Kluckholn Music Teacher Honored As School District’s “Employee Of The Month”
(Le Mars) — The Kluckholn elementary music instructor is the latest to be recognized as the Le Mars Community School District’s “Employee of the Month.” Julie Drees has been teaching music to Le Mars Community students for the past 26 years. Kluckholn’s fifth grade students submitted the nomination for Julie Drees saying she is not afraid to jump in and help
whenever needed whether that is with reading or math. She works really well one-on-one with students that need extra practice. She is patient while working side-by-side with those fifth graders. Her willingness to help is always appreciated. The presentation of a plaque was given to Julie Drees during a small ceremony held Monday.
Julie Drees, (left) holds the plaque honoring her as the Le Mars Community School District’s “Employee of the Month.” Deb Ahlers, (right) with the Le Mars Community School District Foundation and Alumni Association presented the award.
Sioux City Student Injures Herself From Social Media Prank
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City mother has complained to the local school board after she says her sixth-grade daughter suffered a broken arm and elbow at the hands of two other middle students carrying out a viral online prank. The woman told the board Monday night her daughter had been hurt on Feb. 7, when two West Middle School classmates cajoled her into a
jumping contest, then kicked the girl’s feet out from under her, causing her to fall on her shoulder. Called the “skull breaker challenge,” the prank was made popular on the social media platform TikTok and has led to reports of children across the country suffering serious head and other injuries.
Fatal Accident Reported In Sioux County
(Orange City) — One person is dead after an accident in Sioux County.
The accident happened on Highway 18 between Boyden and Hull around noon Tuesday when a westbound Dodge entered the oncoming lane and struck an SUV, and then a semi, head-on. The driver of the Dodge died in the accident. The name of the driver is being withheld pending notification of family members.
No other injuries were reported.
State Legislature To Hold Investigative Hearings Regarding Glenwood Resource Center
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa lawmakers plan to hold hearings to investigate problems at a state-run institution for people with intellectual disabilities. House Government Oversight Chairwoman Mary Ann Hanusa says she’s planning a meeting with no date yet confirmed. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds
didn’t object to legislative oversight hearings when asked Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating allegations that the former director was planning to conduct human sexual arousal experiments and had begun
questionable hydration therapy on patients and deaths were occurring at a rate that concerned employees.
15 People Applying For Vacant Supreme Court Position
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa court officials say 15 people have applied to fill the Iowa Supreme Court vacancy that will occur when Justice David Wiggins retires in March. Each of the 15 applicants will get 20 minutes in which they’ll be interviewed by the Iowa State Judicial Nominating Commission on March 6 in the Supreme Court Courtroom in Des Moines.
Immediately following the interviews, the commission will begin
deliberations to select a slate of three nominees to forward to Gov. Kim Reynolds for consideration. Reynolds will then have 30 days to appoint a new justice.
State Health Doctor Wants To Clarify Misinformation About Coronavirus
(Des Moines) — Rumors about coronavirus are flying and the medical director of the Iowa Department of Public Health is urging Iowans to get the facts before posting anything on social media so they don’t spread disinformation.
Doctor Caitlin Pedati says it’s understandable that people are concerned but they also need to use their heads before contributing to the panic.
In recent weeks, two Iowans were put under watch for possible exposure to the deadly virus and both ended up being fine. Now, Pedati confirms, seven more Iowans are under watch by the state health department. All of them are in self-quarantine, meaning, they’re staying in their own homes.
Federal health officials are warning Americans to prepare for the
possibility of an aggressive outbreak. Pedati says Iowa families need to prep for this as they would any other emergency, like severe weather.
Coronavirus is confirmed in more than 30 countries, but federal health officials are not calling it a pandemic. Pedati was asked why:
In China, more than 27-hundred deaths are attributed to coronavirus, with 78-thousand confirmed cases. Hundreds of cases are confirmed elsewhere around the globe.
Des Moines Man Pleads Not Guilty To Vehicular Homicide
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A man has pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide in the crash deaths of two men in Des Moines. Polk County court records say the lawyer for 23-year-old Alejandro Contreras entered the pleas Tuesday. No trial date has been set. Police say the crash occurred around 11:45 a.m.
Thursday, when a southbound car struck an eastbound car that had just entered a roadway. Two men in the eastbound car died after being rushed to a hospital. They’ve been identified as 26-year-old Mauricio Ruiz Quintana and 22-year-old Brayan Martinez Ruiz. They lived in Windsor Heights.
Landlord And Father Plead Not Guilty To Child Endangerment
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) – An Oskaloosa landlord and the father of a 7-year-old boy killed in a house fire have pleaded not guilty to child endangerment and other charges. Court records say Ronald Fogle and Kahal Chauhan were indicted for child endangerment and neglect of a dependent person. Chauhan’s
trial is set to begin May 19. Fogle’s trial hasn’t been scheduled. David Fogle’s mother was burned trying to rescue him from the Feb. 15, 2019, blaze. The records don’t provide any specifics on what prosecutors say Chauhan and Ronald Fogle did or failed to do that merited the charges.
