A historical tour of Shelby County is planned for May 15th.  Ron Chamberlain will help lead the one-day tour that will leave from Harlan.  The tour will include stops in Portsmouth, Panama, Earling and Westphalia to visit churches in each community and to see the one-room school house in Panama.  The tour cost is 29-dollars which includes a lunch stop in Panama.  To reserve a spot, call 712-744-3209 or 712-235-2791.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a southwest Iowa couple were sentenced today (Wednesday) to prison, for their role in the distribution of methamphetamine. 30-year-old Christopher Leroy Jordan, and his wife, 26-year-old Randi Marie Jordan, both of Sidney, were convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Christopher Jordan was sentenced to 14 years in prison, and 10 years of supervised release following his prison term. Randi Jordan faces four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

In early November, 2016, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation of the Jordans for distribution of meth. A search warrant was executed in January, 2017 at the Jordans’ house, resulting in the seizure of meth, marijuana plants and related evidence, as well as the arrests of both defendants. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement conducted the investigation, which was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

A man who was convicted of assaulting a teenage girl in Estherville in 2011 is accused of recently sexually abusing another girl in Council Bluffs. Twenty-seven-year-old Derrick Wolfert is already on the lifetime sex offender registry for the Estherville incident. Now, Council Bluffs Police say Wolfert has admitted to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl on March 3rd. She was babysitting a friend’s children at the time. Wolfert is being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail on a $20,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa)

Susan G. Komen Greater Iowa today (Wednesday), announced nearly $330,000 in new community grants for 2018-2019. Susan G. Komen has a bold goal to reduce current breast cancer deaths by 50 percent in the U.S. by 2026 To achieve this goal locally, Komen Greater Iowa funds local projects to help meet the most critical needs of the community, including projects that provide vitally needed breast cancer screening, diagnostic and treatment services and support, such as patient navigation, education and financial assistance. Jenny Brinkmeyer, Executive Director of the Affiliate, said “To meet needs we have discovered right here in the communities we serve, this year’s grant slate will fund critical gaps in screening, treatment and education and will help minimize barriers women face in accessing the services they need to stay healthy. We are proud to be able to distribute the funds we raise throughout the year, through events like Race for the Cure, to these worthy organizations.”

Among the programs selected for funding through a competitive application and independent review process, was Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, to provide financial assistance for breast screening and diagnostic services, support, case management and survivorship care, and, Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center, to increase awareness of and access to breast health care, education and mammography services and conduct outreach to the Hispanic and Latino population.

Komen Greater Iowa has identified a gap in breast health care within minority populations in the state, and these grants will provide mammography screening for underserved and uninsured Hispanic women,
prevention awareness in minority communities, and enhance communication between health care providers and patients in rural areas. Seventy-five percent of net revenue from the Komen Greater Iowa Race for the Cure® events in Des Moines, Moline, Ottumwa and other events throughout the year are dedicated to funding community health programs. Remaining proceeds fund groundbreaking research to find the cur

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Forecasters say snowmelt and heavy rains are expected to send the Mississippi River above flood stage along most of Iowa. Warnings for minor flooding have been issued for several spots.
The National Weather Service says the river is expected to top flood stage later Wednesday at Dubuque and crest nearly 18 inches above flood stage by Friday evening. That would send water over the East Dubuque, Illinois, flats levee. Crests are expected downstream next week.

May is Better Hearing Month and we don’t get hearing exams as regularly as we should, according to Doug Leonard, Audiologist at ASI in Atlantic. Hearing Evaluations should be as regular as eye and dental exams. It is suggested to have a baseline exam when you are 40-50 years old.

The diagnostic test is recommended for anyone who is over the age of 40 years old. It is a simple test where the patient would go in and go over some basic medical history, the Audiologist would look into their ears for any external abnormalities, and then they would go into the sound booth where they would test where their hearing is, and if needed schedule a follow up exam.

