Hawarden, Iowa — A Hawarden man faces a felony charge after a traffic stop in Hawarden.

According to the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, on Wednesday afternoon, September 20th, they received a report of a possible impaired driver leaving Ireton driving a Nissan Altima.

Deputies located the Nissan and stopped it in Hawarden. Deputies suspected that the driver, 27-year-old Jordan Holmes of Sioux City was under the influence of a drug. They tell us while Holmes was being placed under arrest, he attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended a short distance from the location.

Upon further investigation, a passenger in the vehicle, 26-year-old Heriberto Armenta-Robles of Hawarden is believed to have been in possession of a controlled substance and a firearm. Deputies say Armenta-Robles is not eligible to carry a fiream, as he is a felon.

Deputies transported Holmes to the Sioux County Jail where he was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and interference with official acts; he was cited for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended driver’s license.

The Hawarden Police Department transported Armenta-Robles to the Sioux County Jail where he was charged with felon in possession of a firearm, second offense possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Additionally, there were three outstanding arrest warrants for Armenia-Robles.

The sheriff’s office says the case was a joint investigation between their office and the Hawarden Police Department, and it remains under investigation with the possibility of additional criminal charges.

Orange City, Iowa — A judge has ruled against the City of Orange City and for a group of citizens that claimed the City’s rental inspections ordinance was unconstitutional.

The citizens — Orange City tenants, Amanda Wink, Bryan Singer, and Erika Nordyke, and their landlords, Bev Van Dam and Josh Dykstra — not only claimed that the mandatory inspection requirements of the ordinance were unconstitutional, but they wanted Orange City to be unable to seek warrants to conduct inspections with less than traditional, individualized probable cause.

The citizens said that the City should not be allowed to enter a dwelling without evidence that a code violation exists, has existed, or will exist in or outside a targeted rental home. They also didn’t think it was fair that tenants don’t receive notice of, or opportunity to contest the City’s application for an administrative search warrant.

The City said the requirements of an administrative warrant do not require evidence of a specific violation and any administrative search warrants that the City might seek in the future under the ordinance would be based on the reasonable legislative or administrative standards, making specific evidence of an existing violation unnecessary.

The court did find that there need to be more safeguards or protective measures put in place as there are none currently in Iowa for the court to use when considering a request or application for an administrative search warrant.

They also found that without safeguards in place, the administrative warrant violates the citizens’ rights, and is therefore unconstitutional. The suit was filed in the spring of 2021.

Orange City, Iowa — An Orange City leader has been honored by an industry publication.

The Orange City Area Health System tells us their CEO, Marty Guthmiller, is named among 67 “Critical Access Hospital CEOs to Know” by Becker’s Hospital Review. According to Becker’s, the CEOs featured on this list are innovators, improving safety, quality, outcomes, service lines, recruitment, retention and more. Those on the list have proven their dedication to continuous improvement, and the list honors community access hospital CEOs for their commitment to optimizing healthcare.

OCAHS tells us Guthmiller has spent more than 30 years of his career in healthcare. During his tenure as CEO for Orange City Area Health System since 1994, he oversaw the planning, fundraising, and construction of its $29.6 million expansion project, which was the first Critical Access Hospital relocation in the state of Iowa, completed in 2006. He also served two terms as Chair of the Iowa Hospital Association Board of Officers and Trustees, from 2019-21.

OCAHS officials say Guthmiller leads the health system’s 600-strong staff with the mission that healthcare is a holistic continuum of care and includes many of the social determinants of health, from birth care to senior care. Recognizing the changing needs of seniors in the region, he is currently focusing on independent living, assisted living, and nursing home care, according to the officials. They tell us that as a result, plans are underway to expand Landsmeer Ridge Retirement Community services to ease the staffing challenges for Prairie Ridge Care Center and develop a new 55-plus living center. The health system includes four clinics, an award-winning hospital, a newly renovated birth center, comprehensive surgical services, a sports medicine clinic, a senior care campus, home health and hospice, and a full range of ancillary medical services.

