Vehicle Hits Goodwill Industries Building
(Le Mars) — A vehicle hit the wall of Goodwill Industries Sunday afternoon at about 12:20 p.m. causing some facade blocks to fall. Minimum damage had occurred to the vehicle. There were no injuries associated with the accident.
The Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department and the Le Mars Police Department responded to the scene.
Sioux County Authorities Report Weekend Motorcycle Fatality
(Orange City) — Sioux County authorities are investigating a Sunday morning motorcycle accident resulting in a fatality. The accident occurred on county road K-30, about six miles south of Rock Valley at about 11:40 a.m. 55-year old Jana Haglund of Sioux Center was heading southbound riding a Cobra Sunset
motorcycle when she lost control of her motorcycle and entered the northbound lane and struck a Ford Fusion being driven by 19-year old Dyson Kooima of Rock Valley. Haglund was ejected from the motorcycle and entered a ditch. Haglund was pronounced dead as the scene as a result of her injuries. There was no mention in the accident report whether or not Haglund was wearing a helmet.
Le Mars Man Arrested For Arson
(Le Mars) — Le Mars Police Officers along with the Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department are investigating a fire that was intentionally set at an apartment complex Friday evening. The fire was reported at about 9:38 p.m. at 310 12th Street Southeast, Apartment C. Upon arrival at the apartment complex, Le Mars Police officers had learned that 25 year old Patrick Van Noort had allegedly started the apartment on fire then fled the area in a vehicle. Van Noort was one of the residents of the apartment. Le Mars firefighters quickly determined that no one else was in the apartment. Fire Chief Dave Schipper
says the other residents living in the other apartments were evacuated as firefighters put out the fire. A master bedroom in the apartment suffered fire, heat, smoke and water damage. At approximately 10:56 p.m. Van Noort was located in Hawarden and was taken into custody by the Sioux County Sheriff’s
Office. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office then transported Van Noort back to the Plymouth County Jail in Le Mars to be held on the Class B felony charge of First Degree Arson. Le Mars Police Department was assisted by the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, the Le Mars Fire and
Rescue Department, and the Le Mars Ambulance Service.
Nussbaum and Fox Honored With Spirit Of Gehlen Award
(Le Mars) — Gehlen Catholic held its annual fund raising ball Saturday, and although the event was held virtually, the announcement of the Spirit of Peter J. and Catherine Gehlen award was made. Because of the COVID virus, there was
no announcement made last year, so Gehlen Catholic officials named both the 2020, as well as the 2021 recipients. The 2020 Spirit of Peter and Catherine Gehlen Award was presented to Mrs. Lorie Nussbaum. Nussbaum is currently the
Pre-Kindergarten through sixth grade principal and is scheduled to retire this year after 42 years at Gehlen Catholic School. Every day, Mrs. Nussbaum goes the extra mile and brings leadership and positivity to her students and staff.
The 2021 Spirit of Peter and Catherine Gehlen Award has been presented to Mr. Rick Fox. Mr. Fox retired from teaching this past year after 43 years in the school system. He currently still coaches the Junior High girls track team.
He is known for teaching life skills to students in the classroom and through athletics. The combined years of service between Nussbaum and Fox amount to 85 years at Gehlen Catholic School. Their dedication to Jesus and to Gehlen Catholic schools is a testimony of who these two individuals are.
Iowa State University Extension And Outreach To Offer Grant Writing Workshop
(Le Mars) — Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will be hosting a grant writing workshop Wednesday afternoon at the Plymouth County Extension and Outreach offices, or the lower level of the Le Mars Convention Center.
Janelle Johnson serves as the Director of Extension Services and says the workshop is an “in-person” seminar.
Johnson says the grant writing workshop will be presented by Jane Goeken, an ISU Extension Community and Economic Development Specialist.
Johnson says the deadline to register for the grant writing workshop is today, Monday, April 19th. To register, you will need to contact the Plymouth County Extension and Outreach offices.
The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach official says she believes people will have a better appreciation for the grant writing workshop by able to attend the session in person, rather than by Zoom virtual conferencing.
