Dedication Ceremonies Held For Sioux County Regional Airport
(Maurice) — Iowa’s newest airport, the Sioux County Regional Airport, was dedicated yesterday with a ribbon cutting ceremony along with several prominent leaders from government and businesses acknowledging the economic growth potential of the new airport. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds spoke at the ceremonies, and reiterated her belief that if you dream big
and work hard, you can accomplish anything in Iowa. Reynolds praised Sioux County as a leader in many business aspects.
Reynolds then shared with the estimated crowd of 750 about the many ways Sioux County contributes to the state’s bottom financial line.
Boeing Company’s Chairman, President and CEO, and also Sioux County native Dennis Muilenburg served as the ceremony’s key-note address speaker.
Muilenburg says he flew over the farm where he was raised on his final approach to the new Sioux County Regional Airport. Muilenburg told the gathering of several hundred people that Boeing’s slogan is “The Future is Built Here.” He says that slogan can also apply to the new Sioux County
Regional Airport.
The Boeing Executive then related how his humble beginnings from a Sioux County farm helped him with his career. He also praised the Iowa based companies, including Aim Aerospace of Orange City, for providing products purchased and used by Boeing.
Airport Officials Say New Airport Will Boost Economic Development
(Maurice) –– Following the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Sioux County Regional Airport, airport officials allowed the crowd to take self guided tours of the new $34 million dollar airport facility. Airport Manager Randy Vander Weide believes the new regional airport will certainly
boost the local economy.
Harold Schiebout, airport board chairman, says the growing business climate, along with the use of larger aircraft wanting to come to the area for both
Orange City and Sioux Center were the reasons for having a new airport. He says the existing airports for Sioux Center and Orange City are no longer capable to handle some larger aircraft.
Schiebout says the airport has a runway that stretches more than a mile long and is more than 100 feet in width. Schiebout makes the comparisons to the old Orange City and Sioux Center airports.
The new regional airport also has a taxi way that runs parallel and the length of the runway. The airport board chairman says that is a nice safety feature for the airport.
He says the new airport is also equipped with a lighting system to help pilots better locate the runway during low ceiling or foggy conditions.
With the new opening of the Sioux County Regional airport, both the Orange City and the Sioux Center existing airports are scheduled to close within the next few weeks.
Dull To Retire From Judicial Bench
(Le Mars) — A longtime District Associate judge has announced his retirement. Judge Robert Dull will put down the gavel and hang up his robe at the end of November. Dull was appointed to the bench in 1993, and has served throughout the Third Judicial District with the majority of his assignments for Plymouth, Sioux, and Lyon counties. The public is invited to attend a reception for the retiring judge on Friday, November 30th from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. A small presentation is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. That
reception will be held at the Plymouth County Courthouse inside the District court room.
Minnesota Woman Charged With Stalking Takes Plea Deal
FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Minnesota woman who authorities say sent 696 text messages to a northern Iowa man in April has taken a plea deal.
Winnebago County District Court records say 34-year-old Katie
Christian, of Emmons, Minnesota, filed a written guilty plea Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of stalking. Prosecutors agreed to recommend suspended jail time and two years of probation in return for her plea. The records don’t list a sentencing date.
A criminal complaint says Christian also made 10 phone calls and
went to the man’s Lake Mills house three times in an attempt to make contact with him or his daughter.
Drake University Holds Rally Against Racism
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Thousands of students, staffers and others have rallied in protest of racist notes and robocalls at Drake University in Des Moines.
A police-estimated crowd of 3,500 cheered Wednesday when student speakers said racists aren’t welcome. Several people carried signs condemning the racist acts; others handed out blue buttons that read “Do Better.”
University officials say racist notes were left under the dorm doors of two minority students in the past week, warning them to leave. And officials report that about 250 Drake phones received 75-second robocalls Monday that said African Americans should be “expelled” to Africa.
A university spokesman says police reports will be filed about the
racist notes. Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek (puh-REE’-zihk) says the person or people responsible could be charged with harassment. Any students involved also could face university discipline.
Stabbing Suspect Sentenced To Life In Prison
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines resident has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for breaking into the man’s home and stabbing him to death.
Television station KCCI reports that 20-year-old Magai Anai Kur was sentenced Wednesday. He was convicted in September of robbery and first- degree murder in the September 2017 death of 77-year-old Robert Howe.
Prosecutors said Anai Kur broke into Howe’s home, demanded money and then choked, punched and stabbed Howe when the older man tried to fight back.
Anai Kur was initially charged with robbery and attempted murder, but his charges were upgraded when Howe died from his injuries four months after the attack.
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Grassley and Ernst Appointed To Leadership Positions
(Washington) — Iowa’s two United States Senators will have new leadership roles in the Senate in 2019.
Republican Chuck Grassley has been a member of the United States Senate since January of 1981. It means when the calendar turns over to 2019, Grassley will be Republican with the longest tenure in the senate.
Because of that seniority, Grassley will become the Senate President Pro Tempore. He will be third in the line of succession to the presidency, behind the vice president and the speaker of the U.S. House.
Joni Ernst, Iowa’s other senator, today was elected vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference. She now ranks sixth on the leadership roster for Senate Republicans. She’s the first woman to be elected to Senate GOP leadership since 2010.
Senator Grassley’s staff says it’s been 100 years since an Iowan served as Senate President Pro Tempore.
South Dakota Republican Senator John Thune has been appointed to the position of Majority Whip. Thune has climbed to the second-highest rung on the Senate Republican leadership ladder with a promotion to majority whip.
Thune had served in the No. 3 leadership post as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference since 2012.
Powerball Winner Donates To Veteran Organization
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa woman who shared a nearly $700 million Powerball lottery jackpot has donated $500,000 to a veterans group.
Lerynne (lah-RINN) West announced on the Ellen DeGeneres Show broadcast Wednesday that she gave the money to the Travis Mills Foundation.
The Maine-based organization offers programs for disabled veterans.
Before announcing her gift, West recounted buying the winning ticket at a convenience store in the small Iowa community of Redfield, then leaving it on the floor of her sister’s pickup. After submitting her ticket to officials, she promised to use her winnings to help others.
West says it’s important “that we never forget the sacrifices our
soldiers and families make for our country.”
Robert Bailey of New York City bought the other winning ticket.
