Home News Friday Afternoon News, July 24th

Friday Afternoon News, July 24th

Streets To Remain Closed For Railroad Crossing Repairs

(Le Mars) — Le Mars city street officials have announced the railroad crossings at 1st Street northeast, near Fareway grocery store, and 21st street southwest at the Industrial Park will both remain closed at least through Saturday. Due to the expected high temperatures and the thickness of the asphalt overlay requiring a longer cure time, the streets will remain closed until at least Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

 

 

Census Workers Will Begin Canvassing Neighborhoods Knocking On Doors To Complete Census Report

(Le Mars) — Every ten years the U-S government conducts a census of the nation’s population. Census officials say in the coming weeks, census workers will be going door-to-door to collect information from those people that hadn’t responded to the census questionnaire. Greg Smidt serves as the city’s liaison officer with the U-S Census. He says overall, Iowans, and
residents of Plymouth County and Le Mars, have done a good job of responding to the census report.

Smidt says of those that have already responded to the census survey, most did so on-line.

Smidt says the goal is to have everyone counted for a 100 percent return rate. The census liaison officer says it is still not too late to complete the 2020 census report and either submit it online, or mail it. He says it is important for people to complete the census as it helps determine future federal funding to our community and region.

In addition to allocating future funding, Smidt says the census is used to help determine government representation.

Smidt says census workers will be canvasing the area to visit with residents that have not yet completed the census questionnaire. He says that information stays with only the census agency, and is not shared with other government entities.

Smidt says census workers will be wearing proper identification establishing they are gathering information for the U-S census. In the era of COVID-19 concerns, Smidt says people may be able to share the information by telling the census worker through their door.

 

 

High Positive COVID-19 Numbers Reported By State Health Department

(Des Moines) — Iowa Department of Public Health shows Iowa is nearing 41,000 coronavirus cases. As of 10:00 a.m. Friday, public health department reported 451 new coronavirus cases, and five additional deaths. The number now stands at 40,960 positive cases, 29,148 recoveries and 820 deaths in Iowa
since the pandemic began. One of every seven Iowans have been tested for COVID-19 with one of every 77 people testing positive. Currently, 230 people are hospitalized with COVID-19, down from 232 the previous day. There are 72 people in Intensive Care Units, and 27 are on ventilators, down from 32 the previous day. Iowa Department of Public Health reported 28 patients admitted in the last 24 hours, down from 33 the previous day. Outbreaks in Iowa’s long-term care facilities continue to grow. After a peak of 30 outbreaks, the state had reported only 12 outbreaks in early July. There are now 21
outbreaks in the state’s long-term care facilities. There have been 548 positive cases in those facilities and 154 recoveries. 441 deaths have been reported from residents of long-term care facilities that were infected with COVID-19.

 

 

Governor Reynolds Extends Emergency Proclamation Due To COVID-19 Virus Is Still Present

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds signed on Friday a new proclamation continuing the Public Health Disaster Emergency for another 30 days.
The proclamation extends public health mitigation measures currently in place for businesses and other establishments. This includes the requirements for bars and restaurants to ensure six feet of physical distance between each group or individual dining or drinking; to ensure all patrons have a seat at a table or bar; and to limit congregating together closer than six feet. Requirements for social distancing, hygiene, and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission also remain in place for gyms, casinos, salons, theaters, and other establishments without change.
The proclamation also extends many of the previously issued regulatory relief measures necessary to respond to this public health disaster, including those related to healthcare, professional licensure, educational workforce, and expirations of driver’s licenses.
Some provisions have not been extended, including the suspension of the requirement for retailers to accept empty bottles and cans for redemption of the container deposit. That statutory requirement will resume on July 26, 2020.
The proclamation is now in effect until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, 2020.

 

 

 

Murder Suspect Fugitive On The Run

(Norfolk, NE) — Area authorities are searching for a Norfolk, Nebraska man who is a suspect in a shooting Friday morning in that city that resulted in the death of a 29-year-old female victim.  Norfolk Police Chief Don Miller says police found the victim outside of a residence with an upper torso gunshot wound around 6:45am.  The unidentified victim was transported to Faith Regional Hospital where she later died.  Miller says an arrest warrant has been issued for 28-year-old Deshawn Gleaton of Norfolk;

Gleaton is described as a 6’8″ tall black male with black hair and brown eyes who weighs around 240 pounds.  He was driving a 2007 Grey Buick LaCross that authorities found abandoned later in the morning in Jackson, Nebraska:

Miller says it’s possible Gleaton was headed to Sioux City and local police here and in South Sioux City have assisted in the search:

If you see Gleaton or have information about this case you should call 9-1-1 or contact your local authorities.

 

 

 

Grassley Cheers Passage of Mental Health Bill in National Defense Authorization Act

(Washington, DC) — U-S Senator Chuck Grassley is praising passage of a bill aimed at improving access to mental health care in rural America and curbing suicide rates among farmers. Grassley and Montana’s Jon Tester sponsored the Seeding Rural Resilience Act, which was part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Grassley says “this is a clear message to farmers across the country that my colleagues and I stand with you and support you during these trying times.” The measure directs the U-S-D-A to work with state, local and other stakeholders to determine the best practices for responding to farm and ranch mental stress. The C-D-C reports the suicide
rate is 45-percent higher in rural America than urban areas.

 

 

 

Man Accused of Kidnapping, Standoff in Crawford County

(Manning, IA) — An unidentified woman claims her life was threatened by a man in Crawford County Thursday afternoon and he’s now jailed following a standoff. The victim alleges that James Fishback of Manning handcuffed her to a refrigerator at his home, and threatened to kill her with a handgun.
She also said Fishback told her if law enforcement showed up, he would kill her and a shootout with law enforcement would ensue. Crawford County sheriff’s deputies and other officers arrested Fishback after 25 minutes of negotiation. He’s charged with domestic abuse with use of a weapon, felon in possession of a weapon, and third-degree kidnapping.

 

 

 

Field of Dreams Hosting New York vs. Chicago PD Baseball Game

(Dyersville, IA) — The Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville is hosting a baseball game this weekend, pitting officers from the police departments in Chicago and New York City against one another. Operations manager Roman Weinberg says Saturday’s match is part of First Responders Appreciation Day.
The day will be filled with events, including a silent auction with Field of Dreams and sports memorabilia, kids’ activities, and the baseball game at 4 p-m, followed by live music. The event is a fundraiser for the Dubuque County Emergency Responder Training Facility, the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and the New York Police Widows and Children Fund. The Chicago
White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals will play the first-ever Major League Baseball game at the Field of Dreams on August 13th.

 

 

 

Man Who Sold Drugs at Iowa Music Festival Sentenced to Six-Plus Years

(Cedar Rapids, IA) — A man who sold drugs at music festivals in eastern and central Iowa will spend more than six years in federal prison. Twenty-two-year-old Jack Arthur Stumberg of Grundy Center pleaded guilty to conspiring and possessing with intent to distribute L-S-D, ecstasy and mushrooms. Evidence showed that between 2016 and 2019 Stumberg ordered large
quantities of the party drugs on the “dark web.” The drugs were delivered to Stumberg through the mail, disguised to look like common household items.
Stumberg then sold the drugs in various communities and music festivals. He was sentenced to 78 months in prison.