New sexual abuse charges filed in Plymouth County child endangerment, animal neglect case
A Le Mars man currently accused of 24 counts of child endangerment and animal neglect has been arrested for a second time and charged with three additional counts of sexual abuse.
The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office says 54-year-old Rick Reifenrath was taken into custody again on Monday on three separate warrants, with a preliminary hearing set for next Thursday, April 30th at 8:45am. Reifenrath is facing one count each of continuous sexual abuse of a child, a Class B felony, sexual abuse in the 3rd degree, a Class C felony, and incest, a Class D felony.
The additional charges stem from the investigation into the care of Reifenrath’s children and numerous dogs that began last September, with the new charges alleging actions dating back to July of 2022. Three children and 111 dogs were removed from a property in rural Plymouth County by authorities during a search on September 23rd, with court documents alleging Reifenrath failed to provide basic nutrition, water, sanitary conditions, and ventilated shelter to at least 20 dogs.
Reifenrath was initially taken into custody in January and was charged with three counts of child endangerment, one count of child endangerment with injury, 19 counts of animal neglect, and one count of animal neglect with injury. He pleaded not guilty to all charges last month, with his trial in that case scheduled to start on Tuesday, May 19th.
Reifenrath is currently free after posting $25,000 bond on Tuesday. The U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force assisted the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office with the arrest.
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County budget approved during Board of Supervisors meeting
During the Plymouth County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, the Board formally approved the county’s budget for FY 2026-27.
The general services levy is set to decrease by 8 cents from last fiscal year, at $3.52 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, while the total rural levy is set at $7.47 per $1,000. The rural fund, which only applies to residents living outside of incorporated communities, will be at $3.95 per $1,000. The Board also approved salary increases for elected officials and sheriff deputies during the meeting, with several elected positions including auditor, attorney, treasurer, and sheriff receiving flat raises of $2,750 with longevity pay, while the five Supervisors received a flat $1,000 raise without longevity pay.
The budget will take effect with the new fiscal year starting on July 1st.
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NIPCO unveils new logo
Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative (NIPCO) unveiled a new logo during their annual meeting earlier this week, which the company says reflects their “continued commitment to delivering reliable, affordable power to rural Iowa and its evolving role in energy generation and transmission.”
According to NIPCO, the updated logo includes a bold “N” symbol that represents “strength, stability, and forward momentum.” The design incorporates meaningful elements rooted in NIPCO’s history and mission to its members. Blue in the new logo symbolizes the cooperative’s hydroelectric generation heritage and commitment to reliability, while the green reflects the agricultural communities and rural landscape NIPCO serves. Three diagonal lines represent three-phase power transmission, reinforcing NIPCO’s role as a generation and transmission cooperative, with subtle references to the seven member cooperatives and the seven cooperative principles included.
In a press release, NIPCO executive vice president and general manager Matt Washburn stated that “this logo is a clearer expression of who we are,” and that “the logo represents our history, our members, and our responsibility to provide reliable power, while preparing for the future.” The new logo will be implemented gradually across digital platforms, communications, and physical assets.
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