The grant writing workshop will begin at 1:00 p.m. and will continue through 4:00 p.m. Johnson says the class size will be limited, so if you have an interest in participating in the workshop, you need to contact the Plymouth County Extension Services. The fee for the workshop is $25.
April 30th Is Scheduled Last Day For Iowa Legislative Session
(Des Moines) — The Iowa Legislature is winding down to its last few weeks before the session comes to a conclusion. April 30th is the scheduled deadline and last day, however, State Representative Dr. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars isn’t certain that lawmakers will complete their work before the deadline. Jeneary says a great deal of the work from this past week was focused on the budget and trying to reach compromises between the House chamber and the Senate chamber.
Jeneary says this past week was an active week in the state house where a controversial “Back the Blue” bill was passed.
The Republican lawmaker talks about other components with the bill.
Another bill passed by the Iowa House this week dealt with allowing parents to be certified in teaching their children to drive and allowing the children to obtain a driver’s license without necessarily having to complete a driver’s education course.
Third Finalist For University Of Iowa President Visits Campus
(Iowa City, IA) — The third finalist seeking to become the next president of the University of Iowa visited the Iowa City campus Friday. Wendy Hensel is the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Georgia State University. Hensel will meet with faculty, staff, students, and then hold an open forum this (Monday) afternoon at 3:30 p-m. The fourth and final candidate
will visit campus Wednesday and the Board of Regents plans to meet on April 29th through the 30th to make a choice from the four finalists.
Axne: Renewable Fuels Industry Should Be Included In Infrastructure Bill
(Washington, DC) — Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne is calling on congressional leaders to include money for the renewable fuels industry in the infrastructure bill they’re crafting. President Biden’s American Jobs Act proposes spending 174 billion to promote the development of electric vehicles
and install charging stations. Axne says homegrown alternatives like clean biofuels can be put in place much more quickly than moving toward electric vehicles. She says she’s talked with U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about ensuring the biofuels sector gets included in the final package.
Iowa Congresswoman Hinson Co-Sponsors Bill Changing PPP
(Washington, DC) — Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is co-sponsoring legislation to make a retroactive change in the federal Paycheck Protection Program. The P-P-P was created last spring and quickly ran out of money. The third round of funding was approved by Congress in December. Hinson says
there is a technicality with the program preventing some Iowa farmers and self-employed business owners from receiving a full loan. Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says a technicality has prevented some farmers and self-employed small business owners from using gross income rather than net profit to determine the size of their P-P-P loans.
Quick Court Challenge Expected If Bill Is Passed
(Des Moines, IA) — A court challenge is expected quickly to what opponents are calling an “ag-gag” law. Adam Mason, state policy director for Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, says if Governor Reynolds signs it into law, there will be lawsuits. “Because this one specifically addresses photo and video evidence, we assume it to be unconstitutional and that was one of our arguments in fighting them,” Mason says. While I-C-C-I is considering its next step, Mason says he’s heard animal rights activist Matthew Johnson, who was arrested on trespassing charges at an Iowa pork operation, will likely be taking the issue to court.
Woodbury County Authorities Searching For Suspect
(Sioux City) — Woodbury County Authorities are asking Hornick and Holly Springs residents to be on the lookout this morning. Authorities are searching that area for a man involved in an early morning car chase that injured a South Sioux City, Nebraska police officer. The South Sioux officer approached two men around 1:30 a.m this (Monday) morning, who jumped in a car and sped away, running over the officer’s leg. Woodbury County Sheriff, Chad Sheehan says a high speed chase through Sioux City eventually ended when the car crashed at the intersection of old highway 141 and 300th Street in Woodbury County, west of Holly Springs and north of Hornick. Sheehan says the passenger was arrested, but the driver is still at large. He is described as wearing black pants, a grey zip-up hoodie, and a black ball cap.
A gun was found in the vehicle, but it is not known if the suspect is currently armed.
If you have any information regarding the suspect, you are to notify the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office.
