26 Year Old Le Mars Woman Arrested For Possession of Methamphetamine
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department made an arrest of a 26 year old Le Mars woman over the weekend with possession of methamphetamine. Angela Caskey of 34782 Highway 3 was observed by officers operating a vehicle at 2nd Street and 1st Avenue southwest. Officers knew Caskey had a Plymouth County Mittimus to serve. During the arrest Caskey was found to be in possession of a small bag of methamphetamine. Caskey was transported to the Plymouth County jail.
Fire Department Assists Ireton With Garage Fire
(Craig) — Earlier this morning, the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department were called to Craig to assist the Ireton Fire Department for a garage that caught on fire. Le Mars was called for mutual aid when the fire had spread to trees that
were near by. After requesting assistance from the Le Mars Fire Department, the Ireton Fire Department was able to gain control of the fire, and quickly were able to extinguish the blaze.
photo contributed.
Hull Fire Department Responds To Barn Fire
(Hull) — On Saturday, at about 5:27 p.m. the Hull Fire Department was called to a barn that had caught on fire. The barn that was on fire was located at 370th Street, about seven miles southeast of Hull. Upon arrival, smoke could be seen
coming from the roof, and soon afterwards, the barn was totally engulfed with flames. The Hull Fire Department was assisted by the Sioux Center Fire Department, Boyden Fire Department, Orange City Fire Department, Hull Ambulance, and the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office. The barn was totally destroyed, but
there were no injuries.
photo contributed.
Le Mars Community School Board To Meet Monday Evening
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education is scheduled to meet this evening. The school board will hear a report submitted by school superintendent, Dr. Steven Webner as he presents information from the District Learning and Instructional Impact Team from their June 20th meeting. The school board will discuss the new teacher introduction session, which will take place on Monday, September 11th at 6:30 p.m. at the Education Service Center. The school board will discuss the Iowa Association of School Boards annual Employee
Relations Conference scheduled for Altoona, Iowa on October 17th. The school board will act upon one resignation. Tanya Kuecker has notified the school district of her intention to resign her position from the Foodservices, effective immediately. Meanwhile, the school board is expected to approve three
contracts. Kari Kopperud as a Middle School and Elementary Guidance Counselor, Emily Pick as a High School Math Teacher, and Tracey Rogers has been hired for the FoodServices. The Le Mars Community Board of Education will also act upon six students wishing to open enroll into the Le Mars Community School District.
Johnston School District Still Searching For Teachers
JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) – With only days to go until the new school year starts, the Johnston Community School District says it’s still scrambling to hire enough elementary school teachers. School officials tell Des Moines television station KCCI that the
district will welcome its biggest classes yet as it works to overhaul several of its school buildings. District spokeswoman Laura Sprague says district officials were taken by
surprise by the large number of new families enrolling their children for the new school year. Johnston school officials plan to go before the school board Monday to seek approval to add additional teachers to the kindergarten class. If approved, the Johnston Community School district will search for teachers immediately. School district officials say all K- 5 classroom
placements would be shared with parents by Aug. 18. —
Kindergarten Teacher Accused Of Not Reporting Sex Abuse Scheduled To Go To Trial
MARION, Iowa (AP) – A November trial has been scheduled for a Marion kindergarten teacher accused of not reporting that a 15-year-old classroom volunteer sexually abused her students.
Linn County records say a judge set a trial starting date of Nov. 6 for 59-year-old Diane Graham, who’s pleaded not guilty to failure to report child abuse.
The trial was moved to Tama County from Linn County after Graham’s attorneys cited extensive media coverage of the boy’s and Graham’s cases.
Court records say Graham was a teacher at Starry Elementary in Marion when two students told her last August that they were being abused by the volunteer.
Prosecutors say Graham didn’t report the abuse, allowing it to continue for two more months.
The boy has been convicted of three counts of sexual abuse.
Reynolds Refuses To Explain Campaign Schedule
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The gubernatorial campaign for Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has declined to provide more information about blocks of time in her calendar when she works on campaign-related events, arguing that releasing the information could give away strategy. Phil Valenziano, Reynolds’ campaign manager, offered that explanation to questions about 10 items listed on Reynolds’ June calendar that reference the campaign. Reynolds’ administrative staff released the calendar in response to a public records request by The Associated Press but blacked out information that was campaign-related. Her office made similar redactions for six campaign-related events listed in acting Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg’s June work calendar. The records offer a glimpse at how Reynolds is trying to balance her new
job as governor with her efforts to win a full four-year term in the 2018 gubernatorial race.
University Of Iowa Students Make Less Than $10.10 Per Hour For Work Study
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – Data from the University of Iowa shows that more than half of undergraduate student workers at the university were paid less than $10.10 per hour this year. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the Johnson County Board of Supervisors set the local minimum wage level at $10.10 for 2017. However, the Iowa Legislature stripped local governments of the ability to set minimum wage higher than the state’s level this year. The state’s minimum wage has been $7.25 for the last decade. University data shows that more than 800 student employees made $8.20, which was the lowest wage listed among the more than 10,000 employees. Almost
350 students made more than $15 an hour. The data doesn’t include graduate teaching and research assistants. —
Iowa Politicians Respond To Charlottesville, Virginia Violence and Riots
Iowa’s top politicians are responding to this weekend’s events in Iowa’s top politicians are responding to this weekend’s events in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann was the first to issue a statement via Twitter. Kaufmann said the “racism and bigotry on display in Charlottesville is stupid, shameful and destructive.” Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley was next, saying what “white nationalists” were doing in Charlottesville was “homegrown
terrorism.” Iowa Senator Joni Ernst also called it “terrorism” that was “fueled by racist hatred” that “has no place in our society.” Governor Kim Reynolds said her prayers are with the victims and she condemed “ugly, vile, racist hate.” By early this (Monday) morning, all but one member of Iowa’s congressional
delegation had tweeted on the situation.
Congressman Dave Loebsack (LOHB-sack), a Democrat from Iowa City, said on Saturday that the “vile hatred displayed by white supremacists in Charlotesville is unacceptable and unAmerican.” Congressman David Young, a Republican from Van Meter, tweeted on Sunday from Israel, where he’s on a
congressional trip. Young condemned the “hatred” on display in Charlottesville and tweeted a few Bible verses. Congressman Rod Blum (BLUHM, rhymes with “gum”), a Republican from Dubuque, posted a message on Facebook. Blum quoted Gandi and
said there was no place in a “civil society” for “racist supremacy groups.”
Republican Congressman Steve King of Kiron has not Tweeted since July 27th and has not issued a statement on Charlottesville. The Iowa Democratic Party’s chairman released a written statement Sunday, denounncing the “senseless acts by white supremacists and neo-nazis in Charlottesville.”
Powerball Jackpot Goes Unclaimed
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Powerball jackpot will continue to grow above $400 million this week because no one matched all the numbers in Saturday’s drawing. Lottery officials estimate that the jackpot for the next Powerball drawing on Wednesday will be $430 million. The Powerball prize will be the only big lottery jackpot this week because someone who bought a ticket in Palos Heights, Illinois, won Saturday’s $393 million Mega Millions jackpot. But remember that the odds of winning Powerball remain long at one in 292.2 million.
