Plymouth County Supervisors To Get Wellness Update
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors are scheduled to meet this morning. The supervisors will hear an update on the county wellness program from Jessica Trobough. Trobough will inform the county governing board about the 2015 ISAC Wellness plan for Plymouth County. The board will hear a budget request from Dick Sieveres from Mid-Sioux Opportunities of Remsen. The County Board of Supervisors will also hear a report from John Koley and Larry Petersen from the Plymouth County Compensation Board. As we mentioned yesterday, the Compensation Board is recommending the supervisors consider offering county elected officials a three percent increase in salary, and they believe the county supervisors should get a two and a half percent increase.
Langel Addresses Business Builder Seminar
(Le Mars) — During the Business Builder session held Monday, Le Mars City Administrator Scott Langel explained to the group of two dozen community business leaders the various city departments and functions. Langel showed a graph indicating the number of new houses that have been built since the mid-1990’s. Langel says it is important for Le Mars to keep growing in order to receive grants.
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Le Mars has had between 20 and 23 new homes built each year for the past few years. However, there was a time, a couple of decades back, when Le Mars saw more than 40 new homes being built in a year. That growth was at the same time Le Mars saw the expansion of Wells Blue Bunny, and the introduction of Bo-Deans, and IMF Containers of Iowa. All major employers in Le Mars. Langel explains what the city is doing to encourage additional homes to be built in the “Ice Cream Capital of the World”.
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Langel was asked if in order to see the growth of 40 plus homes to be built in Le Mars, if the city would need to see another major expansion by an existing industry, or if another industry would need to settle in Le Mars?
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Investigators Looking To See Why Cattle Died
(Sioux City) — Woodbury County authorities are investigating the mysterious death of 17 head of cattle over the weekend. Lt. Charles Hertz of the Woodbury County Sheriff’s office says the cattle were discovered near a creek by Lawton around 1:30 p.m. Saturday
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Lt. Hertz says it’s unknown at this time why the animals died, while others were unharmed. There were no marks on any of the animals and field autopsy found no signs of trauma.
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Other stat and county agencies are also assisting in the investigation.
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Lt. Hertz says there is no evidence of criminal activity in the case and the investigation is ongoing.
Sioux City Police Investigate Disdurbance Call
(Sioux City) — Sioux City Police are investigating a report of disturbance involving a gun. On Monday evening at about 8:40 p.m. Police were called to the residence of 1110 12th street. Officers determined that three subjects came to the residence, displayed a pistol, and demanded that the occupantsgive them drugs. The suspects were over powered by occupants in the house and two suspects managed to flee the house while one of the suspects was detained at the scene. Officers were able to locate one of the suspects a few blocks away. Police have charged 19 year old Davontae Morre of Sioux City, and a 17 year old male, also of Sioux city with Burglary in the first degree, a class B felony, and going armed with intent, a class D felony. A third 17 year old suspect was identified, but is still at large at this time. The firearm used in the incident was recovered at the scene. None of the occupants were injured in this matter, and the arrested parties were treated for minopr injuries. Police are still investigating the incident.
Des Moines Officials Postpone Plans For Ride Share Program
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines officials have postponed plans for a new city ordinance aimed at regulating the ridesharing service Uber.
The City Council on Monday pushed back a vote to January that would spell out how Uber should conduct business in Des Moines. Council members said they wanted more time to research the issue.
Uber launched in Des Moines in September, despite warnings from officials that the company was violating city ordinances.
City officials have discussed a set of rules for Uber that would be similar to those imposed on taxi and limousine companies. But Uber officials have called the proposed ordinance restrictive. They include requiring Uber drivers to receive a certain chauffeur license.
Branstad Appoints Gregg To Be Public Defender
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has appointed a former aide to serve as Iowa State Public Defender.
Branstad announced Monday that Adam Gregg would take over the office, which coordinates legal representation for those that cannot afford it. The previous public defender is moving to another state job.
Branstad said in a news release that Gregg will “work to represent and defend individuals who otherwise couldn’t afford legal representation.”
Gregg most recently ran as the Republican candidate for attorney general, losing to incumbent Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller in November. Before that, he served as a legislative liaison for Branstad. He is a graduate of Drake University Law School.
Branstad Making Inauguration Plans
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad will be sworn in for a sixth term on January 16.
Branstad announced plans for his inauguration Monday. The inauguration will be held at 9 a.m. at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center Ballroom in Des Moines. The inaugural ball will be held that night at the same location.
Tickets for both events are available to the public. The inauguration is free, but the ball costs $75 a ticket. The net proceeds will go to a scholarship fund.
Central Iowa businessman Bill Knapp and former cable television executive Jim Cownie are chairing the inaugural committee. Both contributed to Branstad’s campaign.
Man Dies From ATV Rollover
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The state Department of Natural Resources says a man has died while hunting in a state forest in southeast Iowa.
The DNR says the man was deer hunting Monday afternoon in Stephens State Forest, northwest of Unionville in Appanoose County, when the all-terrain vehicle he was driving rolled on top of him. He had been trying to maneuver over a downed log.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene. He was described as an elderly hunter, but neither his name nor his age were released pending notification of relatives.
The DNR says he had a permit to operate the ATV in the state forest.
Oskaloosa Couple Charged With Child Abuse
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say an Oskaloosa man and woman were arrested after their 13-day-old child suffered fractures to both legs.
Court records show 25-year-old Michael Rowley is charged with child endangerment causing serious injury and 27-year-old Amber Puckett is charged with child neglect. Mahaska County Jail records show both remained in custody on Tuesday. Online court records don’t list the names of their attorneys.
A court affidavit says Oskaloosa police were contacted on Dec. 2 after the child was taken to a Pella hospital. An officer’s affidavit says Puckett had been drinking on Dec. 1 so she left the child in Rowley’s care. The affidavit says Rowley told the officer about becoming angry while changing the crying infant’s diaper and grabbing the child by the legs and twisting and jerking them.
U of I Student Reports Sexual Abuse
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The University of Iowa says a student has reported a sexual assault on campus.
The school says police received a report on Saturday about an incident at a residence hall on Friday. A female student says an unknown person sexually assaulted her.
Additional details were not available. The school released the information in accordance with a federal disclosure law.
Cosby’s Show In Des Moines Cancelled
LOS ANGELES (AP) – An Iowa venue says a Bill Cosby performance scheduled for next year has been postponed indefinitely.
The Des Moines Civic Center said Monday it notified ticketholders that they will receive a refund for the planned March 7 concert.
Cosby stage shows have been canceled in several other states. The actions follow renewed allegations by women claiming decades-old sexual assaults by the 77-year-old comedian.
Cosby has denied the allegations.
Last week, Los Angeles police opened an investigation into a woman’s claims that Cosby molested her in 1974, when she was 15 years old. The woman, Judy Huth, is suing Cosby for sexual battery.
Cosby has never been charged with a crime and settled the only other sexual assault case against him. That case was filed by Andrea Constand, a former worker at Temple University in Philadelphia.
