Home News Thursday Afternoon News, July 22nd

Thursday Afternoon News, July 22nd

Law Enforcement Officials Ask Motorists To Avoid Driving On The Designated RAGBRAI Route

(Le Mars) — Law enforcement officials are requesting if possible, motorists should try to avoid the streets, roads and highways designated as the route or events to be used by thousands of bicyclers participating on RAGBRAI. Le Mars is getting set to serve as the initial host community this Saturday. Le Mars Police Officer Jeff Kramer tells of what streets will be closed for the event.

Officer Kramer says those streets will re-open late Sunday afternoon or evening, depending on when most of the RAGBRAI participants will leave town.

Iowa State Patrol trooper, Karen Yaneff says motorists should use patience, and perhaps look at an alternative route to your destination if it conflicts with the RAGBRAI route.

Yaneff tells of the designated route for the first day of the ride between Le Mars and Sac City.

Yaneff says the Iowa State Patrol will be stationed at various points along the route to help with traffic control for the bicyclists. She says they will also be at the over-night communities assisting local law enforcement officials with possible intoxicated individuals.

Yaneff says they will also be on the lookout for underage minors consuming alcoholic beverages during RAGBRAI events.
Officer Kramer offers these words of advice during the busy RAGBRAI weekend.

Kramer reminds people there will not be any parking allowed in the city parking lots, or on the streets designated to be closed.

 

 

 

Finkenauer Announces Run For Senate

(Cedar Rapids, IA) — A former congresswoman who was defeated after one term says she is running for the U-S Senate in 2022. Democrat Abby Finkenauer of Cedar Rapids had previously said she was considering running and confirmed that in a video announcing her campaign. Finkenauer was elected to the First Congressional District that covers northeast Iowa, but lost the seat in the 2020 election. Incumbent Republican Senator Chuck Grassley has said he will make a decision this fall about whether he will run again. He is one of the longest-serving Senators in U-S history.

 

 

 

Wadena Man Charged With Sexual Exploitation

(Wadena,IA) — A Wadena man was arrested Wednesday on multiple counts after a week-long investigation. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office says 66-year-old Lawrence Reiling was charged with 24 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Investigators say they seized electronic devices at Reiling’s home and found images of minors in prohibited sexual acts. Reiling is being held in the Fayette County Jail on ten-thousand-dollar cash bond. The sheriff’s office says the investigation is ongoing and more charges could be filed.

 

 

 

Lawmakers Questions MercyOne Vaccine Policy

(Undated) — More than one dozen Iowa lawmakers are asking Trinity Health to explain their requirement that staff in seven MercyOne hospitals in Iowa get the Covid vaccine by September 21st. The letter from the Republican legislators. says last week’s order has caused “confusion and distress” and it asks the health system to explain its rational for the decision. Senator Jason Schultz of Schleswig signed on to the message and says he would like to see Trinity Health rescind its vaccination mandate for employees at MercyOne hospitals in Clinton, Dubuque, Dyersville, Mason City, New Hampton, Primghar, and Sioux City.

 

 

 

Webster County Chase Suspects Flee Into Cornfield

(Fort Dodge, IA) — The Webster County Sheriff’s Department says Deputies were led on a high-speed chase through three counties Wednesday after trying to make a traffic stop. Deputies tried to pull over a car just outside of Fort Dodge and the chase went into Hamilton, then back to Webster and into Wright County. Stop sticks were used to disable the car — but deputies found it empty and believe those inside fled into a cornfield. The search was called off without any arrests.