Merrill Man Assaults EMT And Sheriff’s Deputy
(Le Mars) — A Merrill man is in the Plymouth County Jail after assaulting a Merrill Emergency Medical Technician and a Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputy. Authorities responded to a call Friday afternoon shortly after 4:30 p.m. at 22843 Hedge Avenue, west of Merrill, for an intoxicated male party. Due to the nature of the call, a Merrill Police officer and Plymouth County deputy also responded to the scene. When the Merrill Police officer and an EMT arrived on the scene, the subject, 43 year old John Emmons became agitated and assaulted the EMT by punching him in the face causing minor injury. Emmons was at that time taken into custody. When deputies arrived and began to investigate and determine if Emmons needed any medical care he had calmed down and became responsive. At one point one handcuff was removed to assist in the investigation. Once this happened, Emmons then assaulted the Plymouth County deputy, by striking him in the face causing minor injuries. Emmons is charged with assault on an EMT, which is an aggrevated misdemeanor and assault of a Peace Officer, also an aggrevated misdemeanor. Niether the EMT or the deputy required treatment away from the scene.
Anderson Says He Will Seek Another Term For State Senate
(Le Mars) — State senator Bill Anderson has announced he will seek another term in the Iowa Senate. The Pierson Republican filed his paperwork on Thursday.
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Anderson, along with Republican State Representative Chuck Soderberg, will host three public forums today to preview the upcoming legislative session. Soderberg says when the legislators return to Des Moines next week they again are fortunate to work with a surplus revenue.
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The state representative says a portion of the money will go to a taxpayer trust fund, and he hopes the rest can be returned to the Iowa taxpayer.
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Soderberg says the purpose of the legislative forums is to gather constituent input, and to offer the public, updates on legislative action.
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City Council Gives Approval To Sign Contract With CDBG Architech
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council has given approval for the city administration to negotiate a deal with the architech selected to draw up plans for the downtown Community Development Block Grant. The CDBG allows the city and building owners of downtown to rennovate the facade of older buildings. Jason Vascera, the city’s code enforcement officer, offers an update on the status of the project.
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The entire project has a cost of one million dollars, with the state grant financing half, or $500,000. The city of Le Mars is assuming one fourth of the expense or $250,000 and building owners to stand the remaining cost of the $250.000 project. Vascera says all of the involved buildings fall within a historic district, and the project is to restore the buildings.
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Vascera says there are mixed emotions with business owners regarding the renovation project. He says initially, 40 building owners have inquired about the renovation plan. Many are excited for the renovation to take place, while others are concerned about the cost. The city official believes work should begin sometime this coming spring.
Floyd Valley Hospital Auxillary Offers Scholarships
(Le Mars) — The Floyd Valley Hospital Auxiliary will be awarding two “tuition only” $1,000.00 scholarships to area students this spring. To be eligible, the applicant must be a resident of the Floyd Valley Hospital service area, accepted at an accredited school and pursuing a health-related career (including pre-med, nursing, technologist, therapist and medical records professionals).
Interested students may obtain the necessary application form with complete qualifying information from their high school guidance counselor, at the Floyd Valley Hospital Information Desk or on-line at FloydValleyHospital.org under the News and Events. Applications and support information must be returned to Nancy Augustine, by April 1, 2014; instructions are on the form.
The Auxiliary Board has designated one scholarship to be awarded to a resident of LeMars and a second to be awarded to a resident of the surrounding Floyd Valley Hospital service area. Applicants may either be a high school graduate or an adult returning to school.
Investigators Solve 1984 Triple Murder Case
OTTUMWA, Iowa (AP) – Investigators have linked a 1984 triple homicide in southeastern Iowa to a man who was later executed for the murder of a 12-year-old girl.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation announced Friday that new DNA evidence implicates Andrew Six in the bludgeoning deaths of 20-year-old Justin Hook Jr., Hook’s fiancee, 19-year-old Tina Lade, and Hook’s mother, 41-year-old Sara Link.
Missouri authorities executed Six by lethal injection in 1997 for the 1987 kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Kathy Allen. Six and his uncle kidnapped the girl from the Allen family’s trailer in Ottumwa, slit her throat and dumped her body in northern Missouri.
Retired DCI supervisor Sam Swaim says Six was always a suspect in the earlier triple homicide but investigators did not have enough evidence to charge him.
Authorities Investigate Death Of A Truck Driver
STORY CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities are investigating the death of a Missouri truck driver whose body was found near a rest stop in central Iowa.
The Story County Sheriff’s Office says the 51-year-old man was found dead in his truck Wednesday night at a rest stop off Interstate 35.
Capt. Barry Thomas says that a Missouri police department contacted Iowa officials Wednesday night about an overdue truck driver. Authorities traced his cellphone to the rest stop.
The driver’s name has not been released. Additional information is not available.
Authorities don’t believe foul play was involved.
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Single Farmer Leaves $10 Million Estate To Churches
HARLAN, Iowa (AP) – A western Iowa farmer who died in November has left assets totaling millions of dollars to 13 Catholic churches.
Bud Skalla, of Portsmouth, was a thrifty man who never married and worked hard to build up his farm.
When he died Nov. 26 at age 92, he had cash and farmland totaling up to $10 million.
Raymond Chipman, a friend and co-executor of Skalla’s estate, says he left most of his wealth to 13 churches in western Iowa.
Skalla also left some money to relatives, including two sisters and a sister-in-law.
St. Mary Catholic Church in Portsmouth will receive the largest portion.
The Rev. John Dorton, of St. Mary, says Skalla was a man who “never forgot his home or his church.”
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