Le Mars Community School Board To Meet This Evening
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education is scheduled to meet this evening, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The school board will hear a report from Graham Forbes with Williams and Company as he shares with the board the
finding from an audit that was conducted on the school district’s finances.
Each of the school principals are scheduled to deliver building reports to the directors of the school board. The school board will discuss the State School Board Convention which is scheduled for this week. While at the state convention, the Le Mars Community Board of Education will receive the Association’s Award of Achievement for the 18th year in a row. The school board will act on three resignations, and one contract. The school board
will also consider the approval of a student-based organization of the Le Mars Community Art Club. The school board will consider disposing of a 2005 school bus by sealed bids, which will be opened on November 26th. The board of education will also consider an updated purchase price for a new Thomas
77-passenger school bus from the original price of $97,412 to $98,662.
Woodbury County Authorities Searching For Suspect In Attempted Abduction
(Sioux City) — The Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a male suspect involved with an attempted child abduction in Bronson. The attempted abduction took place this morning when a male student was walking to the Lawton-Bronson Elementary school. The student described the suspect as a black male in his 30’s or 40’s, with dreadlocks, a mole on his right cheek, clean shaven, wearing a tan colored
coat. The suspect was driving a white van. No make or model is available.
The van left the area after the attempted abduction with no direction of travel. The investigation is continuing and no additional information is being released at this time.
MidAmerican Energy Installing Large Battery System
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (AP) – MidAmerican Energy says it’s installing a battery system that could store enough power to serve around 900 Iowa homes for four hours.
The Des Moines Register reports that Chicago-based Invenergy will install the system, housed in two truck-size steel containers, at a MidAmerican Energy substation in Knoxville. The lithium-iron phosphate system is expected to begin operating by the end of December.
Officials say it will let MidAmerican store for later use energy
produced when the winds are blowing and the sun is shining.
Mike Fehr is MidAmerican Energy vice president of resource development, and he says large scale energy storage has the potential to provide several benefits. It is still in the development stage, “and the economic feasibility on a larger scale is being assessed as well.”
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Family Argument Led To Stabbing Injuries And Arrests
RED OAK, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a 69-year-old woman and her two sons were flown to a Nebraska hospital for treatment after a fight broke out at their home in western Iowa.
Police officers were sent to the Red Oak home around 5:15 p.m. Sunday.
Assistant Police Chief Derrick Walker says the Viola Rinehart’s younger son, Luke Rinehart, intervened when she and her elder son, Kain Rinehart, got into an argument. Walker says Kain grabbed a kitchen knife and attacked his mother and his brother, so she armed herself with a hammer while her younger son, Luke, also got a knife.
Each of them suffered several wounds and were flown to Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Police say Kain Rinehart is being charged with two counts of attempted murder. Online court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.
Dubuque County Supervisors Discussing ATV’s On Roadways
DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) – Nearly half of Iowa’s counties have approved use of all-terrain or utility vehicles for public roadways, and at least one large county is considering joining the trend.
The Telegraph Herald reports that Dubuque County supervisors have been considering the issue since two riding groups approached the board in February seeking access to roads. The vehicles are currently only permitted on county roads for agricultural reasons.
The board created a citizen committee to prepare a report as
supervisors consider an ordinance. Officials expect the report to be ready in January.
Supporters of the vehicles say it will have economic benefits by
attracting riders to the area. Opponents raise safety concerns.
Dubuque County Sheriff Joe Kennedy says he’s worried about the county’s high population compared to smaller counties that allow ATV riding.
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Puppy Mill Seized
NORTHWOOD, Iowa (AP) – Officials say nearly 170 dogs showing signs of neglect in filthy kennels have been seized at an overcrowded puppy mill in northern Iowa’s Worth County.
A news release on the Worth County Sheriff’s Office website says the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took the animals away for medical and other care after deputies served a warrant Monday.
Sheriff Dan Fank didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press.
Officials say the dogs – all Samoyeds – were kept in kennels that
provided minimal protection from the elements and had no access to clean water.
Animal neglect charges are pending.
Congressional Democrats Want To Keep Mueller Investigation Active
WASHINGTON (AP) – Congressional Democrats say they are planning actions to protect special counsel Robert Mueller and his investigation into Russian election meddling from possible efforts by the acting attorney general to undercut it.
President Donald Trump appointed a Republican loyalist, Matthew Whitaker, as acting attorney general after ousting Jeff Sessions. In the past Whitaker has criticized the Russia probe.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats in the House and Senate are going to attempt “to put on must-pass legislation, mainly the spending bill, legislation that would prevent Whitaker from interfering in any way with the Mueller investigation,” Schumer told The Associated Press.
The incoming chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, New York congressman Jerry Nadler, says protecting the Russia probe will be his committee’s top priority.
