WOODBURY COUNTY, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety said today (Monday) an investigation into last year’s death of a Woodbury County man has netted no solid results, and the cause remains undetermined.

Officials say on the morning of Thursday October 24, 2019, EMT’s from the Sergeant Bluff Fire and Rescue responded to 6533 Morningside Ave. for a report of a man down. EMT’s located a male subject later identified as 66-year old David Davenport, unconscious inside a residence at the property. Authorities noted that there are two residences located at that location, one being Davenport’s primary residence, where he lived alone, the other a secondary residence, which he rented to tenants.  His tenants found him inside the rental property and notified 911.

Davenport was transported a hospital in Sioux City, where he died the next day. On October 27, 2019, the Sergeant Bluff Fire and Rescue, along with the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office, responded Davenport’s primary residence for a reported fire.  No was injured.  The fire was investigated by the Sgt. Bluff Fire and Rescue, Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office.

It was during the fire investigation that law enforcement first became aware of Davenport’s recent death. Investigators spoke with medical staff at the hospital, who advised the man had suffered severe head trauma and died as a result of the trauma.  Medical staff did not report any explanation for the head trauma. Based on a recent fire at Mr. Davenport’s residence and time frame of his death, law enforcement requested that an autopsy be conducted on Dave Davenport by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner (IOSME).

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was also requested to assist with the suspicious death investigation. The ME’s forensic autopsy report listed the cause of death at a homicide. As the investigation continued, into both the fire and death, the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office reported that there was no evidence that the fire at Davenport’s primary residence was intentionally set, and ruled the fire as accidental.

In August 2020, investigators met with members of the State Medical Examiner’s Office, after reviewing all the case facts and findings from the investigation, revised his manner of death, ruling it as undetermined.

Anyone with information related to the investigation should contact the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office at 712-224-7680.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber, Monday afternoon, reported that this Friday’s (Sept. 18th) football game, Atlantic-versus-Clarinda, will not be played at the Trojan Bowl. It will instead take place in Glenwood, with the kick-off at 7-p.m. as normal.

Barber said “We were hopeful that the new Trojan Bowl would be ready to host our first football game on September 18, 2020. Unfortunately, due to many factors, the field will not be ready by the end of the week.  I know this is disappointing news, yet once completed this facility will be enjoyed for many years to come. Please know that even though we will not play Friday night we have all intentions of playing football in our new stadium this season.”

Atlantic Activities Director Andy Mitchell said that all seniors that were scheduled to be recognized at this week’s game will now be recognized at the next home football game instead on October 9th vs. Red Oak.

We’ll have coverage of the game this Friday between Atlantic and Clarinda on KJAN and KJANTV.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports seven arrests over the past week. Friday morning, 38-year old Eleazar James Hoffman, of Des Moines, was arrested by Greenfield Police on an Adair County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense. He was released later that same morning on a $300 cash/surety bond. At around 5-a.m. on Sept. 8th, 22-year old Danielle Lynette Schultz, of Forest Lake, MN., and 22-year old Austin Anthony Devaney, of Vadnais Heights, MN, were both arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, following an investigation into a three-car accident near the 79 mile marker of I-80 eastbound. The investigation resulted in the discovery of marijuana in some suitcases. Devaney admitted they had purchased marijuana together in Colorado. The weight of the edibles and plant material amounted to roughly 52 ounces. The pair were released later that same day on a $5,000 bond, each.

Also arrested on Sept. 8th, was 51-year old Brian James Keith, of Walnut. He was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol for OWI/1st offense following a traffic complaint about a vehicle unable to maintain lanes on I-80 eastbound. The vehicle, and Keith, were eventually located at the northwest entrance to the Sunny Hill Cemetery, on the south side of Adair. Keith was hunched forward, asleep, with the vehicle running in drive, and his foot on the brake.

On Sept. 6th, 33-year old Mark Aaron Hoepker, of Orient, was arrested by an Adair County Deputy in the 2800 block of Bridgewater Road. He was charged with OWI/3rd offense, and Driving While License Denied or Revoked for OWI.  He was released the following day on a $5,000 cash/surety bond, with 10% acceptable.

