Sioux City Police Officer Shot
(Sioux City) — A manhunt for a suspect who shot a Sioux City police officer started late Friday afternoon, and continued for several hours, before finally capturing the suspect. Sioux City Police Chief Doug Young says officers were dispatched to 1623 West 3rd Street shortly after 5:00 p.m. regarding a disturbance involving a suicidal person.
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The suspect then fled the scene and Chief Young says he is considered armed and dangerous.
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Ironshell was barefoot when he fled the shooting. Police and personnel from several other law enforcement agencies searched house to house through a wide area of the westside. Ironshell was found a few hours later in the basement of an abandoned home in the 1500 block of West 3rd Street. He had shot himself in the head and was taken to Mercy Medical Center. A condition report was not immediately available on Ironshell. Officer Jill Ohm is also hospitalized at Mercy Medical Center and is listed in stable condition. Ohm is a native of Le Mars.
Young says police are not looking for any other suspects in the case.
Ernst Visits Le Mars
(Le Mars) — Republican Senate candidate Joni Ernst made a campaign stop in Le Mars on Friday as part of her 99-county tour prior to the election. Ernst, who hails from Red Oak, Iowa, met with about 40 Plymouth County residents at the Pizza Ranch restaurant during the lunch hour. Ernst told the gathering there are a number of differences between her and her opponet, Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley.
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Ernst addressed the mid-east situation and spoke of the need to fight terrorism overseas.
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The Republican Senate Candidate also addressed the barage of political advertising, and how she intends to get her message to the people.
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Clovis Returns To Plymouth County
(Le Mars) — In addition to Joni Ernst visiting Le Mars on Friday, Plymouth County’s own Sam Clovis met with supporters at the Pizza Ranch restaurant. Clovis is from Hinton and is the Republican candidate seeking the position of state treasurer. clovis says he was asked to run for the treasurer’s position by Republican party leaders. He says he has found many people simply don’t know what the duties are of the state treasurer. Clovis spelled out his goals for the office.
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Argosy Casino Boat Sold
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The owner of the former Argosy floating casino in Sioux City has sold the three-deck boat and two barges.
Mike’s Incorporated, an Illinois company, says it purchased the vessels, but didn’t disclose how much it paid for them. The structures are expected to be moved downstream next week.
The riverboat casino closed in July after the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission ordered it to cease operations.
The commission said it wasn’t partnered with a state-licensed local nonprofit group as required by Iowa law. The casino’s parent company fought the order, but the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that it needed to close.
Freeze May Hurt Crops From Maturing
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Friday night’s freeze could stop the growing season in the upper Midwest as far south as Nebraska and Iowa, leaving farmers in a difficult situation because much of the region’s corn and soybean fields are not quite ready for harvest.
The area of most concern includes Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, where just 40 percent to 50 percent of the corn crop is mature, but a U.S. Department of Agriculture meteorologist says a freeze could reach as far south as Iowa and Nebraska. A hard freeze would stop growth, leaving the crop underdeveloped and lower in quality.
In some areas of Iowa and Nebraska corn and soybeans were planted weeks later than normal due to spring storms. Agronomists say fields need more time to dry before they’re harvested.
Des Moines YMCA Denied Historical Landmark Status
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A zoning board has denied a request to grant landmark status to a 57-year-old YMCA building in downtown Des Moines. That means the highly visible riverfront structure could be demolished.
Former city councilman Jack Porter made the request for the landmark designation, saying that the building is a part of the city’s history.
His request was opposed by local developers and city planners. A real estate group handling the building’s sale says it’s recently been listed at $5.5 million. The group says a potential buyer is negotiating a purchase and that the process could take another six months if the building is given a landmark designation.
City Planner Eric Lundy says landmark status would limit the site’s potential.
