COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum reports on Tuesday, Dec. 15th, 37-year old John Randall Parson, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced in United States District Court to 51 months (a little more than 4 years) in prison, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  His sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. Parson was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.  He plead guilty to the offense on July 24, 2020.

The investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States
Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – Outgoing Fourth District Iowa Congressman Steve King says he’s skeptical whether a COVID-19 relief package will be passed in the few remaining hours before the year-end holiday recess, and he’s disappointed with how Congress is conducting business. King, a Republican from Kiron, says the Democrats who hold the majority in the House are to blame, from the top down. King says, “I want to express how dysfunctional Congress is and I don’t mean this to just be tossing mud out of that place but it has gone downhill badly, especially with Nancy Pelosi as speaker.”

Because of the pandemic, King says there’s social distancing in Congress and a limited number of members are allowed on the floor at one time. He says tens of thousands of conversations -aren’t- taking place member-to-member which limits their ability to govern. “The decisions become evermore in Nancy Pelosi’s office and Mitch McConnell’s office and in the White House,” King says. “That’s why we don’t really have a good feel for whether there’s going to be a COVID relief package. They’ve sent a signal that they have a deal but I know they don’t or we would’ve voted on it.”

Congress is scheduled to adjourn for the year tomorrow (Friday) but first has to pass a spending plan that will allow the federal government to continue running. “We are going to get a spending package that keeps the government open,” King says. “I don’t think there’s going to be a government shutdown. It’ll at least be bridged into January if not further into the year. I do think there’s a COVID relief package that’s part of that or becomes a parallel bill along the way, too.”

He adds, “In the end, Congress will get its job done, I just don’t think it’s going to be pretty.” King lost his reelection bid in the Republican primary to Randy Feenstra, who won the general election and is now the congressman-elect. King maintains, he’s not going anywhere and says he wants to remain involved and assist with consulting on policy issues.

DENISON, Iowa (AP) — The former manager of a northwest Iowa credit union has pleaded not guilty in a nearly $1.5 million embezzlement scheme. Janine Keim is charged with embezzlement and making false statements. She entered her plea Wednesday in federal court in Sioux City. Prosecutors say Keim and at least one other employee at Consumers Credit Union in Denison embezzled $1.48 million between May 2012 and March 2018. She also allegedly filed false reports to conceal the missing money. The business is now called Cobalt Credit Union. The credit union’s former head teller, Brenda Jensen, of Denison, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in October to embezzlement.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report the following arrests or warrants served:

• On Dec. 16th at around 3:10-a.m., 28-year old Lathen Mikah Bills was arrested and cited for: Driving While License Denied/Suspended/Cancelled or Revoked; Failure to Maintain Control of a motor vehicle; and OWI/2nd offense. His arrested followed a traffic incident off 145th Street in Pott. County, south of Treasure Lane.
• 46-year old Mark Anthony Barron, SR., of Council Bluffs, and 32-year old Felicia Marie Redick, both of Council Bluffs, along with 34-year old Matthew Duane Gresser, were each served Tuesday at the Pott. County Jail, with separate warrants out of Douglas County, NE., for being a Fugitives from Justice. They were subsequently returned to the custody of Corrections staff after being formally presented with their respective warrants.
• Early Tuesday morning, 77-year old Theodore Willard Greenlee was arrested under the authority of a Nebraska warrant for Being a Fugitive from Justice. He was taken into custody following a traffic stop at the intersection of Highway 6 and 340th Street.
• And, Monday afternoon, Pott. County Jail inmate, 59-year old Brenda Lynn Peterson, of Carter Lake, was served with a warrant for two counts Violation of Probation. She was then returned to the custody of jail staff.

The driver of a 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse told Guthrie County Sheriff’s Deputies he thinks he fell asleep at the wheel, Wednesday morning, causing his vehicle to leave the road and come to rest in a ditch. The accident happened at as 18-year old Blaine Dudley, of Coon Rapids, was traveling east on Highway 151 at Highway 4, at around 6:35-a.m. Dudley – who was wearing a seat belt – complained of pain and possible/unknown injuries. He was transported by Panora EMS to the Greene County Hospital, to be checked-out. His vehicle sustained $4,500 damage.

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

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The Creston Police Department Thursday (today), said 17-year old Garret Don Sharp, of Afton, was arrested Wednesday night at 619 N. Birch, on the charge of Arson 1st Degree. Sharp was taken to Union County Jail and held without bail until seen by judge.

Authorities said also, a woman residing in the 1300 block of W. Adams Street, in Creston, reported Tuesday, that her vehicle had been broken into. Some of the items were recovered later that day at 200 S. Park St. Items still missing include: a massage gun; a can of mixed nuts; flex paste, and an inactive credit card. The loss is estimated at $98. A man from Creston reported that same day, that his vehicle parked in the 100 block of S. Stone Street, had been broken into. A wallet had been stolen. The estimated loss is $15.

Wednesday morning, a woman residing in the 400 block of W. Lucas Street in Creston, reported her vehicle had been broken into. She said her vehicle registration had been stolen. Estimated loss $10. A woman residing in the 300 block of N. Vine Street reported that same day, that vehicle had been broken into. Missing items include: Beats headphones; her vehicle registration. and tools. Estimated loss $100. And, a man residing in the 500 block of S. Poplar Street in Creston reported late Wednesday morning, that his vehicle had been broken into. He said two credit cards, a check book, and vehicle’s insurance card was stolen. Estimated loss $0.

Below is a summary of Enhanced Public Health Measures announced Dec. 16th by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. The measures went into effect at 12:01-a.m. Thursday (12/17), and continue through Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 11:59 p.m.

Mask Use : Indoor spaces open to the public & State executive branch buildings
● No change

Gathering Restrictions : Social, community, business, or leisure gatherings
● Ensure 6-feet distance between groups or individuals attending alone

Sporting and Recreational Events :
● Only two spectators for each youth or adult athlete, cheerleader, pep band member, or organizer staff,
unless all spectators are from the same household , must wear a mask and maintain 6 feet distance
from other spectators
● Youth and adult participants can be closer than 6-feet and are not required to wear masks

High School Sports & Extracurriculars : Sporting, recreational, and extracurricular events
● Only two spectators for each high school athlete, performer, competitor, cheerleader, pep band
member, or staff member, unless all spectators are from the same household , must wear a mask
and maintain 6 feet distance from other spectators
● Students participating can be closer than 6-feet and are not required to wear masks

Restaurants and Bars : Restaurant or bar, including a wedding reception venue, winery, brewery,
distillery, country club, or other social or fraternal club
● Masks required when not seated at a table, booth, or bar (while playing games, dancing, etc.)
● Six feet distancing between groups
● Groups limited to 8 people unless larger group is all same household
● Seated when eating or drinking and limit congregating

Fitness Centers : Fitness centers, health clubs, health spas, gyms
● Group fitness activities are allowed if a 6-foot distance is maintained

Casinos & Gaming Facilities :
● Masks required except when seated to eat or drink.

Closer/Prolonged Contact Establishments : Bowling alleys, pool halls, bingo halls, arcades, indoor
playgrounds, children’s play centers
● Mask required when not seated to eat or drink
● Ensure that groups and individuals are six feet apart at establishment
● Groups limited to eight people unless larger group is all same household

Nonessential/elective surgeries : A hospital must reserve at least 10% of intensive care unit (ICU) beds and
10% of medical/surgical beds for COVID-19 patients.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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