(Radio Iowa) – The ten-year anniversary of the disappearance of eight-year-old Elizabeth Collins and ten-year-old Lyric Cook-Morrissey is today (Wednesday( Iowa Department of Public Safety Special Agent. Scott Reger says they continue to look at new and old tips on the case. “Our team meets regularly, it kind of ebbs and flows as far as how often — but we meet regularly doing both of those things, evaluating the old information and evaluating the new information,” Reger says. The girls bodies were found in a Bremer County wildlife area five months after they disappeared — but no suspect has been found or charged in the case. He says the tips aren’t coming in as fast as they were early on — but they haven’t stopped either.

“The last 10 months we’ve received 117 tips into our email address that we have assigned specifically for this case. So that’s a good handle on on the volume that comes in,” according to Reger. He says the conventional thinking has always been the longer a case goes without being solved — the hard it is to find the killer. But, one factor that has changed that a little big is the development of new technologies. “Technology is always advancing. And it’s it’s advancing all over the board in terms of — think of a piece of evidence, anything you want to think about in terms of evidence — latent prints, video, cell phone, D-N-A, video enhancement, all of those things are always progressing technology wise,” he says. Reger believes that technology improvement helps turn the tide back toward investigators.

Collins and Cook-Morrissey. (photo from the Collins Foundation website.)

“Obviously, the sooner you can get on to somebody that may be responsible for something that’s always best practice, that always obviously is going to assist with leading to a successful resolution,” Reger says. “But I think the myth is, is that well, if you don’t do it in a certain amount of time, you know, I’ll use the 48 hours example. Because everybody puts that as the metric of if you don’t figure it out in 48 hours, it’s just gonna, you’ll never figure it out.” He knows it may take a lot more time before the killer is found — but he is ready to wait that out.

“We’re not going anywhere, we’re going to continue to hit this rock until it cracks. And so that continues to move us forward. The way that you feel as an investigator and anybody who’s worked this case feels the weight of wanting this to be resolved sooner rather than later,” Regar says. The Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers is offering a 100-thousand dollar reward for information in the case. You can call them at: 855-300-8477 (TIPS). Tips can also be called in to Evansdale police at (319) 232-6682, or through the Iowa Department of Public Safety email site: www.ourmissingiowagirls@dps.state.ia.us

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic will hold a Work Session 5:30-p.m. Thursday (July 14th), in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. As it is a Work Session, the meeting is public, but no motions or decisions can be made. Topics are for discussion only. The Council will hear an update and presentation from Code Enforcement Officer Kris Erickson, with regard to proposed ordinance changes.

The Council will also hold discuss with regard to the Park Board relationship and a referral of the Ordinance Review to a joint meeting of the Personnel & Finance Committee and Representatives of the Parks Board. City Administrator John Lund says he and Mayor Grace Garrett met with the Park Board regarding their long-term planning for a Splash Park and that “it was a productive meeting.” They will fill the Council in on some ideas that will hopefully allow the process to move forward.

Lund will have some elected official compensation research results the Council can review. The rest of the meeting will cover various administrative odds and ends, and a broad overview of the past six months and what the rest of the year will hold.

(Audubon, Iowa) – The Audubon County Fair gets underway today, in Audubon. Here are today’s activities…

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13
9:00 AM Judging 4-H Static Exhibits
9:00 AM-6:00 PM Fair board secretary’s office open
9:30 AM 4-H Garden Plot Judging
2:00 PM 4-H Communications & Table Setting Event – Agrihall
4:00 PM Clover Kids Pet Show – Rabbit & Poultry Show Area
4:30 PM Clover Kids Showcase – 4-H Bldg.
5:00 PM 4-H Pet & Dog Show – Livestock Pavilion
6:00 PM 4-H Club booth displays must be set-up

The Audubon County Fair wraps-up on Sunday, July 17th, with the livestock sale in the evening, and other activities throughout the day.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Fair begins its full-run today (Wednesday). The schedule of activities includes:

