Le Mars Police To Wear Pink-colored Badges To Support Cancer Awareness
(Le Mars) — October is known as breast cancer awareness month, and November recognized as prostate cancer awareness month. For the months of October and November, officers with the Le Mars Police Department will be sporting new badges. The badges have the color pink incorporated as part of the badge. Le Mars Police Chief Kevin Vande Vegte says when the officers of the Le Mars Police Department were asked if they wanted the new badge showing support for cancer victims and cancer awareness, the response was overwhelming.
In past years, the Le Mars Police Department acknowledged breast cancer awareness by having a pink ribbon painted on some of the squad patrol cars. Vande Vegte says this year, the awareness campaign will be with the wearing of the pink colored badges.
Chief Vande Vegte says the officers will wear the special colored badges for both October and November. Unfortunately, cancer has struck the Le Mars Police Department family as retired officer Mark Reed has been diagnosed with brain cancer. A benefit was held in Reed’s honor this past Saturday with positive support by the community.
Vande Vegte says the police department will keep the pink colored badges and will wear them again next year during October and November.
Iowa DCI Investigating Fatal Shooting and Officer Shooting of Suspect in Mason City
(Mason City, IA) — A weekend murder and shooting of the alleged suspect by a Mason City police officer is under investigation. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says officers were called to a report of shots fired at the Happy Donkey Bar early Sunday. Officer Noah Friese ordered two men running towards him on the ground, but agents say Jelani Faulk of Chicago pointed a handgun at him and Friese shot Faulk. Police then located 35-year-old Christopher Tucker of Garner suffering from gunshot wounds. Tucker was airlifted to Mayo Clinic where he died Monday. Faulk is jailed for interference with official acts and a federal federal probation violation. Investigators say first-degree murder charges are pending.
2 Suspects Charged Following Gun Threat at Saydel High School
(Des Moines, IA) — Two suspects face charges after an incident that authorities say started at a central Iowa school. The principal at Saydel High School placed the school on lockdown around 7:40 a-m Tuesday after a student reported someone in the parking lot had a gun. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says deputies tried to stop the vehicle after it left the school, the car crashed into a yard, the occupants ran, but were caught. Officials say drugs, a 22 caliber rifle, and three guns that shoot non-lethal, plastic pellets were found in the vehicle. A 19-year-old woman is charged with carrying weapons and interference with official acts. A 16-year-old boy is accused of possession with intent to deliver meth and marijuana, carrying a weapon on school grounds and a variety of driving-related infractions, including driving without a license and without the owner’s consent.
Davenport Man Sentenced to Life For Strangulation Death of 74-Year-Old
(Davenport, IA) — A 20-year-old Davenport man will spend the rest of his life in prison for the strangulation death of a 74-year-old victim. Scott County prosecutors say Charlie Gary III was sentenced Tuesday for the January 2020 first-degree murder of Robert Long. Gary was also convicted of first-degree robbery and abuse of a corpse. Police said Gary admitted to entering Long’s home to steal his steal car and strangling him before leaving. Court records say Gary knew Long and used to mow his lawn and shovel snow for him.
Fall Colors Reaching Peak in Northeast Iowa, Starting to Change in Central Iowa
(Iowa Falls, IA) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports fall colors are reaching their peak in northeast east Iowa and maple tree leaves in central Iowa starting to change colors. D-N-R forester Joe Herring says the colors have really kind of turned a corner this week. Herring says ash, elm, cottonwood and walnut trees in his Iowa Falls neighborhood have turned yellow. He says the wet, cold spring caused fungal diseases on some leaves in some areas of the state, then during the summer drought some of the state’s red oaks, pin oaks and bur oaks seemed to suffer. But Herring says overall we should still have a good show. The Iowa D-N-R’s website shows trees in southwest and west central Iowa are just beginning to show their fall colors, while the landscape view in southeast Iowa is still green.
