The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of two Red Oak men following an investigation into a shop burglary in Red Oak. Deputies were responded to a burglary call at 2227 State Highway 48 at 8:00am on Tuesday, January 29th. It was discovered that someone had entered the business by forcing the shop door open and stole 8 new chainsaws and a battery power backup. The items were valued at $4,000.

Deputies were able to identify 2 male suspects and obtained a search warrant. At approximately 2:00pm 34-year-old Toby McCunn and 50-year-old Rene Valdivia, both of Red Oak, were arrested without incident. A search warrant executed at 310 Park Avenue in Red Oak resulted in the recovery of all 8 chainsaws and the battery backup. McCunn and Valdivia were charged with Burglary 3rd Degree and held on $5,000 cash bond.

When Mike Howard visited the Danish Windmill for the first time, he watched the 15-minute video featuring Harvey Sornson, the local farmer who came up with the crazy idea of bringing the sixty foot Danish Windmill to Elk Horn. Harvey’s comment, “No one said we couldn’t do it…so we did”, made an impression on Howard. As he addressed attendees at the Annual Meeting of the Danish Windmill on January 28, Howard recounted how Harvey’s story had inspired him in his many successful business ventures. At the conclusion of his remarks, Mill manager, Lisa Steen Riggs announced that Mike and Lou Howard had donated $100,000 to the Windmill. The air filled with confetti and champagne corks popped as everyone celebrated the Howards’ generous gift.

Photo attached of Danish Windmill Board members with Mike and Lou Howard: (L-R) Tony Petersen, Vice President, Manager Lisa Steen Riggs, Past President, Jody LaCanne, Shon Andersen, Secretary, Chris Fredericksen, President, Clark Ahrenholz, Director, Andy Anderson, Director, Joni Griffin, Treasurer, Lou Howard and Mike Howard. Not pictured, Tim Andersen. Photo credit: Deb Bieker

“Mike and Lou have been incredible supporters of the Danish Windmill,” said Riggs. “They’ve been so engaged in the Windmill restoration project and rebuilding the cap frame. Recently, one day over lunch, I shared all the capital projects that are still in progress for the coming year and estimated we’d need to raise about $99,000 to complete them.” She continued, “As Harvey Sornson would have said, ‘who would’ve thought’, that Mike and Lou would come to the rescue! We are so grateful for their generosity.” During the Annual Meeting, outgoing President Jody LaCanne was presented a certificate in recognition of his service on the Board. Newly elected Board members and officers include, Chris Fredericksen, President, Tony Petersen, Vice President, Shon Andersen, Secretary, Joni Griffin, Treasurer, and Directors Andy Anderson, Clark Ahrenholz and Tim Andersen.

The Danish Windmill is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt, non-profit organization. Charitable gifts and donations are the organization’s primary sources of funding. The Mill’s financials are published on the GuideStar® website so potential donors can review public records and non-profit reports. The Mill received the GuideStar® Gold Star of Transparency in 2018. Visit danishwindmill.com to review the 2018 Annual Report. To learn more about the Danish Windmill and how you can support the organization and about the projects, contact the Danish Windmill at 712.764.7472.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Some eastern Iowa students are spending their cold day off from school running a temporary food pantry. Station KCRG reports that 12-year-old Eve Buresh got the idea for the pantry and talked it over with parents. They decided to ask the Coralville Public Library to share some space as it opened Wednesday as a place to warm up.

The Coralville Community Food Pantry was among service agencies, schools, businesses and other organizations to remain closed because of the dangerously cold weather. Library officials said yes, so Eve and some friends spent much of Tuesday getting ready. She called local businesses for donations, and within hours word of the need spread across Coralville. Soon people were carting food and other items through the library doors.

Eve says, “If you really need help, then we’re going to support you.”

The Atlantic Police Department reports four arrests. Taken into custody Tuesday (1/29), was 25-year old Allyson Gardner, 37-year old Justin Lawton and 27-year old Devin Gardner, all of Atlantic. Allyson Gardner was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Violation of Probation. Lawton was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear in court. And Devin Gardner was arrested for Driving While Revoked.

On Sunday, 18-year old  Tyron Franks, of Atlantic, was arrested for Gathering Where Controlled Substance are unlawfully used. All four subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa’s two congresswomen are among the 19 rookie Democrats in the U.S. House co-sponsoring a bill that would set up a system to prevent future federal government shut-downs.  It’s called the Shutdown to End All Shutdowns Act.  Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines says it would automatically trigger funding to keep federal agencies open if congress fails to pass budget bills on time. “It prevents federal workers from being furloughed or forced to work without pay if congress and the president fail to agree on appropriations measures,”Axne says.

There’s a prod to get the warring partisans in Washington, D.C. to avoid shutting down the government. Congress, the president and anyone the president appoints in the federal government would not be paid in a shutdown if this bill becomes law. “It transfers the financial hardship from federal workers to the pockets of those of us who are creating the laws,” Axne says.

Iowa’s other congresswoman, Abby Finkenauer, of Dubuque, is also co-sponsoring this proposal. Axne says Democratic leaders have indicated this bill or something like it will be considered in the full House.

