Seven Year Old Is “Junior Deputy of the Day”
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office has added a new deputy to their staff…at least for a day. Seven year old Boston Kneip, the son of Troy and Noelle Kniep of Le Mars was given the opportunity to be the “Junior Deputy”. Boston was able to become the “Junior Deputy of the Day” on Wednesday through a silent auction fund raising activity from the Floyd Valley Healthcare. The Le Mars Police Department had a similar program last year with their “Officer of the Day.” Chief Deputy Jeff TeBrink says he visited with Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte to gain some ideas and insight, and then created their own program. TeBrink helped coordinate the
program and explains what was involved.
Troy Kneip, Boston’s father, says his son has always showed some interest in law enforcement and has indicated he wants to be a police officer or sheriff’s deputy when he grows up.
Noelle Kniep says the Junior Deputy award was a birthday gift for the seven year old.
Noelle expressed her gratitude for making her son’s birthday gift one that he will long remember.
Boston’s grandparents, Noelle’s parents were also at the law enforcement center to share with the special birthday gift of “Junior Deputy for the Day”.
Floyd Valley Healthcare Board Of Trustees Elect Officers
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare Board of Trustees held its annual meeting Tuesday evening and elected new officers for 2020. Ralph Klemme of Le Mars was elected chairman of the board of trustees. Vice Chair honors went to Danna Schuster, Janelle Bixenman is the Board Secretary, Craig Bauerly will serve as treasurer, and William Young is the past chair. All
of the trustees are residents of Le Mars.
Floyd Valley Healthcare Board of Trustees. From left to right: Craig Bauerly, Danna Schuster, Janelle Bixenman, William Young, and Ralph Klemme.
Primebank Donates To Gehlen Catholic
(Le Mars) –On Tuesday evening, during Gehlen Varsity Basketball games, Primebank presented Gehlen Catholic with the 2019 proceeds from the Primebank, Gehlen Catholic Visa® credit card program.
Primebank, Le Mars President Josh Kovarna, Vice President Cole Sitzmann, (Gehlen class of ’03), Assistant Vice President Jordan Sitzmann (Gehlen Class of’10), Customer Service Representative Kelli (Ruhland, class of ’78) Langel presented a check to Gehlen Catholic in the amount of $3,069.97.
Over the last 19 years, Primebank has donated a percentage of total purchases made using the Gehlen Catholic Visa credit card to the school.
With this year’s gift, Primebank has donated $59,505.94 through the program.
Amy Jungers, Development Director at Gehlen Catholic, says “Our 19 year partnership with Primebank has been a blessing for our school. The commitment they have shown by donating close to $60,000 speaks volumes about their dedication to education and Gehlen Catholic.”
Proceeds from the card are used to enhance Gehlen Catholic’s local scholarship program, assuring a focus on “Excellence in Education, Leadership Through Christ.” to low and middle-income students.
Josh Kovarna, Primebank, Le Mars President says “Primebank is pleased to offer the Primebank, Gehlen Catholic Visa credit card program.” Kovarna continued, “Primebank has always supported educational opportunities in Le Mars and we are proud to provide this ongoing support to Gehlen Catholic.”
Kovarna says, “I encourage friends of Gehlen Catholic to participate in this program because the school benefits when cardholders simply make normal, every-day purchases with their Gehlen Visa credit card.”
Third Person Dies From Sioux City House Fire
(Sioux City) — A third person who was pulled from a Sioux City house fire has now died.
Twenty-six-year-old Juan Galarza is the latest victim of the fire on February 6th. The fire earlier claimed the lives of 57-year-old Andrew Godberson and 24-year-old Jessica Fisher of Sioux City. It is the deadliest fire in Sioux City since three people died in a house fire in 1983.
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.
Governor Reynolds Launches “Invest In Iowa Act” With News Conference And Town Hall Meetings
(Des Moines) — Governor Kim Reynolds is holding town hall meetings around the state to build support for her “Invest in Iowa Act.” The plan would raise the state sales tax, lower other taxes and dedicate more money for water quality initiatives and the state’s mental health system.
Details were released in bill form last week. Reynolds held a news conference Wednesday with representatives of groups that were involved in the negotiations that developed the plan.
Representative John Wills of Spirit Lake, the third-ranking Republican in the Iowa House, calls the plan “bold” — but he says it may not stay intact as it works its way through the legislature.
Reynolds traveled to Oskaloosa and Ottumwa on Wednesday afternoon to meet with Iowans about the plan.
Reynolds Refuses To Comment On Glenwood Resource Center Situation
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds isn’t commenting on accusations made against state officials in a federal lawsuit involving sexual arousal experiments performed on residents of a state care center for people with intellectual disabilities. Two doctors and other former employees of Glenwood Resource Center sued a state agency and several
officials Monday alleging conspiracy to silence complaints about sexual arousal research conducted by Jerry Rea. Rea is the former superintendent of the center. Reynolds says she can’t comment on the lawsuit. She wouldn’t answer questions about when she learned of experimentation on patients and
how much of Rea’s background was checked before he was hired.
Iowa Democratic Party Chair Resigns Amid Caucus Controversy
WASHINGTON (AP) – The chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party has resigned after a disastrous caucus process beset by technical glitches led to a dayslong delay in reporting the results, inconsistencies in the numbers and no clear winner. Chairman Troy Price announced his resignation Wednesday, saying Iowa Democrats deserved better than what happened on caucus night.
After a breakdown in the Feb. 3 caucuses, it took until Feb. 6 for the state party to issue what it said are complete results. In those figures, Pete Buttigieg leads Bernie Sanders by 0.09 percentage points. The Associated Press hasn’t declared a winner because it is not confident in the accuracy of the results. A partial recanvass is also underway.
Judge Rules Woman Who Ran Over Hispanic Child Is Incompetent For Trial
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A judge has ruled incompetent for trial a woman accused of hate crimes in the Des Moines area, including intentionally running over a girl she thought was Mexican. Nicole Poole is charged with assault in violation of individual rights for an incident at a convenience
store and with attempted murder. Police have said she intentionally ran over two children with her sport utility vehicle. Both children survived. The judge ruled Tuesday after hearing evidence and arguments on the matter that Poole is suffering from a mental disorder. She ordered state treatment for
Poole so she can be restored to competency.
Man Accused Of Killing Fort Dodge Pastor Is Ruled As Incompetent To Stand Trial
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) – A Fort Dodge man accused of beating a pastor to death outside a central Iowa church has been found mentally unfit to stand trial. Webster County Judge Gina Badding on Wednesday ordered 36-year-old Joshua Pendleton to undergo treatment at the Iowa Medical Classification
Facility. Badding last month suspended proceedings in the case and ordered a mental competency evaluation after Pendleton’s attorney said he had been acting irrationally. Pendleton is charged with first-degree murder in the Oct. 2 slaying of the Rev. Allen Henderson. The 64-year-old Henderson was
senior pastor at St. Paul and had served as a chaplain to first responders.
Waterloo Man Found Guilty Of Murder
CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Waterloo man charged in the 2017 killing of a Grundy Center man has been found guilty of first-degree murder and a weapons count. The Courier reports that a jury found 29-year-old Armando Adame III
guilty Wednesday for the Oct. 25, 2017, shooting death of 27-year-old Michael Bruce Johns. Police say the men had been arguing as they drove around Floyd County when they stopped on a gravel road. Police say Adame pulled Johns from the vehicle and shot him in the head with a sawed-off shotgun. Adame faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole when he’s sentenced at a later date.
