WEST DES MOINES, Iowa [WHO-TV] — It’s been 13 years now, since a young realtor was shot and killed in a West Des Moines townhome. 27-year-old Ashley Okland was showing the property on April 8, 2011, when gunshots rang out. Okland was shot multiple times. Her killer has never been caught.

During a recent interview with WHO 13, Assistant Chief of Police Jody Hayes said the possibilities of what happened are endless. While the case may be considered “cold” by the public’s standards, Hayes said it is still being “actively” investigated and that investigative leads continue to come in.

Ashley Okland
(Courtesy West Des Moines Police Department)

The agency has continued to keep some of the details surrounding the crime, like the caliber of the gun used, close to the vest.

Hayes said he believes the case can still be solved.

(Atlantic, Iowa) A partial solar eclipse will be viewable in Atlantic this afternoon (assuming there is no cloud cover), beginning at 12:41-p.m., with the maximum coverage available (through protective glasses) at 1:56-p.m. Never look directly at the Sun. You can seriously hurt your eyes, and even go blind. Proper eye protection, like eclipse glasses or a special solar filter, is the only safe option. Sunglasses don’t work.

The event will end at 3:11-p.m. (total time: 2-hours and 30-minutes).

More information is available here:

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/@z-us-50022?iso=20240408

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a woman from Adams County was arrested during a traffic stop April 2nd. A records check indicated 36-year-old Nicole Jean Dorman, of Corning, was wanted on a Union County warrant for Harassment in the 3rd Degree, a Serious Misdemeanor. Dorman was turned-over to a Union County Deputy following  the traffic stop at 270th Street and Highway 92, in Fontanelle.

The warrant stated bond was set at $300, with 10% acceptable.

(Radio Iowa) – The view of today’s (Monday) solar eclipse will range from excellent to so-so to lousy, depending on where you’re located in Iowa at mid-day. Meteorologist Dylan Dodson, at the National Weather Service, says folks in the northern few tiers of counties may have to hop in the car and head south if they want to see the spectacle.  “Partly to mostly cloudy as you get further north in the state, but for the south, you’ll see mostly clear skies through most of the day today,” Dodson says. “Then central Iowa, you’re going to be kind of right on that gradient between the clouds as they’re kind of hanging out across northern Iowa.” Veteran eclipse watchers say even when high, thin clouds partly obscure the sky, the eclipse may still be visible.

“I don’t have any personal experience on that, but I would imagine, just gauging off of how you see the sun through the clouds sometimes,” Dodson says. “If it’s more of a thinner cloud deck, you might be able to see it through the clouds. It’ll be more of a filtered sunshine, but if it’s really caked in, it might still be kind of difficult to see.”

The 2017 eclipse (NASA photo)

While parts of the nation will see a total eclipse, the sun will be about 90-percent covered in southeast Iowa, and more like 75-percent in northwest Iowa. The moon will start covering the sun around 12:45 P-M, the peak should be around 2 o’clock this afternoon, and it’ll all be over by about 3.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood say a Pottawattamie County man was arrested Saturday, for Driving Under Suspension. 23-year-old Austin Wilson, of Council Bluffs, was released from custody after posting a $300 cash or surety bond.

And, no injuries were reported following an accident that occurred at around 11-a.m. Saturday, in Glenwood. Authorities say 70-year-old James Allen Rolling, of Glenwood, was traveling east on Hickory Ridge Road, when a pickup driven by 17-year-old Jaxen Robert Tadin, of Glenwood, backed out of a driveway and struck the front of Rolling’s pickup truck. Tadin told authorities he had looked both ways while backing out, but did not see Rolling’s vehicle before proceeding into the street.

Damage from the collision amounted to $10,000. No citations were issued.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 5:30-p.m. on Tuesday, April 9th, in the City Council’s Chambers at City Hall. On their agenda is review and discussion with regard to a Residential Building Addition Site Plan for 422 Chestnut Street, and an Industrial Building Additional Site Plan for 1500 SW 7th Street.

Zoning Administrator John Lund says Chris Ullerich submitted a site plan for a 144-square foot sunroom for the property at 422 Chestnut Street. The second-floor residential addition would be a permitted use, under the City’s Zoning Ordinance. And, Iron Specialties, Inc., has submitted a site plan for a 7,200 square-foot industrial addition for offices and shop space to the existing industrial building at 1500 SW 7th Street. The additional is permissible under the Zoning Ordinance, according to Lund.

The Commission’s final order of business, is to receive an update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, and updates to the Zoning Ordinance.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Guthrie County will gather for a regular weekly 9-a.m. meeting, Tuesday, in their courthouse  Board Room. Discussion and/or action items on their agenda include: A Quarterly Report from V-A Director Beth Watson; A Health Services report from Jotham Arber, including a Vicious Dog Ordinance; IT Director Brian Hoffman will report on IT use and a Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Policy.

