Meis Assumes Duties Of County Supervisor
(Le Mars) — The newest director of the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors began his duties today. Judge Jeff Neary conducted the swearing in ceremonies of the oath of office for John Meis.
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Plymouth County Treasurer Shelly Sitzman also was sworn into office.
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The county Board of Supervisors re-elected Jim Henrich of Akron as its board chairman, and they re-elected Don Kass of Remsen as the vice chairman. The supervisors then assigned themselves to various committees pertaining to county business. Once the supervisors were able to initiate the formal agenda items that are required at the start of each year, the supervisors met with Todd Schuver of L.G. Everist Company of Sioux Falls. Discussion was focused on the transaction of business between Higman Sand and Gravel of Akron and the L.G. Everist Co. A number of years ago the county entered a long-term agreement with Higman Sand and Gravel to provide gravel, rock, sand, and other particulate material for the county to use. The supervisors wanted to make certain the original terms of the contract would still be applicable now that the L.G. Everist Company is proposing to purchase the Higman Sand and Gravel company. Schuver re-assured the supervisors that L.G. Everist would abide by the original terms of the contract between Plymouth County and Higman Sand and Gravel. However, Schuver indicated to the County governing board the agreed upon price in the contract is too low, compared to today’s cost of gravel. The supervisors did vote to approve the contract agreement between the county and L.G. Everist Company.
Former Lt. Governor Art Neu Dies
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa lawyer who served as a state senator and as lieutenant governor for much of the 1970s has died.
Jay Woodhouse, with Dahn & Woodhouse Funeral Homes in Carroll, says Arthur Neu died Friday at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines at age 81.
Neu, a Republican, was an Iowa senator from 1967 to 1972 and served as Gov. Robert Ray’s lieutenant governor from 1973 through 1979.
He served as mayor of Carroll, his hometown, from 1982 to 1985 and on various state boards.
Gov. Terry Branstad, who succeeded Neu as lieutenant governor after Neu chose not to seek re-election in 1978, says Iowa has lost a dedicated public servant who had a passion for his community.
Council Bluffs Fire Claims Life
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – One person has been killed and one injured in a Council Bluffs house fire.
The fire began a little after 7:15 a.m. Friday, and arriving firefighters found two people who already had escaped. Fire Chief Justin James says a disabled man was rescued from the main floor and taken to a hospital. Another person’s body was found in the basement.
The names of those involved haven’t been released.
James says the fire likely started in the basement. The cause is being investigated.
Groups Asking Supreme Court To Uphold Decision Regarding Sexual Misconduct
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Groups representing rape victims and college administrators are asking a court to uphold Iowa State’s decision to kick a basketball player off the team for alleged sexual misconduct.
The Victim Rights Law Center and Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education say the case of former Cyclone guard Bubu Palo has national significance.
Iowa State is asking the Iowa Supreme Court to reverse an August ruling that found there wasn’t evidence that Palo violated its sexual misconduct policy.
In a friend-of-the-court brief filed Monday, the national groups say the case could impact students and colleges in Iowa and across the country.
They say universities must be able to use internal disciplinary hearings to enforce stricter standards of sexual misconduct than criminal law allows.
Supreme Court Overturns Conviction Of Inmate Caught With Marijuana
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court is overturning the conviction of an inmate caught with marijuana while living at a halfway house.
The court ruled Friday that 49-year-old Curtis V. Halvorson will be acquitted of a charge of possession of contraband at a correctional facility.
Halvorson was convicted of the felony and sentenced to prison after officers found a partially smoked joint in his room at the Burlington Residential Correctional Facility.
Justice David Wiggins says the contraband law applies only to institutions controlled by the Department of Corrections and not halfway houses managed by local judicial districts. He says Halvorson’s attorney should have argued that point at trial.
The Iowa Department of Corrections says Halvorson is currently serving time at the Iowa State Penitentiary and is due out in July.
