Final Day For Tractor Ride
(Le Mars) — The tractors will again be rolling this morning. It’s the second and final day of the 16th annual KICD radio tractor ride. This time the route will take them on county road C-38 heading east, then north to Remsen and Granville, and back through Oyens before finishing at the Plymouth County Fair grounds.
Remsen Demolition Derby
(Remsen) — The folks at Remsen are getting prepared for the 38th annual Remsen Demolition Derby scheduled for tonight. The annual event is being sponsored by the Remsen Community Action Club. Gates are to open at 5:30 p.m. with the derby to start at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $8 with those under five years of age to get in for free. The demolition derby will be held two and a half blocks north of Highway 3 on Marion Street behind the Mid-Sioux Opportunity building. The derby will be selling those famous Majer burgers along with refreshments. No coolers are allowed at the derby.
Le Mars To Host Western Iowa Tourism Association
(Le Mars) — Ice Cream Days are scheduled to begin in Le Mars on Wednesday, which will obviously bring many tourists to the “Ice Cream Capital of the World”. But just prior to the start of the festive event, Le Mars will be hosting the Western Iowa Tourism Association’s annual conference. Le Mars’ Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Jessica Brownmiller serves as the president of the organization. She says the purpose for the organization is to encourage people to discover many communities.
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Brownmiller says as an example would be when people from out of town come to visit Le Mars for Ice Cream Days, they could also learn of information about Orange City, and visit that community as well. She says the event scheduled for Le Mars will serve as the annual conference for the Western Iowa Tourism Association.
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Brownmiller says tourism plays a big part of community economic development.
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Shooting Incident At Coralville Mall
CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities are investigating a shooting at a popular Iowa mall that left at least one person injured.
Witnesses say they heard gunshots inside the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville after 7 p.m. Friday.
A spokesman for University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City says one shooting victim was taken there.
A spokesman for Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad says a suspect is in custody and the public is not believed to be in further danger.
The mall is along a busy stretch of Interstate 80 in Coralville, a community of about 19,000 people in eastern Iowa. It’s the second-largest mall in Iowa.
Police from several local agencies were on the scene. Some shoppers and workers were evacuated. Others remained on lockdown for more than an hour.
Department Of Public Safety Says Investigation Of Hand Gun Purchases Is OK
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Public Safety says internal investigations into the purchase of hundreds of handguns that were later returned has found agency employees did nothing wrong.
In a Friday afternoon news release, the department announced the results of its internal investigation and said officials would make no further comment at this time.
The investigation began in April after officials told employees to turn in nearly 800 newly issued Smith & Wesson handguns after some officers raised concerns about their functionality. The department didn’t specify the handgun problems. Three officials were placed on paid administrative leave during the inquiry.
On Friday, the department said no “illegal or improper activities” occurred in purchasing the guns and no department policies were violated. The department says the employees have returned to work.
Ag Officials Worry About Another Round Of Bird Flu During Autumn
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – No new bird flu cases have been reported in nearly a week on commercial farms in Minnesota and Iowa.
That has farmers, scientists and government officials hopeful the worst outbreak of bird flu in the U.S. is winding down, though they know it doesn’t mean the outbreak is over.
Farmers are finishing the disposal of turkey and chicken carcasses, disinfecting the barns and preparing to restock with new birds.
And scientists trying to develop an effective vaccine, determine how the H5N2 virus evaded biosecurity measures and to establish what can be done to prevent a repeat.
The first turkey barn that was infected in Minnesota is restocking, and Iowa officials say they hope to begin to do the same in several weeks.
Jeb Bush To Visit Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Jeb Bush is adding another Iowa event to his presidential announcement tour next week.
The former Florida governor will appear at a backyard event in Washington, Iowa, on Wednesday morning. Spokeswoman Allie Brandenburger says Bush will talk about his “plans to put people in towns like Washington, Iowa, before those in Washington, DC.”
Bush is expected to announce his 2016 candidacy Monday and will head to New Hampshire before coming out to Iowa. He was already scheduled to appear in Pella later in the day on Wednesday.
Iowa’s presidential caucuses are expected to be the first contest of the 2016 nominating campaign in February, followed by the New Hampshire primary.
Chris Christie To Speak In Iowa
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is facing new pressures in Iowa, a state that already views him as too moderate for socially conservative caucus voters.
Many of Christie’s competitors for the Republican presidential nomination were in the state last weekend, for Senator Joni Ernst’s “roast and ride” to Boone.
Christie, however, was not among them. He returned to Iowa for the first time in three months this week.
It’s not clear anyone had missed him, but that doesn’t seem to worry Christie.
The governor says he plans to spend significant time in Iowa if he runs. He says he’ll make a decision later this month.
Former Legislative Clerk Indicted
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former Iowa legislative clerk has been indicted on suspicion of bringing white powder to the state Capitol in 2012, a move that halted floor debate and forced a building lockdown.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas Klinefeldt says Michael Dekota McRae was indicted on a charge of false information and hoaxes. He was arraigned Friday and released. Court records show he has pleaded not guilty.
McRae doesn’t have a public phone listing, and a message left for his attorney seeking a comment wasn’t immediately returned.
McRae is accused of writing a threatening letter and placing it in an envelope that was later opened near the desk of Democratic Representative Ako Abdul-Samad. The envelope contained white powder.
House debate was halted and the Capitol was closed. Tests determined the powder was harmless.
Burnt Body Found In Missouri Believed To Be Father Of Amber Alert Child
BETHANY, Mo. (AP) – A sheriff says dental records have confirmed one of the bodies found in burned car in northwest Missouri was that of a man linked to the disappearance of his young son.
Harrison County Sheriff Josh Eckeron says the body was identified Thursday as 33-year-old Elvis Habibovic. DNA is being used to determine whether a second body found in the car was Habibovic’s 9-month-old son, Logan.
The two bodies were found in the car Tuesday at a conservation area about 10 miles northeast of Bethany, Missouri.
Authorities had issued an Amber alert for the boy after his father didn’t return him to his mother’s home in Urbandale, Iowa.
Eckerson told The St. Joseph News-Press authorities believe Habibovic piped exhaust into the car but an official cause of death is pending.
Supreme Court Says You Can Be Drunk On Your Front Porch
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court has affirmed the right to be drunk on your front porch.
The court ruled Friday in the case of Patience Paye, who appealed her 2013 public intoxication conviction.
Paye called police after fighting with her boyfriend and met officers on the front porch of her Waterloo home. While investigating the domestic assault complaint an officer questioned Paye about whether she’d been drinking.
A test revealed her blood alcohol concentration at 0.267 percent, more than three times the amount considered drunk for driving.
