Le Mars Police Arrest Three Minnesota Men For Burglary
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Police have charged three Minnesota men with Burglary following a burglary at the Wireless World/Verizon Wireless store by Walmart off of Holton Drive SW, Le Mars. Officers were notified of an alarm at the store at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23rd. When officers arrived on the scene, they confirmed a burglary had taken place because of a front window had been smashed. Another Le Mars officer was conducting a traffic stop on Business highway 75 north in the Motor Inn area. As a result of that traffic stop, and a subsequent investigation, the following men have been charged. Devante Johnson, age 20, of Brooklyn Park, MN; Blanyon Davies, 19 years of age, of Minneapolis, MN; and Victor Doe, 22, of Plymouth, MN. All three have been charged with Burglary in the 3rd degree, a class D felony; possession of burglar tools, an aggravated misdemeanor; possession of stolen property, an aggravated misdemeanor; criminal mischief in the 2nd degree, a class D felony. The Le Mars Police Department is continuing its investigation and additional charges are possible.
School Board Discuss School Security Issues
(Le Mars) — In light of some school shootings across the nation, and parents asking the Le Mars Community School Board to place a higher emphasis on security, School security was discussed during last evening’s Le Mars Community Board of Education meeting. One suggestion by parents directed to the board was to look at installing doors and walls for the Kluckholn Elementary building. Kluckholn was built in a circular pattern and does not contain walls to separate classrooms. Dr. Todd Wendt, superintendent of schools shared with the board some costs analysis regarding the installation of walls and doors for the Kluckholn elementary building.
Listen to
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Wendt says the board had already placed the installation of doors and walls for Kluckholn elementary on their ten-year planning list. Wendt says the board did not take any further action relating to the installation of doors and walls for Kluckholn. However, the board did approve a proposal to limit the access to the district’s buildings.
Listen to
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Dr. Wendt says the changes will be made over the summer months.
Lawmakers Review Economic Development Budget
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers are set to hash out their differences on the state’s economic development budget.
The joint committee will meet Tuesday to work on a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the economic development budget. The Senate seeks $78 million and the House wants $45 million.
The measure includes funding for Iowa Workforce Development, the Economic Development Authority, Department of Cultural Affairs, Iowa Finance Authority, Public Employment Relations Board and initiatives at Iowa’s three public universities.
Waterloo Democratic Sen. Bill Dotzler says the Senate plan provides funds to reopen five unemployment offices.
That issue has been contentious, as Gov. Terry Branstad’s decision to close unemployment office prompted a 2012 Iowa Supreme Court ruling that he overstepped his authority by vetoing some
funding for Iowa Workforce Development.
Mother Faces Trial For Drowning Infant Son
ONAWA, Iowa (AP) – A murder trial is set to begin for a western Iowa woman accused of drowning her 15-month-old son.
Ashley Cameron, of Onawa, is scheduled to have her trial start Tuesday in Monona County District Court. She is charged with first-degree murder and child endangerment in the 2012 death of
Markis Dahms.
The Sioux City Journal (https://bit.ly/ZKtWxm ) reports the 25-year-old Cameron waived her right to have a jury hear her case.
The trial is expected to be completed this week.
Police say Cameron held Markis under a running faucet in a bathtub until he drowned. The results of an autopsy led to Cameron’s arrest. She pleaded not guilty last year.
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Jury To Hear Testimony Relating to Mentally Ill Employees
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – A jury has been seated to hear a lawsuit in which the government alleges a Texas company exploited mentally disabled contract workers at an Iowa turkey processing plant.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is seeking damages for 32 ex-workers of Henry’s Turkey Service that it contends were verbally and physically abused between 2007 and 2009.
Henry’s supplied the workers under contract to West Liberty Foods in West Liberty.
U.S. District Judge Charles Wolle told potential jurors the EEOC will allege the men received derogatory names and comments and physical abuse that included hitting and kicking. He says the EEOC will allege they were given harsh discipline and inadequate medical care.
The eight-member jury was chosen Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Davenport. Trial is expected to last two weeks.
Facebook Looks At Locating In Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa economic development officials are approving tax credits for Facebook to build a $300 million data center in Altoona and increasing incentives for Google that allows
it to expand in Council Bluffs.
Both projects are before an Iowa Economic Development Authority board meeting Tuesday.
The board’s due diligence committee has approved $18 million in tax credits for the Facebook project to be built near Interstate 80 in Altoona, a Des Moines suburb. The full board is considering the
project, which will create 31 jobs.
Kearney, Neb., also sought the project.
Google has a $600 million data center in Council Bluffs and is building another. It’s increased the cost to $700 million from the original $300 million. The state is increasing tax credits offered to $16.8 million from under $10 million.