Guthrie County Engineer Josh Sebern will present for the Board’s approval, Resolutions for a Noxious Weed Notice to all property owners in Guthrie County, and Authorizing the Engineer to sign a contract for a Bridge/road project. Sebern will also present the FY 2025 Secondary Roads Dept. Budget for the Iowa DOT, and an FY 25 County five-year plan.

The Board will discuss and possibly take action on an EMS Request For Proposal (RFP).

(See the full agenda below)

Call Meeting to Order, Pledge of Allegiance

Approve Consent Agenda
a. Minutes from April 1, 2024 and April 2, 2024
b.Change of Status for Caleb Wulf – Sheriff Jailer Part-Time to Full-Time

Public Comments: Board Chair will ask audience for comments, limited as described below.

Department Update; Discuss/Action

a. Veteran Affairs – Beth Watson; i.Quarterly Report
b. Health Services – Jotham Arber; Vicious Dog Ordinance
c. IT – Brian Hoffman; IT Use and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Policy
d. Engineer – Josh Sebern; Resolution 24-23: Noxious Weed Notice to All Property Owners; Resolution 24-24: Resolution Authorizing the Engineer to Sign Contract for Project BHOS-C039(99) – 5N-39; Fiscal Year 2025 SRD Budget for Iowa DOT; Fiscal Year 25 County Five Year Plan.

EMS Request for Proposal; Discuss/Action

Approval of County Substance Abuse Program Grant

Approve Guthrie County Auditor Dani Fink as Authorized Signatory for the County Substance Abuse Program Grant

Other Business

Supervisors Updates

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(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery Board of Supervisors are set to meet in a regular, weekly session, beginning at 8:30-a.m. Tuesday (April 9th), in their Red Oak Courthouse Meeting Room. On their agenda is a presentation from Auditor Jill Ozuna, with regard to the FY 22 Audit. Maintenance Director Dan Wright will ask for approval for additional square footage for tuckpointing on the West elevation, in the amount of $40,948, and a quote for spraying the Law Enforcement Center lawn.

(See the full agenda below)

Tentative Agenda
1. Call meeting to order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll call of members
4. Approval of Agenda – Order at discretion of Chairman
5. Read minutes as presented. Chairman to call for any additions/corrections to said minutes.
6. Board chairman will ask the audience for any comments, limited to two minutes per person.
7. Supervisors: Weekly committee/assignment updates
8. Secondary Roads Update
9. Auditor, Jill Ozuna to present the FY22 Audit
10. Maintenance Director, Dan Wright- update with action as necessary
a. Approve additional square footage for tuckpointing on the West elevation in the amount of $40,948
b. Approve quote to spray LEC lawn
11. New Business
a. Approve claims payable for Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in the amount of $162,782.64
b. Approve Sheriff’s Report of Fees for the month of February in the amount of $6,802.08
c. Approve the Recorder’s Report of Fees for the month of February in the amount of $13,127.35
d. Approve the Treasurer’s Semi-Annual Report Ending Fund Balance for the month of February in the amount of $18,220,874.31
12. Discuss and start agenda items for next meeting
13. Announcements – The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 8:30 a.m.
14. Adjournment

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(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say there were two arrests over the weekend. On Saturday (April 6th), 28-year-old Jarred Dean Lee Paul Lawson, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC). Lawson was charged with OWI 1st Offense. He was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Sunday evening, Creston Police arrested 37-year-old Shaune William Tindle, of Lorimor. Tindle was arrested at 611 W. Adams Street on a Union County Warrant for Possession of Controlled Substance-3rd Offense. He was taken to the Union County Jail and held on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

Creston Police said also, no injuries were reported following an accident Saturday afternoon, at Grant and W. Scott Streets. Authorities say 19-year-old David Scott Robb, of Afton, was driving a pickup that was pulling a goose-neck trailer. As he was traveling south on Grant Street and attempting to turn west onto Scott Street, the trailer struck the left rear corner of an unoccupied, legally parked pickup, causing $2,500 damage to the parked vehicle.

No citations were issued.

(Radio Iowa) – A narrow band of land from Texas to Maine will be under a total solar eclipse this (Monday) afternoon, and in Iowa, the partial eclipse will still be a spectacular sight to behold, if it’s not too cloudy. Dr. Robert Funk, an ophthalmologist with Gundersen Health System in Waukon, says if you plan to view the event, you’ll absolutely need a pair of ultra-dark eclipse glasses. Many stores are selling special glasses, but Funk says be sure to get some that are I-S-O-certified. Funk says the American Astronomical Society website that lists vendors that sell certified I-S-O glasses, or else you may permanently damage the center of your retina. The eclipse will begin in Iowa around 12:40 p-m, with the peak around 2 o’clock.