Ice Covered Roads Leave Many Motorists Stranded
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Communications Center, as a part of the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office say they received 18 reports yesterday from motorists who had either gone into the ditch, or were stranded on the roadway because they couldn’t get enough traction to make it up a hill due to the ice that covered Plymouth County roads. The Communications Center
believes there may have been other motorists that were stranded due to the ice but never reported to the county. As of this morning, several area schools, including all the Plymouth County schools are starting at least 2 hours late. The Iowa Department of Transportation says the highways in northwest Iowa are listed as seasonal roadway conditions, however, many snow plows are applying sand, salt, and de-icer solvents on the highways.
Authorities urge motorists to slow down and allow some extra time for your morning destination.
Jeneary Appointed To Vice Chairman Of House Natural Resources Committee
(DES MOINES) – House Speaker Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) recently announced that Rep. Tom Jeneary (R-Le Mars) will serve as the Vice Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee during the 88th General Assembly.
Jeneary was recently elected to his first term in the Iowa House earlier this month.
Speaker Upmeyer says, “We are thrilled to welcome Representative-elect Jeneary to the Iowa House. I am certain that he will be a strong leader for his constituents. As Vice Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, I am
confident he will quickly learn the ropes and make preserving Iowa’s natural resources a top priority.”
House Speaker Linda Upmeyer (R-Clear Lake) also announced that Rep. Dan Huseman (R-Aurelia) will serve as the Vice Chairman of the House Labor Committee during the 88th General Assembly.
“Rep. Huseman is a strong leader and will continue to make Iowa’s workforce a top priority. I am confident that he will excel in this role,” said Speaker Upmeyer.
Upmeyer has also appointed Orange City Republican House Member, Skyler Wheeler to serve as the Chairman of the House Economic Growth Committee during the 88th General Assembly.
Wheeler says, he “wants to thank Speaker Upmeyer for her vote of confidence in to chair a committee.” Representative Wheeler says he is “excited to chair this committee and take a hard look at issues such as our workforce, regulatory reform, and ways to spur economic growth not only around the state, but specifically in rural Iowa.”
Wheeler most recently served as Vice Chairman of the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capitals Budget Subcommittee.
The legislative session begins Monday, January 14, 2019.
Donlin Says Good Bye To Floyd Valley Healthcare
(Le Mars) — Friday, November 30th marks the final day for Mike Donlin’s tenure as the administrator and C-E-O for Floyd Valley Healthcare of Le Mars. The local hospital official began his career at Floyd Valley in the summer of 1998. Donlin says he was searching for a career position following his time with the U-S Navy. Donlin recalls the interview process, and he was impressed with the local hospital and its medical staff, and with
the community of Le Mars.
Donlin says it was his goal, ever since coming to Le Mars, to become active with the community.
Donlin’s community involvement went beyond his duties at the hospital.
Donlin was asked to serve as chairman of the Le Mars Community Betterment Foundation, an organization assigned to raise money for “Quality of Life” projects for Le Mars, and he serves on the board of directors for the Le Mars Dialysis Center.
Under Donlin’s leadership, Floyd Valley Healthcare has expanded its facilities, merged with the medical clinic, renovated the emergency rooms, expanded the assisted living care facility, and expanded the medical staff and health care services. Floyd Valley has been recognized nationally, many times, as being one of the top 20 hospitals for critical access care.
Donlin credits the team concept for having been the recipient of several prestigious awards and honors.
Donlin intends to remain at Le Mars following his retirement. A Chamber After 5 event is scheduled for Friday at Floyd Valley Healthcare to pay tribute to Mike Donlin for his service to Floyd Valley and the community, and at the same time to welcome Donlin’s successor, Dustin Wright who will assume the duties of Administrator and C-E-O of Floyd Valley Healthcare.
Floyd Valley Healthcare Auxiliary Preparing For Christmas Goodie Sale Scheduled For Saturday
(Le Mars) — The Floyd Valley Auxiliary is getting prepared for their annual Christmas Goodie sale scheduled for Saturday morning at the conference rooms of Floyd Valley Healthcare. Ruth Farley serves as the chairperson for the Goodie Sale.
Farley reminds volunteers that the Christmas Goodie Sale is also a time in which you can re-new or start your membership with the Floyd Valley Healthcare Auxillary.
Farley explains the proceeds from the Christmas Goodie Sale will go to help purchase a new 3-D Mammogram scanner machine.
The Floyd Valley Healthcare Auxiliary official reminds people to get to the sale at an early hour.
Farley says shoppers will also want to stop by the hospital’s gift shop for some great deals on Christmas gift items.
Farley says the hospital auxiliary is also offering a rummage sale
containing items that were used for the omelet breakfast.
Farley says the hospital auxiliary is still accepting donated baked goods, and candies.
Those items for sale should be delivered to the Floyd Valley Healthcare’s conference rooms.
Iowa Farm Bureau Members To Focus On Trade During State Convention
(Le Mars) — Iowa’s largest farm organization will gather in Des Moines next week for its 100th state annual convention.
