Jandreau Trial – Day 2
(Le Mars) — Day two of the Matthew Jandreau trial had the state call upon its star witness, the testimony of that of an 11 year old female juvenile. Jandreau is accused of assaulting the young female, with the intent of sexual abuse. The young girl told the court that on March 2nd, she was home from school as she was feeling ill. She said her grandpa, that being Walter Kleinhesselink was at breakfast. Earlier testimony indicated Kleinhesselink saw the defendant at the J & J Cafe Truck Stop and noted the defendant was “acting strange.” The female juvenile said she was watching television, then decided to play games on her computer when she heard someone “banging or pounding” on the front door to the house. She testified saying she first thought it may be her grandfather or mother returning to the home and thought they may have forgotten their keys. She said when she looked at the door, the front door then flew opened. She said a man walked inside the home, and she identified that intruder as being the defendant, Matthew Jandreau. The eleven year old then told of her terrifying experience. The eleven year old testified saying the man was carrying a purse. She said she asked if he needed any help? She said he responded by saying “No.” She again asked if he needed the hospital or the police, saying she thought he had medical issues. Again, Jandreau responded by saying “no.” The female juvenile then went for the cordless phone near the computer desk and started dialing 9-1-1. She said Jandreau knocked the phone out from her hands, and then approached her. The eleven year old said she was scared and kept screaming as loud as she could. She said in court testimony that she wasn’t certain if she had actually dialed all the numbers to the police emergency. She then said she was shoved by the defendant, causing her to fall backwards and hitting her head on a flower pot. She said she continued to scream, and the defendant began hitting her with his fists on her face and other parts of her body. The eleven year old then said the defendant took off her pajama bottoms and underwear and he attempted to put first in a dishwasher, and later attempted to place her in a broom closet. Each time the young girl said she was able to kick the door shut preventing her from being placed in either the dish washer or the broom closet. The young girl then said the defendant threw her down the stairs and held her in a headlock. She said the defendant continued to hit her and told her to remain quiet. She said she had heard footsteps upstairs and thought it to be “more bad people.” She said she screamed even louder, then a few seconds later saw officers with flashlights. Still frighten after the episode, she said that Fire Chief Dave Schipper showed her the police cars to indicate they were real, and to calm her down. The young female testified as a result of the episode she suffered a separated shoulder and many bruises, scratches and contusions. The public defender, Mike Williams chose not to cross examine the female juvenile. Other witnesses included Le Mars Police office Dan Plueger and retired Le Mars Police Captain Dennis Folkema. The trial will continue on Friday morning at 9:00 a.m.
Le Mars Downtown Given National Historic Registry
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Mainstreet Coordinator Mary Reynolds has informed KLEM news that the city of Le Mars and the downtown district has been accepted as part of the National registry for Historic Preservation.
Harlem Ambassadors To Play Basketball In Le Mars On Sunday
(Le Mars) — Get ready for some high-jinks, laughter, and fun with basketball as the Harlem Ambassadors will be visiting Le Mars for a game at the Le Mars Community High School on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. The Le Mars Rotary along with the Le Mars Community Parent -Teacher organization are hosting the game. Amy Harnack, a member of the Le Mars Rotary, explains the style of basketball that will be featured on Sunday afternoon.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/November 2012/Harnack1.mp3{/audio}
The Harlem Ambassadors will take on The Replacements, a band of local community people.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/November 2012/Harnack2.mp3{/audio}
Proceeds from the game will go to help finance new playground equipment.
Listen to
{audio} images/stories/mp3/November 2012/Harnack3.mp3{/audio}
Doors open at 3:20 p.m. with the game to start at 4:00 p.m. Tickets are selling for $7 and can be purchased at Hy Vee, American Bank, First National Bank (downtown location) and Primebank.
Des Moines Man Falls Six Stories To His Death
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Police say a man died after falling six stories from a window at a high-rise apartment near downtown Des Moines.
Police say the man was found unconscious Thursday afternoon outside the Royal View Manor.
Police Sgt. Jason Halifax says 58-year-old William Comiskey was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Halifax says Comiskey fell at least 60 feet.
Halifax says Comiskey lived at the apartment complex, and the screen on the window had been torn out. Officials say foul play is not suspected.
New Development Set For Altoona
ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) – Officials say they’re discussing the details on a deal for a $1.5 billion data center in the Des Moines suburb of Altoona.
The Des Moines Register says lawyers were involved in conversations last week about infrastructure, development agreements and contracts with the still-unnamed company.
Altoona City Administrator Jeff Mark told the City Council the project is nearing a point at which the company will reveal itself.
He says the parties involved want to sign a contract and buy land before January.
The City Council rezoned land in June to support a site plan with three buildings.
Iowa is believed to be competing with a site in Kearney, Nebraska.
Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director Catherine Lang says there haven’t been recent developments with the Kearney project.
Study Shows Iowa Abortions Not On the Rise
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A study says the number of abortions in Iowa hasn’t risen since Planned Parenthood began a remote-control abortion pill distribution method in 2008.
The Des Moines Register reports (https://dmreg.co/TNtmwI) that a study released Thursday by the American Journal of Public Health examined the number of abortions in the two years before and after
the telemedicine abortions began in Iowa. The system lets women visit clinics and take pills administered by doctors after video conferences.
Proponents say the system is safe, legal and extends abortion access to rural areas. Opponents say the system isn’t safe because doctors have little in-person oversight and because the women can
suffer complications after leaving the clinics with some of the drugs necessary to complete the abortions at their homes.
—
