Plymouth County Authorities Release Information On Accident
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office has released additional information
regarding that auto accident that occurred early Saturday morning at about 1:15
a.m. The accident involved two vehicles that collided on Highway 60 and 160th
Street near Madison Avenue, or old Highway 60. The collision happened between a
van and a passenger car. The driver of the van, 16 year old Riley Kluver of Merrill
says he did not see the vehicle on Highway 60. The passenger car was a Toyota
Corolla and was being driven by 21 year old Yi Oo of Noel, Missouri. The car had
five passengers, all of were from the Noel, Missouri and Kansas City area, and all
were injured and transported to either Floyd Valley Hospital, or were transported
to the Orange City hospital. Two other passengers were in the van, 16 year old
Tyson Weiler and 18 year old Eric Groetken both of Le Mars. The van was heading
west trying to cross Highway 60 when the car, was heading northbound on Highway 60
collided with the van. The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department along with the Le
Mars Ambulance and the Remsen Ambulance responded to the scene.
Minnesota Man Pleas Not Guilty To Schleswig Standoff
SCHLESWIG, Iowa (AP) – A Minnesota man has pleaded not guilty to shooting at two
Iowa deputies during a standoff.
45-year-old James Champion, of Mankato, Minnesota, entered his written plea
Monday. He’s charged with two counts of assault on a peace officer with a dangerous
weapon in a March 9 standoff in Schleswig.
Crawford County sheriff’s deputies say Champion pointed a rifle at them and
threatened to shoot after authorities went to check on him. He later opened his
door and pointed a rifle toward officers and fired once.
Lt. Corey Utech returned fire, hitting Champion twice in the torso.
Champion was flown to an Omaha hospital for treatment and released. Utech was
cleared of any wrongdoing.
Champion’s attorney didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment.
Firefighters Help Build Home
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Ten western Iowa firefighters spent their day off
helping renovate a Habitat for Humanity home for a mother and her child.
The off-duty firefighters showed up Friday to spent the day working with Council Bluffs Habitat for Humanity officials on the refurbished home on Fourth Avenue. The firefighters
hung siding and attached shingles on the main home and a backyard shed.
Council Bluffs Habitat for Humanity Construction Manager Teresa Johnson says
the volunteers were a big help.
Johnson says the house was originally built in the 1930s and a mother and
child will move in later this summer. Now that the firefighters have finished the
roof and siding, other volunteers, Habitat officials and the mother will do some
painting and cabinet work.
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Ames Apartment Complex Catches On Fire
AMES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say firefighters have rescued several occupants
from a fire at an Ames apartment complex.
The Ames Fire Department says firefighters dispatched a little after 4 a.m.
Monday said flames were visible from the complex windows and roof as they arrived.
The department says firefighters used ladders to help some occupants down from
their third-flood balconies. Other occupants fled out doors to safety.
No injuries have been reported to any of the firefighters or any of the people
who live in the 33-unit complex.
Firefighters will remain on the scene to handle any hot spots. The fire cause
is being investigated.
State Patrol Trooper Dismissed From Job
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Records obtained by The Associated Press show a now-fired Iowa State Patrol supervisor rear-ended another car in March but his agency didn’t give him a ticket and blamed the lead driver.
Legal experts say drivers of rear cars involved in collisions are usually cited for failure to stop. But Sgt. Michael Haugen didn’t receive any citation after his cruiser smashed into a passenger car that was making a left turn in Forest City, damaging both vehicles.
Haugen’s boss, Lt. Dan Schaffer, wrote a report blaming the lead driver for abruptly stopping and failing to properly signal. That driver was given a $330 ticket for driving without a license.
Haugen was fired last month for misconduct that the patrol hasn’t explained. Schafer said Monday that Haugen’s firing is “a bigger story than just the accident.”
Mall Shooting Suspect Convicted And Sentenced To Life In Prison
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A man convicted of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a woman in a Coralville mall has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen (https://icp-c.com/1X7vgfD ) reports a judge on Monday handed over the sentence for 23-year Alexander Kozak.
A jury in April found Kozak guilty of killing 20-year-old Andrea Farrington at the Coral Ridge Mall on June 12, 2015.
Prosecutors said Farrington was shot in the back three times while working at an Iowa Children’s Museum information kiosk. Police say Kozak, who worked as a mall security guard, told officers he “snapped” after Farrington texted him to say she was breaking off their relationship.
The defense didn’t dispute that Kozak killed Farrington but argued his level of responsibility was diminished.
