AUTHORITIES RELEASE MORE INFO ON SHOOTING VICTIMS
Authorities released more information on the Perry, Iowa, school shooting victims.
The student killed in the shooting was identified as 11 year old Ahmir Jolliff. The Iowa Medical Examiner says the cause of his death was three gunshot wounds and his death has been ruled a homicide.
The shooter, seventeen-year-old Dylan Butler, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and his death has been ruled a suicide.
Seven others were wounded or injured in the incident. That’s two more than initially reported by law enforcement. Three of the victims are school staff members and four are students.
Perry High School principal Dan Marburger suffered multiple gunshot wounds and remains in critical condition.
The state DCI says Marburger placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students.
Marburger and two students remain hospitalized.
The remaining victims have been treated and released.
Investigators have seized large volumes of digital and social media evidence to review. Background investigations, as well as eyewitness accounts and victim interviews, are continuing.
AKRON ARREST
An Akron man was arrested Thursday on weapons charges. Akron Police say 44 year old Charles Dickson was taken into custody. Police have been in an ongoing investigation into a possible firearms violation. The Tri-County CERT team executed the search warrant at his home. Three weapons were seized in the search. Dickson was charged with three counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person/convicted felon. He’s held in the Plymouth County Jail on a 15-thousand dollars bond.
Assisting on the call was the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and Akron Fire Rescue and Akron Ambulance. The Tri-County CERT team is made up of deputies and officers from the Plymouth, Sioux, and Cherokee County Sheriff’s offices, and the Le Mars and Cherokee Police departments.
NEW YEARS BABY
Floyd Valley Healthcare says the first baby of 2024 in Plymouth County was born late last night. A baby boy, Matteo Varela, was born Friday at 11 11:00 PM. Matteo weighed 8.65 ounces, and is 19 inches long. His parents are Adilene Pano and Carolos Varela. He has no brothers or sisters.
MUSEUM CHANGES
Judy Bowman, newly retired from the Plymouth County Historical Museum, was asked about the future of the museum, and her retirement. Bowman says an ongoing concern is determining ways to spark the interest of a new generation of museum patrons.
They tried one such idea last fall.
The museum collection continues to grow…
This summer, they will receive the collection of Plymouth County’s first female doctor, Mona Bomgaars
The former Le Mars High School building is in good shape, but there is a need for ongoing maintenance
As for Judy Bowman, stepping down from the museum means stepping up for her pets, particularly her horses.
Bowman retired after 25 years as museum administrator.
VIRGIL SEEKS 4TH DISTRICT U.S. HOUSE SEAT
A Gaza, Iowa native who is a former army ranger and C-I-A operations officer has announced he is running against Republican incumbent Fourth District Congressman Randy Feenstra.
Kevin Virgil says growing up in northwest Iowa’s O’Brien county, he has the conservative values needed to represent the district.
Virgil says he doesn’t think Feenstra’s actions reflect the record of a true conservative.
Virgil says he will be more open to listening to the people he represents.
Virgil was joined on stage by former congressman Steve King as he made his announcement.
Feenstra defeated King in a primary four years ago and went on to win the congressional seat.
Virgil is 50 years old and a graduate of South O’Brien High School and West Point.
He now lives in Sutherland where he started a tech company.
MORE SOLDIERS HEADING TO KOSOVO
Another group of Iowa National Guard soldiers is deploying to Kosovo. The Iowa National Guard says 20 soldiers with the 186th Military Police Company out of Camp Dodge in Johnston will deploy this Sunday. There will be a community send-off ceremony at Camp Dodge Sunday at 8 a-m. The ceremony is open to the public. This mission is in support of the same NATO peacekeeping operation that members from the 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, out of Waterloo were deployed to on December 29th.
