King Worries About Protests Interrupting Inauguration
(Washington) — Today at high noon, Washington D.C. time, will be when president-elect Donald Trump officially becomes President Donald Trump, once he completes the oath of office. Congressman Steve King of Iowa’s 4th District says he is looking forward to witnessing the historical inauguration event. However,
King hopes the ceremony is not interrupted by protesters.
King says the nation’s capital will have several different security forces watching the people, who are watching the ceremonies.
King believes the number of protesters may be small, but they are likely to get a lot of media attention.
The Republican Iowa Congressman says four years ago when Barack Obama was sworn into office, there were few protest scenes.
Le Mars Community Board of Education Submits Initial Collective Bargaining Proposal To Le Mars Education Association
(Le Mars) — Last evening the Le Mars Community Board of Education offered its initial proposal for the collective bargaining position for the Le Mars Educational Association. You may recall the teachers had submitted a proposal calling for a 5.07 percent increase in salary, including having the base salary increase from $36,835 to $38,435. The school board essentially has informed the faculty that an initial position will need to wait until the Iowa legislature and the governor approve an educational spending bill.
Le Mars Community Board of Education To Learn About Computer Integration In Classrooms During Retreat
(Le Mars) — Instead of holding their bi-monthly meeting, the Le Mars Community Board of Education on Monday will participate in the Board and Administrator retreat. The session is scheduled to last four hours. During the retreat, the school board will be focusing their attention on the integration of technology
with the classroom. The school board will hold a round table discussion and learn how the Le Mars Community School District is assisting students with career choices, including computer aided design, trades and industry, certified nurse’s assistant, and industry partnerships.
Evan Niebuhr Memorial Scholarship Given To Sioux City Musician
(Le Mars) — The first Evan Niebuhr Memorial Scholarship has been awarded. You may recall Niebuhr, a 2015 Gehlen Catholic graduate, was fatally wounded during an automobile accident last fall.
A scholarship was created in his honor to be awarded to a instrumental music student within the Sioux City Diocese. The Diocesan Band Directors informed the 2017 7-12 grade Diocesan Band Festival musicians of the scholarship. Students, their
parents, and/or directors were asked to nominate a musician. The nomination letter needed to articulate how the musician epitomized Evan Niebuhr’s life through his faith, service, and love of music. Applicants’ names and schools were not included in the application, so the scholarship committee could pick a recipient solely on the applicant’s merits.
On January 18, Evan’s parents, Paul, Gehlen Catholic’s Instrumental Music Director, and Lisa Niebuhr presented the first Evan Niebuhr Memorial Diocesan Band Festival Scholarship between the Junior and Senior High School Honor Band’s
performances at Schaller Chapel on the Buena Vista University Campus.
Faith Do, an 8th grader at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Sioux City, was this year’s recipient. Faith has been playing clarinet for four years. She is a past Northwest Iowa Honor Band & Diocesan Honor Band musician. She also has performed solos and duets at Heelan Band Olympics.
Her nomination also stated, “She (Faith) exhibits great leadership skills. She always, without failing, helps the two 6th grade students in her section…showing them fingerings, repeats, explaining the dynamics, etc., all without a word of prompting from the director. She has a great level of concern with performing the music correctly and asks in-depth questions far beyond her years.”
Faith is also involved in Quiz Bowl, Mock Trial, Choir, and Life Team. She serves as “Mass Buddy” for younger elementary students, sings at weekly liturgies, and was selected as the Star Student of the Month for exhibiting the traits of ‘Serving God, Trying her Best, Having a Positive Attitude, and Showing
Respect & Responsibility.’
Outside of school, Faith is a student volunteer at Unity Point – St. Luke’s Hospital & Santa House.
Three People Arrested On Various Drug-Related Charges
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office helped apprehend three people that were arrested for various drug-related charges. On Tuesday morning, at about 8:53 a.m. the Sioux City Police Department notified the Plymouth County
Sheriff’s Office that they were trying to catch up with a vehicle traveling north on county road K-22 on its rims with flat tires. A short-time later Sheriff’s deputies located the vehicle near the intersection of county road K-22 and C-80 where a traffic stop was performed. An investigation was conducted during the
stop and as a result, three occupants were placed under arrest. The driver, 40 year old Dominic Condon of South Dakota was placed under arrest for an OWI-first offense, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. 23 year old Marcus Whipple of Sioux City was a passenger in the car. Whipple was placed under arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia while another passenger, 26 year old, Angeline Squirrel Coat of South Dakota was arrested for a second offense of possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. All three individuals were booked into the
Plymouth County jail.
Boyden Man Arrested For Inappropriate Touching Of Female
(Orange City) — The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office has placed a Boyden man under arrest following allegations of the suspect inappropriately touching a female victim. 35 year old Rigoberto Gonzalez-Constantino was arrested following an investigation that stemmed from a report of a disturbance. Gonzalez-Constantino was arrested for indecent contact with a child. The Iowa State Patrol and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office with the arrest.
Des Moines Taxi Cab Driver Charged With Vehicular Homicide
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines cab driver has been charged with vehicular homicide for a crash that killed one Kansas man and injured another.
Authorities say 29-year-old Mohamed Diriye also is charged with second- offense operating while intoxicated. Online court records don’t list an attorney who could comment for him.
The crash occurred shortly before 4 a.m. Thursday, when the cab ran off a road into a ravine. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says 49-year-old Shawn Koltiska, of Augusta, Kansas, died in the crash. Another passenger was injured: 48-year-old Joseph Foster, of Garden Plain, Kansas. He was taken to a hospital.
Diriye was treated and released.
Glenwood Resource Center Ordered To Re-hire Director
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa institution for residents with intellectual disabilities, reeling from allegations of abuse against residents, has been ordered to reinstate a high-ranking official who was fired over safety lapses in 2014. The Public Employment Relations Board says the firing of Glenwood Resource Center administrator Douglas Wise wasn’t justified and he must be returned to a similar job with full back pay. Wise had been faulted for failing to keep batteries out of a home where residents swallowed them.
Obama Commutes Felons Convictions
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – President Obama has shortened the prison sentences for a dozen inmates from Iowa serving time on drug manufacturing and dealing charges.
In his last act in office, Obama commuted the sentences for 360 federal inmates convicted on drug charges. The list includes 12 former Iowa residents whose terms were each shaved by several years, including nine convicted on methamphetamine-
related charges.
