(Radio Iowa) — Hundreds of bills have been permanently sidelined by today’s (Friday’s) deadline in the Iowa legislature. Bills to implement new state policies must have cleared a committee in either the House or the Senate by March 8th to remain eligible for consideration. Some of the 12-hundred bills that were filed by lawmakers this year were never scheduled for an initial hearing, but a handful were discussed in a subcommittee and defeated.

That includes a bill that would have required Iowa schools to “conspicuously display” the phrase “In God We Trust” in every public school building. Brenda Brown of Carlisle is a member of the Iowa Prayer Caucus which meets every Tuesday in the statehouse. “We have children that do not know their God, but they know Allah because that have got that information in our schools,” she said, “so we want to take that confusion out.”

Groups representing Iowa educators opposed the bill. Emily Piper is a lobbyist for the Iowa Association of School Boards. “We have some real concerns about the separation of church and state by displaying that in all our schools.” Brad Hudson is a lobbyist for the Iowa State Education Association, which represents teachers. “There are other priorities that would help student learning more than the expense of putting ‘In God We Trust’ on our walls,” Hudson said.

The Democrat and both Republicans who reviewed the bill permanently tabled it.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison for distributing child pornography. Federal prosecutors for Iowa say 35-year-old Joseph Marchesini was sentenced Friday in Des Moines’ federal courthouse to 188 months in prison. He was also ordered to undergo eight years of supervised release after his prison term.

Marchesini pleaded guilty in October 2018 to distribution of child pornography. In his plea, he admitted to distributing via the internet images of children — some of them preschoolers — being sexually assaulted.

Marchesini also was ordered to pay $3,000 to a victim authorities were able to identify depicted in the child pornography he possessed.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, today (Friday), released a report on recent arrests. On Monday (March 4th), three people were arrested on drug charges:

David Moore, of Jamaica, was arrested on charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Greater than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine – Class B Felony, Gathering Where Controlled Substances are Used, Keeping Premises for Controlled Substance Usage, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

David Moore

Moore was seen by the Guthrie County Magistrate and held on $107,000 cash or surety bond;

Isaac Moore

Issac Moore, of Jamaica, was arrested Monday on charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Less than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine – Class C Felony, Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana – Class D Felony, two counts of Gathering Where Controlled Substances are used, Keeping Premises for Controlled Substance Usage, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Moore was seen by the Guthrie County Magistrate and held on $63,000 cash or surety bond;

Andrea Willey

and Andrea Willey, of Jamaica, was arrested Monday, on charges of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Keeping Premises for Controlled Substance Usage, Possession of Methamphetamine 3^rd Offense and Possession of Marijuana 3^rd Offense. Willey was seen by the Guthrie County Magistrate and held on $12,000 cash or surety bond. Willey was later released on pre-trial release terms.

On March 5th: Zachary Johnson of Adel turned himself into the Guthrie County Jail to serve the remainder of his jail sentence on a Probation Revocation; Whitney Muhlenburg of Ankeny was arrested on Guthrie County warrants for Probation Violation. The original charges were Delivery of less than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine and Prohibited Acts – Methamphetamine. Muhlenburg was seen by the Guthrie County Magistrate and held on a $10,000 cash or surety bond.

On March 6th: Jami Schneller of St. Charles was arrested at the Johnson County Jail on two Guthrie County warrants for Failure to Appear. The original charges were Domestic Abuse Assault and Operation of  Motor Vehicle Without Owner’s Consent. Schneller is being held without bond pending an appearance before a Guthrie County District Court Judge.

On March 7th: Anthony Kennedy of Jefferson was arrested at the Dallas County Jail on a Guthrie County warrant for Probation Violation. Kennedy’s original charge was Operating While Under the Influence. Kennedy was ordered to serve seven days upon arrival at the Guthrie County Jail; Taylor Rochholz of Dexter, turned herself into the Guthrie County Jail to serve a three-day sentence on an Operating While Intoxicated 2^nd Offense conviction; and, Matthew Farber, of Panora, was charged with Operating While Under the Influence 1^st Offense following an investigation into an accident near Menlo on December 29^th. Farber has been summoned to appear in Guthrie County Magistrate Court for an initial appearance.

On March 3rd: Vicki Johnson, of Coon Rapids, was arrested on charges of Operation of a Motor Vehicle Without Owner’s Consent and Carrying Weapons. Johnson was released from custody for medical treatment; And, Jason Sheeder, of Orangeville, IL, was arrested on Guthrie County warrants for Failure to Appear on Driving Under Suspension and Registration Violation charges. Sheeder had an Adair County warrant and was transferred to their custody.

March 1st: Guthrie County Deputies arrested Kameo Smith, of Perry, at the Sac County Jail. Smith was taken into custody on a Guthrie County warrant for Theft 2nd. Smith was transported to the Guthrie County Jail and held without bond.; And, Robert Nelson, of Guthrie Center, was arrested by the Panora Police Department on a charge of Possession of Methamphetamine 1st Offense. Nelson was released on his own recognizance the following day by the Guthrie County Magistrate.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Villisca man on Friday afternoon. At 2:30pm Deputies arrestd 20-year-old Wyatt D. Baldwin of Villisca on a valid Iowa District Court warrant for Violation of Probation. Baldwin was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $5,000 cash bond.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 34-year old Jamie Lea Petersen, of Council Bluffs, was arrested today (Friday), on a Montgomery County warrant for Probation Violation. Bond was set at $5,000.

