Ag Business Luncheon Scheduled For Tuesday, March 20th
(Le Mars) — National Agriculture Week is scheduled for the week of March 18th through the 24th. The Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee will honor the local farmers and agri-businesses by hosting the Ag Business Luncheon scheduled for Tuesday, March 20th at the Le Mars Convention Center. The day’s events will begin with a Chamber coffee hosted by Plymouth County Farm Bureau. At 10:30 Mark Porter, the Chief Operating Officer with Seaboard Triumph Foods of Sioux City will speak about the expanding pork industry, and specifically about the new pork processing facility that only recently went on line and began production. This year’s key-note speaker is Mitch Holtus who does the play-by-play of the Kansas City Chief football games. Holthus grew up on a Kansas farm and will speak about agriculture.
Holthus says agricultural commodity prices have always been riding the roller coaster with farmers seeing the value of their agricultural goods constantly go up and down. He says he feels it is his responsibility to share with consumers the story of agriculture.
Tickets for the Ag Business Luncheon are priced at $15 and can be obtained from the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce offices.
Sioux City Man’s Trial Delayed For the Fifth Time
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City man accused of helping to kill a Nebraska man has been given another starting date for his murder trial.
Thirty-year-old Daniel Levering has pleaded not guilty to the July 23 slaying of 36-year-old Vincent Walker, who lived in Winnebago, Nebraska.
The new date: July 17 in Woodbury County District Court. His other starting dates: Oct. 17, Jan. 23, March 20 and April 17.
Police say Walker was washing his car when he was confronted by three people. Police say the group then assaulted him, with one stabbing him and another hitting him repeatedly with a baseball bat. Walker later died at a Sioux City hospital.
Authorities have not reported the arrests of the two other suspects.
Congressman Blum’s Connections To Business Are Wiped Away
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – U.S. Rep. Rod Blum and the unusual internet marketing firm he founded while in office continue to distance themselves from each other.
Tin Moon recently removed any mention of the Iowa Republican from its website.
The Associated Press reported last month that Blum was one of two directors of the company, founded in 2016.
Tin Moon then removed Blum’s Congressional photo, changed his title from CEO to majority shareholder, and scrubbed a false promotional video featuring Blum’s congressional aide posing as a satisfied customer. Now, Tin Moon’s gone further and removed Blum’s biography.
Blum belatedly disclosed his Tin Moon ties as required by House ethics rules following AP’s report, saying his failure to do so earlier was an oversight.
The company’s president remains Ed Graham, a Blum business partner and political supporter. Graham hung up when reached Thursday.
Tin Moon continues to promise companies help burying Food and Drug Administration warning letters below positive search results.
Democratic Governor Candidate Pulls Out Of Campaign
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A former Des Moines school board member has left the Democratic field of candidates for governor.
The Des Moines Register reports that Jon Neiderbach acknowledged Wednesday that his campaign didn’t really get off the ground, saying in a Facebook post, “I have not garnered the support to justify continuing my campaign.”
The announcement came two days before the deadline for submitting petitions to qualify for the June primary ballot.
Six candidates remain: Nate Boulton, Cathy Glasson, Fred Hubbell, Andy McGuire, John Norris and Ross Wilburn.
The Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, intends to run.
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Judge Postpones Hearing For Youth Basketball Coach
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A judge has postponed a hearing to consider whether an Iowa youth basketball coach should be released from jail pending trial on a child pornography charge.
Former Iowa Barnstormers co-director Greg Stephen had been scheduled to appear in federal court in Cedar Rapids for a detention hearing Thursday.
His defense team asked Wednesday to postpone the hearing until March 21, saying a key witness would be unavailable until then. A judge granted the request.
Stephen was arrested Tuesday by the FBI and charged with knowingly transporting child pornography. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
Investigators allege Stephen admitted to secretly recording adolescent players undressing in a hotel bathroom. He has denied ever making sexual advances toward them.
Stephen’s defense plans to obtain testimony from Luis Rosell, the former sex offender treatment director for the Iowa Department of Corrections.
Investigators Examine Waterloo Fire
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say firefighters have helped three people from a burning house in Waterloo.
The fire was reported a little after 4 a.m. Thursday. Two people who saw the smoke followed it to the home and tried to use a garden house on the flames after they called 911.
At least one of the three occupants was taken to a hospital. Their names haven’t been released.
The fire cause is being investigated.
