NEW SHERIFF
There’s a new Sheriff in Sioux County.
The Sioux County Board of Supervisors today appointed a new sheriff, Jamie Van Voorst. Van Voorst, a Chief Deputy in the Department, was unanimously endorsed by the Supervisors. Then he was sworn in by 3rd Judicial district Chief Judge Patrick Tott. Van Voorst reacts to the appointment and swearing in.
Van Voorst said it was his wife that was his biggest influence leading up to this appointment. What or who prepared you for this? Jamie’s wife.
He found he had support in the department to seek the office.
His father reminded him of an incident when he faced a magistrate in his younger days. The judge at the time told Van Voorst – I never want to see you in this courtroom again.
Van Voorst replaces Dan Altena, who retired yesterday. He will fill the remainder of Altena’s term, and then he faces election in the fall.
FEDERAL RAID
The F-B-I and the A-T-F served search warrants at five locations across west-central Iowa in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged federal firearm law violations. Wednesday, federal agents raided the home of Brad Wendt of Denison, his gun stores in Denison and Anita, a rural property in Manning, and a location in downtown Adair where Wendt also serves as chief of police. Federal officials have not released any further details and indicated the warrants are part of an extensive ongoing investigation.
PHEASANT COUNT
Hunters in Iowa bagged the most pheasants in more than a decade last year and the results from the recent roadside survey indicate another good year is ahead. D-N-R wildlife biologist, Todd Bogenschutz, says the pheasant count was 20-point-four last year and this year it came out to 19-point-six and both round off to 20. Hunters shot 375-thousand pheasants last year — and the numbers are likely to be around that again this year. The youth pheasant season is October 22nd and 23rd. The regular pheasant season opens October 29th and runs to January 10th.
IOWA MEDICAID MANAGEMENT
State officials have chosen a California-based company to join two other private firms that manage Iowa Medicaid — the joint state-and-federal program that provides health care services to 800-thousand disabled and low-income Iowans. State Medicaid director Elizabeth Matney says Molina Healthcare’s contract will start July First. The state is also extending its current Medicaid contract with Ameri-Group, and Iowa Total-Care’s contract runs through 2025. Matney says the goal is to divide Iowa’s Medicaid members evenly among the three managed care companies.
INJURY ACCIDENT
An accident along US Highway 75 south of Hinton Tuesday night resulted in serious injury to a motorcyclist. The Plymouth County Sheriffs Department was called shortly after 6 pm of a semi-trailer colliding with a motorcycle near US 75 and C80, south of James. Officers determined a semi attempting to turn at a gravel turnaround from the passing lane collided with a motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle was seriously injured and was transported by Hinton Fire and EMS to MercyOne in Sioux City.
DOWNTOWN BIKE RACKS
Plymouth County Cyclists are using a grant from the Le Mars Hotel/Motel Tax proceeds for an ongoing project. Cyclists member Mark Sturgeon says they were awarded 500 dollars to upgrade bicycle access downtown.
The funds were awarded by the city council earlier this year, to be utilized in the current fiscal year.
Businesses welcome the new bike racks downtown.
The Plymouth County Cyclists have a program where they place bike racks near businesses anywhere in Le Mars.
The Plymouth County Cyclists have previously used hotel/motel tax proceeds for other uses.
The Cyclists and Le Mars Police gave out helmets last Sunday at the Recreation Trailhead next to US Highway 75.
FIVE WORKERS INJURED
Authorities in Cherokee County say the collapse of an unfinished business has injured at least five workers in Larrabee. A construction crew was working on the building Tuesday when it gave way. One victim was airlifted to a hospital with severe injuries and another was transported by ambulance. Three other injured people were taken in private vehicles for the treatment of minor injuries. No names have been released.
COUNTY GOP FUNDRAISER
Plymouth County Republicans hold their fall fundraiser Thursday, September 8, at Willow Creek Golf Course in Le Mars. Shelly Stabe is co-chair of the event.
Have just begin county fundraisers recently.
Another special guest is Tamara Scott, a national committee member for Iowa
Funds raised by the event are used to pay expenses and support Republican candidates.
This year, the county Republicans will extend support to canidates in two statewide races … for Iowa Attorney General and State Auditor.
Registration can be done by phone or online.
Doors open at 5 pm. Dinner is at 6, followed by an auction and a program featuring King and Scott.
DROUGHT LOANS
Small businesses hit by the drought in northwest Iowa can apply for low-interest federal disaster loans. The assistance from the Small Business Administration is available in 11 counties, nine of them in northwest Iowa. S-B-A spokesperson Mark Randle says we’re talking about businesses dependent on farming and ranching. Randle says, “Because of the drought they’re not being called on for services.” He says this doesn’t include farms or ranches because they are covered under U-S-D-A program. Loans of up to two-million dollars are available. The application deadline is April 17th of next year. The affected counties include Buena Vista, Clay and Dickinson.
SHELDON TIME CAPSULE
Sheldon, Iowa, is getting national media attention for a lost time capsule that, is not really lost. The original story indicated that the location of the time capsule buried during Sheldon’s centennial celebration back in 1972 had been lost to time, leaving officials without its precise location. The capsule was to be opened as part of Sheldon’s sesquicentennial celebration on Friday. Sheldon’s Chamber Director Ashley Nordahl says there was some confusion and that they always knew where the time capsule was — it was just a matter of making sure they could get to it. Nordahl says there’s a “little bit of concrete” around it and they didn’t want to create a mess.