Also arrested Sept. 6th, was 20-year old Summer Ann Barr, of Greenfield. She was arrested by Greenfield Police for Domestic Abuse Assault, after allegedly tearing the shirt off of her boyfriend – 23-year old Dakota Storm House, of Greenfield, causing him pain, injury and visible marks to his back and left shoulder. She told police the man had gotten into her face prior to the incident escalating into an assault.  House was also arrested on the same charge, for injuries Barr suffered during the incident to her shoulder and back.

Both subjects were released the following day on a $1,000 cash/surety bond, each.

CRESTON, Iowa – Sept. 14, 2020 – The Iowa DOT’s Creston Construction Office reports joint replacement work on the east- and westbound Interstate 80 bridges in Dallas County, over Sugar Creek, the South Raccoon River, and the North Raccoon River east of the junction with U.S. 169, will require nighttime lane closures with 13-foot lane-width restrictions. The restrictions will run from Sept. 21st, until November 2020, weather permitting. Traffic patterns will be normal during daytime hours.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts. The latest traveler information is available anytime through the 511 system. Visit 511ia.org; call 511 (within Iowa) or 800-288-1047 (nationwide).

Atlantic, IA — Cass County Health System has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2020 honor by The Des Moines Register. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage, LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 drivers of engaged cultures that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few.

“In times of great change, it is more important than ever to maintain a connection among employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward based on real-time insights into what works best for your organization. The Top Workplaces program can be that positive outcome your company can rally around in the coming months to celebrate leadership and the importance of maintaining an employee-focused culture, even during challenging times.”

CCHS CEO Brett Altman said, “We’ve been very blessed to be ranked by our employees as a Top Workplace for the sixth year in a row. This award speaks to their dedication to creating a positive culture focused on providing superior experiences to our patients, families, communities, and our colleagues.”

The Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE) will a program this Sunday (Sept. 20th), entitled “Just Before the Battle Mother- A Visit from a Civil War Soldier. “  The program, featuring O.J. Fargo takes place at the American Legion Memorial Building (the Armory), beginning at 2-p.m., and offers  an overview of Iowa’s involvement in the Civil War.  Mr. Fargo will portray a returning Civil War soldier, dressed in full Union Army regalia, during the presentation. He’ll focus his presentation on an individual ordinary soldier’s experience, and will bring along a full roster of all men who served in and from Iowa in the Civil war. The roster will enable the participants to check for ancestors who served. He will also provide a display of civil War artifacts.

OJ Fargo

O. J. has done more than 100 history presentations throughout the state including historical societies, libraries, schools, professional organizations and many other groups. He is the author of three books and editor of two CD-ROMs containing 320,000 pages of searchable text and 10,000 Civil War pictures.

Attendees are expected to wear masks which will be available if needed. Seats will be placed at appropriate distances and attendance limited to 30 persons. No refreshments will be served.

The presentation is free and open to the public. The Building is handicapped accessible. The program is sponsored by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE). Supporting funds are provided by Humanities Iowa and the Atlantic Community Promotion Commission.

(Radio Iowa) – The state program that allows parents and students to save for college is expanding the ways that money can be used. State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald says one change now allows College Savings Iowa funds to be used for qualified apprenticeship programs. “You can use that money to pay for the supplies and the tuition and stuff you need to do an apprenticeship program. We think it makes that program a whole lot better,” Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald says the change involving apprenticeship programs acknowledges the need for people to fill the jobs. “Electricians and carpenters and bricklayers — all those valuable professions that we need that are great jobs. But these apprenticeships sometimes cost some money for tuition and they may have to buy special tools and things like that. Now, that’s covered by College Savings Iowa,” Fitzgerald says.

The money put into the program had previously been restricted to qualified expenses for a student in college. Another change allows the money to pay off past college expenses. “Families can use 10-thousand dollars of money — if they don’t use it to go through college….they can use it to pay off college debt,” according to Fitzgerald. “Because we know college debt is a big problem out there. So they can use up to 10-thousand dollars to pay off one child’s college debt.”

