Plymouth County Supervisors Approve Regional Mental Health Program
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors have given their approval for a regional mental health services program. The supervisors took that action during their weekly meeting held Tuesday. Due to budget cuts, and an increase number of cases, many counties simply cannot afford to provide all the mental health services that are required. The state suggested counties form their alliance with other counties. Plymouth county has proposed a region that would consist of Woodbury, Plymouth, Sioux and Cherokee counties. Woodbury County Supervisors have also adopted the proposed region. With the new regional mental health program, will it mean a lost of local control for mental health services? Sharon
Nieman, Plymouth County CPC director offers this explanation.
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There is shared concern that some mental health services may be dropped as a result of the regional system. Nieman says that may fall upon the state legislature as to how much funding they wish to provide.
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Police Investigating Bike-Car Accident
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Police are investigating an accident that occurred Tuesday afternoon at
about 5:00 p.m. involving a bicycle and a car. The accident happened near the Country Store
convenience store located on Plymouth Street S.W. The injured victim was a juvenile female
and was apparently struck by a car when the bike tried to cross the street. The victim was
transported to the Floyd Valley Hospital. Responding to the accident were the Le Mars
Police Department, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, and the Le Mars Ambulance. No
word yet on the names of those involved, or the condition of the juvenile victim.
Oyens Lifts Boil Order
(Oyens) — Oyens residents once again have clean fresh water that is free of bacteria. Oyens mayor, Cheryl Christman has announced that as of October 16th the water system has been shock chlorinated and the bacteria samples were satisfactory. Christman says it is no longer necessary for the residents of Oyens to boil water before use.
Authorities Look For Escaped Inmate
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say they’re looking for a 28-year-old Iowa inmate who’s been listed as escaped from a work release facility in Sioux City.
The Iowa Corrections Department says Justin Miller didn’t return to the facility as scheduled on Friday.
Miller was transferred to work release last month. He originally was sentenced to a maximum of 15 years following assault convictions in Woodbury County.
Miller began his prison term in April 2009.
Sioux City Gas Station Robbed
(Sioux City) — Sioux City Police are searching for the man that they say robbed a gas station at gun point. Pronto Express located at 1800 N. Lewis Blvd. was robbed on Tuesday at about 4:40 p.m. The suspect is identified as a thin five foot – nine inch African-American wearing a ski mask. The man demanded money from the gas station and then fled. Police are not saying how much money was stolen. Two customers were in the station at the time. No one was injured.
Grassley Visits Le Mars High School Students
(Le Mars) — Iowa Republican Senator, Chuck Grassley met with the Le Mars High School government class students during a question and answer session held this morning. Grassley was asked everything from how did he enter politics to questions relating to the recent U-S ambassador’s shooting death, to would there be a Social Security program when the students of today reach retirement age? He was also asked by a student whether the U-S government should implement a drug-testing program for welfare recipients. Grassley visited with the students about the Constitution, saying “our form of government is different from any other government in the world.” He informed the students that the constitution was set up on the principle of limited government. He also encouraged the students to consider applying for an internship with his office. What was the Senator’s opinion of the students and of their questions?
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Speaker Boehner To Visit Iowa
CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) – House Speaker John Boehner plans to meet with Republican volunteers in Iowa as they campaign to oust President Barack Obama from office.
The Ohio Republican who has often sparred with Obama is scheduled to appear at a Republican Party office in Coralville on Wednesday afternoon.
Boehner’s visit will come just hours after Obama is expected to speak about 25 miles away, at Cornell College in Mount Vernon. It also comes as all four of Iowa’s congressional races remain up for
grabs.
Organizers say Boehner will deliver remarks on the national debt and deficit. He and Obama negotiated but failed last year to reach agreement on a package of spending cuts and revenue increases to combat the problem, with each blaming the other for the failure.
Occupy Des Moines Say They Will Disrupt World Food Prize
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – More than 1,000 scientists and agribusiness leaders are expected in Des Moines this week for the World Food Prize Foundation’s annual discussion of efforts to reduce world hunger.
The event also is attracting protesters who hope to disrupt an award ceremony to be attended by dignitaries including the United Nations secretary-general.
Members of Occupy Des Moines plan to be arrested as they obstruct participants at the foundation’s headquarters on Wednesday and at the Iowa Capitol on Thursday before the $250,000 prize is given to Israeli scientist Daniel Hillel.
Organizer Frank Cordaro says the group opposes corporate agriculture motivated more by profit than food safety or protection of natural resources.
Foundation President Kenneth Quinn says he’s disappointed the prize dedicated to ending world hunger would be the target of civil disobedience.
Iowa National Guard To Celebrate Homecoming
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A homecoming celebration is planned for 30 members of the Iowa Air National Guard returning home from a tour of duty in Southeast Asia.
The guard says the airmen from the 132nd Fighter Wing in De Moines are scheduled to return to Des Moines Wednesday morning.
The airmen have been in Southeast Asia for the past six months.
