Firefighters “Take The Plunge” For Cancer Victim
(Le Mars) — Two members of the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department took the plunge all for a charitable cause last evening. Firefighters Joe Morris and Ethan Mitchell jumped into a tank of water for Landon. Landon is a small child in Missouri who was diagnosed with cancer and his parents challenged people around the country to raise money and plunge for Landon. The Remsen Fire Department had challenged the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department to take the plunge. People were asked to donate between five and ten dollars to plunge. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department stepped up and the firefighters donated $100 from their own pockets to send to Missouri. Joe Morris and Ethan Mitchell were the two firefighters whose names were drawn to “Take the Plunge”. The two firefighters jumped into a portable tank of water used for rural fires. Fire chief Dave Schipper says the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department participated in this charitable event because everyone on the Fire and Rescue Department know someone who has dealt or is dealing with cancer. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department has now issued a challenge to the Orange City Fire Department to take the plunge.
Photo contributed
New Wastewater Treatment Plant Ready To Begin Operations
(Le Mars) — Original plans for the new Le Mars Wastewater treatment plant called for the new facility to be in operation by April 1st. However, some unforeseen construction problems caused some delays to the plant’s operation. Ron Kaiser, superintendent for the Le Mars Wastewater Treatment Services believes the new plant may soon start operations.
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Kaiser says a major delay for the new wastewater treatment facility was when construction crews ran into problems while trying to bore underneath the highway and Floyd River.
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The wastewater superintendent says once the new plant is ready for operation,it will be brought online gradually.
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Kaiser says the new wastewater treatment facility was constucted because of production expansion for Wells, Deans Foods, and other Le Mars industries. He says the current facility is at full capacity.
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When operating at full capacity the new $19 million wastewater plant will be able to treat 500 thousand gallons of wastewater per day. Le Mars intends to use both its old and new treatment plants.
DNR To Hold Hearings Regarding Livestock Facilities And Manure Spills
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – While Iowa environmental regulators hold public hearings on a new proposed rule designed to improve water quality through better enforcement of livestock farms, significant manure spills are occurring and highlighting problems the state faces managing a growing livestock industry.
It’s a difficult balance Iowa must find between encouraging livestock production that generates billions of dollars a year in sales and handling the waste generating by 60 million chickens, 20 million pigs, and 4 million head of cattle.
The DNR is holding six hearings around the state over the next week on its proposed rule environmental groups and others say is too weak.
The group Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement says the rule should require livestock farms to obtain clean water permits to provide regulators leverage to halt frequent manure spills.
Appeals Board Rejects Juvenile’s Claim
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The State Appeal Board has rejected a $500,000 claim filed by a former resident of the Iowa Juvenile Home.
Nineteen-year-old Jessica Turner, of Okoboji, said the state violated her constitutional rights by inflicting cruel and unusual punishment and denying her due process. She says she spent nine months in isolation at the now-closed home.
The juvenile home came under intense criticism after The Des Moines Register published a series of stories beginning last summer about questionable treatment of teenagers, including use of isolation cells and a lack of educational opportunities. The home was closed in January by order of Gov. Terry Branstad.
Turner so far is the only former resident to pursue a claim over the home’s use of long-term isolation cells.
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Authorities Want To Seize Homes Purchased With Synthetic Drug Money
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Federal authorities are trying to seize four homes in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids that they say were purchased with money from the sale of illegal synthetic drugs.
A civil forfeiture complaint filed Wednesday alleges the homes are linked to a couple who owns Puff N’ Stuff II, a tobacco shop in Cedar Rapids.
An affidavit filed by a special agent with the IRS alleges three homes in Des Moines and one in Cedar Rapids were purchased with proceeds from $1.3 million in sales of synthetic drugs, the man-made designer drugs that can cause harmful reactions.
The affidavit says the couple has not been charged criminally, but remains under investigation. Federal agents raided their store in July 2013, but it has remained open.
Marshalltown Teen Charged With Sexual Assault
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa teenager faces felony charges for allegedly committing a sexual assault while impersonating a police officer.
The 17-year-old male faces felony charges of third-degree sexual abuse and first-degree burglary in criminal court. He faces others charges, including a simple misdemeanor of third-degree harassment, in juvenile court. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A judge recently denied a motion to transfer all charges to juvenile court. The Associated Press generally does not name juveniles accused of crimes.
The teen is accused of entering a Marshalltown home in March and claiming to be a police officer. Authorities say he conducted physical searches of several people, both male and female. A male victim says the teen stripped him naked and sexually assaulted him.
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Iowa City Man Uses Pocket Knife To Injure Man Found In Bed With Estranged Wife
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa City man has been accused of using a pocket knife to slash another man after finding him in bed with his estranged wife.
Iowa City police say 24-year-old Austin Boe Chadderdon faces a felony charge of willful injury causing bodily injury. Court records do not list an attorney.
Police say Chadderdon knocked on the door of his wife’s apartment early Tuesday. He was let in, and soon found a man in his wife’s bed.
Chadderdon is accused of hitting the man twice in the head before using a pocket knife to cut him on his left forearm and left upper arm. The man was treated at a nearby hospital and released.
Chadderdon was detained briefly at the Johnson County Jail.
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