Courtesy fellow Community First Broadcasting station KSOU in Sioux Center

Ireton, Iowa — An Armstrong teen was taken to the hospital and a Rock Valley man was taken to jail after an accident near Ireton on Saturday night.

The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office reports that 39-year-old Alex Rodriguez Sevilla of Rock Valley was driving a 2015 GMC Terrain eastbound on Highway 10, three miles northeast of Ireton. They tell us 17-year-old Danica Lundgren of Armstrong, Iowa, was driving a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 eastbound on Highway 10 behind Sevilla. Sevilla began slowing and Lundgren struck the GMC.

The Ireton Ambulance took Lundgren to Hawarden Regional Healthcare.

The Sevilla GMC sustained about $15,000 in damage. The Lundgren Ram sustained about $10,000 in damage.

Lundgren was cited for following too closely.

Upon further investigation, Deputies suspected that Sevilla had been under the influence of alcohol. He was transported to the Sioux County Jail where he was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license.

The sheriff’s office says the Ireton Fire Department, Ireton Ambulance Squad, and the Hawarden Police Department assisted with the response to the accident.

Primghar, Iowa — A Rock Rapids man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after pleading guilty to murdering his mother.

Forty-two-year-old Nathaniel Kassel was charged with murder in the 1st degree in the death of his mother, Jody Duskin. Kassel had earlier pleaded not guilty and was set to go on trial October 17th. Instead, he changed his plea and was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Monday.

Jody Duskin was found dead in her home in Sheldon in March. Court documents state that Kassel corresponded with family members saying he was planning to kill Duskin. Kassel was taken into custody in South Dakota the day after Duskin’s body was found.

Kassel had also originally been charged with operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent and possession or control of a firearm as a felon. Those charges were dismissed.

Court documents indicate Kassel waived the right to a delay before sentencing, the right to file a Motion in Arrest of Judgment, and any other claim to a defect in his plea and requested immediate sentencing.

The court says Kassel was advised of the right to appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court within 30 days. Court documents indicate the Sheriff of O’Brien County or his designee is authorized to transport Kassel to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center at Oakdale to serve his sentence.

Hinton, Iowa — A Hull man was involved in an unusual accident in Hinton on Saturday, in which one person died.

According to the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, at about 1:35 p.m. on Saturday, witnesses reported a gold Nissan Sentra driven by an unknown Caucasian male was traveling at a high rate of speed through Hinton. At the intersection with county road C-60, the Sentra is said to have sideswiped a Blue SUV driven by Baylie Andersen of Jefferson, SD that was stopped at the red light facing northbound. The Sentra then sideswiped a red Chevy Malibu driven by Evan Wielenga of Hull, which was also stopped waiting for the red light facing northbound. The car continued northbound through the red light and struck a Gray 2015 GMC Yukon being driven by Jeremy Ahlers of Remsen. It then struck a 2008 GMC Sierra being driven by Pat Hoebelheinrich of Le Mars. Ultimately the Sentra then came to rest in the middle of the intersection.

The driver of the Nissan Sentra was transported to Mercy Medical Center by Hinton Ambulance and was pronounced dead at the hospital. A passenger in the Ahlers Yukon, Jamie Ahlers, was transported to Orange City Health by Merrill Ambulance. The four children in the Yukon were treated on the scene.

The sheriff’s office tells us the Nissan Sentra had been reported stolen out of Sioux City earlier in the day prior to the accident.

The driver who died was later identified as 26-year-old Ryan Maier of Sioux City, the driver of the stolen vehicle.

Orange City, Iowa — Northwestern College officials in Orange City are telling us that for the fifth consecutive year, Northwestern has set enrollment records.

They say This fall’s enrollment is 1,715, up three students from last year.

Northwestern tells us they have set another record with 543 graduate students enrolled in their master’s degree programs in education, physician assistant studies, and counseling, up from 531 last year. Northwestern’s Graduate School and Adult Learning division has a total of 670 students, which includes 127 in its undergraduate degree-completion programs in early childhood and nursing (RN-BSN).

International student enrollment is the highest it’s been in a decade, with a total of 48 residential undergraduates. A high freshman-to-sophomore retention rate of 79.9% also contributed to this year’s enrollment record.

