Zenk Decides Not To Seek Re-election To School Board
(Le Mars) — Another school board member has decided not to seek re-election. Fred Zenk made the announcement during the school board meeting held Monday evening. Zenk joins Patrick Murphy as current school board directors who have decided not to seek re-election. Zenk, represents District 5. He has served eight years on the Le Mars Community Board of Education. Angela Catton, an at-large director, and Jane Arnold, who
represents District 3 have both stated they plan to seek re-election to the local board of education.
Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputy Dies Following Accident
(Rock Rapids) — Tragic news from Lyon County as it was announced yesterday the Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputy involved with that auto accident that happened on August 9th has now died. Deputy Stephanie Schreurs was the driver involved in the single-vehicle accident. Schreurs was unable to control her vehicle as she missed a sharp curve sending the vehicle off the
roadway, and rolling several times. Schreurs was a 24-year veteran of the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office. The Iowa State Patrol is still conducting an investigation of that accident.
Secondary Roads Department To Install Culvert
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Secondary Roads Department will be closing 120th Street from Mahogany Avenue to Marble Avenue beginning today for the replacement of a wooden bridge with a box culvert. Road officials estimate the road will remain closed until August 29th.
Branstad Comments About China Trade Dispute
(Des Moines) — One of the many thousands of visitors to the Iowa State Fair on Monday was Ambassador to China, and former Iowa Governor, Terry Branstad.
I spoke with Branstad about the on-going trade dispute between the United States and China.
Democratic Presidential Candidate Pete Buttigieg Speaks At Iowa State Fair
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg (BOO’-tuh-juhj) says rural Americans embrace immigration when they see it as the solution to their employment needs and a shrinking population.
The South Bend, Indiana, mayor discussed his rural economic policy proposal with reporters Tuesday while taking a walk through the Iowa State Fair. His proposal calls for towns and counties, and not just corporations, to be able to seek employment visas.
Buttigieg says if residents are part of the decision to invite
immigrants to their communities, “it does change the way we look at things,” and they are less likely to fear outsiders.
Buttigieg has embarked on a three-day trip through Iowa, including rural counties carried by Democrat Barack Obama in 2008 and Republican Donald Trump in 2016.
Homeless Man Who Killed Iowa State University Golfer Says He Is Sorry
AMES, Iowa (AP) – The homeless man who pleaded guilty to killing a former Iowa State golfer has told a judge that he’s sorry for his crime.
A handwritten letter from 22-year-old Collin Richards says he wanted to show remorse “for stripping a life from society … worse from a loving family.” The letter was filed Tuesday into court records.
Richards is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 23 to life in prison.
Police say he killed 22-year-old Celia Barquín Arozamena, stabbing her last September while she was playing on a course near the campus in Ames, leaving her body in a pond. Richards had been staying at a homeless encampment in nearby woods.
Barquín Arozamena was a top golfer in Spain as a teenager and came to Iowa State to pursue her career.
Anhydrous Ammonia Leak At Collins, Iowa
COLLINS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in central Iowa say crews have stopped a leak that sent plumes of dangerous anhydrous ammonia into an area around Collins.
Hazardous materials crews were called around 11 a.m. Tuesday to Landus Cooperative, where a 30,000-gallon tank of anhydrous ammonia leaked.
The Story County Sheriff’s Office says first responders immediately evacuated an area in the southeast corner of Collins.
A news release by the sheriff’s office says the leak was contained
around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday and the evacuation order lifted. No injuries were reported.
Anhydrous ammonia is a farm fertilizer that is stored under pressure as a liquid, but becomes a lethal, suffocating gas when released from pressure. Even thin fumes can cause breathing difficulty and irritation to eyes, nose or throat.
Des Moines Lawyer Appointed To Head Up Civil Rights Commission
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines lawyer working for Iowa Workforce Development as an administrative law judge has been named the new director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission.
Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday she appointed Elizabeth Johnson of Altoona to head the commission responsible for enforcing state civil rights laws designed to prohibit discrimination in employment, public accommodations and education.
Johnson was a civil rights specialist at the commission before she
took her current job.
She begins Aug. 26 as commission executive director, a job subject to Iowa Senate confirmation.
The commission’s interim director Linda Grathwohl left on July 25
without giving a reason other than planning to return to a position at Iowa Legal Aid.
The previous permanent commission executive Kristin Johnson had the job for 3 1/2 years. She resigned Jan. 2 as Reynolds began her first full term as governor.
Ponca Tribe Wins Battle In Casino Fight
CARTER LAKE, Iowa (AP) – The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska has scored another legal win in its fight to keep its casino in western Iowa open.
U.S. District Judge Stephanie Rose on Monday rejected motions in a lawsuit by the states of Iowa and Nebraska and the Iowa city of Council Bluffs seeking to derail the casino. The motions sought to amend Rose’s order earlier this year in which she required the National Indian Gaming Commission to revisit its 2017 ruling giving the tribe the right to build the Prairie Flower Casino on land it owns in Carter Lake.
Attorneys for Nebraska, Iowa and Council Bluffs had wanted the judge to declare that her order had vacated the commission’s 2017 ruling, which likely would have required the casino to shut down as litigation dragged on.
Maquoketa City Leaders To Help New Company Despite Not Knowing Much About The Company
MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) – The leaders of an eastern Iowa city have promised to work with a company they know little about – including its name – but that could bring up to 200 new manufacturing jobs to town.
The Telegraph Herald reports that city of Maquoketa leaders signed a nonbinding letter of intent to the company that says that if Maquoketa were chosen for the project, city leaders will propose a development agreement.
The objective is to have that agreement in place “within the next 120 days, if not sooner.”
Nic Hockenberry is director of Jackson County Economic Alliance, and Hockenberry says “this isn’t usually how it works if you’re being considered for a site, but we take all inquiries seriously.”
The city would provide the land and help install utilities to the
site, if the city were chosen.
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