Le Mars Water Department Working On Water Main Break
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Water Department is working on a water main break in the 2nd street and 7th Avenue Southeast region of town. Residents in that area may see their water shut off for today while crews continue to make repairs.
Fire Department Called To Clean Up Accident Debris
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a two-vehicle accident that occured last evening shortly after 9:00 p.m. The accident happened at the intersection of 1st street and 5th Avenue Northeast. Fortunately, there were no injuries with that collision.
Supervisors Cancel Weekly Meeting
(Le Mars) — Due to a lack of agenda items, the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will not be holding its weekly board meeting today. The supervisors will convene next Tuesday at the County Courthouse Board room, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Floyd Valley Trustees To Meet Tuesday Evening
(Le Mars) — The Floyd Valley Hospital Board of Trustees are scheduled to have their monthly meeting this evening starting at 6:00 p.m. at the hospital board room. The trustees will be given a medical staff report from Dr. Sheila Holcomb, a financial report will be delivered by Daryl Friedenbach, and hospital trustee Larry Peterson will review with the other trustees a quality improvement board quarterly report. Hospital administrator Mike Donlin will brief the trustees on a general update, as well as an update regarding the north addition expansion project. The trustees will review and possibly approve the corporate compliance annual report, and capital acquisitions.
Three Arrested On Marijuana Charges
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department have arrested three individuals for the possession of marijuana and drug paraphanalia. The arrests occurred on Friday afternoon after a search warrant was issued. Officers went to 327 3rd Avenue Southeast on an unrelated matter and detected a strong odor of burnt marijiuna. Officers found marijuana, drug parahanelia and a small scale at the residence. Arrested were 29 year old MaKayla Trejo, and 21 year old Daniel Costa both of Le Mars. Also placed under arrest was 22 year old Elijah Betterton of Brighton, Colorado. All three were arrested for the possession of marijiuana. Costa and Trejo were also charged with possession of drug paraphanalia. The three were taken to the Plymouth County jail.
Le Mars Communiity And Gehlen Catholic Qualify For Television’s Quiz Bowl Competition
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community High School Quiz Bowl team will compete against Alta-Aurelia on television. The match up of wits will happen Sunday, February 16 at 11:00 a.m. on KCAU-TV channel 9. Quiz Bowl cordinator, Jeanne Rust says the team comprises of four seniors. They include : A.J. Schroeder, Jarod Ernst, Colin Meade and Joel Haden. Alternates include Jack Becker and Andrew Koele. The Le Mars High School Quiz Bowl team earned the right to compete in the televised portion by placing in the top 16 teams at an earlier qualifying tournament at Morningside College. The Le Mars team is seeded 4th in the KCAU televised portion. Gehlen Catholic has also qualified to participate in the televised Quiz Bowl. Gehlen was able to advance to the quarter finals round by defeating Boyer Valley and Unity Christian. The Quiz Bowl members representing Gehlen Catholic include David Puhl, Alexis Madsen, Leah Ellensohn, Nathan Klein, Jozef Lamfers and Greg Langel. Other members include : Dong Min Kim, Andrew Kordick, TK Kruse and Liam Murphy.
Iowa High School Seniors Score Low On Advance Placement Exams
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A new report says that Iowa’s high school seniors are lagging behind students in other states when it comes to scoring well on Advanced Placement exams.
According to a College Board report released Tuesday, 11 percent of Iowa’s high school seniors scored a 3 or higher on an AP exam in 2013. These exams offer a way to earn college credit while still in high school and a 3 is the grade many colleges and universities require for credit.
On average nationally, 20 percent of seniors scored a 3 or higher an AP exam last year.
The governor’s special assistant for education, Linda Fandel, says one reason for the low performance may be that many Iowa high school students opt to take community college courses to earn college credits.
Regents To Hire Consultant Firm To Find Cost Saving Measures
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Board of Regents is expected to hire a consultant to conduct a wide-ranging review of the state’s three public universities to look for ways to cut costs.
The regents will meet by telephone Tuesday to hire a management consultant for the review, which is expected to scrutinize everything from academic programs to student services.
The regents sought proposals for the work in December, and responses were due last month.
The RFP says the board is looking for a consultant to “build a business case for cost savings” by looking at staffing levels, performance, organization and operations. The consultant is expected to recommend savings that can be found through “changes in the delivery model, business processes, policies” and technology.
Legislators Want Law Enforcement To Have Stun Gun Training
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa law enforcement officers would be required to complete standardized training before being outfitted with stun guns under a bill approved by a legislative panel.
A three-member subcommittee unanimously approved the bill Monday, and the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to take up the proposal Tuesday.
The state doesn’t now have standardized training for stun guns. The bill would order the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to establish rules for using the devices and to design a safety course that addresses when it’s appropriate to use stun guns.
Officers would need to complete training before using the weapons.
Democratic Sen. Thomas Courtney, the subcommittee chairman, says such training would ensure all law enforcement officers are on the same page.
Agencies now rely on manufacturers for limited training.
Woman Accused Of Kidnapping Infant Placed In Isolated Jail Cell
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa sheriff says he’s jailing a woman suspected of kidnapping a baby apart from the general population for safety reasons.
Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington said Monday that 31-year-old Kristen R. Smith of Denver is in her own cell at the county jail in Tipton, Iowa.
He says he didn’t feel comfortable holding Smith with other female inmates who had seen media coverage of the allegations against her.
Smith was charged with kidnapping Friday after the police chief in West Branch, Iowa discovered missing Wisconsin newborn Kayden Powell, alive and well despite being in freezing temperatures for up to 29 hours.
The FBI alleges Smith took the boy from her half-sister’s home and left him in a plastic crate outside a gas station before she was arrested Thursday.
Inmate Fails To Report Following Work Release
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – Officials are looking for an inmate who failed to return to a work release facility in Fort Dodge.
Department of Corrections spokesman Fred Scaletta said in a news release Monday that 23-year-old Jesse Dylan Carlson was placed on escape status Friday. Additional information was not released.
Carlson was transferred to work release from parole supervision at the end of January. He is serving a five-year sentence for a conviction of interference with official acts causing serious injury.
Officials say Carlson has tattoos on his right calf, right forearm, right hand and neck.
Des Moines Man Tied To Pole
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officers say a man tied to a pole inside a Des Moines apartment had a number and letter scratched into his chest.
A neighbor had heard screams on Sunday night. Officers broke in through a door and found the 24-year-old man lashed to a pole separating the kitchen from the living room.
The man told officers that two men forced their way in that night after he responded to their knock on his door. He says they threatened him with a knife, tied him to the pole and then used a dental pick to scratch a “5” and an “M” into his chest. He says they eventually took his keys and left.
The man told officers that he didn’t know either of his attackers.
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