Supervisors Hope To Finish Budget With Today’s Meeting
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors hope to finish the county’s budget during today’s session. The supervisors will review and possibly approve the semi annual settlement of funds from July of 2014 to December of 2014. The supervisors will also review and approve the 2014 Plymouth County Weed Commission annual report to the state. The supervisors will meet with County Engineer Tom Rohe as he discusses a road vacation petition. The supervisors will adopt a resolution and set a notice for a public hearing. The road in question is on Otter Avenue. The supervisors will also consider removing a stop sign at the intersection of 220th Street and Pioneer Avenue.
City Council To Hold Budget Workshop Session
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council will hold a special meeting this afternoon at the council chambers as they visit with each city department to determine the city’s budget for the next fiscal year. The budget workshop meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m.
Soderberg And Anderson To Hold Legislative Forums In Plymouth County Towns
(Des Moines) — State Representative Chuck Soderberg and State Senator Bill Anderson will host a series of legislative forums in Plymouth County scheduled for Saturday, Janaury 31st. The two lawmakers will begin their legislative forums in Kingsley at the Kingsley Community Center starting at 8:30 a.m. The second forum is scheduled for the Remsen Library to begin at 9:45 a.m. and the last legislative forum will take place in Akron at Akron Jo’s starting at 11:15 a.m. The lawmakers will be discussing various issues concerning the 2015 Iowa Legislative Session. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the meetings and address any issues that are of concern.
E-911 County Board Scheduled To Meet On Wednesday
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County E-911 Board is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, January 28th at 7:00 p.m. at the County courthouse. The board will elect new officers, review state paper requirements, and discuss new projects, including the new 911 answering equipment.
Bomgaars Purchases Former Alco Buildings
(Sioux City) — The Bomgaars retail chain has announced the purchase of the leases and fixtures of twelve former ALCO stores in four states. Eight of the locations are in new cities for the Sioux City based farm and ranch supply chain with four in Wyoming, two in Idaho, one in Chamberlain, South Dakota, and one in Imperial, Nebraska.
The other four stores are in Nebraska where Bomgaars will relocate their existing Bomgaars store into a larger former ALCO building at West Point, Ainsworth, Ogallala and Gordon. Bomgaars will take possession of the stores in February and hold grand opening celebrations in May or June. Alco declared bankruptcy in October 2014 and is in the process of liquidating its entire inventory.
Bomgaars operates 69 stores currently in the tri-state area and Minnesota, Colorado and Wyoming.
Buena Vista Authorities Investigate Two Assault Cases
(Storm Lake) — Buena Vista County authorities are investigating two separate assault cases that occured over the weekend. The first case was reported at about 9:30 Friday evening. The sheriff’s office received a report of a female out of control and assaulting two other people. 24 year old Julie Cranston of rural Rembrandt was assaulting a male and a female at a rural residence. When deputies responded to the scene, they arrested Cranston and transported her to the Buena Vista County jail. Cranston has been charged with assault while displaying a deadly weapon, and aggravated misdemeanor, domestic abuse assault using a weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor, child endangerment, an aggravated misdemeanor, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor. Also arrested during the incident was 22 year old Alexander Blakeley of Albert City. Blakely was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, simple misdemeanor. Blakely and Cranston were booked into the Buena Vista County jail. No injuries were reported during the investigation.
(Storm Lake) — The second assault incident happened Early Saturday morning at about 5:00 a.m. the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Department received a report of an assault that had taken place in Alta. The suspect in the case had fled the scene, and the victim, 24 year old Matthew Drew of Alta had been transported to the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center by a private vehicle for treatment of his injuries. The suspect, Michael Drew, age 25, of Brookings, South Dakota had left the area and deputies were not able to locate him. The victim, Matthew Drew was subsequently transported to the Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City for further treatment of his injuries. A physical fight had occurred at the Alta residence. Michael Drew has been charged with willful injury, a class C felony. Michael Drew turned himself into the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s office in on Saturday afternoon. Buena Vista County authorities did say the victim and the subject charged are related, but they didn’t elaborate about the relationship.
Governor Branstad Cancels Tuesday’s Appointments – Remains In Hospital
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad remains in a Des Moines hospital, where he is receiving treatment for what doctors believe is a viral illness and dehydration.
Branstad spokesman Jimmy Centers didn’t provide a condition update Tuesday morning, but said more information about the governor’s status will be released when it becomes available. Branstad’s public appearances for the day have been canceled.
Branstad was taken by ambulance to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines on Monday after he required assistance at a ribbon-cutting event.
Doctors said they believed the governor has a viral illness. The hospital conducted tests and ruled out other contributing factors, including cardiac issues for which he’s been previously treated.
Legislators Concerned With Regents Funding Formula
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers expressed concern about a proposed performance-based funding model for the state’s three public universities.
Board of Regents President Bruce Rastetter spoke to the House appropriations committee Monday about the funding model, which regents approved last year. It bases 60 percent of funding allocation for the schools on the enrollment of in-state students.
Rastetter says the model would help balance funding allocations between Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa. But lawmakers on the committee questioned the model’s potentially negative impact on private colleges and community colleges competing for in-state students.
Rastetter says the current funding model is dated and not sustainable.
Legislative lawmakers must approve Gov. Terry Branstad’s budget proposal for the funding model to be applied.
Fort Dodge Police Officer Honored For Saving A Life
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – A north central Iowa police officer is being hailed as a hero after saving an 18-month-old boy from choking to death last month.
The Fort Dodge Messenger (https://bit.ly/15GQOY2 ) reports patrol officer Cody Harris became the first recipient of the Fort Dodge Police Department Lifesaving Medal on Monday night. Mayor Matt Bemrich also proclaimed Monday to be Cody Harris Recognition Day.
Authorities say Harris responded to a report of a boy choking at restaurant at a shopping center on Dec. 8. They say Harris arrived before emergency medical responders and was able to clear the boy’s airway so he could breathe again.
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