JENEARY SEEKING FOURTH TERM IN THE IOWA HOUSE
Iowa 3rd District Representative Dr. Tom Jeneary wants to build on what he sees as successes in the six years he has served in the state House. He notes some significant legislation that has passed in that time.
But there is more that must be done, including legislation to stop pipeline companies from taking property for their right of way.
One measure which should be changed is Area Education Agency reform. Dr. Jeneary opposed the bill, in part because it needed more input from educators.
Another controversial bill set up Education Savings Accounts for students to attend schools of their choice. Jeneary says this isn’t a concern for local schools.
Jeneary says one of the issues that will be revisited next year will be property taxes. Jeneary wants reform, where property taxes do not rise to the point where homeowners find it difficult to stay in their homes.
Jeneary says funding mental health costs is an ongoing issue, but there also needs to be more access to mental health services.
Rep. Jeneary has supported income tax cuts, and says Iowa government is adequately funded. He supports a minimal tax level, but not an elimination of income taxes.
He also wants to change rules regarding government reimbursements for dental care
He would also work toward changing the status of pharmacy benefits managers..
He’s voted in favor of some historic bills, which lowered income taxes, eliminated the inheritance tax, protected the unborn, and protected women’s sports. He would like to continue in that vein.
Dr. Jeneary, a Republican, seeks a fourth term in the House. A Democrat, Emma Bouza of Hawarden, is also running for this seat in the legislature.
DOWNTOWN LE MARS GAS LEAK
A gas leak Tuesday afternoon in downtown Le Mars closed a portion of Central Avenue for over an hour. Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper says a gas line was cut, causing the leak.
Schipper says three downtown businesses and the apartments located above them needed to be evacuated.
The Le Mars Fire Department was assisted by the Orange City Fire Department as a precautionary measure.
MENuMASTERS SUPPORT LE MARS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
Last weekend, the 10th MENuMASTERS Fundraiser was held in Century Hall at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in Le Mars.
Volunteers raised over $23,145 dollars. This money is disbursed for curriculum supplements, equipment, technology, and teacher requests to enhance the education of students attending LeMars Community Schools.
There was generous support from major sponsors, chefs, and in-kind donations. Attendees were able to sample the foods, and vote for their favorites.
This year’s event Chairperson was Gayle Vonk, assisted by Lorraine DeJong. De Jong emceed the event.
TWO INJURED IN ACCIDENT NEAR ROCK VALLEY
Two people were injured when their car collided with a semi tractor-trailer at a rural intersection four miles south of Rock Valley. The crash occurred at the intersection of county roads K30 and B30 Monday afternoon. The semi, driven buy Cade Van Zee, 22, of Rock Valley, was headed north on K30, when an eastbound vehicle driven by 92 year old John Kreykes of Sheldon entered the intersection and the two struck. Kreykes and a passenger were transported to Sioux Center Health for treatment of their injuries. Kreykes was cited for failure to obey a stop sign.
STATE AUDITOR CALLING ON HOUSE SPEAKER TO APOLOGIZE
State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, is calling on the Republican leader of the Iowa House to apologize for accusing Sand and his staff of withholding information about funding issues in the Iowa court system. State Auditor Rob Sand says House Speaker Pat Grassley attacked his staff for partisan political reasons or, Sand says, “ignorance” about when a state fiscal year begins. Sand’s office was notified during Fiscal Year 2023 about computer programming errors that were incorrectly distributing millions in court fines and fees. Last week, Grassley blasted Sand for failing to notify legislators or note the errors in audits. Sand says his staff hasn’t finished its audit of the state court system for the fiscal year in question — and state law prohibits his office from releasing allegations of non-compliance like the tip his office got about the court system errors. A spokesperson for Speaker Grassley was not immediately available for comment. Sand is calling on the legislature to repeal the law that makes it illegal for his office to review computer programming infrastructure — like the coding issue that sent 26-and-a-half MILLION dollars worth of court fines and fees to the wrong accounts.
CASEY’S TAKING OVER ARENA NAMING RIGHTS FROM WELLS FARGO
Des Moines’ main sports and exhibit venue is getting a new name. The Wells Fargo Arena and Iowa Events Center will be renamed the Casey’s Center as the Ankeny-based convenience store chain signed a 10-year deal for the naming rights. The 17-thousand seat arena opened in 2005 and took over hosting the boys’ and girls’ state basketball, and boys’ state wrestling tournaments from Veterans Auditorium. It has also hosted the N-C-A-A men’s basketball tournament multiple times. The name will be changed on July 1st, and it is the first naming rights deal for Casey’s. The company started with stores in Iowa, and now has them in 16 other states.
SIOUX CITY SHOOTING SUSPECT WOUNDED BY POLICE
Sioux City Police say an armed suspect involved in gun related incidents in the Greenville area Sunday night is hospitalized in critical condition with gunshot related injuries when officers fired on him.
The incidents began around 7:20 p.m. The 42-year-old male suspect allegedly approached a woman in the 2600 block of Correctionville Road with a loaded pistol, displayed it in a threatening manner and walked away.
The woman was not injured and responding officers located the suspect walking near Leech Avenue and South Fairmont.
When confronted by officers, the suspect pulled a firearm from his pocket, refused to stop and to drop the gun, and ran from officers, firing shots at them. Officers returned fire, but lost sight of the fleeing gunman in Greenville.
Police and Woodbury County deputies set up an area perimeter and asked Greenville area residents to shelter in place.
Officers searched a residence in the 2500 block of East 1st Street and found the suspect hiding in a 2nd floor crawl space. He refused multiple commands to surrender, and when he appeared to be reaching for his weapon, SWAT officers fired upon him.
Once he was subdued, officers began lifesaving measures and he was transported to Mercyone with a life-threatening injury.
The unidentified suspect was in critical condition as of 1 p.m. Monday.
No officers were injured by gunfire during the incidents and the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation was contacted to investigate the incident.
Per department policy, the involved officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
Charges are pending on the suspect.
