Le Mars Police and Fire Departments Issue 4th Quarter Reports
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Police Department and the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department have recently released their quarterly reports. During the time frame between September 9th through December 16th, the police department had a slight decrease in calls for service, from 3,295 calls a year ago, to 2,996 calls for service this year. The number of complaints investigated also saw a decrease from 292 to 230. Parking tickets nearly doubled with 153 tickets issued during the fourth quarter of 2018, and this year there were 299 parking tickets. There were fewer parking citations this year with 177 compared to last year’s number of 190. Traffic warnings were holding nearly steady, with 593 this year compared with the 602 from last year. Le Mars had fewer traffic accidents compared to last year. During the fourth quarter of 2018, there were 63, and this year the city had 45 accidents during the same time frame. Arrests were higher in 2019 as opposed to 2018. Police officers made 133 arrests a year ago, and this year the number had increased to 179. The community police contacts was higher this year at 496. A year ago, the police department had 431 community contacts. Officer Jaycee Vander Berg graduated from the police academy in November and according to Chief Kevin Vande Vegte, the student resource officer assignment with the area schools is working well.
Fire and Rescue Department Responds To 158 Calls During 4th Quarter
(Le Mars) — As for the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, during the fourth quarter they responded to 36 fire calls, 27 rescue calls, 40 investigations and/or accident clean-ups, and had four mutual aid calls, three times with Merrill and once with Orange City. According to the quarterly report, the fire and rescue department had 51 requests for services. The total number of calls for September, October and November was at 158.
Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office To Participate In Holiday “STEP” Safety Program
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office is participating in the “STEP” program during the holidays. The holiday season is known for celebrations and traditions, but it is also known for being the deadliest season when it comes to drunk and drug-impaired driving. Iowa Law Enforcement across the state will partner with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this holiday season to remove impaired drivers from the roads and help save lives. From December 13, 2019 to January 1, 2020, motorists will see an increased presence of law enforcement.
As we prepare for festivities with family and friends, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau wants to remind all drivers of the dangers of driving impaired. You have to choose your role before the celebration begins. Will you drink, use drugs or will you drive? Remember, even if you have a little bit to drink, you could still be over the legal limit. Whether the drug is legally prescribed or illegal, driving while drug-impaired poses a threat to the driver, vehicle passengers, and other road users. Remember….if you feel different, you drive different!
Sobering Statistics:
*In 2017, 45% of the drivers killed in fatal crashes who were tested for drugs, tested positive.
*According to NHTSA, 885 people lost their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver during the month of December, 2017.
*Despite the fact it’s illegal to drive when impaired by alcohol, in 2017, one person was killed every 48 minutes by a drunk driver on our nation’s roads.
*On average, an OWI could set you back $10,000 in attorney’s fees, fines, court costs, lost time at work, higher insurance rates, car towing and more.
*The financial impact from impaired-driving crashes is devastating. Based on 2010 numbers (the most recent year for which cost data is available), impaired-driving crashes cost the United States $44 billion annually.
*From December 13, 2018 to January 1, 2019, Iowa law enforcement officers arrested 506 impaired drivers. Also during this time frame in Iowa, there were 17 fatal crashes killing 18 people. Four of these seventeen fatal crashes involved an impaired driver.
Bixenman Takes Oath Of Office For Floyd Valley Trustee
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare Trustee Janelle Bixenman was sworn in for office during a ceremony held at the city council chambers Thursday afternoon. Mayor Dick Kirchoff administered the oath. Bixenman was re-elected as a hospital trustee during the November elections.
(photo contributed.)
Nancy Isebrand Honored As “School Employee Of The Month”
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Community School District awarded its “Employee of the Month yesterday (Thursday) afternoon. The High School media instructor, Nancy Isebrand was nominated by High School Principal, Dr. Mark Iverson. In the nomination, Iverson says he wanted to nominate Nancy Isebrand because she serves as co-advisor to the student council, and has taken on the role of prom sponsor, and now teaches the class that makes the graphics and videos for the new scoreboard at the stadium. As co-student council advisor she assists the student council in getting the school ready for homecoming. She is the one that makes sure the gym is decorated, the parade is set up, and the gym is ready for the dance. Her leadership in this role has greatly impacted our students and the success of our homecoming. The biggest reason for the nomination and recognition, writes Iverson, has to do with our video media class. Mrs. Isebrand was learning the material as she was trying to teach it. We did not have a lot of software ready until the scoreboard was installed and fired up. This made it so she had to teach the class and create many of the graphics herself, so we were ready for the first game. She has taken on this task and often times has had to figure it out on her own. She has shown great initiative and has been around to showcase the scoreboard when various groups have visited the stadium. If you were able to attend the homecoming game, you saw the great graphics and sound clips that Mrs. Isebrand and her class put together. Mrs. Isebrand has also done a great job in the library. She has transformed our library to meet the needs of our students. One example is the Maker Space area she created in the old computer lab. Besides being our media expert, I know I can count on her to assist in any way possible. Our congratulations go to Nancy Isebrand for being honored as the Le Mars Community School District’s “Employee of the Month.”
