HANSON HAS 30 DAYS TO DECIDE JAKE’S FATE

SIOUX CITY—THE POUND MASTER INVOLVED IN A SIOUX CITY DOG BITE CASE HAS THIRTY DAYS TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT THE DOG OWNED BY THE ARRON ROCHESTER FAMILY IS EUTHANIZED, BUT THE DECISION FROM POUND MASTER GLEN HANSON WILL PROBABLY ISSUED WITHIN A WEEK.

A HEARING WAS HELD THIS MORNING ATTENDED BY 25 TO 30 PEOPLE INCLUDING THE ROCHESTER FAMILY. THE LABRADOR BIT A NEIGHBOR OF ROCHESTER’S AND REQUIRED FIVE STITCHES.

ROCHESTER SAYS HE THINKS THE STORY HAS BEEN DRIVEN, TO A LARGE EXTENT BY THE LOCAL MEDIA.

MOST PEOPLE ATTENDING THE HEARING BACKED ROCHESTER AND SAID THE DOG “JAKE” SHOULD BE SPARED AND THE LOCAL ORDNANCE GOVERNING DOGS SHOULD BE RE-VISITED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS AT THE HEARING

 

POUND MASTER HANSON

 

ROCHESTER READING LETTERS SENT IN JAKE'S FAVOR

 

THE ROCHESTER FAMILY

TIE VOTE IN SIOUX CITY OUTDOOR COUCH DEBATE

SIOUX CITY—THE SIOUX CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE REGARDING INDOOR FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES OUTSIDE OF THE HOME WAS AUTOMATICALLY DEFERRED MONDAY.

THE ORDINANCE, WHICH FOCUSES ON FRONT PORCH COUCHES WOULD MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR THAT TYPE OF FURNITURE TO BE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE PREMISES.

COUNCILMAN DAVE FERRIS, WHO VOTED FOR THE ORDINANCE, SAYS FURNITURE AND APPLIANCES OUTSIDE BECOME A NUSIANCE AND BRING DOWN HOME VALUES.

MAYOR MIKE HOBART, WHO VOTED NO, SAYS YOU CAN’T LEGISLATE EVERYTHING THAT’S BOTHERSOME.

COUNCILMAN AARON ROCHESTER VOTED FOR THE ORDINANCE WHILE JIM RIXNER VOTED AGAINST.

THE REASON FOR THE TIE, BRENT HOFFMAN WAS NOT AT THE MEETING, BUT HE IS EXPECTED TO SUPPORT THE MEASURE.

FOUL PLAY NOT EXPECTED IN S.C. CHURCH FIRE

SIOUX CITY—THE CAUSE OF FRIDAY’S ST. JOSEPH CHURCH FIRE IN SIOUX CITY REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION, ALTHOUGH FOUL PLAY IS NOT SUSPECTED AT THIS TIME.

SIOUX CITY FIRE RESCUE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER JOE RODRIGUEZ FIRE SAYS FIRE PERSONNEL REMAINED AT 1112 8TH STREET UNTIL LATE FRIDAY NIGHT TO MAKE SURE ALL THE HOT SPOTS WERE OUT.

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RODRIGUEZ SAYS A DOLLAR AMOUNT OF DAMAGE HAS NOT BEEN ASSESSED, BUT THE FIRE DID CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE NEW ROOF OF THE CHURCH.

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RODRIGUEZ SAYS INITIAL INDICATORS ARE LEADING INVESTIGATORS TO BELIEVE THE FIRE THAT BEGAN FRIDAY AFTERNOON WAS ACCIDENTAL.

BLAZE BURNS ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH IN SIOUX CITY

FIRE OF UNDETERMINED ORIGIN CONTINUES TO BURN AT THIS HOUR AT ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SIOUX CITY. THE FIRE HAS GONE THROUGH THE ROOF. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER JOE RODRIGUEZ TALKS ABOUT THE TIME LINE OF THE BLAZE.

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THERE WILL BE CONSIDERABLE FIRE, WATER AND SMOKE DAMAGE. AND ACCORDING TO ST. JOE PARISHIONERS AT THE SCENE WORKERS WERE JUST PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON A NEW TWO-HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR ROOF.

SIOUX CITY’S ARGOSY SEES DECLINE IN REVENUE

SIOUX CITY—CASINOS ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND IN SIOUX CITY HAVE SEEN A SLIGHT DECLINE IN REVENUE IN FISCAL 2009.

THE IOWA RACING AND GAMING COMMISSION REPORTS THE CASINOS BROUGHT IN OVER $2.5-MILLION LESS THAN THE RECORD $1.4-BILLION FOR FISCAL 2008.

KEES EDER, VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF ARGOSY CASINO SIOUX CITY SAYS THE SAME AMOUNT OF VISITORS ARE ENJOYING THE CASINO, JUST SPENDING LESS DURING THIS CONOMIC DOWNTURN.

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EDER SAYS SOME CASINOS, SUCH AS THE DIAMOND JO IN DUBUQUE, WHICH WENT FROM A RIVERBOAT TO A LARGE LAND BARGE, WERE SUCCESSFUL.

