Authorities Apprehend 16 Year Old After Schools Lockdown
(Sioux City) — Authorities have taken into custody the person of interest that was sought in the lockdown of four Siouxland high schools on Wednesday. Woodbury County Sheriff Dave Drew says 16 year old Matthew Maxwell of Moville was armed but surrendered without resistance when he was spotted in the rural Moville area Wednesday afternoon.
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Authorities were seeking Maxwell regarding alleged threats he made at Siouxland Community Christian School where he is a student, and that he had brought a gun to the school Monday and Tuesday. Drew says Maxwell’s parents had not heard from him since 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night. They began searching the Moville area Wednesday morning.
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Maxwell was a former Woodbury Central student and had ties to Lawton-Bronson. Kingsley-Pierson locked down their school because the search came near their school grounds. After Maxwell was apprehended, he was taken to Mercy Medical Center for an evaluation. The Woodbury County attorney is considering charges in the case.
Nominations Sought For Business Of The Year
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting nominations for “Business of the Year”. All Chamber Member businesses are eligible regardless of size or type. Recognition will be awarded based on one or more of the following criteria: community involvement, job creation, innovative practices, employee benefits, major expansion or overcoming an adversity. Businesses can self nominate or be nominated. Nomination forms are available at the Chamber Office, 50 Central Avenue SE. They must be filled out and returned no later than December 5th at 5:00 P.M. The award presentation will take place at the Chamber Annual Dinner on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at the Le Mars Convention Center, upper commons.
Chamber Wanting Nominations For “Citizen Of The Year”
(Le Mars) — Do you know someone who exemplifies dedication and service through personal involvement in the community? If so, nominate him/her for the Citizen of the Year. Nominations are being sought and accepted at the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce office. Letters of nomination must be submitted to the Chamber by 5:00 P.M., December 5th. Any information that would acquaint the committee with the nominee’s qualifications is confidential. The Citizen of the Year will be selected by a committee from the Chamber and will be based on the individual’s record of dedication and service to the community. The award will be presented during the Chamber Annual Dinner on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at the Le Mars Convention Center, upper commons.
LBIC Needs At-Large Board Member
(Le Mars) — The Board of Directors of the Le Mars Business Initiative Corporation is looking to fill an
at-large seat vacated by a retiring Board member. The LBIC Board is made up of four representatives of the City of Le Mars, four representatives of the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce and six at-large positions. All at-large positions are three year terms. Anyone interested in serving on the LBIC Board should provide a letter stating their interest in the position and their willingness to serve a three year term. The letter should be sent to: LBIC, 50 Central Ave. SE, Le Mars, IA, Attn: Neal Adler. All letters must be received by November 7th. The Board of Directors will hold an election at their December meeting to fill any open seats.
Holiday Dollars To Go On Sale On Saturday
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Chamber of Commerce wants to remind area residents that the Chamber Holiday Dollars will go on sale this coming Saturday, November 1st in the Lower Level of the Le Mars Convention Center. Beginning at 8:00 a.m. a total of $204,000 will be sold in three different categories. People can save up to 10 percent on the Fareway, Hy-Vee, and Wal-mart dollars, and a savings of 15 percent for the retail and restaurant categories. Holiday dollars will be sold in $100 increments. Cash or local checks will only be accepted, no debit or credit cards. A total of 16 retail businesses and 10 restaurant and/or fast food establishments are participating in the holiday dollar campaign.
Remsen-Union And Marcus-Merriden-Cleghorn School Boards Discuss Whole Grade Sharing
(Le Mars) — Earlier this week the Remsen-Union board of education held a special meeting with the school board of the Marcus-Merriden-Cleghorn school district to discuss possible scenerios for a whole grade sharing program involving the two schools. Jan Brandhorst serves as the superintendent for both school districts. He talks about the discussion that occurred Monday evening.
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He emphasized the two schools are considering whole grade sharing, and not a consolidation or merger.
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Brandhorst says the two school boards will meet again this evening to start the negotiations on forming a proposal for whole grade sharing. He says both school districts have witnessed declining enrollment, and that is the reason for the districts to explore the possibility of whole grade sharing. Although both Remsen-Union and Marcus-Merriden-Cleghorn have shared programs including some middle school sports activities, and high school summer sports, as well as a superintendent, and curriculm director, Brandhorst says there are some who have community pride and are opposed to whole grade sharing, but he believes the students will be the first accept the proposal.
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High Speed Chase Ends In Crash At Missouri River
MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa (AP) – A high-speed chase through western Iowa has ended with a crash into the Missouri River and a manhunt for one suspect who escaped the scene.
Pottawattamie County authorities say the chase began in Missouri Valley on Wednesday and involved officers from Iowa and Nebraska. They say the truck eventually drove into the river.
A man and a woman were taken into custody about 1 mile south of the crash. The man was hospitalized after complaining of chest pains. The woman was taken in for questioning. No charges have been reported.
Authorities say they are searching for a man who escaped the truck. It’s unclear who was driving the vehicle.
Tow trucks recovered the truck from the water.
Shenanndoah Man Charged With Murdering His Girlfriend
SHENANDOAH, Iowa (AP) – A southwest Iowa man has been charged with first-degree murder in the 2009 death of his girlfriend.
The state Department of Public Safety says 34-year-old Brian Davis of Shenandoah, Iowa was arrested Wednesday. He is being held at the Fremont County Jail on $1 million cash bond. Court records do not list an attorney.
Officials say witness interviews and crime scene evidence led to Davis’ arrest in connection to the July 2009 death of Holly Durben. She was found dead in a residence she shared with Davis. An autopsy determined she was shot in the head.
Drake University To Have A $65 Million Expansion Project
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Drake University says it is moving forward with a $65 million project that will include construction of two new buildings, renovation of four existing halls and the addition of new degree programs.
Pending approval of final plans, construction could start on the buildings including a school of education center as early as next summer. Completion is expected in two years.
The university, in an announcement Wednesday, says its board of trustees has approved plans to offer new bachelor degree programs in data analytics, kinesiology and secondary education in health, physical education, and coaching. Programs will begin the fall of 2015.
Starting in fall of 2016, the private university will offer master of science in athletic training, bachelor of science in pre-occupational therapy and doctor of occupational therapy degrees.
Iowa City Wants To Improve Downtown
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Architects and engineers have unveiled proposals to improve downtown Iowa City that could cost more than $10 million.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the plans were shown Tuesday inside of a hotel ballroom. During the open house, Iowa City residents and business community members studied the designs. The proposals include a performance stage, cabled lighting, enhanced greenery and public art work.
Assistant City Manager Geoff Fruin says the project’s design phase will continue through 2015. He says the project’s construction could start in 2016, but the City Council needs to approve the budget first.
Business owner Catherine Champion says she is “totally in love” with the designs. Former Iowa City Mayor Regenia Bailey also was excited about the planned update of downtown streets.