Farm Groups Again Upset With EPA For Changing Rules Relating To Renewable Fuels Standard
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Some farm groups and farm-state lawmakers are expressing anger at the Trump administration over final ethanol rules that they say fail to uphold the president’s promises to the industry. The Environmental Protection Agency has released final renewable fuel standard rules for next year that do not include language President Donald Trump agreed to that would guarantee 15 billion gallons of ethanol is blended into the nation’s gasoline supply. The EPA contends it’s fulfilling the promises. Industry groups say the language in the final rule is too vague and could allow EPA to miss the mandated ethanol requirements. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says she is disappointed with the EPA’s decision.
House of Representatives Pass The Long-Awaited US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement
(Washington) — After months of waiting, the House of Representatives have finally approved the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Many farm groups are pleased, including the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. Iowa Farm Bureau president, Craig Hill says, “The passage of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada-Agreement (USMCA) is a major win for Iowa agriculture and several other industries. Mexico and Canada represent the two largest export destinations for U.S. agriculture, and the passage of USMCA will provide for more freedom in the marketplace, fairer trade, and increased opportunities for Iowa farmers. We appreciate the support from Iowa Reps. Abby Finkenauer, Cindy Axne, Dave Loebsack, and Steve King. Our members hope for swift passage in the U.S. Senate so USMCA can take full effect and promote robust economic growth in agriculture and other sectors.”
Iowa Pork Producers President, Trent Thiele also applauded the actions of the House of Representatives, saying “Exports are important to Iowa and U.S. pig farmers, and that’s why we applaud the U.S. House for taking action to ratify the USMCA agreement negotiated by the Trump Administration.
“Our industry has worked many years in developing valuable international trading relationships that have fueled Iowa’s rural economy and helped offset the U.S. trade deficit. It is important to me and Iowa’s other pig farmers that we return to those good working relationships we have had with Mexico and Canada.”
When combined, the joint Mexico and Canada market has consistently purchased 40 percent of U.S. pork exports when there was a trade agreement between the three countries.
“This agreement will protect Iowa’s pork producers from being caught in the middle, as we were in 2018 and through the first half of 2019. Economic estimates have said we lost $12 per pig during that time period because of tariff issues,” said Thiele.
Iowa’s 4th District Congressman, Republican Steve King called the move a “Christmas present to farmers, and a Christmas present to America.”
State Auditor Investigating Metro Waste Authority
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Auditor Rob Sand says his office has uncovered misuse of at least $1.8 million by a former employee of the Metro Waste Authority. The organization is the trash collection and disposal agency for one county and 16 cities in central Iowa including Des Moines.
Sand said the state auditor’s office was contacted in October 2018 by the MWA executive director who noticed financial irregularities. Sand says an audit has discovered former Director of Operations Jeff Dworek had set up his own company to provide services to MWA without a bidding process and
paid it $1.1 million. Another $458,000 was paid other vendors who paid Dworek kickbacks. He resigned in March 2017. He has not been charged.
Political Watchdog Organization Files Complaint Against Senator Ernst
WASHINGTON (AP) – An election watchdog is filing a complaint alleging than an outside group founded by top political aides to Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst violated campaign finance law in its efforts improve the Republican’s chance of reelection next year. It comes after The Associated Press reported earlier this month that Ernst’s work with the political nonprofit Iowa Values to raise money and build an electoral “firewall” potentially violated
campaign finance and tax law. The complaint by the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center requests that the Federal Election Commission launch an investigation. An attorney represent both Ernst and Iowa Values did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Man Who Burned An LBGTQ Flag Is Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison
NEVADA, Iowa (AP) – A man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for burning an LGBTQ flag that was flying at a church in central Iowa. Story County court records show 30-year-old Adolfo Martinez, of Ames, was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years for the hate crime of arson, as well as a year for the reckless use of explosives or fire, and 30 days for harassment.
The sentences are to be served consecutively. A jury convicted Martinez in November. Martinez has said he burned the flag from the United Church of Christ in Ames because he opposes homosexuality.
