Police in the northwest Iowa town of Sheldon responded at around 2:36-a.m. Saturday, to a report of a man laying in the middle of the street in the 1100 block of south 3rd Avenue. Upon officers’ arrival, they found an unresponsive male and began life-saving measures, but those attempts were unsuccessful.  The male, who was later identified as 32-year old Joshua Andrew Rook, of Sheldon, was transported to the Sanford Sheldon Hospital by the Sheldon Community Ambulance Team where he was pronounced dead.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was contacted and responded to assist the Sheldon Police Department in the investigation of Rook’s death.  An autopsy will be performed by the State Medical Examiner’s office on a future date.  The investigation into the incident is ongoing and law enforcement has no reason to believe that the public is in any danger.  More information will be released as information becomes available.

The Sheldon Police Department was assisted by the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Sheldon Community Ambulance Team, the Sheldon Fire Department, and the O’Brien County Attorney’s office.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa woman is facing charges that she took $71,000 from the company where she worked as a part-time bookkeeper. The Scott County Sheriff’s Department says 42-year-old Jennifer Michele Farmer-Thiesen is charged with an ongoing criminal activity and first-degree theft, both felonies.

Deputy Eric Roloff says in an arrest affidavit that from June 2015 to December 2017, Farmer-Thiesen used her company’s credit cards to make personal purchases totaling $71,000.

The Quad-City Times reports Farmer-Thiesen allegedly concealed the purchases by altering the company’s Quick Book’s software.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Police are investigating a report of a sexual assault at Iowa State University. Deputy Chief Carrie Jacobs says a woman reported the assault to campus police Thursday evening but further details were not immediately available.

Jacobs says the woman is not a student and it’s unclear if she was assaulted on or off campus. Authorities were notified of the case while she was at a hospital.
No suspect information was released Friday.

The Des Moines Register reports that in a separate case, a 20-year-old Sioux City man was charged in late March with three counts of third-degree sexual abuse in late March after authorities said he sexually assaulted an Iowa State student in September in her dorm.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The owners of a former Sioux City riverboat casino have agreed to pay $1.5 million to a nonprofit group that had filed a lawsuit over unpaid revenue-sharing funds. The Community Action Agency of Siouxland and the Belle of Sioux City reached a settlement last month, the Sioux City Journal reported. Belle operated the Argosy Sioux City riverboat casino.

The nonprofit sued Belle and Penn National Gaming Inc., the Belle’s parent company, in Nov. 2016 for monthly revenue-sharing payments that the companies withheld from the Missouri River Historical Development Inc. The MRHD collected and distributed the casino’s gambling profits to charitable and civic organizations.
Belle stopped making the payments, which were 3 percent of the boat’s adjusted gross revenues, in May 2013 after it sued MRHD for breach of contract.

“I feel this money was owed to our community, and I’m proud to have played a role in recovering that money. I think it’s going to make a big difference for some of (the nonprofit agencies),” said Jean Logan, executive director of the Community Action Agency. More than 50 agencies can claim a $10,000 share of the settlement, Logan said. The settlement shares don’t have restrictions, so agencies have the freedom to decide how they spend the money, she said. “It’s not very often that money comes to us as nonprofits without a lot of strings attached,” Logan said.

Penn National Gaming is pleased the matter has been settled, said Jeff Morris, vice president of Public Affairs and Government Relations at the company. The breach of contract lawsuit involving MRHD is pending in Polk County District Court.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m., w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports one person was arrested Friday evening, and another early this (Saturday) morning. 20-year old Benjamin Parra Morena, of Lenox, was arrested a little after 6:30-p.m. Friday, for OWI/drugged- 1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 25-year old Nathan Allen Aldrich, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 1:10-a.m. today (Saturday), for Driving While Revoked for OWI, and OWI-2nd offense. Aldrich was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond. Red Oak Police assisted with the arrest.

Red Oak Police report 59-year old Charles Allen Schrum, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 1-a.m. today (Saturday), for Public Intoxication. Schrum was taken into custody at the intersection of N. 2nd and E. Joy Streets. His cash bond was set at $300.

The Council Bluffs Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating 16 year old Sunni Sigmund- Johnson, who left home March 28th, and has not returned. Her mother said Sunni took clothes with her in a navy backpack and a rainbow colored leopard print duffel bag.

She may be staying in Omaha, possibly in the area of the Old Market. Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division at 712-328-4728, your local police department or Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

Sunni

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Most economists agree that the tariffs the United States and China are preparing to slap on each other’s goods would slow growth, raise prices and force companies to scramble to replace the Chinese suppliers they now rely on. For now, optimists are clinging to tentative signals from the Trump administration that it’s prepared to negotiate with Beijing and avert a trade war. But the risks appear to be rising.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Records show that Iowa Finance Authority Director David Jamison sought to arrange a friendly get-together with longtime ally Gov. Kim Reynolds days before she fired him for alleged sexual harassment. The documents underscore how swiftly Reynolds acted to terminate Jamison, with whom she’d had a working relationship dating back two decades, once her staff learned of the allegations.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa ethanol and biodiesel producers are warning President Donald Trump that imposing restrictions on biofuels production “would be viewed as a declaration of war on rural America.” The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, representing refineries in the nation’s largest biofuels producing state, called on Senators Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst on Friday to reach out to Trump.

NASHUA, Iowa (AP) — Police arrested a Miami man in northeast Iowa after a high-speed chase and then learned he faces a murder charge in Florida. The Iowa State Patrol says a trooper tried to stop a speeding vehicle Thursday morning near Nashua. The vehicle fled at speeds up to 100 mph but finally stopped when its tires were deflated. Police arrested the driver, 21-year-old Devon Cooke, on numerous. Authorities also determined he was wanted on a 2nd degree murder charge in Dade County, Florida.

Atlantic Rising has announced the 2018 nominees for the fifth annual Awards Gala presented by the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce and Megan Roberts State Farm. The event is designed to celebrate the achievements of young professionals who demonstrate excellence and innovation in their profession and within their community.

In addition to recognizing the success of area young professionals, one Chamber business will also be recognized as the YP Choice Workplace of the Year.  The YP Choice Workplace Award recognizes companies who effectively attract, retain and develop young professionals.

Nominations were received in the following categories: YP Newcomer, YP Business Leader, YP Entrepreneur, YP Public Servant and YP Choice Workplace.  The nominees are as follows:

Newcomer:

• Paul Kite, Kite Family Chiropractic
• Zack Bandow, Atlantic Dental Center P.C.

Business Leader:

• Kate Hoffmann, Atlantic Animal Health Center
• Ben Rush, Rush, CPA & Associates
• John McCurdy, Southwest Iowa Planning Council

Entrepreneur:

• Amanda Graham, Picker’s Parlor
• Kate Hoffmann, Atlantic Animal Health Center

Public Servant:

• Kelsey Smith, Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral
• Anthony Smith, First Church of Christ
• Kris Erickson, City of Atlantic
• Beth Olsen, Cass County Health System – Public Health

YP Choice Workplace

• Nishna Valley Family YMCA
• Atlantic Specialty Care – Care Initiatives

The 2018 award winners will be announced at the Atlantic Rising YP Awards Gala on Friday, April 27th, starting at noon. The event will take place at the Atlantic Golf & Country Club. Thank you to the Atlantic Rising Premier Partner, Cass County Health System.

Visit www.atlanticiowa.com to register on the Events Calendar page or call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017. Atlantic Rising is an organization focused on connecting, engaging and attracting young leaders into the community while promoting greater Atlantic. Any interested individuals can contact ashley@atlanticiowa.com or call 712-243-3017 for information on membership.