HE SAYS THAT MAY BE IN ARGOSY’S FUTURE, SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE.

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HE SAYS ANY EXPANSION WILL DEPEND ON THE FUTURE ECONOMIC CLIMATE.

SAC CITY WOMAN FACES OVER 80 YEARS IN PRISON

SIOUX CITY—A SAC CITY WOMAN WHO DEFRAUDED VICTIMS OUT OF AT LEAST $4-MILLION PLED GUILTY THURSDAY IN SIOUX CITY FEDERAL COURT.

48 YEAR OLD CHARLENE MARIE PICKHINKE WAS CONVICTED OF ONE COUNT EACH OF WIRE FRAUD, MAKING A FALSE STATEMENT, MONEY LAUNDERING AND AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT.

SHE ADMITTED THAT FROM 1995 TO 2008, WHILE EMPLOYED AT A SAC CITY BANK, SHE SOLD MORE THAN 40 FRAUDULENT CD’S TO UNKNOWING VICTIMS.

SHE ALSO ADMITTED SHE FRAUDULENTLY OPENED TWO BANK ACCOUNTS USING THE NAMES AND SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS OF DECEASED BANK CUSTOMERS.

SHE FACES A POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF 82 YEARS IN PRISON AND FIVE YEARS OF SUPERVISED RELEASE.

METH DEALER SENTENCED IN SIOUX CITY

SIOUX CITY—A METH DEALER WITH A GUN WAS SENTENCED THIS WEEK TO OVER 21 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON.

28 YEAR OLD JESUS PALOMAREZ OF STORM LAKE RECEIVED THE PRISON TERM AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO POSSESSING METH WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE AND POSSESSING A FIREARM IN FURTHERANCE OF A DRUG TRAFFICKING CRIME.

HE WAS ARRESTED AT A MOTEL WHERE OVER TWO OUNCES OF CRYSTAL METH WERE LOCATED, AND A 32 CALIBER PISTOL WAS FOUND IN HIS PANTS POCKET.

HE WAS INVOLVED IN THIS CRIME LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AFTER BEING RELASED FROM STATE PRISON.

HE MUST ALSO SERVE FOUR YEARS OF SUPERVISED RELEASE.

DISASTER DRILL IN SIOUX CITY

SIOUX CITY—A TRI-ANNUAL FULL SCALE DISASTER DRILL WILL BE HELD THURSDAY AT THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD RAMP AND ADJACENT TAXIWAY.

SIOUX GATEWAY AIRPORT/COLONEL BUD DAY FIELD OPERATIONS MANAGER LIZ SMART SAYS THE AIRPORT AND 185TH REFUELING WING CONDUCT THIS DRILL TO COMPLY WITH FAA REGULATIONS.

SHE SAYS DON’T BE ALARMED IF YOU SEE AN AMBULANCE OR TWO NEAR THE AIRPORT THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

THE FULL-SCALE DISASTER DRILL WILL BE HELD FROM 4 TO 6 O’CLOCK THURSDAY.

SIOUX CITY LIFEGUARDS WILL SINK OR SWIM

SIOUX CITY—SIOUX CITY LIFEGUARDS WILL BE PUT TO THE TEST THIS WEEK DURING EMERGENCY RESCUE TRAINING SESSIONS AT AREA POOLS.

RECREATION SUPERVISOR MANDI PARKER SAYS HER DEPARTMENT IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE LIFEGUARDS HAVE THE BEST TRAINING AND EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO RESPOND TO ANY EMERGENCY.

SHE SAYS IT’S ALL ABOUT KEEPING SWIMMERS SAFE.

CITY MANAGER PAUL ECKERT SAYS SMALLER/PRIVATE POOLS HAVE TROUBLE WITH THEIR DRAINS CAUSING INJURIES, BUT THE PUBLIC POOL DOESN’T POSE A HAZARD.

RESCUE TRAINING SESSIONS WILL BE HELD THURSDAY AND FRIDAY DURING SWIM BREAKS AT COOK, RIVERSIDE AND LEWIS POOLS.

SIOUXLAND BUSINESSES DON’T EXPAND BUT HOLD STEADY

SIOUX CITY—SIOUXLAND COMPANIES HAVE PUT THEIR EXPANSION PLANS ON HOLD, BUT CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN AND INCREASE SALES.

THOSE WERE THE RESULTS OF THE 2009 BUSINESS RETENTION REPORT CONDUCTED BY THE SIOUXLAND INITIATIVE.

VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH WRIGHT SAYS ROUGHLY 50 INTERVIEWS WERE HELD WITH AREA COMPANIES THAT SHIP GOODS AND SERVICES OUT OF THE COMMUNITY AND BRING REVENUE BACK IN.

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WRIGHT SAYS LAST YEAR, COMPANIES WERE PLANNING TO SPEND $370-MILLION IN EXPANSION PROJECTS.

THAT NUMBER DROPPED TO $10-MILLION THIS YEAR.

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THOSE SURVEYED SAID EMPLOYEE WORK ETHIC, LOCAL POSITIVE BUSINESS CLIMATE AND LOW TRANSPORTATION COSTS ARE KEY ADVANTAGES DURING THIS ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.