(Swea City)--Two people are facing drug charges after a traffic stop Saturday evening east of Swea City.

The Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office says shortly before 8 pm, Deputies conducted the stop near the intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 169. During the investigation, the Sheriff’s Office K9 Thor alerted as to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle, giving Officers probable cause to conduct a search.

As a result of the search, Deputies arrested 48-year-old James Benson of Fairmont on multiple charges including Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver over 5 grams,  a Class B Felony, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, Possession of an Offensive Weapon while Participating in a Drug Violation, Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Deputies also arrested 54-year-old Sherri Gillis of Swea City on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance-3^rd or subsequent offense, Class D Felony and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Gillis and Benson were booked into the Kossuth County Jail to await an initial court appearance.

(Fairmont, Minn,)--A Martin County Sheriff’s deputy was honored by the Minnesota Towards Zero Deaths for his work to save lives through traffic safety.

K9 Deputy Luis Figueroa received the prestigious TZD Education Star Award last week in Rochester.

Figueroa has facilitated traffic safety education at the local high schools through mock crashes and presentations on distracted and impaired driving. He is the Martin County Safe Roads Coalition Coordinator and local TZD law enforcement contact. 

(Bancroft)--A Bancroft man is facing multiple charges following two separate incidents over the weekend.

The Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office says at around 8:40 pm Saturday, Deputies assisted the Bancroft Police Department with an incident in the 500 block of East Ramsey Street. According to a news release, a person had possibly been accidentally shot with a pellet gun, and during the course of the investigation, officers were confronted by a subject who appeared to be heavily intoxicated. Deputies arrested 41-year-old Beau Berge of Bancroft on a charge of public intoxication.

Officers then traveled to Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona, where they interviewed the victim of an alleged assault earlier in the day near Lone Rock. It was reported to law enforcement that the victim had attempted to stop the suspect from driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle and was allegedly stabbed with a pocketknife.

After an investigation, Deputies filed two additional charges against Berge: Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury, a Class C Felony and Assault Causing Serious Injury, Class D Felony. Berge was booked into the Kossuth County Jail to await an initial court appearance.

(Milford)--Okoboji Middle School has been named one of the top 10 middle schools in the state of Iowa by US News and World Report. Middle School Principal Ryan Cunningham says Okoboji  was ranked 10^th out of 700 middle schools in Iowa.

Cunningham explains how the rankings are determined.

He says Okoboji scored above 97-percent.

Cunningham says the high ranking can help attract students to Okoboji Middle School.

For information on the rankings, visit usnews.com.

(Estherville)--Navigating filing taxes can be challenging, especially if you are new to running a farm business, participating in disaster programs for first time, or trying to forecast the farm’s tax bill.  The USDA offers tax resources for farmers, according to Emmet County Farm Service Agency Director Joshua Delgar.

Delgar says USDA also issues tax forms for recipients of assistance for distressed borrowers, including through the Inflation Reduction Act.

He says the USDA also offers a Tax Estimator Tool.

For more information contact your local FSA Office.

(Estherville)-Former Estherville and Armstrong police officer Ben Scheevel, who was charged with 85 misconduct related charges, was sentenced Monday on seven of those charges as part of a plea deal.

Emmet County District Court Judge Carl Peterson accepted an Alford guilty plea from Scheevel to five counts of unauthorized access to or dissemination of criminal history data, an aggravated misdemeanor and two counts of unauthorized access to or dissemination of criminal intelligence data, a class D felony.

Judge Peterson gave the 32-year-old Scheevel suspended prison sentences of up to five years in prison on the felony charges and up to two years in prison for the misdemeanor counts. Scheevel was fined $1,025 for each of the felony charges plus surcharges and court costs. The sentences will run concurrently and Scheevel will be placed on probation after three years.

The other 78 counts were dismissed. Those charges include multiple counts of ongoing criminal conduct, perjury, stalking, stalking involving a dangerous weapon,  non-felonious misconduct in office, assault while displaying a dangerous weapon, theft in the 2nd degree and tax evasion.

Judge Peterson denied a motion by Defense Attorney Adam Zenor for Scheevel to be given a deferred judgement. A motion by Assistance State Attorney General Israel Kodiaga to have all the sentences run consecutively was also denied.

