Early Morning Accidents
(Hinton) — The Hinton Fire Department responded to an early morning accident that happened on the southbound lane of Highway 75. At about 3:30 a.m. was the time of that accident. No other details are available at this time, and the Kingsley Fire Department also responded to an early morning accident that happened at about 5:45 a.m. That accident occurred at the on Quartz Avenue. Again, no further details are known at this time.
Gehlen Students Receive Helmets From Opportunities Unlimited
(Le Mars) — In an effort to make students more aware of the severity of head injuries, Opportunities Unlimited distributed bicycle helmets to each of the Gehlen Catholic second graders on Friday afternoon. Stephanie Brown is the president and CEO of the non-profit organization and explains why Opportunities Unlimited feels it is an important mission to offer the head gear to students.
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Brown says Opportunities Unlimited has a special relationship with Gehlen Catholic since the two entities partner together for an affinity. The O-U official says they provided teachers with educational material regarding head injuries, and asked Gehlen to incorporate head safety as part of the second grade curriculum. Brown says Scheels Sporting Goods is also a contributing sponsor of the program.
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Opportunities Unlimited has been distributing bicycle helmets to students for seven years. The O-U official believes if students learn to wear and appreciate helmets at an early age, it could save on medical expenses.
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Living Last Supper To Be Presented At Le Mars
(Le Mars) — A living portrayal of the Last Supper will be featured Sunday evening at the Le Mars Presbyterian United Church of Christ. “Lord is it I?” is a presentation made possible by a group of men from Sheldon. Jeff Wagner serves as the narrator of the program and says the group recreates the scene from the famous painting done by Leonardo Da Vinci.
Listen to
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Wagner says the presentation is an emotional and moving experience, and he believe the audience maybe able to identify with the disciple characters.
Listen to
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The group has performed the recreation of the Last Supper for the past 28 years. Wagner says the group usually offers between four and six performances each year during the Lenten/Easter season. The program also contains singing provided by a quartet known as the Circuit Riders. The group from the Sheldon United Methodist Church performs across the state, and this year the group even traveled to Knoxville, Iowa. Wagner says the presentation will last about an hour, and he encourages everyone from all Christian denominations to come and see the program. “Lord, Is it I?” will be presented
at 7:00 p.m. at the Le Mars Presbyterian Church of Christ church located at 858 7th Avenue.
Branstad Urges People To Use Free Tax Software
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad says eligible Iowa residents should take advantage of a program that helps them prepare and file tax returns online for free.
Branstad says the Iowa Free File program lets residents with low and moderate income use tax preparation software for free. Those with an income of $57,000 or less are eligible for the service.
Branstad says many people don’t know about this option. He says the program is available on the state Department of Revenue website.
Iowa Department of Revenue Director Courtney Kay-Decker calls using Free File a “win-win” for taxpayers and government. That’s because it saves taxpayers money and cuts processing costs for
government. Kay-Decker says the program does not cost the state money.
Hyperion Refinery Company Considers New Application
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – A Texas company says it’s considering filing a new application for a state air permit that would allow it to begin constructing a proposed $10 billion oil refinery rather
than ask for an extension.
The company had until Friday to start building the refinery that would process 400,000 barrels of Canadian tar sands crude each day.
Hyperion Refining president Preston Phillips says South Dakota officials expressed “a clear preference” for the company to apply for a new permit.
Phillips says the company won’t be starting over but building on the existing baseline data, engineering and other work.
Hyperion had thousands of acres of options in Union County secured for the refinery, but the company failed to extend them in September.
The original permit was challenged by environmental and local groups.
Dubuque Woman Sentenced For Making Meth
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – A Dubuque woman who was helping a friend make methamphetamine when it burst into flames in a home she was renting has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison.
Federal prosecutors say 36-year-old Dawn Richey will serve a prison sentence of five years and 10 months and must pay $142,000 to the home’s owner.
Richey’ sentencing was Friday. She had pleaded guilty in December to aiding and abetting the attempted manufacture of methamphetamine near a school.
The home she was renting was 1,000 feet from an elementary school. It caught fire in February 2012 as she and Julie Uhrig tried to make meth in the basement.
Uhrig is serving nearly 11 years in prison and Nickolas Clark, Richey’s boyfriend at the time, is serving nearly three years.
Retiring Police Officer Wants To Buy K-9 Partner
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A retiring Iowa City police officer plans to buy a veteran, retiring K-9 owned by the city.
Officer Kevin Berg has requested to buy Naton the dog for $10. The Iowa City Council will vote on the agreement during a meeting Tuesday.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports Berg, who has been with the department for nearly 30 years, has been Naton’s handler for eight years. The dog is partially blind, but officials say it never slowed him down.
Police Chief Sam Hargadine says handlers often purchase their dog when service work is complete.
The police department purchased the Belgian Malinois for $10,500.
