Day Two Of KLEM Expo
(Le Mars) — Today is day two for the KLEM Expo. Doors will open at 10:00 a.m. and will remain open until 3:00 p.m. There are more than 50 exhibitors on hand, ranging from financial institutions, to appliances, furniture, carpeting and flooring, windows and insulation, home entertainment, and much more. Hy Vee will feature a chili feed beginning at 11:30 a.m. and you have the opportunity to register for a free grill, plus other door prizes. The KLEM Expo is being held at the Le Mars Convention Center.
Wanatee Murder Trial To Have Change Of Venue
(Sioux City) — A change of venue has been granted for a new trial in the first degree murder case of Elias Wanatee. Judge Duane Hoffmeyer granted the change of venue at a status hearing on the case Friday morning. The trial will be held February 28th at a location yet to be decided upon. The judge declared a mistrial in the case in December when a Woodbury County jury failed to reach a verdict in the trial of the Sioux City man. Wanatee is charged in the fatal stabbing of 50 year old Vernon Mace outside of a West 1st Street home on February 7th of last year. Wanatee remains in custody at the Woodbury County jail.
Woodbury County Fair Considers Selling Alcohol During Fair
(Le Mars) — The Woodbury County Fair Association board of directors are considering whether to allow beer and wine sales to occur during the grandstand events held at the Moville venue. Fair manager Randy Hayworth of Correctionville admits there are both positives and negatives associated with the decision to allow alcohol in the grandstand area. He says the fairboard would have to spend an estimated $2,000 for security to check the ID’s to make certain no alcohol would be sold to minors. Only Clay County and Monona County fairs allow for some alcohol sales in northwest Iowa. Rich Benson serves as the president of the Plymouth County Fair. He says the Plymouth County Fairboard has discussed the topic in the past, but the fairboard has said it is not needed.
Benson says the Plymouth County Fair has the tradition of providing good entertainment for the entire family. He says if alcohol is present, and if people consume too much alcohol, it would become a major distraction, and take away from the enjoyment of others. Benson says there are some county fairs within the state that allows alcohol sales.
Benson says the Plymouth County fairboard sees it could have negative consequences, and drive away potential fair visitors.
Iowa Prisons Facing Cuts Due To Budget Constraints
(Des Moines) — The budget-cutting plan Governor Branstad signed into law this week slashes the money provided to Iowa’s prison system this fiscal year by $5.5 million dollars. Iowa Department of Corrections Director Jerry Bartruff says he’s
hoping to finalize a response plan over the next 7 to 10 days.
There are currently around 100 vacancies within the agency that are not being filled, according to Bartruff. Up to 80-percent of the corrections department budget is directed at salaries. Given the size of the budget cut, furloughs are likely, but Bartruff isn’t ready to say how many workers could be let go.
There are roughly 3,700 employees in the Iowa Department of Corrections. Iowa has nine prisons — housing over 8,000 inmates — located in Anamosa, Coralville, Mount Pleasant, Fort Madison, Newton, Mitchellville, Fort Dodge, Rockwell City, and Clarinda. The governor on Wednesday approved legislation that cuts 88-million dollars from the current year’s state budget to deal with lower-than-expected state tax revenue.
Flu Causes 25 Deaths In Iowa
(Des Moines) — The Iowa Department of Public Health says 25 flu-related deaths have now been confirmed across the state. Deputy State Epidemiologist, Ann Garvey, says 11 of the flu deaths happened in the last week of January.
All but one of the flu victims had an underlying condition, and 19 of those who died were elderly residents who were 81 or older.
Doctor Garvey says you should put off visiting elderly friends and relatives if you have the flu.
Garvey says the flu isn’t the only illness that’s been hitting Iowans.
Iowa is not alone in seeing the flu numbers go up.
Garvey says the vaccine this year appears to be doing a good job.
The flu is a respiratory illness caused by viruses. Symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, and body aches. Illness typically lasts two to seven days, and often puts healthy people in bed for days. Flu deaths have been reported in all regions of Iowa. Here is a breakdown: Central (seven deaths); Northeast (four deaths); Northwest (two deaths); Southwest (eight deaths); Southeast (one death); Eastern (three deaths).
Authorities Identify Shooter In Eastern Iowa
CAMANCHE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities are identifying the person who shot and killed a 22-year-old man in eastern Iowa earlier this week.
The Division of Criminal Investigation said Friday that 25-year-old Derick Carroll has been identified as the shooter who killed Nicholas Luskey in Camanche on Wednesday.
A press release says that Carroll, of Clinton, has been cooperating with investigators and has not been charged in the shooting.
Officers responded to a report of shots fired and found Luskey near a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He was later pronounced dead at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
An obituary published Friday says that Luskey lived just across the Mississippi River in Fulton, Illinois. It says that a candlelight vigil is planned for Friday night in Fulton, followed by a visitation Monday in Clinton at First Baptist Church on Monday.
