Le Mars Police Wants Everyone To Be Safe For Halloween
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department is encouraging everyone to be safe during the upcoming Halloween trick or treating night. The Le Mars Police Department have available, for free, bright yellow-colored plastic bags to be used for trick and treating. The bags offer safety tips for the little ghosts and goblins and their parents. Because the bags are bright yellow, the bags provide an additional safety factor as motorists should be able to see the bags during the evening hours of Halloween. Parents can stop by the Le Mars Police Department offices located on 5th Avenue NW, on Business Highway 75, and can pick up the free bags. The free trick or treat bags are available now through Thursday. Police Chief Kevin Vander Vegte says everyone needs to be especially alert in the residential
areas during Halloween.
Vande Vegte reminds motorists to “expect the unexpected”, and to slow down.
The Police Chief says it will be busy throughout the entire town of Le Mars, but he says Central Avenue has always been the center of Halloween activity.
As for the trick and treaters, Vande Vegte says they should remain visible.
Although Le Mars doesn’t have a designated set time for trick or treating, Vande Vegte suggests children stop by 8:00 p.m. For those residents that don’t want to be bothered during the Halloween festivities, Vande Vegte says simply shut off your porch light.
The police chief reminds parents to check all the candy before allowing their children to consume it.
Two People Arrested For Multiple Burglaries Around Marcus
(Cherokee) — The Marcus Police Department along with the CherokeeCounty Sheriff’s Office received multiple reports of burglaries and thefts occurring in Marcus and the surrounding areas, between October 11th and October 17th. These incidents included reports of Burglaries to businesses, automobiles as well as Thefts from multiple windmill sites. As a result, the
Marcus Police Department and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint investigation. During the early morning hours on Sunday, October 20th the Marcus Police Department and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on a vehicle determined to be involved in these incidents.
During the execution of this search warrant, officers located stolen property related to the burglaries and thefts. Later on Sunday, October 20th, Officers executed a second search warrant at 204 N Locust St. During the execution of this search warrant, officers recovered stolen property, burglary tools, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
As a result of this investigation, Andrew Bock, 34 years old of Marcus was arrested on charges filed by the Marcus Police and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office for:
Ongoing Criminal Conduct, a class B Felony, Money Laundering, a class C Felony, Criminal Mischief 1st Degree, a class C Felony, Burglary 3rd Degree, a class D Felony (3 Counts), Theft 2nd Degree, a class D Felony, Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree, a class D Felony, Possession of Methamphetamine 3rd Offense, a class D Felony, Possession of Marijuana 3rd Offense, a class D Felony, Theft 3rd Degree, an Aggravated Misdemeanor, Prohibited Acts, an Aggravated Misdemeanor and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.
Andrew Bock
On Friday, October 25th, Allen Mittrucker, 36 years old of Sioux City was arrested on warrant issued for his arrest connected to these incidents.
Mittrucker was charged with: Ongoing Criminal Conduct, a class B Felony, Money Laundering, a class C Felony, Criminal
Mischief 1st Degree, a class C Felony, Burglary 3rd Degree, a class D Felony (2 Counts),
Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, a class D Felony, Sex Offender Registry Violation 2nd Offense, Theft 2nd Degree, a class D Felony, Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree, a class D Felony, and Theft 3rd Degree, an Aggravated Misdemeanor.
The Marcus Police Department and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office were assisted by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office during the course of this investigation.
Allen Mittrucker
L.E.E.P Official Announces No MenuMasters Event For 2020
(Le Mars) — During last evening’s Le Mars Community Board of Education meeting, Lynn Baumgarter, president of the Le Mars Enhanced Education Project, or L.E.E.P. announced to the school board that there will not be a MenuMaster’s event for 2020. MenuMasters has been active for eight years.
It served as the major fundraising activity for L.E.E.P. which in turn raised money for teachers to use for textbooks or other school supplies.
Baumgartner informed the school board more than $268,000 has been raised for the Le Mars Community School District during the existence of MenuMasters.
She says there is still more than $60,000 in the LEEP account which will sustain any request from teachers for the next two years. Baumgartner says they need to find a good group of ladies, or gentlemen, to take over the program. Baumgartner says she and the other organizers are sad to take a
year off. Baumgartner submitted a check amounting to $22,036.04 to School Superintendent Dr. Steven Webner and School Board Vice President, Scott Kommes during Tuesday’s school board meeting. The money is from the past MenuMasters event.
Student Enrollment Drops At Le Mars Community School District
(Le Mars) — It was reported last evening at the school board meeting, the certified student enrollment at Le Mars Community has dropped from last year.
Curriculum Director, Rachel Leavitt informed the school board, the enrollment has fallen by 46 students. The official enrollment is listed at 2207.08 students. This is only the second drop in student enrollment for the last ten years. As far as open enrollment, Le Mars Community has 81 students attending Le Mars, primarily from MMCRU,
Akron-Westfield and Hinton. Out-going open enrollment has 104 students that have left the school district.
Le Mars FFA Requests A Greenhouse For Future Learning Opportunities
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community High School Agriculture Programs, under the direction of Danielle James, gave a report to the school board last evening.
During their report, three members of the local FFA chapter told the school board all of their activities during the past year, using “hands on” educational methods. They mentioned about the success of the hydroponics program which involved growing produce which was then given to the school’s cafeteria to be used in the salads at the salad bar. During their report, they also made a request to the school board to consider in the future, to construct a green house to be used for additional learning opportunities. The group thought they may be eligible for a grant to help offset the cost of the greenhouse. A specific location has yet to be determined.
Plymouth County Board of Supervisors To Discuss Regional Mental Health During Meeting
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will meet at the county courthouse board room today to discuss a request from the Powder Players Snowmobile Club. The county supervisors will discuss construction projects with County Engineer Tom Rohe. They will also hear a report from Shane
Walter, the CEO of the Sioux Rivers Mental Health Regional Organization.
The supervisors have scheduled to hold a closed session to discuss real estate purchase. The county board will also hold a public hearing on a proposed road vacation.
Authorities Investigate Suspicious Death And Home Fire
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Authorities are investigating a suspicious death in a home that caught fire in northwestern Iowa.
The Sioux City Journal reports that the home that burned Sunday was owned by David Davenport, a longtime real estate agent and developer who died of a stroke Friday at the age of 66.
Woodbury County Sheriff Dave Drew declined to offer additional information about the investigation. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is also looking into the matter.
Sergeant Bluff and Sioux City firefighters responded to the fire at 8:30 a.m. on the outskirts of Sioux City.
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Malpractice Lawsuit Is Delayed
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa educator who spent years in prison in a sex abuse case that was later dismissed will have to wait to seek damages in a lawsuit against the public defender who allegedly botched his representation.
A three-justice panel of the Iowa Supreme Court has taken the rare step of granting the state’s pre-trial appeal in a lawsuit filed by Donald Clark.
The move cancelled a legal malpractice trial set to begin Tuesday in Johnson County in which Clark was seeking millions in damages from the state. A single justice had earlier denied the state’s appeal.
Clark’s lawyer says the unintended impact is cruel to his client, delaying an outcome by years.
Clark, a former counselor at Lemme Elementary in Iowa City, was convicted in 2010 of abusing a student during the 2003 school year.
Clark was freed in 2016 after a judge ruled that his now-deceased public defender provided ineffective assistance. The alleged victim admitted to some false testimony and the county prosecutor’s office dropped the case. Clark maintains his innocence.
The high court will now consider when defense lawyers can be sued for malpractice.
