Home News Wednesday News, February 13th

Wednesday News, February 13th

Le Mars Bank Robbers Face Federal Charges

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – Federal charges have been filed against two Sioux City residents accused of robbing the Iowa State Bank of Le Mars.

U.S. district court records say Phillip White and Karen Merrick are charged with bank robbery. Prosecutors say White robbed Iowa State Bank in Le Mars on Dec. 12 and Merrick drove a U-Haul van as the getaway vehicle. Officers managed to flatten the van’s tires and arrest the pair.

The two already have pleaded not guilty to robbery and other charges in the state cases, which have been dropped in favor of the federal prosecution. The next federal hearing for them is scheduled for Feb. 20. According to court documents, White says he robbed the bank in order to pay off a debt of $5,000 or he would have needed to deliver a pound of methamphetamine.

White                                       Merrick

 

 

Le Mars Community Board of Education Approves Waiver Application For Physical Education Program

(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community Board of Education approved Monday evening an application to be submitted to the Iowa Department of Education requesting a waiver for the Le Mars Community High School Physical Education program. High School principal, Dr. Mark Iverson informed the school board the school wishes to change the physical education program from a semester program to a tri-mester program. Iverson says, if approved, students would have Physical Education classes each day, as opposed to every other day. Iverson talks about the reasons for the waiver requests.

Iverson says by going to a tri-mester plan, the classes will have fewer students per class, without the need to hire an additional faculty member. Iverson says by having the Le Mars Community having a tri-mester physical education, it would actually mean the students would spend more time with physical activity.

Iverson described to the school board a typical scenario involving the Le Mars High School Physical Education program.

The school board approved the application for the waiver. In other action, the school board also approved the resignations and contracts. School superintendent Dr. Steven Webner pointed out to the school board’s attention that seven long-time teachers will seek early retirement at the conclusion of the 2018-2019 school year.

 

 

Jeneary Introduces “Green Alert” Bill In State Legislature

(Des Moines) — You’ve heard about “Amber Alert” which notifies the public when a child is missing, or has been abducted. Now a state House Veterans sub-committee is looking at creating a “Green Alert.” Le Mars’ state representative Dr. Tom Jeneary serves on the House Veterans Committee and is introducing that legislation.

Jeneary says he anticipates a companion bill entitled “Silver Alert Bill” will also be introduced. He says the “silver alert bill” pertains to senior citizens or other individuals that may suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of dementia, and are reported as missing or have wandered away from a family’s care, or a health care nursing facility.

Jeneary says the sub-committee will meet this week to discuss the bill. He says the subcommittee welcomes any public comments. Jim Jones serves as Plymouth County’s Veteran’s Affairs Director. He says veterans would welcome such a bill.

Jones says other states have already introduced similar legislation.

 

 

Reynolds Says She Favors Permits For Gun Owners

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she favors current state law that requires gun holders to obtain a permit but is monitoring a legislative proposal to eliminate the requirement to obtain a permit to buy or carry a handgun.

Reynolds, when asked Tuesday about the bill moving its way through the Senate committee process, said when she was in the Senate she voted for the 2010 bill that updated the state’s gun permit process, which includes background checks and requires weapons training.

She says background checks are needed but she’s watching the current bill that would do away with permits to see how it develops.

Supporters of the proposal say requiring permits and fees to own a gun contradicts the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Opponents say it’s dangerous to eliminate permits and the accompanying background checks for gun show and person-to-person handgun sales.

The Republican governor says she doesn’t have a permit to carry a handgun but would like to get one when she finds the time.

 

 

Senator Ernst Pays Back Tax Credit

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst has repaid $1,900 to the Office of Tax and Revenue after a newspaper questioned her about a tax break she had been claiming on her condo in Washington for years.

The Des Moines Register , which brought the issue to Ernst’s attention, reports that she wrote a check to the agency’s Washington, D.C. office last week.

An Ernst spokesman says the homestead tax credit claim was made in error and immediately returned when it was brought to the senator’s attention.

The credit only applies to a homeowner’s primary residence, and Washington’s homestead tax application instructions specify that Congressional members are generally ineligible.

Public records show Ernst had claimed the exemption in Washington and Iowa since 2016.

It’s unclear if Ernst will face any penalty for the claim.

 

 

Pork Producers Watch The Progression Of A Foreign Disease

(Le Mars) — The Iowa Pork Producers Association, along Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a series of regional conferences in February focusing on foreign pork diseases and trade tariffs.
Pork producers are concerned about a disease that is making its way around the world. It is called African Swine Fever, and fortunately, it has not yet entered the United States, and officials with the pork industry hopes it stays away. In the meantime, pork producers are learning more about the disease for if it ever does strike the U-S pork industry. Dr. Chris Rademacher, Iowa State University Swine Veterinarian will update producers about the disease.

Rademacher explains why U-S pork producers should be concerned the disease is in China.

The Iowa State University Swine Veterinarian says the disease has many symptoms that appear as other familiar pig diseases. Rademacher says the problem with African Swine Fever is that there isn’t yet a cure or vaccination against the disease.

The Northwest Iowa Regional Pork Conference is scheduled for next Monday, February 18th at the Northwest Iowa Community College at Sheldon. The conference will begin at 1:00 p.m. To register, or to obtain additional information, pork producers can contact their local extension offices.

 

 

Authorities Investigate Death Of Dozens Of Starved Cattle

OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) – South-central Iowa authorities are investigating after dozens of head of cattle were found starved to death on property near Osceola.

The Des Moines Register reports that the farmer who was supposed to be caring for the cattle could face charges. The Clarke County Sheriff’s Office says about 40 to 50 dead cattle were found Friday on a property about 4 miles west of Osceola. Chief Deputy Lucas Darby says a local veterinarian told authorities the animals appeared to have starved to death.

Darby says the farmer was tending to the property but did not own the land on which the cattle were found. Officials say someone reported the dead animals to authorities.

Osceola is about 50 miles south of Des Moines.

 

 

University Heights Passes Resolution To Forbid Racial Profiling 

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Iowa (AP) – A city surrounded by Iowa City has banned racial and other types of profiling by police officers.

The University Heights City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to adopt the ordinance.

The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the ordinance is the first of its kind in Iowa. It requires anti-bias training for officers, funds the purchase of data collection and creates a complaint review board.

City officials say there are no cases involving profiling being investigated by the city, but they want to be ahead of the curve by passing the ordinance.

University Heights has about 1,100 residents and sits on the southwest side of the University of Iowa in Iowa City.