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Railroad Days In Sanborn Continue

Sanborn, Iowa — Sanborn’s 20th Annual Railroad Days continue in Sanborn this Saturday.
railroad tracks
The Masons’ Pancake Breakfast and Methodist Church Bake Sale are both from 6 to 10 a.m. at the City Park Shelter House. At 8 a.m. it’s the 5K Race and Mile Fun Run & Walk starting at Miller Park. Registration starts at 7:15. At 9 it’s the Sanborn Preservation Flea Market on Main Street. The Golf Ball Roll is at 10 a.m. at Prospect Street and West Fourth. The Van Ess Purple Cow Trailer will be selling ice cream refreshments starting at 10 a.m. in the City Park. The parade starts at 10:30, as does an Independent Area Vendor Flea Market east of the HMS Middle School and MI’ONO Lunch at the City Park Shelter House. At 11 it’s time for the Tractor Show at the HMS Bus Barn. Starting at 11, and serving until they’re gone, AMPI will be serving grilled cheese. Also starting to serve at 11 will be the public library lunch stand and the firemen’s lunch stand.

At noon it’s the SuFuDu Drumline Performance at the bus barn, and both the Putt-A-Round Challenge and Human Foosball at City Park. From 1 to 7, it’s a free swim at the Sanborn Aquatic Center. Bounce Around Inflatables, the Corn Box Treasure Hunt and Double V Pony Rides will all be available at the city park from noon to 4. From 2 to 4 the tractor and wagon rides will be available. Then at 4, it’s the Kids’ Pedal Pull. At 4:30, the Sanborn Community Ambulance Team will show how they get trapped victims out of cars. At dusk, it’s the movie in the park and at 9 it’s the street dance.

For more information and forms you can go to sanbornchamber.com or facebook.com/sanbornchamber.

sanborn railroad days 2016

O’Brien County Fair Starts Saturday

Primghar, Iowa — The O’Brien County Fair in Primghar gets underway this Saturday.
blue ribbon
Several events are planned. At 8:30 a.m., the 4-H Non-Livestock Judge Orientation will be held. At the same time will be the Tenth Annual Antique and Classic Tractor Ride. If you’d like to take part, registration will be at the Fairgrounds. At 9 a.m., the 4-H non-livestock judging will take place at the Primghar Community Center.

At 10:00 a.m. is the time for the open class craft exhibits to be checked in. That will be followed at 10:30 by the Open Class craft judging.

If you have a need to watch some speed, check out the auto races, sponsored by the Primghar Jaycees this Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.

There are some livestock activities and check-ins on Sunday. The Monday evening entertainment is the King and Queen Coronation and the Bill Riley Talent Search Show. Tuesday night it’s the Casey Muessigmann concert, and Wednesday it’s another round of auto racing.

For the full schedule, you can check out obriencountyfairiowa.com.

Mental Health & Disability Crisis Line Switches Providers

Spencer, Iowa — The organization that provides leadership and management for the regional system of care for mental health and disability services for six northwest Iowa counties has switched providers for their crisis line.
telephone no message light
Northwest Iowa Care Connections serves residents of Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, and Palo Alto Counties. They report that they have recently switched providers for the region’s 24/7 crisis phone line from Foundation 2 in Cedar Rapids to Spencer-based Seasons Center for Behavioral Health.

Bill Leupold, Northwest Iowa Care Connections’ Goverance Board Chair and the official spokesperson for the region, says that the Regional Governance Board felt that the $60,000 annual cost of Foundation 2’s service was exorbitant for the number of calls received by Foundation 2.

Northwest Iowa Care Connections Region Chief Executive Officer Kim Wilson says that Seasons Center, as a private, non-profit organization, provides a safe, confidential option for people to seek assistance with social, emotional, behavioral and family issues. Since a crisis can come in many forms, Seasons Center seeks to empower people to develop their own skills and confidence in meeting life’s challenges.

