CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man who fell from a downtown Cedar Rapids construction site has died from his injuries, officials announced Tuesday.

Television station KCRG reports that fall happened Monday afternoon, when someone called 911 to report a person lying in an alley between United Fire Group’s buildings downtown.

First responders found 47-year-old Michael Dean Patterson, of Norwalk, with critical injuries. He was taken to a Cedar Rapids hospital, where he died several hours later.
Investigators believe Patterson fell from a beam while working on building renovations.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man has been given 50 years in prison for beating to death the 16-month-old daughter of his girlfriend in western Iowa. The Daily Nonpareil reports that Javon Jennings was sentenced Monday. A jury found him guilty Feb. 15 of manslaughter and child endangerment in the death last April of Jazlynn Harshbarger. An autopsy showed the toddler had suffered numerous injuries and died of blunt force trauma. Prosecutors say Jennings was supposed to be baby-sitting the girl in Council Bluffs.

Jennings repeated earlier statements that he didn’t kill Jazlynn. His attorney says Jennings will continue appealing the verdict and sentence.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports that as a result of a traffic stop Sunday, Deputies arrested two men on drug charges. 34-year old Benjamin Michael Johnson, of Harlan and 31-year old James Dwight Mills, of Avoca, were taken into custody on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Meth, and a simple misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. Johnson faces additional charges on two counts of felony Drug Tax Stamp Violation, as well as an aggravated misdemeanor charge of Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Alprazolam. Mills was additionally charged with a Drug Tax Stamp Violation (aggravated) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both men were taken to the Cass County Jail and are being held on $50,000 bond each.

On April 18th, Cass County Deputies arrested 40-year old Joshua James Mullen, of Corning, on three District Court warrants for Failure to Appear. Mullen was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on $25,000 bond. And, on April 15th, 52-year old Donald Whiting Filkins, of Elliott, was arrested in Cass County on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Filkins was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $5,000 bond.

There were also two recent accidents: At around 2:30-p.m. Monday, Deputies in Cass County responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident at White Pole Road and 700th Street. Authorities say a 2008 Ford Taurus driven by 22-year old Joshua Walton Parker, of Anita, was eastbound on White Pole Road when it was struck in the front left corner by a 2018 Subaru Impreza owned and driven by 65-year old Sherrill Marie Cundy, of Springdale, AZ. The collision happened when Cundy attempted to turn around at the intersection. Both drivers were transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac Ambulance, for evaluation. Damage to the Taurus is estimated at $5,000; damage to the Subaru is also estimated at $5,000. Cundy was cited for Failure to Yield upon Left Turn.

And, at around 3:51-a.m. today (Tuesday), deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on Jackson Street in Cumberland. A 1999 Chevy Silverado pickup owned and driven by 19-year old Korey Linn Cassady, of Earlham, was southbound on Jackson Road when the vehicle entered the east ditch. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,000. Upon investigation, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Cassady on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, and a Drug Tax Stamp Violation. He was also charged with OWI 1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. In addition, he was cited for Driving Under Suspension, Failure to Maintain Control, and Operating a Non-Registered Vehicle. Cassady was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $10,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) — A new Iowa initiative was launched Monday on Earth Day at a nature center in Sioux City. The “99 Counties, 99 Parks” initiative is designed to show off the wide array of recreational activities the state has to offer within its county parks. The Director of Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative, Jamie Haberl, says getting outdoors to go hiking or exploring in our parks is a great way to get some exercise. “We are so fortunate to have so many parks that can give us that ability to get outdoors, reduce our stress and just to have more physical activity,” Haberl says. “We don’t always have to go to a gym or fitness facility, we can really just get outside, get into nature, get our hands dirty and really enjoy the great resources that exist right here in our back yard.”

Iowa parks annually welcome about 24 million visitors, and State Economic Development Director Debi Durham says those visiting the parks give a boost to Iowa’s economy: “In Iowa, tourism is actually very big business. It’s an eight-point-five BILLION dollar industry sector for our state — which equates to about 500 million dollars in tax revenue, so it’s very important,” according to Durham.

