Fire Department Responds To Early Morning Roll-over Accident
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department responded to a roll-over single vehicle accident that happened on county road C-30, just beyond the southeast portion of town. The accident occurred at about 6:30 this morning near Nature Avenue. Fire Chief Dave Schipper says when the fire department arrived at the scene, they saw a car that had apparently lost control due to the slick, icy roads. The accident victim was a female driver and was transported by the Le Mars Ambulance to the Floyd Valley Healthcare. That accident remains under investigation.
Sheriff’s Office Investigating Forged Checks
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a case of forged checks. Last Monday, Steve Lehner, who owns rental property in Kingsley, called the Plymouth County Sheriff’s office and reported that a subject that he is renting to had issued two forged checks on a Sandra Henry bank account. Information was gathered and warrants were issued. 38 year old Brian Mouw of Kingsley was arrested on two counts of forgery, a class D felony, and one count of theft in the 4th degree, a serious misdemeanor on December 1st. Mouw was transported to the Plymouth County Jail where bond was set at $5,000. This is part of an ongoing case of forged checks from the rural Kingsley address and more charges maybe pending.
Le Mars Sees Increase Of Building Permits
(Le Mars) — A sure sign of a community’s growth is to look at the number of building permits issued during the year. During the Le Mars City Council meeting held Tuesday, city code enforcement officer, Jason Vacera offered to city officials a review of the number and the construction costs. Vacera says there were 25 new homes that have been built in Le Mars during this past year, which is higher than the previous year.
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Vacera says the city also saw an increase in the new and renovated industrial and commercial properties.
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Vacera says city officials are always hopeful existing businesses and industries choose to expand, rather than move from Le Mars. He says city leaders try to encourage new employees at those expanding businesses to settle in Le Mars.
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Kraai Furniture Given Special Presentation From 9-1-1 Towers
Orange City, IA –Representatives from the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, an organization that began in memory of a fallen 9/11 firefighter, will pay a special visit to Orange City today to personally thank Dan Kraai of Kraai Furniture for their generous support of the Foundation’s Building for America’s Bravest (BFAB)program.
The BFAB program builds hi-tech “smart homes” for service members returning from war who have been catastrophically injured. Kraai says he is deeply honored by the special presentation.
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Kraai says Carpet One and Mohawk Carpeting provide the flooring for the homes, free of charge. Kraai says so far, 46 such “smart homes” have been constructed, and more are needed.
In recognition of that support, members of the New York City Fire Department, —acting on their own initiative, as ambassadors of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation—presented a specially-designed shadowbox containing hallowed 9/11 steel from Ground Zero to Dan Kraai.
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Dan Kraai, left, receives a special award from New York Fire Fighter Ed Breen for his help with funding “smart homes” for handicapped veterans. The award is made from steel from the 9-11 incident.
Ben And Janelle Johnson Among Finalists For State Farm Bureau Honor
(Des Moines) — “Growing for the Greater Good” is the chosen theme for this year’s 97th annual Iowa Farm Bureau Federation convention now in session at Des Moines. Ben and Janelle Johnson of rural Plymouth County are attending the conference. Johnson says discussion at the conference have focused on Iowa’s water quality, and urging the state legislature to approve additional funding for more conservation methods. The Plymouth County couple are among three state finalists for the Young Farmer Achievement Award.
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In addition to their involvement with Farm Bureau, the Johnsons remain active with other agricultural related organizations. Janelle is the co-coordinator with the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach with Plymouth County. She is also a member of the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee. Ben serves as a board member to both the Plymouth County Pork Producers and the Plymouth County Fair. He says the judges take into consideration the level of involvement with other organizations.
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Johnson says through the Farm Bureau organization, he has taken on a more of an active role visiting with government leaders about issues important to agriculture, and he explains why he chose to join the state’s largest farm organization.
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Corrections Leader Request Additional Funding To Offset Rising Medical Costs
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The head of Iowa’s corrections agency says he’d like state officials to consider the rising costs of medication for inmates when they prepare the next state budget.
Jerry Bartruff, director of the Iowa Department of Corrections, says the agency is trying to offset expenses that include paying for rising costs in medication and replacing expired federal funding for some treatment programs. He did not elaborate.
Bartruff discussed the costs Wednesday at a budget hearing attended by Gov. Terry Branstad. The governor is expected to release his budget proposal early next year.
Bartruff is seeking roughly $380 million for the fiscal year that begins in July, the amount allotted to the department last session. Bartruff says he can spend the same state dollars, but he’s hopeful Branstad may consider additional money.
Iowa’s Largest Public Union Has A Pension Shortfall Of $5 Billion
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A report says Iowa’s largest public employees’ pension fund has a long-term shortfall of about $5 billion.
Gov. Terry Branstad was briefed Tuesday on the status of the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System, which has 346,000 members. The report says the pension fund’s assets total about $28 billion and is nearly 84 percent funded, slightly up from a year ago.
The system serves current, former and retired employees of state government, cities, counties and school districts. The contribution rate by local government and state public employees to the main pension fund has increased in recent years to almost 15 percent of an employee’s earnings.
Donna Mueller, the fund’s chief executive officer, says the report shows progress and stability.
Mueller said the system’s $5 billion in unfunded liabilities could be paid off in 23 years.
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Former Sioux City Coach Gets Probation From Sexual Abuse Case
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A former Sioux City high school soccer coach has gotten three years of probation and a suspended five-year prison term for having sex with a student.
Thirty-year-old Erick DeLeon was sentenced on Tuesday after being convicted in October of sexual exploitation by a school employee.
DeLeon was in charge of the iJAG program, a nonprofit program that works with at-risk students at West high School. He also coached soccer at the school. Prosecutors say DeLeon, of Sioux City, exchanged inappropriate text messages with one of his 16-year-old iJAG students and had sex with her at her home in October and November last year.
Cedar Falls Fire Department To Receive Helmet Cameras
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) – The Cedar Falls fire department has purchased small cameras that can be attached to helmets, and plans to start using them next year.
Cedar Falls Fire Chief John Schilling plans to put the high-definition video cameras to use in January after developing written policies on their use to respect patient privacy in the event of injuries.
The department currently has three cameras, and will rotate them from person to person and shift to shift.
Schilling says the cameras will primarily be used for fire scenes, post-incident analysis, fire investigation purposes and training. Schilling says the cameras are for internal use only. He says he envisions the incident commander having a camera, which will provide a full view of the fire scene.
The cameras pick up sound and are fire-resistant up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit for limited periods.
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