Retired Le Mars Police Officer Dies From Cancer
(Le Mars) — The thin blue line just got a bit thinner as a former Le Mars police officer has died from cancer. Mark Reed, a 30 year plus veteran with the Le Mars and Akron police departments, died Monday afternoon. He was diagnosed as having brain cancer. In early October a fund raising benefit in Reed’s honor was held to help defray medical expenditures. Hundreds of people attended the benefit with thousands of dollars raised through private donations, a silent auction, and a live auction. The benefit also consisted of a meal with people contributing on a free-will basis. Reed was the Le Mars Police Department’s K-9 officer for many years. He and his dog, Doc, patrolled Le Mars, keeping its residents and businesses safe. Reed was 56 years of age.
Plymouth County Board Of Supervisors To Hear Budget Requests
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will convene today at 9:30 a.m. at the Plymouth County Courthouse Board Room. The county governing board will hear from Plymouth County Fair Board president, Loren Schnepf as he will be making a request for budget funds on behalf of the Plymouth County Fair. Shari Kastein with Family Services will appear before the county board with a budget request. At 11:00 a.m. the county board of supervisors will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed precincting ordinance. Following the public hearing, Judy Bowman along with Jim and Roxie Anderson are scheduled to meet with the board to offer information regarding the Wet Nose Animal Rescue Shelter. Dick Sievers with Mid-Sioux Opportunity will appear before the county board to make a request for budget purposes. Plymouth County Weed Commissioner, Matt Loutsch will make a budget request, as he is scheduled to appear before the county supervisors.
New City Council And Mayor To Be Sworn And Take Oath Of Office. Open House Scheduled To Thank Dick Kirchoff, Rex Knapp, and Ken Nelson
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars City Council is scheduled to hold its bi-monthly meeting. The city council has a short agenda. In fact there are no action items scheduled for today’s meeting. However, earlier in the morning beginning at 9:30 a.m. there is a open house with refreshments to acknowledge the community service of Mayor Dick Kirchoff, and long-time city council members, Rex Knapp and Ken Nelson. At 11:30 a.m. just prior to the start of the city council meeting at 12:00 noon, the mayor-elect Rob Bixenman and new city council members Mark Sturgeon and Brian Bruns will take the oath of office and be sworn into duty. Upon the start of the new year, city councilman Clark Goodchild will move from representing the citizens residing in Ward 1, and he will become the At-large city council member.
Bomgaars Contributes To Floyd Valley Healthcare
(Le Mars) — The Le Mars Bomgaars store made a contribution to Floyd Valley Healthcare Monday afternoon. A check for just under $650 was presented from store manager Tom Sauer to Floyd Valley Healthcare Foundation manager, Amy Harnack. This is the fourth year of the program from which Bomgaars designates a Sunday afternoon in October as “Ladies Night” offering discount sales on different merchandise that is sold on the particular day. A percentage of the sales goes for proceeds to assist area hospitals with cancer research and expenditures associated with cancer patient care. Amy Harnack with Floyd Valley Healthcare tells what it means to the hospital to have Bomgaars contribute funds.
Over the course of the four years of the program, Bomgaars has contributed around $3,000 to Floyd Valley Healthcare from proceeds of the “Ladies Night” shopping event.
Franklin Teachers Associate Is Honored As School District’s “Employee Of The Month”
(Le Mars) — A teacher’s associate at Franklin Elementary School was honored this Monday morning as the School District’s “Employee of the Month”. Danelle Bolton was in tears when school officials entered her classroom and she quickly realized she was being honored. Bolton’s parents, brother, and sister Julie Roy, along with her husband, were all on hand for the award presentation, and Danelle’s daughters were able to join the ceremony through video zoom. School Foundation board member Deb Ahlers read the nomination that was submitted by Benji Kasel and Kayla Koopman.
Bolton has been with the Le Mars Community school district for nine years. Among her entire family including her parents, brother, and sister Julie Roy, the former Spanish teacher for Le Mars Community, and her daughters there are 185 years of collective education teaching within the family.
