Home News Friday News, December 10th

Friday News, December 10th

Retired Navy Admiral Michael Franken Intends To Run For U-S Senate Seat

(Le Mars) — Another name has been added to the list of candidates seeking the Democratic party’s nomination for U-S Senator.  Michael Franken, a retired Admiral from the U-S Navy was in northwest Iowa on Thursday introducing himself to the news media.  Although his career in the Navy has taken Franken all around the world, he says he has ties to northwest Iowa.

Franken says his military background offers him great experience to run for political office.

The Democratic candidate says one of his main focuses will be to assist rural Iowa.

Franken says one of his strengths is he is good at reading people and understanding their motives and ambitions.

 

 

 

Plymouth County Republican Party To Hold Seminar On Medical Freedoms

(Le Mars) — Plymouth County GOP Republican party is hosting a seminar scheduled for this morning beginning at 10:00 a.m. to be held at the basement of the Le Mars Primebank.  Shelley Stabe tells us the seminar will feature different speakers and will focus on medical freedoms.

 

 

 

Heavy Snow Expected For Seasons First Major Snow Storm

(Sioux Falls, SD)  —  The first big winter storm of the season arrives in northwest Iowa today (Friday).  The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for north-central and northeast Iowa starting this morning.  Meteorologists say Sheldon could get six-to-10 inches of snow, while Storm Lake can anticipate three-to-six inches.  The snow will reach Ames, but less than an inch is expected to fall there.  The winter storm will remain in the weather picture until Saturday.  Authorities are saying patchy, blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility and make travel very difficult at the start of the weekend.

 

 

 

Inmate Who Killed Police Officer 66 Years Ago Dies In Prison

(Fort Madison) — An Iowa inmate whose conviction for killing an Independence police officer sparked a call for an end to the death penalty has died.  The Iowa Department of Corrections says 84-year-old Warren Nutter died from natural causes Wednesday in hospice at the Iowa State Penitentiary.  Independence police chief David Niedert (NEE-dirt) says Nutter killed Independence police officer Harold Pearce at the Buchanan County Courthouse on January 5th of 1956 while trying to escape.   Nutter was saved from hanging when the governor commuted his sentence from death to life in prison in 1957 and his case brought attention that later led to the end of the death penalty.  Chief Niedert says it’s important to remember officer Pearce as the one who gave his life in service to the city of Independence. Nutter was the longest-serving prisoner in the system. He was interviewed in the documentary “The Fort,” which chronicled the history of the original Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison — which was closed after 177 years.

 

 

 

Suspected Arsonist Arrested For Fire At Dubuque Hotel

(Dubuque, IA)  —  Police have arrested a 42-year-old woman in connection with a fire Wednesday night at a Dubuque hotel. The fire started in a 4th-floor room at the Canfield Hotel. Rescue crews took one person to the hospital. According to the criminal complaint, the woman who now faces a felony charge of arson told officers she put her divorce papers and belongings on a bed and set them on fire. She also called authorities to report the fire. Officials say 37 people who were living or staying at the hotel have been displaced. The Canfield Hotel was called the Paris Hotel when it opened in 1892. William Canfield and his son bought it in 1925.  In 1946, the elder Canfield and 18 other people died when a fire that started in the cocktail lounge swept through the hotel.

 

 

 

Morningside University Names New President

(Sioux City)  —  Morningside University in Sioux City has named its 13th president. Dr. Albert Mosley (MOHZ-lee) is a Methodist minister with administrative experience at a Georgia seminary and a historically black university in Florida.  Mosely says. “Morningside is a very special place. Since its founding in 1874, this institution has always focused on developing students as whole persons.” Mosely will succeed John Reynders (RYN-derz), who will retire after serving as Morningside’s president for two decades. Moseley will take over this summer.  Moseley was president of Gammon Theological Seminary in Georgia for six years and during his tenure there he erased the institution’s debt and grew its endowment by 75 percent.

 

 

 

Iowa Health Officials Confirm State’s 1st Omicron COVID Case

(Des Moines, IA)  —  The State Hygienic Lab is confirming the first case of the omicron COVID-19 variant in an Iowa resident.  The Iowa Department of Public Health says the case involves an unvaccinated person under the age of 18 from Black Hawk County.  The minor had recently traveled and is not experiencing symptoms but has been advised to isolate.  Interim director Kelly Garcia said there’s “emerging evidence” a third dose of a COVID vaccine offers protection against the omicron variant and she’s urging Iowans eligible for a booster shot to get one as quickly as possible.  More than 69 percent of Iowa adults are fully vaccinated, but it’s unclear how many have gotten a booster shot.

 

 

 

Fairfield Teen Accused of Murdering Spanish Teacher Wants Case in Juvenile Court

(Fairfield, IA)  —  One of the teens charged with killing a Fairfield High School Spanish teacher is asking for his case to be transferred to juvenile court.  The attorney for Willard Miller says her client has not had any previous involvement in the court system and should not be tried as an adult.  Miller and fellow 16-year-old Jeremy Goodale are charged with first-degree murder in the death of Nohema Graber (noh-HAY’-muh GRAY’-ber).  Prosecutors argue the killing was premeditated and brutal — and they oppose the request.  A judge has already denied a request to lower their one-million-dollar bail.

 

 

 

GOP Senator Smith Running for State Treasurer Next Year

(Davenport, IA)  —  A Republican state senator from Davenport will not seek re-election in 2022 to make a run for state treasurer.  Roby (ROB’-ee) Smith has been a member of the Iowa Senate since 2011 and he recently led the debate of election law changes.  He intends to challenge Democrat Michael Fitzgerald’s bid for a 11th term as state treasurer.  Seventy-year-old Fitzgerald is the country’s longest-serving state treasurer.  Smith says the economy, especially banking, is undergoing changes and Iowa needs a treasurer who understands the challenges of the 21st Century.  Smith worked as a banker in the Davenport area before he was elected to the Senate.  The legislature approved a redistricting plan in late October that puts Smith and incumbent Democrat Jim Lykam (LIKE’-um) in the same state Senate district.

 

 

 

Deer Hunters Asked to Provide DNR With Samples for CWD Testing

(Boone, IA)  —  The Iowa D-N-R is again collecting samples from deer hunters this year to try and prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD).  The D-N-R’s Tyler
Harms says,” obviously, we are putting more effort into the areas where we know we have the disease in the wild. Six counties in northeast Iowa, three counties in south-central Iowa, and then one county in western Iowa.”  They will also take samples from the other 89 counties.  Harms says the samples help them stay on top of where the C-W-D hotspots are.  He credits hunters with cooperating and providing enough samples for an accurate picture of what is happening in the deer population.  The state’s second deer shotgun season starts Saturday.