A diagnostic test could take less than an hour, cost anywhere from $25 to $50, and could potentially help save your hearing in the future.

The public is invited to join the Council Bluffs Police Department, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department, the Iowa State Patrol and other local law enforcement agencies during their annual Police Memorial Service. The service will take place in the parking lot of the Pottawattamie County Courthouse on May 10th beginning at 6:30-p.m., with a laying of the wreath, taps and 21 gun salute. Shortly after the ceremony at the Courthouse, the scene will shift to Saint John Lutheran Church (across the street) for prayer, a lighting of candles and remembrance of Officers. All in the community are welcome to attend.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — A trial has begun in southeast Iowa for a Colorado man who’s been charged in the death of his estranged wife more than 17 years after her disappearance. The Hawk Eye reports that the trial for 58-year-old Michael Syperda began Tuesday. He was indicted in December on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Elizabeth Syperda. Elizabeth Syperda disappeared in July 2000 in Mount Pleasant. The 22-year-old’s body was never found. Court records say the couple had been estranged for about a month prior to her disappearance because she was leaving him for a woman.

Prosecutors say Michael Syperda repeatedly threatened and stalked his wife. Public defender Kym Auge says there’s no evidence that ties Michael Syperda to his wife’s death. Michael Syperda is in Henry County jail on a $1 million bond.

(Corrects accident day to Tuesday) An injury accident in Shelby County is under investigation. Sheriff’s officials say the Shelby County 911 Center received numerous calls Tuesday afternoon about a single vehicle accident that occurred north of Harlan on Highway 59 near 1200th St. Authorities say 74-year-old Mike Kerr from Manilla, IA was traveling northbound on Highway 59 when his vehicle left the roadway and entered the west ditch, where it struck a tree before rolling over several times. Kerr was transported to Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan by Medivac Ambulance. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Harlan Police Department and Harlan Fire and Rescue.

And, this (Wednesday) morning at about 9-a.m., another accident occurred about two miles north of Harlan on Highway 59. One car was in the west ditch. Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Westphalia Fire and Rescue and Medivac Ambulance were on scene. No other details are currently available.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Sheriff’s Deputies and Red Oak Police responded at around 1:25-p.m., Tuesday, to a call about rolling domestic incident that involved two vehicles, which were traveling east on old Highway 34, just west of Red Oak. The caller, Meagan Horgdal, told authorities that a black, 2015 Chevy truck driven by 34-year old Garret Horgdal, of Henderson, was making several attempts to force Meagan’s 2014 Chevy Traverse off the road, and that the vehicles made contact several times. Three small children were in the SUV.

Just west of Ginko Avenue and old Highway 34, Garrett Horgdal’s vehicle made contact with the SUV, forcing it into the south ditch. Officers arrived and attempted to take Garret into custody, but he managed to turn his truck around on the highway and fled the scene, leading officers on a 30-mile chase at speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. The chase wound its way into Pottawattamie County, and ended in a corn field one-half mile west of the intersection of 150th Street and C Avenue, back in Montgomery County.

Authorities say during the pursuit, Garret Horgdal drove his vehicle without regard for the public’s safety and other motorists. He also contacted Pott. County Dispatch by cell phone, and advised them he had a firearm, and intended to use it. At point during the pursuit, he swerved at a patrol vehicle at an intersection, and forced a grain truck onto the shoulder by swerving into the wrong lane. Once into the corn field, Horgdal was surrounded by three patrol vehicles. In an attempt to continue, he crashed his truck into the side of a 2016 Dodge Ram pickup, registered to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

As Horgdal continued his attempt to flee, officers discharged rounds from their firearms into his vehicle. He then quickly surrendered and was taken into custody. Horgdal was eventually transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, and then to a hospital in Council Bluffs, for treatment of non-life threatening medical issues unrelated to the officer involved shooting. Garret Horgdal faces charges that include four felony counts of Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer and a felony charge of Eluding.