(Le Mars) –– The Le Mars Police Department held a town hall meeting last evening at the Wells Enterprises Visitor’s Center and Ice Cream Parlor. One of the topics that was discussed was the ever-growing occurrence of scams. Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte informed the gathering that scammers are wanting people to share their personal information, and they want people to make a quick decision.
Vande Vegte says people should slow things down. If they are a legitimate business or charity, take the time to do your research.
The Le Mars Police Chief says government agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Services, will never make a phone call to share information to tell you that you owe money. They will always send a letter notifying the person they should visit an IRS office.
Vande Vegte offers some tips if you do become a victim of a scam.
Vande Vegte says, sadly, many times the police are not able to do anything about scams. However, he says the police would like to be notified of any new scams that are targeting local residents and businesses.
Vande Vegte says never give out any personal information such as bank account numbers, and social security numbers. He says the easiest thing to do is to simply hang up the phone.
Nussbaum Honored By Northwest AEA
(Le Mars) — Lorie Nussbaum, PreK-6 Elementary Principal at Gehlen Catholic, has been announced as the “PBIS Person of the Year” by Northwest Area Education Agency. This award honors Nussbaum as someone who has exemplified significant accomplishments in the implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS).
Nussbaum, who is set to retire at the end of this school year after 42 years, was surprised by AEA staff and colleagues in the school library on Wednesday, April 28th with this prestigious award.
“I was totally surprised with this honor. Initial stages of PBIS began at Gehlen Catholic in 2009 and with the efforts of our staff and AEA support, the program has continued to grow and enhance the positive school climate,” explained Mrs. Nussbaum.
PBIS is a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework. PBIS/MTSS is a decision-making framework that addresses the “whole child,” and attends to academic and social-emotional-behavioral needs of students. Key features of MTSS include a continuum of supports with increasing intensity matched to student need, the use of research informed practices, and data for decision-making. It was just a couple of weeks ago when Nussbaum was presented with the Spirit of Peter J. and Catherine Gehlen award, as awarded by the Gehlen Ball Committee.
State Senate Passes Bill To Abolish Time Limit On Sexual Abuse Cases
(Des Moines) — For the second time this year, the Iowa Senate has voted to remove the time limit for filing criminal charges against people accused of sexually abusing children. Under current law, victims of child sex abuse have until their 33rd birthday to file criminal charges. Senate President Jake Chapman, a Republican from Adel, says criminals should always be held accountable.
Chapman says legislators need to act now.
Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, has been trying for years to get rid of THIS time limitation on CRIMINAL charges as well as the one that forbids child sex abuse victims from filing civil lawsuits seeking damages once they’ve reached their 33rd birthday.
Senators unanimously voted to attach the legislation on criminal charges for child sex abuse to a different bill after their original bill on the subject failed to pass the House. It’s now up to the House to decide whether this proposal becomes law in 2021.
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Reynolds Continues Push For Higher Blends of Ethanol Sales in Iowa
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds says she’s not giving up on her plan to boost the sale of corn-based ethanol and biodiesel. The governor told reporters Iowa is the leading producer of corn, and one or two in soybeans so it’s a really important industry to the state. A bill requiring gas stations to offer 15-percent ethanol fuel by 2026 has been discussed in the legislature and there’s a senate subcommittee hearing on the concept today (Thursday). But time is running out for a plan to clear all hurdles in the legislature and reach the governor’s desk this year. If it doesn’t pass, Reynolds says her back-up plan is to convene meetings of the corn growers, biofuel producers and gas station representatives this summer and fall. Retailers say they’d have to spend as much as a billion dollars to meet the state ethanol mandate and those costs would be passed along to consumers.
Iowa House Approves Ban on COVID Vaccine Passports
(Des Moines, IA) — A bipartisan coalition in the Iowa House voted to ban any Iowa government, private business or venue open to the public from denying entry to people who have not had Covid shots. The House debate focused on an exemption for health care facilities. G-O-P Representative Jeff Shipley from Fairfield objected to the idea of letting hospitals ask patients, staff or visitors whether they’ve have the vaccine. Fellow Republican Steven Holt of Denison said the health of frail Iowans could be jeopardized if facilities like nursing homes aren’t able to find ot if visitors have been vaccinated. Governor Reynolds called on the legislature to pass a bill banning so-called “vaccine passports.”
Authorities ID Man Who Drowned in Iowa River
(Iowa Falls, IA) — Authorities say the man who died after jumping into the Iowa River was a freshman wrestler at Ellsworth Community College. Iowa Falls police identified the victim as 21-year-old Robert Givens, Junior. Crews searched the river for three hours Tuesday night before locating Givens’ body. Investigators say his death is considered an accidental drowning. There was a vigil for Givens Wednesday night at Ellsworth Community College. Provost Martin Reimer said, “the entire college community is struck with feelings of sadness and disbelief today after losing one of our own.”
8-Year-Old Child Killed in Western Iowa Farming Accident
(Moville, IA) — The death of an eight-year-old child on a western Iowa farm is under investigation. The Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office responded to a farming accident Wednesday afternoon near Moville. Deputies say an eight-year-old died from injuries suffered in the accident. No other information about the incident has been released.
