A call to Council Bluffs Police at around 9:45-a.m. today (Wednesday), about a fraud in progress, resulted in the arrest of two men and two women. Authorities say Officers were called to the US Bank located at 421 W. Broadway, with regard to subjects in the drive thru attempting to use a stolen debit card.

Upon arrival, officers located a 2018 Nissan Altima driven by a white female, later identified as 29-year old Victoria Gosch, of Omaha. Gosch was cooperative with officers and was taken into custody without incident. However, the front seat passenger, later identified as 40-year old Carrie Kirchner, of Omaha, fled the vehicle on foot and was captured a few blocks away.

At the same time Kirchner fled on foot, a backseat passenger, later identified as 32-year old Fabian Moultry, from Lauder Hills, FL, jumped from the front seat of the vehicle in an attempt to take control of the vehicle. Officer’s deployed a Taser on Moultry and were able to subdue him following a brief struggle. A third passenger identified as Broderick Taylor from Lauderdale Lakes, FL was also taken into custody.

All four subjects were charged with 2 counts of Identity Theft and Forgery. Moultry was also charged with Disobedience to a Peace Officer and Interference with Official Acts.

Hundreds of credit union members flooded the statehouse today (Wednesday) to lobby against a tax increase on credit unions.  “If you are a proud member of a credit union, let me hear you. Make some noise!” That’s Kenia Calderon, a member of a credit union in central Iowa who was one of the featured speakers during a rally outside the capitol. Calderson told the crowd her parents fell victim to the “predatory lending practices” of banks, but her family became financially stable and she was able to go to college after they became credit union members.

“Thank you for your mission and for living up to the people helping people philosophy because that’s why we’re standing in front of you today. That’s why all of us are here,” Calderone said. “We cannot let this tax increase affect our credit unions.” Senate Republicans passed a wide-ranging tax bill last month that included a hike on credit union taxes. A Republican member of the Iowa HOUSE who opposes that move spoke during the rally. Representative Walt Rogers is from Cedar Falls.

“During my second campaign I had a friend of mine come up to me and say: “Why do you support credit unions?’ And I said: ‘Well, do you know what they do? They’re a co-op, non-profit — that their profits go right back to their members.’ I said: ‘I love that model. I believe in that model and that’s what I’m going to support,'” Rogers said. One woman yelled: “Thank you!” as the crowd cheered. Former Iowa Congressman Jim Nussle, a Republican who is now C-E-O of the Credit Union National Association, spoke directly to the Republican leader in the Iowa Senate.

“Let me tell you, Majority Leader Bill Dix: When you tax a credit union, you’re taxing Iowans — 600,000 of them — and we’re here to tell you that’s not fair and we’re not going to stand for it,” Nussle said and the crowd cheered. Iowa Credit Union League president Pat Jury hosted a rally outside the capitol.

“Credit unions even help bank customers save money by providing competition that forces banks to keep their rates consumer friendly,” Jury said, “and more and more Iowans are choosing credit unions for their financial services and banks don’t like this.” After the rally concluded, the crowd walked up the steps to speak with their senators and representatives.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three men were arrested Tuesday on drug and other charges.

At around 1:30-p.m., the Mills County K9 Unit assisted the Iowa State Patrol with a traffic stop on northbound Interstate 29, near mile marker 30. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 22.8-grams of MDMA (Ecstasy), 4.3-grams of Heroin, 8.5 Xanax pills, and 18 amphetamine pills. The driver, 32-year old Kory James Johne, of Sioux City, was arrested for Possession with the Intent to Deliver MDMA, Possession of Heroin, A Drug Tax Stamp Violation, and two counts of unlawful possession of a prescription pill. His bond was set at $19,000.

At around 8:20-p.m., the Mills County K9 unit conducted a traffic stop for a speeding vehicle on 360th Street. 29-year old Brent Allen Neal, of Shenandoah, was subsequently arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (8 grams of marijuana), and cited for No Valid Driver’s License. His bond was set at $1,000.

And, at around 11:15-p.m., 58-year old Michael John McSorley, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop by the K-9 Unit on Highway 34 near mile marker six. Upon further investigation, McSorley was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (1 gram of meth), and for Driving While Barred. He was also cited for Operating a non-registered vehicle and Failure to Maintain a Registration plate. Bond was set at $3,000.

(Update 12:45-p.m.) Atlantic Fire and Rescue and other emergency personnel were dispatched to a reported rollover accident this (Wednesday) afternoon. The single-vehicle accident, which took place on Highway 71 just south of Interstate 80, was reported a little after 12-p.m. Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren told KJAN the driver/occupant of the vehicle complained of rib pain, but their injuries did not appear to be life threatening. The Iowa State Patrol is handling the accident investigation.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports that on March 2nd, Ben Reece was extradited from Armenia back to the US (to the Taylor County Jail). Reece was charged and arrested on 3 counts of Sexual Abuse 2nd degree in December of 2016. In April of 2017 Reece was able to post bond and placed on pretrial release supervision. In October of 2017 Reece violated the terms of his release and a warrant for his arrest was issued.