You may download the “Family Fun Guide” from the “99 Counties, 99 Parks” website to see what the parks have to offer. Many of the parks also include “selfie stands” where visitors can take photos and share their experiences on social media using: #ThisIsIowa or #99parks.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports an alleged assault in Crescent resulted in the arrest of a resident on assault and child endangerment charges. A deputy responded to a call about an assault at around 10:55-p.m. Monday. The incident allegedly happened at a residence in the 100 block of Old Mormon Bridge Road. The deputy made contact with the alleged victim, a 33-year old woman, and determined that her husband, 37-year old Christopher Scott Burbridge, of Crescent, had assaulted her. Christopher Burbridge was arrested on one count of Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense – causing bodily injury, and one count of Child Endangerment, Deprive Necessary Care – Death. Authorities say their were two children – a 1 year old female and an 8-year old male – in the home at the time of the incident. Christopher Burbridge was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a total of $26,000 bond.

And, two men were transported from jails in Nebraska to the Pott. County Jail, Monday, with regard to warrants for their arrest. 32-year old Sammy Hadeer Aburumuh, of Papillion, NE., was wanted for felony Theft in the 1st Degree. 31-year old Delshonte Lavaille Barber, of Omaha, was wanted for Violation of Parole.

The Iowa Downtown Resource Center will offer several downtown forums in July that focus on the characteristics of a successful downtown. Audubon will be one of the locations for the forums, beginning at 9-a.m. on July 17, at the Cultural Center at the Library. Discussion topics in five major areas and grant opportunities for downtowns. Forums are FREE to attend, but registration is required. You  can register at https://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/downtown

The day will include a self-assessment tool and discussion topics in five major areas – characteristics that contribute to the success of a downtown. There will also be an overview of programs and grant opportunities for downtowns. Attendees will have an opportunity to share experiences relating to the downtown forum discussion and communicate with other community leaders the exciting happenings occurring in their commercial districts.

Sheriff’s officials in Cass County report the arrest of a man from Madison County following an accident early this (Tuesday) morning near Cumberland. Rescue crews were dispatched a little before 4-a.m. to an accident scene off 690th Street, where a pickup had entered the ditch. Reports said a passing motorist saw the vehicle with its headlights on, but it wasn’t clear if anyone was around at the time. 19-year old Korey Cassady, of Earlham, was not seriously injured in the crash and refused medical treatment. He was subsequently arrested, however, on felony charges that include Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, and Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, as well as lesser charges of Possession of Paraphernalia and OWI 1st offense.

Cassady was taken to the Cass County Jail and held on a $10,000 bond.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — An Indiana man accused of killing a woman and burning her body has been sentenced to 30 years in an Iowa prison. Webster County District Court records say 26-year-old Phillip Williams, of Lafayette, Indiana, was sentenced Monday in Fort Dodge. He’d pleaded guilty to attempted murder and abuse of a human corpse. He and 27-year-old Mackenzie Knigge were charged with first-degree murder in the August 2017 slaying of 26-year-old Jessica Gomez in Knigge’s Clare apartment. Prosecutors lowered the murder charge against Williams in return for his pleas. Knigge’s trial is scheduled to begin June 10.

Shelby County Emergency Management officials report a test of the Storm Sirens will be conducted in Defiance beginning at 10-a.m. on May 6th. Authorities say the tests are an important part of the Weather Alerting System in Shelby County. In the event of actual severe weather, the tests will of course be postponed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines leaders intend to bar people from loitering on medians at about 200 city intersections. The City Council voted Monday for an ordinance that takes effect next month. It bars people from “standing, sitting or staying on a median for any purpose other than to cross the street.” It won’t apply to medians that are 6 feet or wider. Officials cited safety reasons for the proposal.

The council voted more than six months ago to rescind its ordinance barring panhandling without a city license. That decision came after the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa urged Council Bluffs, Des Moines and Grimes to repeal their panhandling restrictions. Panhandlers holding signs asking for money often are seen standing on the medians at some of the 200 intersections included in the new Des Moines ordinance.