Le Mars Man Charged With Obtaining Prescription Drugs Using False Name
(Le Mars)– The LeMars Police Department recived a complaint from Floyd Valley Hospital on June 3rd of a male using a fake name in an attempt to obtain prescription medication. Also, a month ago, on May 3rd the police recived a complaint from Family Pharmacy because a male obtained prescription drugs using a fake name. On Wednesday, 29 year old Kevin Rauch, of LeMars, was arrested for both offenses. Rauch was charged with three counts of prohibited acts for attempting to obtain and obtaining prescription drugs using a false name. All three counts are class C felonies. He was also charged with 5th degree theft which is a simple misdemeanor. Rauch is currently being held at the Plymouth County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
More Than 1000 People Apply For Hard Rock Casino Jobs
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Officials at a Sioux City casino estimate that more than 1,000 people applied for jobs at the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino during the first day of a job fair.
The job fair began Wednesday and was continuing Thursday as the casino moves to hire more than 500 people before the $128.5 million operation opens Aug. 1.
Hard Rock human resources director Pat Lund says the number of job seekers exceeded their expectations.
No one will be hired during the job fair, which was designed to let candidates learn about the company, see what jobs are available and meet supervisors.
Lund says top prospects from the event will be invited back for interviews.
Most of those hired will start work in mid-July.
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Pork Producers Talk About PEDV At World Pork Expo
(Des Moines) — Pork producers from around the world have gathered in Des Moines this week for the World Pork Expo, and the topic of conversation has been porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. The virus was first detected in the U-s about a year ago, but has spread quickly. Dr. Philip Gauger, a veterinarian diagnostician from Iowa State University spoke at the pork conference and explains how the virus has affected the pork industry.
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The disease only strikes pigs, and it doesn’t transfer to other animal species, or even to humans. But Gauger says the swine virus has hit the pork industry hard, killing about ten percent of the nation’s hog herds.
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With the loss of ten percent of the nation’s swine herds, it obviously will affect the pork prices. Steve Meyer of Paragon Economics serves as a consultant for the National Pork Producers Council.
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But the agricultural economist says if prices go up for the producer, it also means prices will increase at the meat counter for the consumer.
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Meyer says the higher pork prices may prompt consumers to choose an alternative meat source during the summer months.
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U-S Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack appeared at the World Pork Expo to announce the USDA is asking pork producers to report if their operation has been infected with the PED virus. Vilsack also announced the USDA will devote $26 million to research in hopes of finding a vaccine for the virus. Bill Tentinger is a pork producer from Le Mars and a past president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. He listened to Vilsack’s announcement, but says he was somewhat disappointed.
Listen to
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The World Pork Expo concludes on Friday.
Iowa State President Leath To Get Salary Raise
AMES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State University President Steven Leath is getting a $33,000 raise and a new five-year contract.
The Board of Regents voted Thursday to boost Leath’s pay by 7.1 percent to $500,000 after conducting a performance evaluation in closed session.
The board also approved a new five-year employment contract that makes Leath eligible for tenure and allows him to collect $625,000 in deferred compensation if he stays until 2019.
The move is a show of confidence in Leath, who has led the university since 2012. Board President Bruce Rastetter said Leath has improved the university’s reputation nationally and managed its enrollment growth.
The board approved 2.5 percent increases for University of Iowa President Sally Mason and University of Northern Iowa President Bill Ruud, and continued their existing deferred compensation plans.
Iowa And Nebraska Veterans Affairs Offices Await Word From Investigation
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Some patients at Veterans Affairs medical centers in Iowa and Nebraska are on waiting lists for treatment, but the facilities say they’re unaware of any unauthorized lists like those uncovered in other states.
A regional VA spokeswoman said Thursday that Iowa and Nebraska facilities were included in a federal investigation of specific sites. Spokeswoman Sharyl Schaepe says the hospitals don’t expect to find problems, but they haven’t been told what the review found.
Reports from U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s office say the VA Central Iowa Health Care System had 52 patients on its official waiting list as of May 1. The Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System listed 156 patients. The Iowa City VA Health Care System had 27 patients, while the Sioux Falls VA Health Care System listed 100.
State Park Delays Opening Due To Storm Damage
MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resource says storm damage will delay the reopening of a western Iowa recreation area.
The DNR announced Thursday that the Wilson Island State Recreation Area won’t reopen until mid-summer because of severe storms that hit the northwest Pottawattamie County park Tuesday. The storm included baseball-sized hail, high winds and 4 inches of rain.
Damage included 11 broken windows in the park office, which also had damage to its siding and roof. About 30 cottonwood trees also were uprooted.
The park has been closed since flooding in 2011 caused extensive damage.