6:30-8:30 am……….Enter & Weigh 4-H/FFA Swine – All livestock is to unload at dock and be
inspected by veterinarian.
8:00 am. ……………Opening Flag Raising Ceremony – Front Gate
8:30-2:00……………Bottle/Bucket Calf followed by Bottle/Bucket Calf Plus One Interviews
Extension Office, 906 6th Street
9:00-10:00 am…….Enter & Weigh 4-H/FFA Sheep and Goats
Unload at dock and be inspected by veterinarian
9:00-11:00 am…….4-H Cake Decorating entries – 4-H Exhibit Building
8:45 am……………..4-H Table Setting Exhibitor’s Meeting
9:00-11:00 am…….4-H Table Setting – 4-H Exhibit Building
11:15 am……………Best of Iowa Contest Exhibitor’s Meeting
11:30 am……………Best of Iowa Contest – Commercial Building
1:00 pm……………..4-H Booths to be finished
1:00 pm-6:00 pm….Enter Open Class Non-Livestock Exhibits
4:00 pm……………..Carnival
5:30-6:30 pm………Enter 4-H/FFA Rabbits – All livestock must be inspected by the vet before going to their cage
4:30-7:00 pm………Enter & Weigh 4-H/FFA Market Beef, Breeding Beef, & Dairy
All livestock is to unload at dock and be inspected by veterinarian.
4:30-5:30 pm………4-H/FFA Horses will be checked in – All livestock must be inspected by the
vet before going to stall.
6:00 pm……………GRANDSTAND: Tractor Pull
6:30-7:30 pm………Enter 4-H/FFA Poultry

The Shelby County Fair concludes Monday, July 18th, with the 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction.

(Pottawattamie County, Iowa) – A federal fugitive was captured Monday night (July 11), by Council Bluffs Police. Authorities say 59-year-old Keven Spanel was released by a federal judge on a medical furlough on July 6th. Upon his return at around noon that day, he exited his friend’s vehicle near the Pottawattamie County Jail and ran into a nearby cornfield.

According to U.S. Marshal’s office, Council Bluffs police were responding to a report of a woman screaming near the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and upon arrival, received a tip that Spanel was there. Spanel attempted to run, but surrendered after having nowhere to go, according to authorities. He was arrested for eluding a police officer and interference with official acts and is back in custody of the US Marshals, according to authorities.

Keven Spanel

Spanel was initially charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she enthusiastically supports expanding the North American Treaty Organization. “The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO is a great success, but regarding the war raging in Ukraine today…the U.S. cannot grow weary,” Ernst said. “Our resolve to support our partner must carry on.” Ernst says protecting American security and prosperity demands partners like Finland and Sweden who can meet NATO’s military obligations.

“Our commander-in-chief, our diplomatic and military leadership and members of the Senate must hold our partners accountable to their own defense,” Ernst said, “and not lean on the reach and lethality of our soldiers sailors, airmen, marines and guardians alone.” In 2006, NATO member states agreed to annually spend two percent of their Gross Domestic Product on defense. Ernst says some longstanding members of NATO are not meeting that obligation.

“I’m confident that Finland and Sweden are ready to stand up and help shoulder the resource burden of NATO’s military obligations in Europe,” Ernst said, “particularly following Russia’s bloody, lawless invasion of Ukraine.”

Ernst, a Republican, was in the bipartisan U.S. delegation that attended last month’s NATO summit in Madrid, Spain. It’s possible the U.S. Senate will ratify NATO’s expansion this month. More than 80 senators signaled weeks ago that they’d vote to approve Finland and Sweden’s membership in the alliance.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – (UPDATED) An 11-year-old boy from Lewis has spent the past few weeks gathering money for veterans, through lemonade sales.  Kaden Frieze set up his lemonade stand outside of Farm Bureau Financial Services on 7^th Street in Atlantic, to raise money for the non-profit Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA). Through the guidance of his mom, the soft-spoken Kaden said he donates in alternate years to police and fire organizations, and this year it was the CVMA’s turn.

Club Secretary Benjamin Bartholomew was presented by Kaden with a check for $405. The event took place Tuesday evening in front the Cass County Freedom Rock, located in Lewis. Kaden comes from a military family.

Kaden says he hopes to become a pilot in the Air Force, when he gets older. His mom says she’ll support whatever he decides to do, now and in the future. Kaden said he donated to the CVMA, as a way to say “Thank you,” for their service. About a half-dozen members of the Iowa CVMA Chapter attended the check presentation, Tuesday. Some came from as far away as Des Moines. There are also several from Atlantic. They had a beautiful day for the ride. Ben Bartholomew spoke about Kaden and what it means to receive the donation from him.

He said also,

The mission of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, is to support and protect those who have defended our country and our freedoms. They provide assistance to veterans, veteran care facilities and other veteran organizations and registered charities.

CVMA Secretary Ben Bartholomew receives a check from Kaden Frieze (7/12/22; Ric Hanson photo)

.

(Radio Iowa) Stargazers around the globe are jubilant over the spectacular, first images being released from NASA’s new James Web Space Telescope, including Professor Keri Hoadley, an expert on far-ultraviolet astrophysics at the University of Iowa. “My first impression was, ‘Wow!,” Hoadley says. “The just sheer number of objects in this tiny patch of sky that JWST observed was phenomenal and I don’t think I’ve ever seen an image with so many objects in it before like this.”

