Lawmakers Address Issues During Legislative Forum
(Le Mars) — Local lawmakers Chuck Holz and Bill Anderson visited with a dozen people in Le Mars Saturday morning during their legislative forum. The group size may have been moderate to small, but it provided for good round table discussion. Those attending the legislative forum represented school officials, Farm Bureau, Rural Electric Cooperative, and retired citizens and the media. School funding and water quality were two of the issues that were discussed. Holz reminded the group that the state House of Representatives passed a school funding bill that would increase the school spending by two percent, where as the Senate have advocated a four percent increase. Holz says the issue now rests in conference committee. State Senator Bill Anderson says he believes the final compromise may be close to the figure of 2.45 percent as proposed by Governor Terry Branstad. Dr. Todd Wendt, the superintendent of schools for Le Mars Community was on hand for the meeting. Wendt says if only a two percent increase for school funding is approved, it will mean the local school board will need to raise the tax levy on property. The lawmakers were also asked about taking money from tax that is collected to help finance school infrastructure and instead to devote it to the efforts of improving the state’s water quality initiative. Holz turned the question back on the group asking for what their opinion is of the issue. The consensus of the gathering was the money should continue to finance school infrastructure, and another source of revenue should be devoted to funding water quality efforts. KLEM news will have comments from State Representative Chuck Holz and State Senator Bill Anderson on Monday.
Remsen Chamber To Hold Annual Awards Banquet Saturday Evening
(Remsen) — Tonight at the Avalon Ballroom in Remsen will be the Remsen Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet. The Remsen Citizen of the Year and the Remsen Business of the Year will be announced during the banquet. Social hour begins at 6:00 p.m. with the banquet scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.
16 Year Fugitive Brought To Justice On Sexual Abuse Charges
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A man who fled the country 16 years ago to avoid prosecution for sexually abusing two girls has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
53-year-old Mitchell Meyer pleaded guilty in Woodbury County District Court to two counts of third-degree sexual abuse and one count of flight to avoid prosecution. He was sentenced Thursday.
Meyer was arrested and charged in 1998 for sexually abusing two girls. But he never appeared for his May 1999 trial.
Meyer was arrested in June in Mexico and returned to Woodbury County for prosecution.
Trump Tomato Thrower To Go To Trial
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa City man accused of throwing two tomatoes at GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump will stand trial in the case.
The trial for 28-year-old Andrew Joseph Alemao has been set for March 22. Alemao is charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. University of Iowa Police say Alemao was seen throwing two tomatoes at Trump during a speech Jan. 26 in Iowa City. It’s not clear whether the tomatoes hit anyone.
Alemao is free while awaiting trial. His attorney, Al Smith, says he has asked for a jury trial and that his client “is innocent until proven guilty.”
If convicted, Alemao faces up to 30 days in jail or a $625 fine.
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