Scheevel currently lives in Minnesota and works in the construction business.

(Estherville)--One person was injured in a three vehicle chain reaction accident Saturday afternoon in Estherville. Estherville Police say the accident happened shortly after 2:35 pm in the 10 block of Central Ave.

According to the accident report, a 2005 Honda SUV driven by a 15-year-old juvenile female was traveling eastbound on Central Ave. and attempted to turn south into the West Casey’s. The road was slick causing the two vehicles behind her to slide. A 2021 Jeep SUV driven by 32-year-old Didier Castro-Tercero lightly rear ended the Honda SUV causing minor or no visible damage to both vehicles. The Jeep SUV was then rear ended by a 2006 GMC Sierra pickup driven by 71-year-old Dean Nicoson of Armstrong, causing noticeable damage to both vehicles.

A passenger In the Jeep SUV, 61-year-old Jose Castro of Estherville, complained of neck pain and was transported by Estherville Ambulance to Avera Holy Family Hospital.

(Sioux Rapids)--Multiple charges are pending against a Sioux Rapids man after a fiery accident earlier this month in Clay County.

At around 8:45 pm on November 16^th, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office received a call that a vehicle was in the ditch and was on fire in the 4900 block of 220^th Avenue. The Sioux Rapids Fire Department was dispatched to the scene and put out the fire. When deputies arrived on scene, 25-year-old Jose Ramon-Arrendondo was identified as the driver of the vehicle, a 2008 Chrysler Sebring,

Alcoholic containers were located at the scene and Ramon-Arrendondo was determined to be under the influence of alcohol. Ramon-Arrendondo sustained burns to his hands and was transported to Spencer Municipal Hospital for treatment by private vehicle.

Ramon-Arrendondo was cited for failure to yield the right of way and the Sheriff’s Office says multiple charges are pending.

(Spirit Lake)--For the second time this fall, a moose has been spotted in northwest Iowa. A moose was photographed late Saturday afternoon swimming across Big Spirit Lake. Other posts show the animal wandering in the area of 240th Avenue along the west side of Big Spirit Lake.

In late September, A different moose wandered around northwest Iowa and was spotted near Estherville, Ruthven and in Clay County before heading north into Minnesota.  

A Moose on the Loose Facebook page was created to follow that moose as it continued to make its way north through Minnesota. That page has more than 30,000 members.

(Estherville)--The Estherville Lincoln Central School District has developed a Care Closet to help students in need.  ELC Superintendent Tara Paul explains how the Care Closet came about.

Paul says the Care Closet has a variety of items to help students.

She says the closet was stocked by donations.

Paul says the ELC Foundation is also conducting a winter wear drive.

The ELC Foundation is seeking donations of all sizes of new or gently used coats, hats, mittens, boots and snow pants. Drop off locations are at the RWC, Hy-Vee, Fareway and the Chamber Office. Donations will be accepted through December 15^th.

(Estherville)--Iowa Lakes Community College, a leader in construction education, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Construction Technology program with a Chamber Coffee scheduled for December 1 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Construction Technology Building on the Emmetsburg campus.

Since in the start of the program in 1973, the Construction Technology program, previously named the Carpentry Program, has adapted and thrived alongside the ever-evolving construction industry, graduating more than 700 students over the past 50 years.

Construction Technology Program Coordinator Corey Menning has been with Iowa Lakes for over 20 years.

For additional information about the Construction Technology program at Iowa Lakes Community College, visit iowalakes.edu.

(Ames)--Registration is open for the 2024 Farm Transitions Conference scheduled for February 8^th and 9^th  at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center in Ames. Emmet and Dickinson County Education Program Coordinator Sue Boettcher says the event is hosted by the Beginning Farmer Center at Iowa State University.

Boettcher says the conference will feature more than 15 presenters including attorneys, farm management experts and farmers

She also details the topics for day two of the conference.

All participants will receive a complimentary copy of Estate and Succession Planning for the Farm, a 100-page workbook published this fall by ISU Extension and Outreach. Register online at www.regcytes.extension.iastate.edu/farmtransitions/. For more information, visit the Beginning Farmer website

(Estherville)—This Saturday, November 25^th has been designated as Small Business Saturday. Lexie Ruter with the Estherville Area Chamber of Commerce urges residents to shop local businesses throughout the holiday season.