Tamara Fynaardt, Northwestern’s vice president for enrollment and marketing says that they feel blessed to be starting the year with their fifth straight fall enrollment record, especially at a time in which many other schools are seeing declines. She says, “It’s rewarding to see large numbers of both new and returning students who are attracted to Northwestern because of our commitment to help them stand out academically, spiritually and relationally, and be prepared to lead lives of significance.”

College officials tell us that with Northwestern’s Graduate School and Adult Learning division offering six terms of eight-week online classes throughout the year, the college reaches far more students than are listed in the fall stats. Records show Northwestern’s total student headcount for 2022−23 was 2,129.

Hull, Iowa — Fareway Stores, Inc. hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday for a new Fareway store site in Hull.

The new 10,600 square foot location will be located at the SW corner of Highway 18 & Division Street.

Fareway CEO Reynolds W. Cramer says “Communities depend on a local grocer to offer high quality products and unmatched service. We look forward to serving area residents of Hull and want to thank city staff and community leaders for helping make this project possible.”

Fareway officials tell us site work is set to begin, with anticipated construction completion in spring 2024. The new store will provide for what they call, “only the best in fresh, highest quality meat; a full-service butcher counter; farm-fresh produce; low, competitive prices; and the highest level of customer service, including to-your-car carryout.” The new store will offer FastLanes, a self-service checkout option, and online shopping and curbside pick-up, available at Shop.Fareway.com.

Hull Mayor Arlan Moss echoed positive comments regarding the store’s opening, saying, “We are excited to welcome Fareway to Hull. Our residents have been waiting for a local grocery store committed to great customer service and our small-town values” said Moss. He says the Hull City Council, City Staff, HIDC and individual citizens have been very committed to having Fareway come to Hull to meet the needs of the town. He says, “We want to thank Fareway for their investment and commitment to making Hull a great place to live, work, and play.”

Hull Economic Development Director Doug Anderson says, “Every few days, I am asked when Fareway is breaking ground in Hull. I am so glad to say it is now. Fareway is a perfect fit for the city of Hull. Citizens can expect store leadership who lives in town, a company committed to our community, and the best grocery shopping experience in Northwest Iowa. We can all be proud that Fareway will be our hometown grocery store.”

Courtesy fellow Community First Broadcasting Station KSOU in Sioux Center

Inwood, Iowa — A Sioux Center man faces felony charges and is accused of assaulting an officer in Inwood on Wednesday, September 6th.

According to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, they were called to assist an Iowa State Patrol Trooper on a traffic stop Inwood. The driver of the vehicle stopped was believed to be impaired. While attempting to place the driver of the vehicle under arrest for traffic violations, a struggle ensued which resulted in a Lyon County Deputy being punched in the face in addition to other minor injuries.

As a result, 41-year-old Jose Madrid of Sioux Center was charged with Assault While Participating in a Felony- a class D felony. Additionally, Madrid was charged by the Iowa State Patrol with OWI 3rd Offense- a class D felony. If he’s convicted of a class D felony, Madrid could face up to five years in prison on each count.

He also faces misdemeanor charges of Assault on Persons Engaged in Certain Occupations-bodily injury, Interference with Official Acts causing bodily injury, and other traffic violations.

Madrid was transported to the Lyon County Jail in Rock Rapids. At last report, he remained there in lieu of a $7500 bond.

Hospers, Iowa — A Hospers man is behind bars, accused of sexual contact with a minor.

The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office tells us that they arrested 35-year-old Andrew Joslin of Hospers on Tuesday.

The arrest stemmed from a report stating that Joslin solicited a minor female for inappropriate sexual content. Upon further investigation, deputies believe that Joslin had sexual contact with the minor at a Hospers residence.

Joslin was transported to the Sioux County Jail where he was charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of third degree sexual abuse, both class C felonies. If convicted on a class C felony charge, Joslin could face up to ten years in prison on each charge. He was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of lascivious conduct with a minor.

The sheriff’s office says the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services assisted them.

The case remains under investigation.