Review: Prison Security Improved, But Staffing/Overcrowding Still Serious Issues
(Anamosa, IA) — An outside review of Iowa prisons finds security has improved but staffing and overcrowding are still serious issues. The review was conducted by C-G-L Companies after two staff members were killed at the Anamosa State Penitentiary. Two inmates trying to escape murdered correctional officer Robert McFarland and nurse Lorena Schulte. New safety policies have been put in place. C-G-L says the Iowa Corrections Department still struggles to find enough workers to hire. Staffing shortages mean existing employees are working overtime to cover the duties and they have to manage a prison population that is 16 percent overcapacity.
Two Months As An Escapee Will Cost Waterloo Man 12 Months In Prison
(Cedar Rapids, IA) — Two months of freedom after escaping from federal custody will cost a Waterloo man another 12 months in federal prison. Twenty-five-year-old Darnell Henderson was serving two-and-a-half years for being a felon in possession of a firearm when he skipped out at the Gerald Hinzman Center in Cedar Rapids earlier this year. He was caught again in late June. Henderson was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to escape from custody. A federal judge sentenced him to a year and a day during the hearing last week.
Students Charged In Woodbury County For Making Threats Aimed At Their Schools
(Sioux City, IA) — Nine students have been charged in Woodbury County with making threats on social media that were aimed at their schools. Local officials are asking parents to do a better job of monitoring their children’s social media use. Woodbury County Attorney P-J Jennings says it’s possible the parents will be held accountable depending on the results of an investigation. Jennings says parents have to convince their kids the threats aren’t jokes and won’t be taken as jokes. They were disruptive. An estimated 20 percent of district students didn’t attend class Friday.
West Des Moines Man Charged After Ramming Vehicle With Girlfriend, Child Inside
(West Des Moines, IA) — A 34-year-old West Des Moines man has been charged with child endangerment, domestic abuse-assault with a weapon, plus several other counts for a Sunday incident. Police say Jasmin Suljic rammed a vehicle containing his girlfriend and child multiple times. The girlfriend was cleared by emergency responders and the five-year-old child was taken to Blank Children’s Hospital after suffering minor head pain. Suljic fought officers as he was taken into custody just before midnight. Police say he admitted he had rammed the victims’ car behind he was afraid his girlfriend was going to leave him.
Des Moines Man Sentenced for Role in Drug Cartel
(Des Moines, IA) — A 20-year-old Des Moines man will spend the next 12 years in federal prison for his role in transporting drugs from Mexico to Iowa. According to a news release from the federal prosecutor’s office, Jack Mazariegos-Galicia picked up kilos of meth in Mexico from an organization linked to a drug cartel. He was caught in a traffic stop in central Iowa in June of 2020. Court records indicate a search found nearly five-thousand grams of pure “ice” methamphetamine in the vehicle.
House Speaker Vows to Work Quickly on Tax Cuts for Iowans
(Des Moines, IA) — House Speaker Pat Grassley says with a billion dollars sitting in the state’s Taxpayer Relief Fund, cutting personal income taxes as quickly as possible is the goal for House Republicans. The state’s economic emergency fund and cash reserve are full. Another account, called the Taxpayer Relief Fund, has more than a billion dollars because state tax revenue soared past official estimates. Grassley says Iowa is in an enviable position. Fellow Republicans in the Iowa Senate AND Governor Kim Reynolds are all exploring tax cutting ideas.
Last Week’s Midwest Storm System Declared A Derecho
(Undated) — The storm impacting Iowa and other parts of the Midwest last week is now classified as a derecho. The National Weather Service says the derecho was the first to occur anywhere in the U-S in the month of December. The storm was called a “serial derecho,” meaning it was part of a large-scale weather system. In order for a storm to be considered a derecho it must travel at least 240 miles and consistently produce wind speeds up to 58 miles-per-hour.
Iowa Couple Authors Book on Iowa Caucus Staffers
(Grinnell, IA) — A couple from Grinnell collaborated on a book about the 2020 Iowa Caucuses focused on the activities of the staff from presidential campaigns. Co-author Barbara Trish, a political science professor at Grinnell College, says it’s tough work with those staffers doing much of the heavy lifting for the campaigns. Trish’s husband, William Menner, is co-author of the book, titled “Inside the Bubble.” Menner describes the staff members featured in it as compelling real-life characters.