The money put into College Savings Iowa can grow and provides a tax break when it is used. “Each individual mom and dad, you can deduct up to three-thousand-439 dollars ($3,439) of the money you put into one child’s College Savings Iowa account. And on top of that, it will grow tax-free from the federal government and the state government,” Fitzgerald says.

To learn more about College Savings Iowa, call (888) 672-9116 or visit CollegeSavingsIowa.com

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa judge has voided absentee ballot requests in Johnson County, where the county auditor had mailed 92,000 of the forms to voters with personal information already filled in. It’s the third county in Iowa to have the ballot request forms voided after the campaign of President Donald Trump and state and national Republican Party groups challenged the county election officials.

Judge Ian Thornhill sided with the Trump campaign in the Johnson County case on Saturday. He earlier ruled similarly in a Linn County case, and Judge Patrick Tott also found in favor of the Republicans in a Woodbury County case. Those rulings voided about 64,000 requests for absentee ballots

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), released a report on arrests taking place over the past week. At around 12:40-a.m. today (Monday), 38-year old Lindsey Marie Giuliani, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in the 19,500 block of Jefferson Avenue, in Crescent. She was charged with Driving While License Suspended or Revoked, with bond set at $1,000.  Early Sunday morning, 22-year old Karolina Rena Finken was arrested following a traffic stop in Council Bluffs. She was charged with OWI/1st offense.

Saturday night, 22-year old Dillon Michael Palen, of Council Bluffs, was charged with Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations with Intent to Injure, and Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree.. He was charged following an incident inside the Pottawattamie County Jail. Bond was set at $2,300. Early Saturday morning, 22-year old Makayla Josephine Marie Pryzbylski, of Omaha, was arrested for three counts of Theft in the 5th Degree.  And, at around 2:25-a.m. Saturday, 24-year old Haylee Rene Grosvenor was arrested following a traffic stop for a headlight out. She was subsequently charged with OWI/1st offense.

Friday night, 24-year old Michael Joseph Holmstedt was arrested following a traffic stop for littering, in Crescent. He was taken into custody for OWI/1st offense.  Friday afternoon, 28-year old Anthony Keith Stokes, an inmate at the Pott. County Jail, was served with a warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. He was then returned to the custody of jail staff. Thursday evening, 27-year old Jacob Patrick Sweeney was arrested in Pott. County for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. Thursday afternoon, 30-year old Guadalupe Salas Junior, of Council Bluffs, was served with a warrant at the Pott. County Jail, for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order. His bond on the charge was set at $2,000.

Last Wednesday evening, 39-year old Kaiser Tibor was arrested at a motel in Honey Creek, for allegedly making threats. He was charged with Harassment in the 1st Degree/ Threat of Forcible Felony. Wednesday morning, 34-year old Corey Andrew Stephens was arrested in Carson, for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. And, 49-year old Roberto Roberto Anchondo was arrested in the Pott. County Jail parking lot, for Jail Loitering.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors are set to discuss speed limits and other matters pertaining to a roadway (including a portion of 620th Street), to and from the new Schildberg Rock Quarry, south of Atlantic. The meeting begins at 9-a.m., Tuesday (Sept. 15), and is available for viewing electronically.

During the Board’s meeting last week, three county citizens asked the Supervisors to consider what can be done to mitigate safety and environmental problems on roadway south of Atlantic due to traffic resultant of the opening of a quarry south of Atlantic west of Highway 71, on Lansing Road. After due discussion the County Engineer said he would meet with representatives of Schildbergs and look into establishing a lower speed limit on roadway which includes a portion of 620th Street.

In other business, the Board will act on establishing an amount in a Resolution requesting reimbursement from the Iowa COVID-19 Government Relief Fund, for eligible costs related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. They are also expected to act on approving a fiscal year 2019-20 Urban Renewal Report, and hear various department head reports, as available.