SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City manufacturing company is planning a $1.2 million expansion project. The Sioux City Journal reports Rocklin Manufacturing plans to apply for state tax incentives to help pay for the project. The city council plans to vote Monday (today) on whether to support Rocklin’s application for state aid.

Rocklin says it wants $176,648 in withholding tax credits and $41,070 in investment tax credits and $48,996 in sales tax refunds. The company that makes tools for manufacturing has three buildings on its campus, but two of which need renovations before they can be used.

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa State University President Steven Leath damaged a private plane in a hard landing in 2014, 11 months before he banged up a university aircraft in remarkably similar fashion. Documents obtained by The Associated Press under the open records law show that Leath was flying in gusty conditions on Aug. 11, 2014, and “landed hard” in a crosswind, causing propeller damage. A university spokeswoman declined to say where the incident occurred or whose plane Leath was flying.

Two months later, Leath was cleared to fly the university’s $498,000 Cirrus SR22 single-engine plane. Leath damaged that plane in a hard landing in July 2015 in Bloomington, Illinois, while he and his wife were flying home from a North Carolina vacation. He has also blamed that incident on windy conditions.

The commander on some of the crew of the U-S-S Sioux City visited the ship’s namesake city this past weekend as part of Veterans Day activities. The U-S-S Sioux City is one of the new Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) designed to be used closer to the shoreline for things like mine detection, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare. Commander Shockey Snyder talked at the Siouxland Chamber luncheon about other uses for the ship.

U.S.S. Sioux City side launch after christening Jan. 30th, 2016.

He says it might also be used for humanitarian missions, search and rescue, counter narcotics in the Caribbean and support to special operations. Snyder says the ship will be commissioned at a yet to be determined location in the fall of 2017. He says this time the Navy will have to break from the tradition of where it hosts the commissioning.

“Starting with the U-S-S Yorktown…if it’s possible to go to the namesake city, that’s where we like to commission the ships. I am sorry we can’t bring the ship here,” Snyder said, “we can’t get up the river.”

The ship is currently undergoing systems testing. A spokesman for the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce says a local committee is being formed to help plan the event.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa officials say state-run care facilities don’t inform residents or their families when convicted sex offenders are placed in the facilities, saying doing so would violate state law even though the information is listed on a state website. The Des Moines Register reports that Gov. Terry Branstad backed a 2012 bill that would have required care facilities to notify residents and their families when a convicted sex offender was moving in.

The proposed bill, which was not passed, came in the wake of an alleged assault in 2011 in Pomeroy. A convicted sex offender was accused of molesting a 95-year-old woman in a nursing home.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Staff at a Sioux City cemetery are working with high school students to bring more light, both literally and figuratively, on an area where 72 Civil War veterans are buried. About 200 West High School students are helping staff by researching the section of Floyd Cemetery established by the city in 1885 for the Grand Army of the Republic Post No. 22 for former Union soldiers.

Their findings may be compiled in a book to present to the cemetery.  The Sioux City Journal reports 20 white marble tombstones will be installed on currently unmarked graves this fall. The city plans to replace a sidewalk and concrete steps, repair a gazebo, illuminate a flagpole and plant grass and flowers.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a gas drive-off from a convenience store near Minden, resulted in the arrest late Friday morning, of a woman from northern Iowa. A pickup driven by 26-year old Shauni Elizabeth Turnmeyer, of Garner, was located and pulled over on eastbound Interstate 80 near the 49-mile marker, after she allegedly left the Casey’s Store without paying for fuel. Turnmeyer was charged with Theft in the 5th Degree.

She told deputies she was unable to pay for the gas and was en route to obtain funds to do so. The store manager said Turnmeyer pumped nearly 13-gallons of gas valued at slightly more than $26 and attempted to pay using three different credit cards, each of which were declined. The woman also tried to get money from an ATM, but was unsuccessful. After sitting in her vehicle at the pump for about 30-minutes, Turnmeyer pulled-up in front of the store for about 15-minutes before taking off in an easterly direction on I-80.

And, an Oakland man was arrested Sunday night for Violation of a Court Order/Contempt of Court, following an investigation into a suspicious vehicle in the intersection of 380th Street and Elmtree Road. The caller told authorities a “large build woman” with dark colored clothing was walking away from a vehicle and thought the situation was odd. Upon further investigation, 41-year old Shane Elam Rouse, of Oakland, was arrested on the Contempt charge and brought to the Pott. County Jail.

One person was injured during an accident Thursday afternoon, in Union County. The Sheriff’s Office says 38-year old Jennifer Hodgkins, of Creston, was transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, after she lost control of her SUV due to obstructed vision, and entered a ditch. Her 2002 Chevy Suburban rolled over and came to rest on its top. Hodgkins, who was wearing her seat belt, suffered possible, unknown injuries.

The accident happened at around 3-p.m., Thursday. Sheriff’s Officials say Hodgkins was traveling north on Pole Road and saw a truck traveling south. A strong gust of wind blew gravel dust from the truck into the path of the Chevy, causing Hodgkins to not see where she was going.  Her SUV sustained $3,000 damage.

And, a Lorimor man escaped injury after the 2005 Chevy pickup he was driving struck a Black Angus cow on the road Friday night. The accident happened at around 8-p.m., on U-S Highway 169, in Union County. Sheriff’s officials say 23-year old Brandon Decker, of Lorimor, was traveling south on 169 when the accident occurred. The cow, owned by Steven Raymie, of Lorimor, was valued at $2,500. Decker’s truck sustained $8,000 damage, and was declared a total loss.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, an Afton man reported Friday night, that some time, possibly on Wednesday, someone entered his farm building in Lorimor and took his grey/teal colored Kawasaki 275 4-wheeler.  The loss was estimated at $2000.

The Board of Supervisors in Adair County will meet Tuesday morning, in Greenfield. During their 9-a.m. session in their Boardroom at the Courthouse, the Board will canvass the results of last Tuesday’s General Election. They’re also set to hear from County Attorney Clint Hight, pertaining to correspondence from Adams County, with regard to Sharing a County Attorney.

Adair County Recorder Janelle Schneider will also discuss a Step Increase with the Board. And, Sheriff Jeff Vandewater will discuss a new jailer/dispatcher hire.

Creston Police say five people were arrested on drug charges early Friday morning. The suspects were taken into custody at around 1-a.m. at a location near Sumner and Laurel Streets. Officials say 18-year old Cheyenne Goodnight, 19-year old Sydney Dimmler and 25-year old Michael Sickels, all of Corning, and 22-year old Blade Fox along with 19-year old Dakota Williams, both of Creston, each face charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Goodnight, Dimmler and Williams were each released on $1,000 bond. Fox and Sickels were released on a promise to appear later, in court.

Creston Police said also, a woman who resides in the 200 block of N. Oak Street, reported that between 7:45-a.m. and 2:30-p.m. Friday, someone stole two solar lights and a projection-style Christmas light, from the outside of her home. The loss was estimated at $100.

(8-a.m. News)

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS