Le Mars Can Expect Two Additional Snow Storms This Week
(Le Mars) — Northwest Iowa, including Le Mars, received five inches of snow during this past weekend, and just when people have been able to scoop their way clear, another snow storm is approaching. Jeff Chapman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Services of Sioux Falls says we can expect another
heavy snowfall for this evening and into Wednesday.
Chapman says the first snow flakes may start late this afternoon, but the heavy accumulating snowfall will be later this evening.
Because of the expected snowfall, Plymouth County and northwest Iowa are under a Winter Weather Warning
Chapman says the heaviest of the snowfall will come during the overnight hours into early Wednesday morning.
The weather meteorologist says we will have a day to relax after tonight’s and Wednesday’s storm, but another snow storm that may create blizzard conditions could enter the region heading into the weekend.
Chapman says at this time it may be too soon to accurately predict how much snow we will get for the weekend, but he does say it could be another heavy accumulating snowfall.
Fire Department Asks Residents To Help Keep Hydrants Clear Of Snow
(Le Mars) — With the five inches of snow we received this past weekend, along with the six to seven inches of snow being predicted for this evening and into Wednesday, plus another snow storm scheduled to hit the area for the upcoming weekend, Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper is asking residents
to help keep snow away from the city’s fire hydrants. Many times following a heavy snowfall, fire hydrants can be buried under the snow.
Schipper says there are more than 600 fire hydrants located within the city limits, so his crew can’t clear all hydrants. He is asking residents to clear a path around the hydrant near your home.
Iowa State Patrol Appoints New Director
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Officials have chosen a 22-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol to lead the organization.
The Department of Public Safety announced Tuesday that Capt. Nathan Fulk had been chosen as colonel to lead the state patrol. Fulk, of Ankeny, will be sworn into his new position Friday.
Fulk grew up in southeast Iowa and served in the Marine Corps.
He began working for the Iowa State Patrol in 1997 as a trooper in Solon. He was promoted to sergeant in 2008 and lieutenant in 2013. Most recently, he worked as an area captain in central Iowa.
Fulk will replace Colonel Jeff Ritzman, who retired from leading the state patrol after 36 years at the agency.
Congressman King To Hold Town Hall Meeting At Ida Grove
Washington DC- Congressman Steve King announces that he will be holding a town hall meeting on Saturday, February 23 in Ida County. The event is open to the public and to the media. The town hall will be held from 9:30-10:30 AM Central at the Ida Grove Community Rec Center, located in Ida Grove at 311 Barnes St. This town hall will be the third of the 39 scheduled town halls King will be holding this year.
Drake University To Expand On Harkin Institute
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A nonpartisan public policy research institute has announced plans for an $8 million expansion at Drake University to create more space for public events.
The Des Moines Register reports that the Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement will build a new two-story, 16,000-square-foot building on the campus in Des Moines.
Institute officials say the organization has outgrown its current offices, which house six full-time employees, 15 undergraduate student workers and five research fellows.
The institute says in a news release that it has already raised $6.6 million in private donations for the project. Construction is expected to start this year.
Retired state Sen. Tom Harkin established the institute in 2013 to conduct public policy research and analyze issues including labor and employment, disabilities, retirement security and nutrition.
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Man Already Serving Time For Weapons Charges, Pleads Not Guilty To Murder
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – A man already serving a 25-year federal sentence for weapons crimes has pleaded not guilty to an Iowa charge of first-degree murder.
Floyd County District Court records say 27-year-old Armando Adame III also entered a written plea Monday of not guilty to a state weapons charge.
His trial is scheduled to begin April 30.
He’s accused of shooting to death 28-year-old Michael Johns. Johns was reported missing Oct. 26, 2017, from Grundy Center. His body was found Dec. 1 that year at a rural intersection about 10 miles south of Charles City.
Adame was sentenced in October last year for the federal weapons crimes.
Woman Sentenced To Life In Prison For Death Of Infant Son
NEW HAMPTON, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa woman whose infant son’s lifeless body was found in a baby swing has been imprisoned for life without possibility of parole.
Court records say 22-year-old Cheyanne Harris was sentenced Tuesday in New Hampton to the state-mandated penalty, and her request for a new trial was denied. A jury found her guilty Feb. 6 of first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death.
The charges stem from the death of 4-month-old Sterling Koehn, whose body was found Aug. 30, 2017, in a maggot-infested diaper at an apartment in Alta Vista. The swing was in a sweltering bedroom.
An autopsy shows he died of malnutrition, dehydration and an E. coli infection.
The baby’s father, Zachary Koehn, also has been sentenced to life in prison. The trial was held at the Plymouth County Courthouse in Le Mars due to a change of venue.
