BOONE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have dismantled a homemade pipe bomb that was set to explode at an Iowa hunting area. The Boone County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that two deputies responded Monday after receiving a report about the device that was found on the lid of a container in the area. The post said the Iowa State Fire Marshalls Office was called and that the device was examined and dismantled. The post said the device was “set to explode in a delayed manor and without any supervision.”

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Prosecutors in Iowa have filed a rarely used leak charge against a Black Lives Matter protester accused of stealing a confidential police document and another who allegedly displayed it during a TV news broadcast. The two have been charged with unauthorized dissemination of intelligence data. It’s a felony charge that carries up to five years in prison.

The Iowa Judicial Branch says it’s only the second time the charge has been used since 2010. Des Moines police spokesman Paul Parizek says it’s appropriate given the circumstances of the case. The document was a bulletin related to protesters who were under investigation for allegedly destroying a police car.

(Radio Iowa) – The attorney representing the man accused of killing a Fort Dodge pastor last fall is requesting a change of venue for the trial.  Thirty-six-year-old Joshua Pendleton of Fort Dodge is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 64-year-old Allen Henderson on October 2nd, 2019 outside St. Paul Lutheran Church where Henderson served as pastor. The defense argued in part that the court should grant a change of venue in the case because the degree of prejudice in Webster County creates a substantial likelihood that the defendant cannot obtain a fair and impartial trial.

Court documents filed Monday show the prosecution does not resist the change of venue request and the parties have agreed upon Scott County as the venue. A trial date has yet to be set.

The Harlan Police Department reports three arrests. On Sunday, 33-year old Melissa Suzanne Fuller, of Irwin, was arrested following a traffic stop,for Driving While Suspended. She was also cited for not wearing a seat belt. Last Friday, 29-year old Josephus Carl Jones, of Indianapolis, IN., was arrested following a traffic stop, in Harlan. Jones was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. And, on June 28th, 40-year old Jason Robin Conway Emery, of Harlan, was arrested for Public Intoxication, following a call about a disturbance.

This past Monday, 23-year old Jennifer Nichole Gibson, of Red Oak, was cited in Harlan for Driving While Suspended.

(Radio Iowa) – The parks director in Sioux City says damage to the Flight 232 memorial on the city’s riverfront was caused by nature — not vandalism. Two pieces of the monument have toppled over and parks director Matt Salvatore says there are underlying issues in the area. “The Flight 232 memorial was under water last year with flooding. There is a utility issue in there — so the issues that we are having are not necessarily linked to the flooding that occurred last year,” Salvatore says. “There seems to be a utility issue in the area so the sidewalk leading to the monument snapped in about four different places,” Salvatore says.

The monument celebrates the heroic efforts by the community when a damaged United Airlines plane crashed at the Sioux City Airport on July 19th in 1989. There were 112 deaths in the crash — but 184 people survived. Salvatore says the city has been assessing the damage and what they need to do to repair the monument. “Our staff removed the sidewalk, relocated some of the stones along the walkway. Relocated those out of the way,” according to Salvatore. “The sidewalk itself was replaced with fill. And we’ve been keeping an eye on it. The fill continues to settle.”

He says they are working with the utility department to fix that issue. “Once we locate the problem, we are going to pack that area, pour back the sidewalk, relocate all the stones, and we are going to do some landscaping repairs from the flooding last year. We are going to have everything back in order by the anniversary date of 232.” The monument features a sculpture of Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Nielsen of the 185th Air National Guard carrying young Spencer Bailey from the crash wreckage. A photo of Nielson carrying Bailey from the wreckage gained nationwide attention.

(Radio Iowa) — The F-A-A is investigating a single-engine plane crash near a Minnesota airport involving a Winneshiek County couple. The pilot, 73-year-old Richard Zahasky of Decorah, and his 68-year-old wife Roseann Zahasky, were treated for minor injuries and have since been released from the hospital. Authorities say the plane had been heading back to Iowa and had engine problems.

Zahasky attempted to land at the Eveleth-Virginia municipal airport in northeast Minnesota when the plane crashed.

The Mills County Board of Supervisors today (Tuesday), adopted procedures for the next phase of reopening of County offices beginning July 13, 2020, at 8:00 a.m.  Based on current recommendations from Mills County Emergency Management, Mills County Public Health, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and the Center for Disease Control the following regulations will be enforced for those individuals conducting business in Mills County offices.

Officials say your adherence to the following procedures is important to help the County take precautionary measures to protect you and county employees:

1. Social distancing must be maintained at all times in the common areas by all individuals.
2. All visitors must wear a face covering. Parents are encouraged NOT to bring children with
them while conducting business in County offices.
3. County employees shall wear masks while serving the public when there is no other barrier
between the employee and the customer.

Any person with COVID-19 symptoms should refrain from entering a public building. At this time, self-monitoring is required by the public and employees. Stay home if you are ill. Social
distancing measures such as increasing the space between workers and the public and decreasing social contacts in the workplace are still in place. Hand shaking is prohibited. Everyone should wash hands thoroughly before entering county facilities and throughout the day. Hand sanitizers will be available at the entrance of the courthouse and in all offices. Office/workspace areas will be cleaned at least daily. Common areas will be cleaned/sanitized regularly throughout the day.

Water/drinking fountains will be closed. Individuals should consider conducting business online if possible before visiting any facility. Should you have questions specific to your business, contact the appropriate department directly.

These procedures do not affect the emergency protocol put in place by State Court Administration. Any court related questions should be directed to the Mills County Clerk of Court at (712) 527-4880. Please be advised that these precautions are in place to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and meant to keep everyone safe. However, these measures may not eliminate the possibility of contracting or spreading the virus. Entering any public place may still pose a risk to your health and you should act accordingly.

Visit www.millscoia.us for updated information and specific duties of offices/department.