(Radio Iowa) — Due to the extreme cold and other factors, the American Red Cross is issuing an emergency call for blood donors in Iowa. Samantha Pollard, spokeswoman for the agency’s Midwest Blood Services Region, says they have less than a three-day supply of most blood types. A five-day supply is ideal for stocking hospitals for emergencies and daily needs but that’s fallen off over the past month. “We’ve seen a lot of winter storms and a lot of flu has been spreading around, taking people out of eligibility to donate blood,” Pollard says. “That, paired with people traveling over the holidays, really put us in a bad spot.”

Pollard suggests Iowans who are scheduled to give blood should stay home if they don’t feel well.  “We have a lot of people call in the day of their donation to say they’re not going to make it because they’re sick and they have the flu,” Pollard says. “That’s good. We don’t want people to come in if they’re sick, please don’t. We also want remind people, if they’ve gotten a flu shot, that does not make you ineligible to donate. As long as you’re symptom-free, please come in and donate.”

Pollard says blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. She encourages people to participate in blood drives to help re-stock the supply. Pollard says the easiest way to find a blood drive is through the website: Red-Cross-blood-dot-org. “On the home page, just put in your ZIP code and it’ll pull up all the drives near you,” Pollard says. “Another way is calling us at 800-Red-Cross and someone will help you find a drive. We also have an app. Download our blood donor app by searching for Red Cross Blood Donor and the app is really cool. You can make your appointment in there and it reminds you of when your appointment is.”

Pollard says with two months of winter still ahead, severe cold weather may cancel more blood drives, resulting in an elevated threat to an already-low blood supply.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — The mother of a baby whose lifeless body was found in an infant swing wearing a maggot-infested diaper is standing trial in his death. Court records say 21-year-old Cheyanne Harris has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death. The trial was moved to Le Mars in Plymouth County from Chickasaw County because of publicity.
Prosecutors are expected to begin their case today (Wednesday).

Medics called to an Alta Vista apartment in August 2017 found 4-month-old Sterling Koehn dead in the swing in a dark, sweltering bedroom. An autopsy shows he died of malnutrition, dehydration and an E. coli infection caused by being left in the maggot-infested diaper for up to two weeks. The boy’s father, Zachary Koehn, already has been sentenced to life in prison .

A reminder for patrons of the Atlantic Community School District: The Atlantic School District Facilities Planning Committee will host the first of two public meetings tonight, in order to explain the District’s proposed $9.5 million facilities renovation plan. The meeting in the High School Auditorium begins at 6-p.m. Kipp Harris, Nick Hunt, Bob Sweeney and Jennifer Saathoff and other committee members will be on hand to present the proposal to the public and answer questions. The next meeting takes place Feb. 6th, same time and place.

A vote on the issuance of bonds will take place April 2^nd, with Early voting open on March 4th. If the bond referendum passes in April, there would be a multitude of improvements for safety and aesthetic reasons. The changes would include: A synthetic turf at the high school soccer field; Renovation of the Trojan Bowl with a new natural grass surface…new home concessions…ticket booths…and restrooms; More storage; A four-lane rubber track; Visitor parking, and, new bleachers on the home and visitor side. The proposal also calls for: site paving, lighting and sound, and a new scoreboard.

A parking lot for staff is also being proposed at the site of the tennis courts west of Washington Elementary. A new bus loading and unloading area is planned to reduce the congestion at Washington Elementary and the Middle School. The proposal also includes six tennis courts to be built north of the high school soccer field.

Other proposed improvements include those to the baseball and softball complex.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Three aides to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and six newly appointed agency directors earn more than the governor, a decision a spokesman says reflects the need to attract top talent. The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa law sets the governor’s salary at $130,000 and some of Reynolds’ top appointees will be paid more. One of the top earners is Debi Durham, the director of the state’s economic development and housing agencies. A $50,000 retention bonus brings her annual salary to about $204,000.

Reynolds spokesman Pat Garrett says the high salaries are needed to keep top talent. Durham says she took the job because she believes “in the mission, not because of the pay. Other top earners include the governor’s chief of staff, the chief operations officer and chief counsel.

Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office report a woman waiting to visiting an inmate at the Pott. County Jail, was arrested Monday morning, after it was determined she had a warrant for her arrest. 20-year old Robyn Christine Hick, of Council Bluffs, was wanted for Harboring a Runaway against the wishes of their parent. Hick claimed the charge had already been dismissed by a judge, but the warrant was still valid in the system. The woman was subsequently booked into the Pott. County Jail.

A Sheriff’s Deputy called to a residence on Northern Pine Road, in Council Bluffs for a protection order violation, met with the reporting party. Afterward, a warrant was issued for 47-year old James Eric Larson, of Council Bluffs. Larson had not been taken into custody as of the time the report was issued.

And, 70-year old Michael Ray Christensen, of Council Bluffs, was transported Jan. 24th from the Buffalo County, Nebraska Jail to the Pottawattamie County Jail. Authorities say Christensen was booked-in on warrant for Failure to Appear on a Harassment in the first degree, charge.