PLYMOUTH COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors received a budget proposal from the County Emergency Services Manager. Rebecca Socknat presented a budget which estimates county spending on her agency at the same level as the current fiscal year – 120-thousand dollars. Total spending for the 2024-25 fiscal year is estimated at 220-thousand dollars. Additional income is from federal, state and local grants.
WATER TOWER, GRAVEL PIT
A second water tower near Craig was granted a permit by the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors. Southern Sioux Rural Water proposed the construction of a 750-thousand gallon water tower, across the road from another tower on 120th Street . The Supervisors tabled the matter until the county Zoning Board and Board of Adjustment could weigh in.
The Supervisers this week also approved rental agreements for farmland adjacent to the Chatsworth Gravel Pit. There is 133 acres of tillable farmland at that site.
MORE DETAILS ON DUONG ALLEDGED KIDNAPPING AND ARREST
Threre’s more information on the events leading to the arrest of a man who caused an Amber Alert when he took his non-custodial son from school
The Iowa Department of Public Safety says the situation started when the Jefferson Police Department requested assistance with a kidnapping case. 34-year-old Brandon Duong took his seven-year-old biological son, Bryson Duong, from Greene Elementary School in Jefferson, Iowa. A court order restricting Brandon Duong from having custody had been issued in December 2023.
Plymouth County authorities say that at about 4:40 p.m., the black Toyota Tacoma was spotted by the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office near Safford Avenue and 230th Street, south of the Correctionville and Cushing areas. Woodbury County officers attempted a traffic stop on the Toyota Tacoma, which failed to stop and a pursuit ensued with the suspect vehicle. The pursuit continued in a northerly direction entering a small portion of Cherokee County and then into Plymouth County. Pursuing officers at one point had lost contact with the suspect vehicle but were able to relocate the vehicle near Highway 3 and Sunset Avenue, east of Remsen in Plymouth County. During the pursuit, it was learned that the suspect Brandon Duong may be armed with a long rifle. The vehicle continued a short distance after being relocated, but then crashed, at which time, the driver exited the vehicle with Bryson and proceeded on foot into a field armed with a rifle.
A perimeter was established around the section and an armored vehicle was used to locate the two. Negotiators continued to communicate with Duong, eventually taking him into custody at approximately 8:00 p.m. without incident or injury to either the father or the son.
Brandon Duong is charged in Greene County with second-degree kidnapping, armed with a dangerous weapon, a class B felony. If convicted, Duong could face up to 25 years in prison.
FEENSTRA SUPPORTS IMPEACHMENT OF MAYORKAS
Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra, a Republican from Hull says the time for the U-S to respond to the drone attack that left three American soldiers dead in Jordan is now.
The House is set to vote on the impeachment resolution for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Feenstra says thousands of illegals are crossing the U-S border every day because the Secretary is not doing his job.
Feenstra says. Mayorkas would be the first cabinet secretary to be impeached in nearly 150 years.
DPS ISSUES STATEMENT ON SPORTS GAMBLING
The Iowa Department of Public Safety issued a statement today (Wednesday) on the investigation into illegal sports betting by athletes at the University of Iowa and Iowa State. The statement comes after a lawsuit by one of the athletes questioned the constitutionality of the use of electronic surveillance to track sports gambling apps on the campuses without a warrant. The statement says D-P-S believes the evidence was obtained in a “constitutionally permissible manner” to conduct the surveillance required by state law. D-P-S says they conferred with legal counsel to ensure lawful access to and use of the technology. It says two county attorney offices also reviewed all relevant investigative information before making the ultimate decision to file charges in the case. The statement says the Department traditionally does not comment on active investigations or litigation in an effort to ensure these matters are appropriately addressed in the justice system rather than the media.
DEER TANGLED IN HAMMOCK RESCUED BY POLICE
A hammock tied between two trees was left up this winter behind a house in Sioux City, and that hammock acted like a big net to accidentally capture a deer. Police and animal control were called to try and untangle the creature’s antlers from the mesh as it was hopelessly stuck. Officer Mike Koehler (KAY-ler) says when he arrived, he saw the deer had minor injuries.
Instead of euthanizing the animal, Koehler came up with a plan to set it free by cutting the ropes with his knife. With the deer thrashing around, they couldn’t get too close, but managed to eventually trim off most of the mesh and set it loose.
Officer Cade Gill also responded to the call to help the struggling animal.
BILL COULD SET UP A VOTE IN IOWA LEGISLATURE ON EMINENT DOMAIN FOR SUMMIT CARBON SOLUTIONS’ PIPELINE
If a bill in the Iowa House becomes law, a group of legislators could force lawmakers to vote on whether the proposed carbon capture pipelines can get state government permission to seize property for the project. Twenty-one members of the Iowa House or 11 members of the Iowa Senate would have to sign a petition seeking an up or down vote on the use of eminent domain for the project. The bill cleared a House subcommittee unanimously this (Wednesday) morning. Landowners like Kathy Carter of Rockford in Floyd County said it’s been exhausting to fight against having the pipeline pass through her property. Republican Representative Charley Thomson of Charles City says existing Iowa Utilities Board rules for pipeline developers have been manipulated to deprive Iowans of their due process rights — and he says the decision on eminent domain should be made by elected officials who have to answer to the voters.
FIRST STATEHOUSE HEARINGS FOR GOVERNOR’S AEA OVERHAUL
Governor Kim Reynolds is urging legislators to advance her plan to overhaul the state’s Area Education Agencies. Reynolds says legislators shouldn’t stick their heads in the sand and resist changes because test scores show students with disabilities aren’t being served well by the A-E-As. The governor spoke with reporters just before hour-long hearings yesterday (Wednesday) in the Iowa House and Senate on her bill. Key House Republicans say there’s still a need for more discussions before the bill is ready for a committee vote. The bill did clear a SENATE subcommittee, but Republican Senator Ken Rozenboom (ROH-zen-boom) of Oskaloosa says legislators need to find answers to questions that have been raised.