Delegates and members from each county of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation will meet on December 4th and 5th to celebrate the century anniversary of the Iowa Farm Bureau. Craig Hill of Milo, Iowa, serves as the organization’s president. Hill predicts many farmers will discuss the on-going trade war with the tariffs that have hurt farmer’s incomes. U-S U-S
Ambassador of Agriculture Trade, Gregg Doud is scheduled to speak at the annual meeting.
Hill says Iowa Farm Bureau members and other farmers are hopeful that a fair agreement can soon be reached between the United States and China. Hill says it’s in both nations’ best interest to begin trade relations again. He says farmers want to get the trade war behind us, since trade is so important to agriculture.
Another topic likely to be discussed according to the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation president is the on-going debate of the Farm Bill, which officially expired at the end of September. Hill says money is still being allocated for the various programs within the farm bill. However, he says action needs to take place by Congress for a new farm legislation by December 7th.
Catholic Diocese Assisting Priest Who Was Arrested
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Roman Catholic diocese is defending its decision to continue employing a priest who told police he was trying to rape a woman when he was arrested semi-naked in an Iowa mall in 2013.
The Diocese of Sioux City on Wednesday acknowledged the 5-year-old arrest of the Rev. Jeremy Wind, describing it as a “mental health episode” from which he recovered.
Police reports obtained by The Associated Press show Wind was
meeting with a parishioner at a Sioux Center bakery in December 2013 when he began behaving erratically.
He eventually took off his pants, shoes and socks and chased the
woman. She locked herself in her car while Wind pounded on her window. She eventually drove off.
Police arrested Wind at a mall after he punched an officer. Wind
later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.
California Woman Pleas Guilty To Drug Conspiracy Charges
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A California woman who pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge has been sentenced in Iowa to three years in a federal prison.
Prosecutors say 36-year-old Janeth Pineda, of Chula Vista,
California, was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.
She’d pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
She admitted in her plea agreement that she opened bank accounts in Iowa from summer 2013 through August 2014 so her husband’s drug customers could deposit payments to him. Prosecutors say her husband, Michael Pineda, headed an operation that took methamphetamine from California to Iowa.
Prosecutors say Michael Pineda is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering.
Iowa Man Sentenced To 30 Years For Drug Charges
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for the drug overdose deaths of two people in Illinois.
Federal prosecutors in Iowa say 50-year-old Larry Lazzez Bolden, of Davenport, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty in June to distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death. There is no parole in the federal system.
Investigators say that on various dates in December 2016 and January 2017, Bolden distributed heroin containing morphine and fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, to people who then sold the drugs to others at a Davenport hotel. Officials say one person died on Jan. 20, 2017, in Rock Island, Illinois, after ingesting the drug. Another person died nine days later in
Moline, Illinois, after using it.
Police Investigate Found Pipe Bombs
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) – Police in central Iowa are investigating after they say they found homemade pipe bombs following a traffic stop in Marshalltown.
Authorities say 48-year-old Timothy Andrew Kluck has been charged with being a felon in possession of an offensive weapon and other counts.
Police say Kluck was stopped earlier this week on suspicion of driving with a suspended license when officers discovered a pipe bomb in his vehicle.
Police say a search of his home turned up another pipe bomb and other bomb-making materials, as well as drug paraphernalia.
Marshalltown police Sgt. Brian Batterson tells television station
KCRG that police don’t know Kluck’s intent for the bombs. Police are going through Kluck’s electronic devices to try to find out why he made them.
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Man Sentenced To Prison For Bank Fraud
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa man has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for bilking a bank out of more than $850,000.
Federal prosecutors for Iowa say 63-year-old David Giannetto, of
Marion, was sentenced Wednesday in Cedar Rapids’ federal courthouse to 27 months in prison. He also was ordered to pay restitution. He had pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud in May.
Officials say Giannetto had operated a freight business and created more than 600 fake invoices over two years that he used to secure more than $850,000 in loans from the bank.
Giannetto was unable to repay the loans before closing his business and declaring bankruptcy.
Foster Homes Being Investigated
CLARINDA, Iowa (AP) – Two Iowa departments say they’re investigating complaints of restraints, assault and sexual abuse at a foster home and treatment facility for troubled youths from Iowa and other states.
The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa’s Human Services and
Inspections and Appeals departments are looking into the allegations against Clarinda Academy in Clarinda and into any problems at Woodward Academy in the central Iowa community of Woodward. Both are owned by Alabama-based
Sequel Youth and Family Services.
A federally mandated protection and advocacy organization in the state of Washington alleged earlier this year that foster children were being held against their will at the Clarinda facility, were subjected to excessive restraint and were verbally abused.
Sequel Executive Vice President Steve Gilbert told the newspaper
that Iowa officials completed their on-site audit in September at Clarinda, “noted no deficiencies and renewed our full licensure status.”
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