Leupold says that there should be no impact to those who call the crisis line as the phone number will remain the same, the only difference being the clients will now be speaking with Seasons Center personnel.

They say the Northwest Iowa Care Connections toll free crisis line,( 844-345-4569) is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year with Seasons Center, whose emergency services are accredited by the Iowa Department of Human Services Chapter 24. Callers can expect to receive assistance from trained staff who help to develop a collaborative safety plan, arrange follow-up, and make referrals to local providers as needed.

Van Roekel To Take Plea Agreement

Hull, Iowa — A Hull woman facing federal charges in connection with an allegedly fraudulent ticket selling scheme is planning on taking a plea bargain.
Federal Courthouse Sioux City
According to court documents, federal charges of Mail Fraud, and Making and Subscribing False Income Tax Return have been filed against Ranae Van Roekel. Documents indicate an initial appearance, arraignment, and plea hearing will take place on Thursday, July 28. 2016. at 2:30 PM, before United States Magistrate Judge C.J. Williams.

The documents go on to state that the court has been advised that Van Roekel will be pleading guilty pursuant to a plea agreement, the terms of which have not been disclosed.

Court documents accuse Van Roekel of using the internet, phone networks, and the U.S. Mail to defraud people attempting to buy tickets through her home-based business, “Get ‘Em Tickets Now”, from January, 2008 through June, 2012.  She is accused of obtaining money through the mail from customers, claiming to have access to tickets to various events, including the 2012 Super Bowl, which she did not have.  Court documents say she went so far as to claim to be a member of the Super Bowl Planning Committee.  She is specifically charged for receiving a check through the mail for $1,664 for four pre-purchased tickets to the 2012 Super Bowl.  All told, Van Roekel is charged with fraudulently obtaining more than a half million dollars.

The false income tax return charge alleges that Van Roekel knowingly filed a false and fraudulent Federal Income Tax Form 1040 for the 2010 calendar year.

New Rules For Area’s Young Drivers

Iowa DOT new logo 2014Northwest Iowa — Young northwest Iowa drivers will be affected as the Iowa Department of Transportation updates it’s rules for young drivers to reflect changes in law approved by the Iowa Legislature.

Sara Siedsma, with the DOT Motor Vehicle Division, says one update involves a restriction on passengers.

Drivers must have an instruction permit for one year without an accident or conviction for traffic offense before getting an intermediate license. Siedsma says drivers have to wait six months after a conviction before the clock can start again, but the year period does not have to be 12 consecutive months.

She says they’ve also updated the process for parents seeking a waiver of driver’s education.

Siedsma says there’s also a change designed to give more flexibility for school permits.

She says the students often alternate staying with each parent and this allows them to still drive using their school permit as long as they meet the requirements.

City Begins Hunt For New City Manager

New-Sheldon-SignSheldon, Iowa — The City of Sheldon has begun the process of hiring a new City Manager to replace Scott Wynja who has resigned the position to take a similar job in Sioux Center.  At Wednesday’s City Council meeting Mayor Katricia Meendering announced that Barry Whitsell will head up the Recruitment Committee.  Other Committee Members include Mark Brown, Judy Winkel, Dennis Gorter, Dan Van Gorp, April Schaeffer, Mayor Meendering, and City Council members Brad Hindt and Greg Geels.

The Committee will review possible applicants for the position, and make a recommendation to the Mayor and Council of which applicants to interview.  The interviews will be conducted by the Mayor and City Council.

After a closed session to consider the purchase of property, the Council voted in open session to buy three acres of land for a planned additional water tower.  The land, which is on the northeast corner of the intersection of 16th Street and Country Club Road, is being purchased from John Jinkinson for $37,500 per acre, or a total of $112,500.

According to City Manager Scott Wynja, construction of the project could begin in the fall of 2017 or the spring of 2018.  The additional tower will provide a more reliable water source for the developing area in the eastern part of the city, but will also be connected to the rest of the water system.   Wynja says the City will be applying for a Community Development Block Grant to help finance the project.