Jandreau Trial To Begin Today
(Le Mars) — Jury selection continues today for the Matthew Jandreau case, and deliberations are expected to start this afternoon. Jandreau is accused of kidnapping, burglary, and theft, resulting from incidents that allegedly occurred in March. His trial has been delayed four times. That trial is at the Plymouth County courthouse.
Supervisors Decide To Permanently Close Road
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors made the decision to vacate a stretch of Quarry Road found in section 26 of Elkhorn township. During their weekly meeting held on Tuesday, the supervisors heard testimony from county engineer Tom Rohe and representatives from Northwest Iowa REC and Frontier telephone. Earlier this year a bridge located on the road had collapsed. There are no residents living along the proposed closure of road.
Supervisors Approve Mental Health Region
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Supervisors gave their approval for a regional mental health program that would be comprised of Plymouth, Sioux, Cherokee and Woodbury Counties. Ida County officials have made inquiries about the new region and there is a possibility that Ida County may also join the new mental health region, but as of yet, Ida County has not acted. Plymouth County supervisors’ chairman Jim Henrich signed the letter of intent addressed to State Mental Health Director, Charles Palmer. In the letter, it states that the four counties have a long history of meeting the mental health needs of their respective constituency in a compassionate and conscientious manner, and are committed to working cooperatively to meet the needs of those that reside within the region.
Sheriff’s Office Investigates Motorcycle Accident
(Akron) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a motorcycle accident on Saturday afternoon near the intersection of K-18 N and Hwy 12. The sheriff’s office responded as well as Akron Fire and Ambulance. The driver of the motorcycle, William Kryger, of Sioux City, was transported to Mercy Medical Center. Kryger was south west bound on K-18 when he lost control and entered the ditch. The investigation is continuing in the accident. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Akron Fire and Ambulance, and the Sioux City Police Dept.
Le Mars Man Dies In Truck Accident
(Salix) — A Le Mars man has died resulting from injuries sustained in a traffic accident Monday morning. 54 year old John Anthony was driving a semi tractor trailer west on 280th Street three miles east of Salix. The vehicle went through a curve, entered the west ditch and overturned, according to an Iowa State Patrol accident report. Anthony was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, where he died from his injuries. That accident happened early Monday morning.
Hogs Stolen From Confinement Facilities
(Orange City) — The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a burglary that occurred at a hog confinement, three miles south of Sheldon, IA. Sometime during the night of Saturday, November 10 or the early morning of Sunday, November 11, someone forced open a locked door to the confinement. Once inside, the person was able to load 155 to 165 finished pigs weighing between 265 to 270 pounds onto a semi trailer. The estimated value of the pigs is $38,000.
If you saw a semi-tractor with a livestock trailer near the intersection of Highway 60 and 360th Street during the time of this crime, you are asked to contact the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office. You may also use our Text-A-Tip program to report any information if you wish to remain anonymous.
Iowa State’s New Lobbyist Has Connections To Regent
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Board of Regents says spokesman for Regent Bruce Rastetter’s investment business has bee named the next lobbyist for Iowa State University.
The board announced Tuesday that Joe Murphy will become ISU’s state relations officer.
Murphy has worked as public affairs director for Rastetter’s firm, the Ames-based Summit Group, for more than a year.
Murphy served as Rastetter’s spokesman during a complaint over whether he violated conflict of interest rules in pursuing a development in Tanzania with Iowa State, which was eventually
dismissed. Rastetter is the board’s no. 2 official and an ally of Gov. Terry Branstad.
Murphy previously worked three years as the state relations officer for University of Northern Iowa.
Murphy replaces Ann McCarthy, who assumes a new role coordinating economic development policy for the board.
Branstad Asking Congress To Save Wind Tax Credits
(Washington) — Warning that tens of thousands of jobs are at stake, governors in wind energy states are calling on Congress to renew an expiring tax break.
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber said at a teleconference Tuesday that uncertainty over the future of the wind energy production tax credit already has hurt the industry –
which employs 75,000 people and drives more than $10 billion a year in economic development.
Branstad and Kitzhaber lead the Governor’s Wind Energy Coalition, which represents 28 states.
The credit was first signed by President George H.W. Bush and backed by a number of prominent Republicans. But it stalled in Congress this summer amid opposition from conservative House
Republicans, who argued it was wasteful spending.
Stephanie Rose Sworn In As Federal Judge
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Former prosecutor Stephanie Rose is now the nation’s youngest federal judge and the first female federal judge in Iowa’s Southern District.
The 39-year-old former U.S. attorney for Iowa’s Northern District took the oath of office at a Tuesday ceremony in Des Moines. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder attended the swearing-in
at the federal courthouse.
Rose, of Center Point, received attention during her Senate confirmation hearing in September for her role in prosecutions stemming from a 2008 raid by federal immigration officials on
Agriprocessors, Inc., in Postville.
Critics alleged that hundreds of workers at the kosher meatpacking plant, many in the country illegally, were rushed through the court process. Despite that, she was overwhelmingly
confirmed
Rose became the Northern District’s U.S. attorney in 2009.
Substitute Bus Driver Accused of Being Mean To Students
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Some parents have reported that a substitute school bus driver shoved kids and yelled at them during their ride home from a Des Moines elementary school.
District officials say their investigation found no wrongdoing. The parents don’t agree with the district’s assessment and want the driver fired.
A group of parents whose kids attend South Union Elementary School have filed a police report that says the driver physically assaulted several students on Monday afternoon.
One parent, Brandy Gooding, says that besides shoving the students, the driver “was slamming on his brakes, making the kids fly forward on the bus.” She also says he was profane when talking
to the students and parents.
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Three Iowa Students Compete in “Bible Bee”
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Three Iowa children will be pitting their memories against around 300 other contestants in the National Bible Bee.
The event begins Wednesday and runs through Saturday in Sevierville, Tenn.
15-year-old Joshua Bontrager and his 10-year-old brother, Taylor, from Kalona, will compete, as will 13-year-old Andrew Adams, of Clive.
There are different requirements for the various age divisions. In Joshua’s senior division, for example, contestants are required to memorize 700 verses from the Bible books of 1 Timothy and 2
Timothy.
Taylor says the competition “gives you a chance to have God’s word in your heart, and I also like the competition.”
The 300 contestants in the finals are vying for $260,000 in prize money.
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