HINTON WOMAN ARRESTED FOR RIDING BNSF TRAIN
A Hinton woman was arrested by Sioux County law enforcement for riding a train. 46 year old Shannon Heckler of Hinton was arrested early Friday morning by the Sioux County Sheriffs Office. Heckler called 911, to say she was riding a northbound BNSF train car north of Sioux Center. The railway was contacted, who in turn contacted the train crew to stop the train. Heckler was located and arrested. She said she climbed on the train in Sioux City, in an attempt to get to her home in Hinton. Heckler was charged with public intoxication and trespassing.
Photo – Sioux County Sheriffs Department
REMSEN MAN CHARGED WITH FIREARMS VIOLATION
A Remsen was arrested Thursday on a firearms charge. The Plymouth County Sheriffs Office was called concerning a domestic disturbance. In their investigation, deputies became aware that one of those investigated, Jay Loutsch, 59, was in possession of firearms and ammunition. Loutsch was prohibited from possessing these items due to a previous domestic abuse conviction. He was arrested for felon in possession of firearms.
ARTBURST
One of the features of the annual Tulip Festival in Orange City is ArtBurst. The event will feature 21 artists from six states. ArtBurst will take place on the grounds of the Sioux County Courthouse from 10 am to 6 pm Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18. This is a juried exhibition, with cash prizes awarded for best-of-show entries. The show includes paintings, jewelry, pottery, metalwork, photography, and textiles. The full list of entries can be found online at octulipfestival.com/artburst.
ED DEPARTMENT UPDATES GRADUATION RATES
The State Department of Education is updating some of its previously reported high school graduation rates. The Ed Department announced the data used to calculate the graduation rates the last ten years left out students who had transferred to another school and then dropped out. Most recently, the correction increases the 2023 graduation rate by a tenth of a point to 87-point-five percent. The rates for 2021 and 2022 fell by more than two percentage points to 87-point-eight percent for 2021 and 87-point-four percent for 2022. The Department says in a statement that Iowa’s four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 is consistent with the national standard and it is above the 2023 rates reported by Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.
ISU PROFESSOR: IT’S OFTEN UNSAFE FOR FARMERS TO PULL OVER TO LET MOTORISTS PASS
State records show about 30 percent of farm-related crashes on Iowa roads occur during April, May and June. Steven Freeman, a professor in agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University, says farmers need to make sure all lights on their equipment are working and the “slow moving vehicle” signs and reflective markers are in the right position.
Freeman says in rural areas, drivers need to exercise patience and keep their distance from farm equipment.
Freeman says the side of the road, especially a gravel road, may not support the weight of the farm equipment and pulling over to let a vehicle pass endangers the safety of the farmer. From 2017 to 2022, there were 114 vehicle accidents in Iowa involving farm equipment that caused serious injury or death. Widespread rain has likely paused planting in much of the state. The U-S-D-A estimates 39 percent of Iowa’s corn crop and about a quarter of Iowa’s soybean fields were planted by last Sunday.
NATIONAL GUARD WILL DEACTIVATE FORT DODGE UNIT
The Iowa National Guard says it has received confirmation from the director of the federal Air Guard office that the 133rd Test Squadron in Fort Dodge will be deactivated as part of restructuring. Radio Iowa’s Dar Danielson reports.
An Iowa National Guard spokesperson says the 133rd currently has 112 members.
