Weekend Fires Breaks Out Throughout The County
(Hinton) — The Hinton, Kingsley, and Merrill Fire Departments were all called to fight fires over the weekend. Hinton responded to a wood pile that was on fire at 28271 Key Avenue. That fire was reported at about 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Fire officials were on the scene for about an hour and a half. Meanwhile, Kingsley Fire Department was called to a grass fire at 2:05 a.m. Sunday morning. The fire was reported at county road C-70 and Noble Avenue. Fire officials were battling the strong winds as well as the blaze. Kingsley Fire officials were on the scene of that grass fire for nearly two hours. On Sunday afternoon, at about 12:45 p.m. both Merrill and Hinton Fire Departments responded to a grass fire located at 32352 West Loop Road. Again, the strong gusting winds of Sunday afternoon made it difficult to get the fire under control. Fire officials were on the scene for nearly two hours. At the same time, the Merrill Fire Department was assisting Hinton with a grass fire, Some of the Merrill Fire Department had to respond to an earlier fire scene that had flared up again. The Merrill Fire Department returned to 28271 Key Avenue to again put out those flames. They were on the scene for nearly an hour.
School Board To Hold Informational Retreat
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education has scheduled an informational business retreat for Monday. Board directors and administration officials will examine Le Mars Community’s Career and Technical Education program, early literacy, teacher leadership, and technology integration. The retreat is will be held at the Education Service Center and is scheduled for four hours and will begin at 4:00 p.m.
Sioux City Police Investigate Shooting
(Sioux City) — Sioux City Police responded to a shooting incident that happened late Friday afternoon. Shots were reported at the 500 block of West 27th Street at about 5:15 p.m. When officers arrived at the scene, they located a male victim in the driveway that was suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest. That victim died a few minutes later at a local hospital. Another gunshot victim was located a short distance away after he ran from the scene and was taken to a local hospital to be treated. Police say the shooting does not appear to be a random incident and appears to have started after a verbal altercation. Police are still investigating the motive for the shooting. This is the second time in recent months police have been called to the same address for a shooting. In November, two people were fatally shot and a third was wounded at the same house in west Sioux City where this weekend’s shooting happened. Investigators are still looking for the suspect in the shooting. The Sioux City Police have not released the names of the victims pending notification of next to kin.
Woodbury County Sheriff To Investigate Conduct Of Two Jailers
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Two jail employees may lose their jobs after the Woodbury County Sheriff finishes investigating their conduct.
The two jail workers have been accused of misconduct.
Sheriff Dave Drew says Joe Moravek was arrested Friday on suspicion of public intoxication after he showed up to work intoxicated.
Another corrections officer, Josh Hedum, was charged last week with drunken driving in connection with a Dec. 15 crash.
Drew says his office’s investigation will determine whether either man will remain employed at the jail. But Drew says he doesn’t have any say in the criminal cases both men face.
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State Education Officials Debate Whether To Adopt National Science Standards
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa officials are considering whether to adopt model science standards for what’s taught in the state, but critics say doing so would intrude on local school decisions.
Iowa was one of 26 states that helped develop the national guidelines for science classes called Next Generation Science Standards.
The guidelines emphasize in-depth instruction and hands-on experiments. Many experts say that’s a good approach.
But some teachers worry about sacrificing the breadth of lessons.
Jill Jennings served on a state committee that reviewed the standards. She says she’s concerned that these national guidelines take control over what’s taught away from local school boards.
If the state adopts the Next Generation Science Standards, they would replace Iowa standards that have been in place since 2008.
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Posting On Republican Facebook Page Called Disturbing
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Republican Party has parted ways with the contractor responsible for posting a racism flowchart on the party’s Facebook page.
The party and the contractor have apologized for the posting, which was online for less than 40 minutes Friday evening.
GOP Chairman A.J. Spiker says the party believes the posting was “in bad taste and inappropriate.”
The flowchart was titled, “Is someone a racist?” The posting included an explanation: “Because it’s Friday night and we don’t need serious political posts on Friday night, we are sharing this.”
Shane Vander Hart is president of 4:15 Communications, the contractor. He says the posting “didn’t reflect well on the party,” and he apologized for his “error in judgment.”
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Honduran Man Exported Eight Times
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – A 31-year-old man charged with entering the United States illegally has already been deported eight times.
Jose William Lopez-Martinez was charged by immigration officials and appeared in court in Cedar Rapids on Thursday.
Lopez-Martinez is being detained while this case moves forward. He was caught in September when Black Hawk county authorities arrested him on suspicion of drug charges.
Court records show that Lopez-Martinez has been removed from the country eight times between 2000 and 2012. He is a citizen of Honduras.