The size of a tennis court, the ten-billion dollar Webb is the most powerful telescope ever launched into space. It replaces the Hubble Space Telescope, which is still functioning, but with 1980s-era technology. Hoadley says, “Webb is giving us a whole new view of the universe in ways that something like Hubble cannot, but with the same kind of beautiful detail that we’re seeing with Hubble, and even more.” Named for the former NASA administrator who led the agency during the moonshot years of the 1960s, Webb will be able to essentially peer back billions of years in history into the most distant galaxies.

Galaxy cluster SMACS 0723, known as Webb’s First Deep Field (Image from NASA.gov)

“That’s going to let us look further back in time than we’ve ever been able to do before,” Hoadley says, “to understand our origins, how the first stars formed, how the first galaxies formed and how we came to be today.” Just as exciting, she says Webb will allow researchers to study planets around other stars, gazing into their atmospheres as they search for signs of life.

Hoadley has submitted a proposal to use Webb in her own research, vying against hundreds of other space scientists for just a half-hour of time, perhaps in 2023. She wants to inspect a ring nebula which she believes collided with a star a few thousand years ago.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – An investigation into a reported burglary at 1402 Eastern Street in Red Oak, Monday, resulted in an arrest. According to Red Oak Police, sometime early that same morning, someone entered the residence and removed items from the house. Investigating Officers located some of the missing property at the Oak Creek Apartments, and at around 2:10-p.m., subsequently arrested 58-year-old Kelly Gene Gregory, of Red Oak, for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, a Class-D Felony. Gregory was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

And, at around 11-p.m. Monday, Red Oak Police arrested 28-year-old Sheyenne Lynn Eilers, for Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs. The woman was taken into custody in the 2400 block of N. 8th Street, in Red Oak. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

This (Tuesday) morning, Red Oak Police arrested 30-year-old Dylan James Hambright, of Red Oak, for Driving While License is revoked through the State of Iowa. Hambright was taken into custody at around 5:45-a.m. in the 1300 block of N. Broadway Street, and held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

ATLANTIC, IA – Produce in the Park is named for fresh vegetables, and many people associate farmers markets with honey, jams, fresh baked goods, and farm-fresh eggs. But, this week Produce in the Park is all about the meat at the market. Market Manager Brigham Hoegh says Produce in the Park vendors sell local beef, pork, lamb, and chicken. Shoppers aren’t always aware of these products because unlike granola and honey, they can’t be displayed on tables. Vendors selling meat keep these products in coolers, often behind their booths. And some meat is available only by preordering.

Maggie Mueller of Noble Provisions shares beef stick samples at Produce in the Park

• Noble Provisions joined Produce in the Park this year as a beef and pork vendor. The Noble Provisions table is a popular stop at the market in part because the Mueller family offers free samples of their beef sticks.
• Brun Ko Farm also sells pork and beef at the market, along with lamb and chicken (when available). Brun Ko Farm is now taking preorders for chickens that will be available in October.
• Bridgewater Farm currently offers chicken, beef, and limited pork. Bridgewater Farm meat is available by preorder only. To order meat from Bridgewater Farm, call or text Marcie at 641-745-7764 by noon on Thursday.

This week, Hungry Spartan Pizza Food Truck will be serving single slices of wood-fired pizza. Hungry Spartan wasn’t originally scheduled to come to the park this week, but the owner’s birthday is Friday and he called to ask if he could join on Thursday for an early birthday celebration. Be sure to wish Eric a happy birthday when you get your pizza! Produce in the Park continues to schedule additional food trucks for the season. Food truck vendors interested in participating in Produce in the Park should contact the Market Manager at produceintheparkatlanticiowa@gmail.com or 712-249-5870.

Details:

Produce in the Park July 14: MEAT Me at the Market; Time: 4:30-6:30 PM; Location: Atlantic City Park (10 W. 7th Street, Atlantic, IA 50022)

Food Truck: Hungry Spartan Pizza; Fun: It’s Parks & Rec month! Atlantic Parks & Rec will be at the park with yard games and Art in the Park; Live Music: Jeremie Faga

MEAT Me at the Market! The Guest Chef will be serving Homemade Hamburger Helper. Get your local beef, pork, lamb, and chicken from Produce in the Park vendors. Note: chicken is available preorder only. Product Highlights: Fresh produce (tomatoes, zucchini, cabbage, onions, lettuce, and more), meats, farm-fresh eggs, honey, popcorn, lemonade, pastries, crisps, soaps, candles, lotions, art prints, jewelry, greeting cards, plants, lawn decorations, and more!