On Thursday, 43-year old Matthew John Krewson, of Sidney (IA) was arrested for Driving Under Suspension ($300 bond), and 39-year old Matthew Duane Graham, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. He was being held without bond pending a court appearance.

Officials with the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund say they are once again proud to bring Sean O’Brien back to Atlantic to put on a baseball pitching clinic for area 4th through 7th graders.  The clinics will be held each Sunday March 3rd through April 7th.  The Atlantic Trojan Baseball coaching staff will also help work with these kids that have an interest in pitching.  Baseball was Trevor’s favorite sport so we absolutely love to see kids enjoying the sport.

Sean O’Brien (left)

Fund spokesperson (Trevor’s mom) Melanie Petty says “Everything we are able to do for the community is because of people supporting us at our annual golf tournament.  The 11th Annual TFred Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at Nishna Hills Golf Club in Atlantic on Saturday, August 11th.  If you’re not a golfer there is a silent auction held all day in the clubhouse so come out and see us!  All monies raised are given back to things that Trevor had an interest in.  We are blessed that we have had such wonderful support since Trev passed away and we look forward to doing more amazing things this coming year in his memory!”

The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports they have received multiple calls in our office today (Friday), with regard to people calling claiming to be the Social Security office. The caller wants information from you and says your benefits are in jeopardy! This is a SCAM – DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION!

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa man convicted of a 1987 drug-related slaying has died in prison. The Iowa Corrections Department says 71-year-old Charles Robinson died of an illness Wednesday at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. The Des Moines Register reports that Robinson was a drug dealer who fatally shot 50-year-old Joseph Coon in January 1987 and wounded another man. Prosecutors said Coon owed Robinson $260 for drugs and the two had argued over the money. He’d also served prison time for robbery, forgery and shoplifting convictions.

On Saturday, March 6th, 2019, 12 members of the Atlantic FFA chapter competed in the District Career Development Events with two advancing to the State FFA Convention in Ames. During the District Business session Juniors Corri Pelzer was elected for the District Sentinel position and Adriana Mendez ran for the District Reporter. Unfortunately Adrian was not elected this year. Hannah Carlson and Tate Den Beste were the chapter delegates for Atlantic FFA at Convention.

Tyler C

Tate and Hannah

Craig Allan Ag Sales

Carli H

Bryan Y

Corri Pelzer

FFA member Carli Henderson competed in the Job Interview category placing 1st earning a Gold and advancing to State. Tyler Comes competed in Extemporaneous Speaking earning a Gold placing 2nd and advancing to State. Bryan York competed in the FFA Creed Speaking CDE placing 4th earning a Gold and will be the alternate to State. Katie York competed in the Chapter Website CDE earning a Silver. In the Ag Impact CDE 8th grade FFA members Jackson McLaren, Chase Vogl, Dan Freund and Dylan Comes presented on the importance of Agriculture in Cass County. This is the first year Atlantic has competed in the contest and the team earned 4th place and a Silver.

In the Farm Business Management Test Atlantic FFA had 4 members compete this year. Nathan Behrends placed 4th, Tyler Comes was 6th, Newell was 7th and Adrian Mendez was 11th. In the FFA Freshman Greenhand Quiz, Atlantic FFA had 5 members participate. Bryan York received a Gold. Receiving Silver was Andrew Engler, Aspen Niklasen, Cooper Jipsen, Malena Woodward, and Wyatt Redinbaugh

Seven members of the Atlantic FFA earned the FFA Academic Achievement Award. To earn this award an FFA member must be a member for 3 years and maintain a 3.5 GPA while in high school. This year Halsey Bailey, Nathan Behrends, Connor Pellett, Alana Welter, Sadie Welter, Ashley Wendt and Katie York earned this award.

(Article submitted by an FFA reporter)

(Update 12:45-p.m.) Police in Des Moines today (Friday), arrested a Shelby County man wanted on suspicion of 1^st degree Murder in Pottawatamie County. 20-year old Nicholas Haner, of Harlan, was wanted in connection with the death in January, of 38-year old Adam Angeroth, whose body was found in Angeroth’s Council Bluffs apartment.

Haner

Des Moines police received a tip that Haner was in the area and they began to follow him and an unknown accomplice in the stolen car. They crashed the car just off Washington Avenue on East 14th. Police apprehended Haner in the area of East 14th Street and Osceola Avenue.

KCCI-TV in Des Moines reports multiple law enforcement officers worked together, blocking off various parts of East 14th Street. Police said Haner was easy to catch but the accomplice proved more of a challenge. He scrambled through neighborhoods, followed by dogs and heavily armed officers before he gave up and was captured at a home.

Council Bluffs Police Captain Todd Weddum says Haner will be held in the Polk County Jail, until arrangements are made for him to be brought back to Pottawattamie County; at this time, it is unknown when that will be. Two others were arrested in connection with the murder. 21-year old Liam Stec and an unidentified 16-year old male, both from Omaha, are in custody. Police said the teen’s case will begin in Juvenile Court, when and if there is a determination to hear his case as an adult in District Court, his identity will become public record.