Ruter says residents should check out what local retailers have to offer before heading out of town to shop for Christmas.

On another topic, Ruter says Estherville will continue to celebrate the holidays with Tuba Christmas on Thursday, November 30th.

For more information call 362-3541 or visit Estherville.org.

(Ayrshire)--An Ayrshire man is facing sexual abuse charges.

The Palo Alto County Sheriff's Office on Monday evening arrested 42-year-old Adam Clement of Ayrshire, on a valid Palo Alto County Arrest Warrant for Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree, a Class B Felony.

Following his arrest, Clement was placed in jail to await his initial appearance before a magistrate.

(Graettinger)--A Graettinger woman is facing multiple charges after an incident last week

Shortly after 8:15 pm on November 15th, the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to 4313 280th Street, for a civil disturbance.  As a result of an investigation, 34-year-old Nicole Juchem of Graettinger was placed under arrest and charged with Possession of a Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Trespassing. Following her arrest, Juchem was placed in jail to await her initial appearance before a judge.

The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by the Iowa State Patrol and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit.

(Superior)--A boil order that had issued for the city of Superior has been lifted. Officials say boiling of water for drinking or cooking is no longer needed as tests have come back satisfactory.

No reason was given for the boil advisory which was put in place on Tuesday.

(Estherville)--Republican Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy made a campaign appearance Wednesday morning at the Estherville VFW. Ramaswamy, a business leader from Ohio, said Republicans need to present voters with a positive vision for the future

Ramaswamy says he believes in the ideals of the American Revolution.

During a questions and answer session, Ramaswamy was asked how he would prevent China from buying U.S. farmland.

Ramaswamy said he wants to reduce the size of the federal workforce by 50-percent.

Ramaswamy also made a campaign stop Wednesday in Emmetsburg.

(Fairmont, MN)--A Ceylon man was injured in a car-pedestrian accident Tuesday in Fairmont.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the accident happened shortly after 3:30 pm at the intersection of Highway 15 and Adams Avenue.

The patrol says 69-year-old Steven Thiesse of Ceylon was crossing Highway 15 when he was struck by a  2007 Volkswagen Jetta driven by 57-year-old Tina Beavers of Fairmont.

Thiesse sustained non-life threatening injuries but was not transported to the hospital.

The Fairmont Police Department, Martin County Sheriff’s Office and Mayo Clinic Ambulance assisted at the scene.

(Sheldon)--A Milford woman was one of two people arrested Monday on drug charges after the execution of a search warrant in Sheldon.

62-year-old David Kamies of Sheldon and 43-year-old Donna Hinds of Milford were arrested around 5:25 after officers searched Kamies’ residence at 1008 11th St., according to the Sheldon Police Department.

Kamies admitted to possessing and using methamphetamine 30 to 45 minutes before police executed the search warrant and smoking meth with friends in his home, according to court documents.

Syringes used to inject meth were found during the search. A syringe loaded with meth also was found in Hinds’ purse.

Kamies was charged with first-offense possession of a controlled substance-meth, possession of drug paraphernalia and gathering where controlled substances are used.

Hinds was cited for possession of a controlled substance-meth, third or subsequent offense, possession of drug paraphernalia and gathering where controlled substances are used.

(Estherville)--The Emmet County Board of Supervisors Tuesday heard the annual funding request from the Centers Against Abuse and Sexual Assault or CAASA. Executive Director Stephanie Henrich says CAASA provided services to 26 survivors of abuse and sexual assault in Emmet County in the past year. Henrich says CAASA has dealt with reductions in state funding in recent years.

Henrich details how the cuts in funding have impacted CAASA.

She says there’s also been a large turnover in victim advocates.

CAASA received $2,500 from Emmet County in the current fiscal year. Henrich says they are asking for $5,000 for the next fiscal year but added anything over the current amount would help. The Supervisors will consider the request at budget time.

In other business, the board approved the second tier canvass of the November 7^th election covering school board races. The board also approved an updated ordinance regulating excavations or other soil disturbing activities.