A state ethics panel has suspended a Marshalltown judge with pay while aprobe gets under into several complaints about her. Judge Sandra Holien’ssuspension was made by the Commission on Judicial Qualifications. IowaSupreme Court spokeswoman Rebecca Coulton says it’s the first time thecommission has ordered a judge to not serve on the bench pending aninvestigation. The Commission is a seven-member panel.Coulton doesn’t know how long the investigation will take.Holien, who’s 50 years old, reportedly had squabbled with local lawenforcement and is known for her stern courtroom attitude. Coulton saysanyone can make a complaint against a judge, and more than one was filed inthis case.
Hazardous material baffles officials
September 29, 1999 By
Des Moines hazardous materials experts admit they’re baffled as to why morethan a dozen warehouse workers got sick last night. At least 15 people werehit with nausea, sore throats and breathing trouble while loading a semitrailer. Haz-mat coordinator Jim Mason says the investigation is underwayMason says what’s so puzzling is that the loading dock workers weren’tdealing with anything that should’ve made them sick.The truck had been carrying windows & was being loaded with boxes oftelescopes. The trailer is still sitting at Centrobe Incorporated in easternDes Moines, ringed with quarantine tape. Mason says all of the sickenedworkers have recovered.
Cresco fights to keep its one stoplight
September 29, 1999 By
City officials in Cresco say they won’t give up their only traffic light.The Iowa Department of Transportation says there is not enough traffic forthe light at the intersection of Highway 9 and Elm Street. Cresco MayorArletta Rose says the 30-year old light is needed, along with a new light,to keep proper traffic flow. The D-O-T says the city has to upgrade the oldlight before a new light is installed. Mayor Rose says they will make theupgrade.
Worker trapped in mine accident
September 29, 1999 By
A worker has been hospitalized after being trapped underground in alimestone mine near Knoxville. Local authorities say a mine worker got trapped in a piece of miningequipment. Knoxville rescue workers got the call about seven o’clock thismorning. The miner was about nine-hundred-feet below ground, on a slope inthe mine. There was an accident at the same limestone mine a month ago whenpart of the underground walls caved in, trapping a miner under rubble for 15minutes.
Fayette man charged with trying to run down Upper Iowa students
September 29, 1999 By
A Fayette man is facing numerous charges after allegedly trying to run overstudents at Upper Iowa University. A campus security officer called Fayette police after 21-year old JeremiahBoynton drove at high speeds in front of the university dorms. Police sayBoynton twice ran onto the grass in an attempt to run down students andsecurity officers. Boynton eventually crashed into a brick wall. Angrystudents dragged Boynton out of his car, assaulted him, and smashed in thecar windows with baseball bats. Police say Boynton had recently been chargedwith vandalizing a student’s car at the university. Police say he lives nearthe campus, but is not a student. Boynton was initially charged withreckless driving, driving while intoxicated, driving under suspension. Other charges are pending.
Search underway for pilot in plane crash
September 29, 1999 By
The wreckage of a small plane was found in the Mississippi River late lastnight in Clinton County, but the pilot’s fate is still unknown. County Sheriff Gary Mullholland says residents reported hearing a crashMonday night but the craft wasn’t spotted until last night due to poorweather conditions.The pilot is thought to be John Biolchini of Peru, Illinois, who had takenoff from Chetek, Wisconsin.
Black Hawks new coach ready for challenge
September 29, 1999 By
The Waterloo Black Hawks hockey team has a new head coach. 32-year-oldScott Koberinski takes over the reigns of the Black Hawks after former coachand General Manager Scott Pionk (pee’-yonk) was fired last week, just oneday before the season opener. Koberinski says he took the job for two mainreasons.Koberinski started the season as an assistant for the Lincoln Stars, but hehas head coaching experience in the United States Hockey League. He washead coach of the Fargo-Moorehead franchise for two seasons. The Blackhawks are already 0-2 on the season and have recorded just onewinning season in the last 19 years.
