13 Students Attend Junior Police Academy
(Le Mars) — 13 students from Le Mars Community and Gehlen Catholic are learning a little about law enforcement and the Le Mars Police Department as they participate in the Junior Police Academy. The Junior Police Academy was held on Saturday, and as Assistant Police Chief Justin Daale explains, the program was modeled after the Citizens Academy.
Daale says interested students had to complete an application, as well as write a short essay.
The Junior Police Academy encompasses six hours on Saturday. During the morning session, the students saw a demonstration of how to properly assess an active crime scene.
The students also used a plaster cast to lift footprints from mud, sand, or other surfaces. The Junior Police Academy students were then given a demonstration by both the Le Mars Police Department and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office on how to investigate an auto vehicle accident, including skid marks, and determining the speed of the vehicle.
During the afternoon, the students were introduced to the Le Mars Police Department’s K-9 unit involving officer Bob Rohlmiller and his K-9 dog “Ace.”
The students will also be informed about the CERT program which is the strategic weapons and tactical unit which also involves the Plymouth County, Sioux County, and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Departments, along with the city of Cherokee Police Department. Assistant Police Chief Daale is hopeful the
interest level continues allowing the local police department to offer the junior academy class on an annual basis.
Le Mars Community Board Of Education To Meet This Evening
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Community Board of Education are scheduled to meet this evening for their monthly session. The school board will begin the meeting with a public hearing for consideration of approval of a financial auditor for fiscal years, 2021, 2022, and 2023. The school board will review the
submitted bids and take appropriate action. The board of education will hear reports from the principals as they each will present their building report.
The school board will decide upon three students seeking open enrollment.
They include: Autumn Sanow, a ninth grader from MMCRU district for the 2021-22 school year. Audrey Etter, also a ninth grader from MMCRU for the upcoming school year, and Remy Nagel, a Kindergartner from MMCRU, also to attend during the 2021-2022 school year. The school board will hear a report
from Dawn MacGregor and Stephany Becker as they will present the Systematic Instruction in Phonologial Awareness, phonics and sight program, or SIPPS as it is being implemented at the elementary grade levels.
The school board will consider the resignations of Renee Glenn, Clark Administrative Assistant, will be retiring from her position
effective June 30, 2021.
Jason Martin has resigned from his positions as 7th grade boys basketball head coach and 7th grade girls basketball head coach.
Malori Price is resigning from her position as an Elementary Special Ed teacher, effective at the conclusion of the 2020-21 school year.
The school board will be presented the proposed school calendar year for 2021-2022 school year. The recommended start date will be Wednesday, August 25th.
School superintendent, Dr. Steven Webner will present to the board’s attention, a budget development, information and estimate, along with a timeline for the next school year with a public hearing to be scheduled for April 12th at 6:00 p.m.
The Le Mars Community School Board will conduct the second reading of the New Policy Code 1007, “District Operation During Public Emergencies.”
The school board will also consider approval of specifications and bidding procedures for securing two 72-passenger school buses for 2021-2022.
The board of education will enter into a closed session as allowed by Iowa Code to discuss the performance of the district superintendent, Dr. Webner, who has requested the closed session. The school board will remain in closed session as allowed by Iowa Code for a collective bargaining strategy session.
Jeneary Comments On Charter School Bills
(Des Moines) — This past week the state legislature had what is referred to as its first funnel week, which means any bills to be considered need to be moved out of committee. Two of Governor Reynolds’ priorities fell short in the state legislature. Dr. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars who represents Iowa House District 5 says there was a lot of misunderstanding and false statements
associated with a school charter bill that would allow parents to choose which school they want their children to attend.
The Republican state representative says the bill would not have affected any Plymouth County schools. He says people had the wrong idea of how the bill’s actions would affect schools, both private and public schools.
Jeneary offers his thoughts and comments as to how the situation should have played out.
State Senator Jeff Taylor Wants To Have “Cold Case” Unit Reinstated
(Des Moines) — It has been several years since the Division of Criminal Investigation has had a cold case unit based at its headquarters, but Iowa State Senator Jeff Taylor of Sioux Center would like to see the unit re-instated. Taylor, a Republican, says he has introduced a bill that would start up again the cold case unit, or an investigation team that would specifically investigate those cases from years gone by that remain unsolved.
Taylor says the unit needs to be re-introduced to help victims and their families, as well as to arrest perpetrators from crimes of the past.
The State Senator acknowledges some problems may exist in getting the bill passed…mainly finding the money to pay for the program.
Des Moines Reporter Goes On Trial For Actions During Protest
(Des Moines, IA) — A reporter goes on trial this week for her actions during a protest against racial injustice last year. Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri and her former boyfriend are charged with failure to disperse and interference with official acts. Free press advocates say Sahouri was just doing her job when she was pepper-sprayed and arrested by a Des Moines police officer. The two-day trial is part of an aggressive legal response by authorities in the state against people who organized and took part in protests last summer that turned violent.
Republican Congresswoman Meets With Iowa’s First District Democratic Committee
(Washington, DC) — Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says she represents everyone in Iowa’s First Congressional District – not just the people who voted for her. The Iowa Republican says it is important for her to be accessible to all constituents. That’s why Hinson was available to address a weekend virtual meeting of the First District Democratic Committee. Hinson says too often politicians don’t engage with people they disagree with on politics or policy. She says that’s a major reason civil discourse has become so heated and divisive.
Ames Police Arrest Alleged “Peeping Tom” Who Shot Video
(Ames, IA) — Investigators with the Ames Police Department accuse 29-year-old Trenton Williams of entering a home and recording video of the residents as they slept. A series of college-age women reported burglaries and trespassing in incidents starting in May of 2019. Police say Williams didn’t always steal items when he snuck in, but he would stand in their bedrooms and shoot video of them sleeping. He’s accused of attacking one victim in her apartment last November. Evidence was found when a search warrant was executed at his apartment and his electronic devices were examined.
University Of Iowa Retires Luka Garza’s Number 55
(Iowa City, IA) — The University of Iowa will retired center Luka Garza’s uniform number 55 after the season is over. The announcement was made after Iowa’s 77-73 win over Wisconsin Sunday. Garza joins eight other former Hawkeyes who have had their numbers retired. He is the program’s all-time leading career scorer and was named 2020 National Player of the Year by six national publications. He is also the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year and is expected to repeat as a consensus first-team All-American. The Hawkeyes are seeded third in the Big Ten Conference Tournament that starts Wednesday.
