Virginia, Ohio, Iowa and Wisconsin. The ads with former Obama
supporters are coupled with radio and online advertising, direct mail and door-to-door voter contact programs led by former Bush White House political director Sara Fagen.
Ending Spending Action Fund president Brian Baker said Wednesday the television ads would begin on Thursday. Those ads were produced by Stephen K. Bannon, the filmmaker behind Citizen United’s recent documentary featuring disaffected Obama supporters.
Ricketts is the founder of Omaha, Nebraska-based TD Ameritrade Securities.
New Ads To Help Romney
NEW YORK (AP) – New Republican-leaning groups are entering the presidential advertising fray as polling suggests Mitt Romney’s campaign may be losing ground against President Barack Obama in key
swing states.
The commercials, aimed at voters who supported Obama in 2008 but are undecided now, join those from the campaigns and outside groups swamping a narrow and possibly shrinking map of competitive states in the fast-moving presidential contest.
The ads also focus on female voters, a bloc where Romney badly lags Obama.
The group Americans for Job Security launched an ad in six swing states, including Iowa, as part of an $8.7 million ad buy disclosed last week.
Capitol Conference Room Named To Honor Governor Ray
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Governor Terry Branstad has named a large conference room in the state Capitol in honor of former Governor Robert D. Ray.
Branstad announced the honor Wednesday, on Ray’s 84th birthday.
Ray and his family joined Branstad for a brief ceremony.
Ray’s official portrait will hang in the conference room, where Branstad holds weekly news conferences.
Ray, a Republican, was elected governor in 1968 and served for 14 years.
He also served as interim mayor of Des Moines and interim president of Drake University.
Care Center Murder
WEST UNION, Iowa (AP) – Prosecutors have filed a first-degree murder charge against a former resident at an Iowa residential care facility, after a man he is accused of attacking died.
35-year-old Matthew Braun is accused of assaulting 57-year-old Kris Simpson at the Prairie View Residential Care Facility.
Braun was first charged with attempted murder, but the Fayette County attorney’s office upgraded the charge after learning that Simpson had died.
Authorities responded to a disturbance at the care facility shortly before 1 a.m. on September 17th, and learned that Simpson had been assaulted.
Investigators say security camera footage shows Braun attacking Simpson for no apparent reason, which caused Simpson to fall and hit his head on the corner of a furnace, knocking him unconscious.
Prosecutor Dismisses Abduction Charges
AMES, Iowa (AP) – The Story County attorney’s office has dismissed charges against two teenagers accused of a sexual assault in July.
The Ames Tribune reports the county attorney filed documents Monday dismissing the case against the 16-year-old boys from Ames and Boone.
Charges were filed after a 17-year-old Hamilton County girl claimed she was abducted from her backyard and raped in an Ames park.
Lawyer Peter Berger, who represents one of the boys, says the charges were dropped after a videotape showed they were at a different location when the alleged assault occurred.
Charges remain against 20-year-old Mason Reilly of Ames, but his case is on hold pending a determination of whether he’s competent to stand trial. Attorney Sean Spellman claims Reilly can’t assist in his defense due to fetal alcohol syndrome.