Reece

Reece absconded and fled the country and was later arrested in Armenia on Dec. 11th, 2017. Several agencies worked together on returning Reece to the US thru an international extradition. The Department of Justice transported Reece from Armenia back to the Iowa on March 2nd. His cash bond was set at $1-million.

Agencies assisting in locating, arrest and extradition were US Dept. of Justice, Dept. of State, US Marshalls, US Embassy in Armenia, Iowa Dept. of Public Safety Division of Intelligence, Interpol, Armenian Government and The Taylor County Attorney’s office.

Cass County 4H’ers are hosting their annual Pancake Supper and Mardi Gras Carnival events in the next few days. The Pancake Supper is on Thursday, March 8^th, from 5-7:30 P.M. at the Cass County Community Center. The cost for all you can eat pancakes, sausage, juice, and coffee, cooked by The Pancake Man is $6 for adults, and $4 for youth ages 5 and under. There will also be a silent auction featuring some items donated by local businesses, including KJAN. Shelby Van Horn is the Cass County 4-H Youth Coordinator.

The Pancake supper is used to raise money for the 4H program so that they are able to offer Scholarships for their youth participants, it keeps 4H free for their participants, and for any other expenses that they may have throughout the year to support their members.

The Mardi Gras Carnival event is on Sunday March 11^th, from 2-4 p.m. at the Cass County Community Center.

Admission is 50 cents per person, and tickets for the carnival are 10 cents each. Money from this event will contribute to fair projects, workshops, and other 4H events throughout the year. It is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to come and support your local 4H members.

The Harlan Police Department reports 52-year old Amy Jo Ross, of Harlan, was arrested Tuesday, after authorities received a call about a possible theft in the 1100 block of Willow Street. Ross was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Prohibited Acts penalties, and Possession of Drug paraphernalia. And, 26-year old Kelsey Lee Brewer, of Earling, was cited Saturday in Harlan, for Driving While Suspended, and speeding. Brewer was released at the scene.

The H-PD said also, no injuries were reported following a collision Tuesday at Highway 44 and 7th Street. Officials say a semi tractor-trailer driven by Matthew Head, of Denison, was making a right-hand turn off Highway 44 onto 7th Street from the far left lane, when the semi struck a 2016 Mazda CX 5, driven by Kari Nordby, of Harlan. The Mazda was dragged off the Highway onto 7th Street. It sustained two broken windows and damage along the entire driver’s side, as well as the rear hatch back door.

The Griswold School Board has two Special meetings planned for Thursday night. The first, a joint meeting between the Griswold and Lenox Community School District Boards of Education, begins at 8-p.m.  During their meeting, the Directors will consider entering into a closed session under Iowa Code, “For the purpose of evaluating the professional competency of a individuals whose appointment, hiring, performance or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session.” Afterward, the Boards will discuss, and possibly approve a Sharing Agreement and Individual Contract.

The second meeting begins at 10-p.m. Thursday, and is expected to be a closed session for the purpose of conducting a hearing to suspend or expel a student. The Board will consider the enrollment status of the student when they return from the closed session.

Both meetings take place in the Griswold Middle School/High School Library.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A city in southeast Iowa has won a $17 million federal grant that officials say will fund dramatic changes to its riverfront and downtown. Lawmakers announced Tuesday that Burlington was awarded the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant. The Hawk Eye reports that the grant money will fund a significant re-imagining of Burlington’s riverfront, including large boat docks, trees, planters, seating, green spaces and parking lot improvements. It’ll also upgrade two streets with bike racks, resurfacing, sidewalk expansion, planters, storm improvements and new street lights.

Burlington will use flood wall and sewer separation work as a large part of the required local match for the grant. The exact matching amount needed is unclear. The U.S. Department of Transportation has $500 million to allocate through the grant program this year.

The Certified Public Accounting firm of Gronewold, Bell, Kyhnn & Co., P.C., in Atlantic, report an audit of the financial statements for the City of Atlantic, has been completed. The Audit Covered the year that ended June 30, 2017. Copies of the Audit Report are available for inspection at the offices of the City Clerk, and the State Auditor.The report noted:

A deficiency in internal control exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent or detect and correct misstatements on a timely basis.  The City Council is aware of this lack of segregation of duties, but says it is not economically feasible for the City to employ additional personnel for this reason. The City Council will continue to act as an oversight group. The City’s response was accepted.

The report also noted disbursements during the year ended June 30, 2017 exceeded the amounts budgeted in the general government and debt service functions. A chapter of the Iowa Code states, in part, “Public monies may not be expended or encumbered except under an annual or continuing appropriation.” This appears to be due to employee oversight. Recommendation: The budget should have been amended in accordance with the Code of Iowa, before disbursements were allowed to exceed the budget.  The City responded: The budget will be amended in the future, if applicable. The response was accepted.

And, during the audit, the Auditor did not note any disbursements that did not meet the requirements of public purpose as defined in an Attorney General’s opinion dated April 25, 1979.  Also, no expenditures of City money for travel expenses of spouses of City officials and/or employees were noted. A PDF of the report can be found here: https://auditor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/audit_reports/1720-0128-C00F.pdf