Ernst Stops At Le Mars To Visit With Local Law Enforcement Officials
(Le Mars) — Republican U-S Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa made a visit to Le Mars Friday morning as part of her 99-county tour. Ernst met with Le Mars Police Chief, Kevin Vande Vegt; Plymouth County Sheriff, Jeff TeBrink; Chief Deputy Rick Singer, Plymouth County Supervisor, Mike Van Otterloo; Le Mars Mayor, Dick Kirchoff; and State House Representative Dr. Tom Jeneary. Ernst inquired about the conditions facing local law enforcement agencies.
Ernst was asked if the crime wave seen in larger metropolitan cities is beginning to infiltrate into smaller Iowa communities?
One area of discussion that involved everyone was the situation involving mental health patients, and what can be done. Sheriff Jeff TeBrink and Chief Kevin Vande Vegte both expressed an interest in seeing additional hospital beds dedicated for mental health patients. Too many times, law enforcement officials are called to deal with a mental health patient, and many times the only option is to place the individual inside a jail facility. During her time with the news media, Ernst commented on the situation in Afghanistan, and the recent announcement by President Joe Biden to completely remove all American troops out of Afghanistan by late August. Ernst, a past military combat veteran and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee stated she thinks it will be a mistake to leave the troubled region.
The Iowa Senator explains why it is still important that the United States have a constant presence in Afghanistan.
Ernst Meets With Legion Members
(Le Mars) — Representatives from the Le Mars American Legion Wasmer Post #241 met with U-S Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, Friday morning. Post Commander Dan Plueger along with Past Post Commander Wayne Schipper briefly visited with the Republican senator following her visit with local law enforcement
officials. Ernst stopped at Le Mars on Friday as part of her 99-county tour.
The local American Legion officials discussed some issues of concern regarding veterans. They also shared the poem written by Jim Rolfes “Come Visit My Grave” with Ernst. Ernst thanked the Legion members for bringing to her attention the famous poem which is featured at the Plymouth County Veterans Park, and is read during the Memorial Day “Avenue of the Flags” program held at the Plymouth County Courthouse. Ernst is a past military combat veteran and is a member of the Senate Arms Services Committee. Plueger will be ending his tenure as the local Post Commander position at the end of July. He mentioned the next Post Commander of the American Legion Wasmer Post #241 will be Nick Hanson.
Reynolds Criticizes Biden Administration During Republican Event
(Des Moines, IA) — Republican Governor Kim Reynolds is urging conservative Christians to “fight back” against Democrats in power in Washington.
Reynolds was the keynote speaker Friday morning at the Leadership Summit hosted by the Family Leader. The governor accused President Biden’s Administration of pursuing “a radical social agenda” backed by liberal activists and corporations.” Reynolds said, “the elevation of angry, ever-shifting moral code of wokeness, bailouts, tax hikes, lock downs, open borders, closed schools, Believe me. This is not an agenda for Iowa and it is not an agenda for our country.” Reynolds received the loudest cheers for state laws she approved this year, including one that requires schools to start the day with the Pledge of Allegiance. She did not mention President Trump and while repeatedly criticizing the current administration, she only once referred to President Biden by name.
Woman Arrested For Stabbing Man Near Mount Vernon
(Mount Vernon, IA) — Authorities in Linn County say a woman is jailed for the alleged stabbing of a man Thursday night in rural Mount Vernon. Deputies say 28-year-old Charinea Triggs was arguing with 58-year-old Kevin Gouche before she stabbed him with a knife in the upper chest. Gouche was taken to
the hospital where his current condition is unknown. Triggs was booked on suspicion of domestic abuse with a weapon and willful injury. The incident is still under investigation.
Golf Tournament Will Benefit Family of Fallen Ankeny Police Officer
(Webster City, IA) — The family of a former Marine from central Iowa will be the beneficiaries of a charity golf tournament this weekend. The event is Saturday at the Briggs Woods Golf Course south of Webster City. Dennis Schnathorst, with the Hamilton County Peace Officers Association, says every
year the tourney honors the memory of a fallen police officer, firefighter or veteran. Staff Sergeant Curtis Kelling died on July 25th of 2019.
Schnathorst said “Staff Sergeant Kelling served our country on seven deployments overseas, including Afghanistan and Iraq and as a combat war veteran.” Kelling was from Ankeny and was 41 when he suffered a fatal heart attack. He leaves behind a wife and several children, who will be recognized at the benefit.
Quimby Man Sentenced To Federal Prison
(Sioux City) — A Cherokee County man is going to federal prison on a drug conviction. 42-year old Jason Persons of Quimby was given more than seven years behind bars on Tuesday after pleading guilty last August to distributing methamphetamine in the Sioux City area. Persons admitted to selling the drug during a post-arrest interview that he said helped support his own addiction that led to a similar conviction in 2003. Following his time in prison, Persons will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. He remains in the custody of the United States Marshal pending transfer to a federal facility.
(courtesy of KICD radio)
Former Vice President Pence And South Dakota Governor Speak At Republican Function
(Des Moines) — Former Vice President Mike Pence says Republicans have a winning message and he’s urging Christian conservatives to “buckle up” for the 2024 presidential campaign. Pence was the closing speaker at a day-long summit in Des Moines sponsored by The Family Leader and he listed his own frustrations with the political scene.
Pence ran through a litany of complaints about the first 177 days of the Biden-Harris Administration.
About 1200 people gathered in a Des Moines convention hall Friday morning to listen to more than a dozen speakers, including South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo — two other potential 2024 presidential candidates. The crowd stayed for Pence as the closer seven hours later and applauded throughout his speech, but without the whistling and loud bursts of cheering others received. Pence acknowledged this was an easy time to get a little down and appeared to indirectly address those in the G-O-P who believe he should not have certified Joe Biden won the Electoral College on January 6.
Noem, who spoke earlier in the afternoon, shared pieces of her biography with the crowd — growing up on a farm and the name of her new granddaughter.
Noem acknowledged the first time many Iowans heard her name was as she was criticized for not closing any businesses or implementing lock downs during the pandemic.
As she has elsewhere, Noem emphasized that she did not close a single business.in South Dakota.
Iowa Democratic Party chairman Ross Wilburn denounced what he called the “hateful agenda” of The Family Leader, which organized Friday’s event. Wilburn says it was shameful for Governor Kim Reynolds and other Republicans who approved at the event to support an organization that discriminates against L-G-B-T-Q-plus Iowans.”
……….
