Plymouth County Polling Locations
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County voters wanting to cast their votes for the general election can go to their regular voting location. Officials with the Plymouth County Auditor’s office indicate the polls will open at 7:00 a.m. and will remain open until 9:00 p.m. Voters will report to their respective polling place
If you are not registered to vote, you will need to bring along two forms of identification, along with a bank statement, utilities bill, or some other form of mail indicating your home address.
Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Here is the list of polling places:
Precinct #1 which includes Portland township and the town of Akron will vote at the Akron Public Library.
Precinct #2 which is a new precinct, includes the townships on the eastern edge of Plymouth County featuring Meadow…Remsen…Henry…and Garfield but excludes the towns of Remsen and Kingsley will vote at the American Bank in Remsen.
Precinct #3 includes Elgin and America townships as well as the communities ofStruble and Seney, but it excludes Le Mars. Voting will occur at the Courthouse Annex Building.
Precinct #4 which is also a new precinct has Preston…Grant…Johnson…and Washington townships and the communities of Craig and Brunsville. The Brunsville Legion Hall will serve as the voting location.
Precinct #5 includes the townships of Fredonia and Marion as well as the towns of Oyens and Remsen. Voting will occur at the Remsen Public Library.
Precinct #6 consists of the townships of Westfield and Sioux along with the town of Westfield. Voting will be at the Westfield Community Center.
Precinct #7 has Liberty…Plymouth…and Stanton townships along with the town of Merrill and voters will need to go to the Kissinger Community Center.
Precinct #8, located in the southwestern corner of the county involves Hancock and Perry townships, along with portions of Sioux City will vote at the Perry Township Hall.
Precinct #9 includes the townships of Hungerford and Lincoln and also includes the town of Hinton. The Hinton Community Center will serve as the voting place.
Precinct #10 is Union and Elkhorn townships along with the town of Kingsley. Voting will take place at the Kingsley Community Center.
And finally, Precincts 11,12, and 13 includes the city of Le Mars and all voting will be conducted at the Le Mars Convention Center, lower level. Even though precincts 11, 12, and 13 includes Le Mars, voters will want to check the new
boundaries to see if they have been moved to a different precinct.
Few Challenges In Local Political Races
(Le Mars) — Voters will notice few races on the election ballot with regards to local races. Supervisor Mark Loutsch representing District 2 is unopposed, and new comer Gary Horton is running unopposed for a county supervisor position
representing District 5. County Auditor, Stacey Feldman is running again to retain the county auditor’s position, and Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo is going after another term as county sheriff, both are not being challenged. Jerry Reuter is the only candidate seeking a trustee position for Fredonia Township.
Voters have the opportunity to vote for four people to the Extension Council. There are four candidates that include: Ronald Rohlena, Rebecca Easton, Alex Popken, and Doug Martin. There are three candidates seeking three positions on
the County Soil and Water District Commissioners. They include: Joe Cain, Steven Tonsfeldt, and Tony Schroeder.
District 5 State House Race Features Holz vs. Ritz
(Le Mars) — The one race featured that does have two candidates is the State House of Representatives District 5 position. Retired veterinarian and former school board director Republican Chuck Holz of Le Mars is seeking a second term,
while he is being challenged by Akron farmer and agricultural equipment dealer, Pat Ritz. District five covers most of Plymouth County, and the northern section of Woodbury County. The exception includes the far eastern townships that border Cherokee County, including Henry, Garfield, Remsen, and Meadow townships.
Kass Selected To Electoral College
(Le Mars) — Each presidential candidate needs to reach the magical figure of 270 electoral votes in order to become the next President of the United States.
But many wonder, who are the people selected as part of the Electoral College.
Plymouth County’s own Don Kass of rural Remsen was selected during the district Republican convention as a voter for the electoral college. The number of electoral votes consists of the number of representatives plus the two senators.
Here in Iowa that would mean a total of six electoral votes are up for grabs. Kass says in 48 of the 50 states,it is a winner take all system.
If neither candidate is able to get the minimum 270 electoral votes, than the next president will be selected by the U-S House of Representatives.
Kass says it is expected that he will vote the way the general population voted within his district for the political party.
This is the second time Kass has been selected to participate in the electoral college, having done so back in 2004 with President Bush. Many people wonder why a popular vote isn’t used to determine the president. Kass defends the electoral vote saying the system was set up to give smaller states a voice in presidential elections.
Kass says the electoral college provides another measure of checks and balances for our government.
He says the electoral system is especially important when you have a nearly evenly divided nation over two candidates.
Le Mars Police Officers To Attend Fallen Officer’s Funeral
(Le Mars) — Three of Le Mars Police officers are planning to show their respects and show a sign of solidarity as they attend the funeral of 24 year old fallen Urbandale police officer, Justin Martin. Martin was one of two Des Moines area police officers shot last week. During the ambush, Martin was sitting in his patrol car. The funeral will take place at Rockwell City, the
home of Martin. It will begin at 11:40 a.m. the badge number of Martin.
Yesterday, thousands of fellow law enforcement officers from across the state and nation attended the funeral for Anthony Bemino, of the Des Moines Police Department, who was also shot last week. A suspect was taken into custody within
hours of the shooting incidents. Those Le Mars police officers that will attend Martin’s funeral service include: Captain Tim Hop, and Daniel Plueger and Kevin Vander Vegt.
Iowa State University President Questioned Again About Plane
AMES, Iowa (AP) – A prosecutor has asked Iowa State University police to investigate a flight that took President Steven Leath to the North Carolina town where he owns a home.
Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds received a complaint Monday questioning a university plane’s travel to and from Jefferson, North Carolina on March 12 – the beginning of Spring Break.
Reynolds forwarded the complaint for investigation to ISU interim police chief Aaron DeLashmutt, who reports to a Leath subordinate.
The plane stayed in Jefferson 37 minutes before returning to Ames. Three days later, the university’s larger plane was sent to pick Leath and his wife up there. A spokeswoman says Leath had meetings scheduled in North Carolina.
The complaint from Board of Regents critic David Wheeler questions whether it was an illegal personal trip.
Investment Broker Given Two More Years In Prison
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A former investment broker already serving prison time for defrauding clients has been given two more years for obstructing justice.
Prosecutors say 52-year-old Randy Beltramea was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. He pleaded guilty to four counts of obstruction of justice. Beltramea admitted trying to obstruct efforts to seize his property.
In his previous federal case, Beltramea admitted that in 2009 and 2010, he solicited money from investors under false pretenses and moved some investor money into an account under his mother’s name to avoid taxes.
