Pottawattamie County Chief Deputy Sheriff Rob Ambrose, Tuesday, announced his candidacy for Pottawattamie County Sheriff. If elected in the June Primary, Ambrose would succeed Jeff Danker, who, on Jan. 8th, announced he would not seek an eight term in office.

Pott. County Chief Deputy Sheriff Rob Ambrose

Ambrose, who was selected by Danker in 2018 to be his Chief Deputy, started his career with the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office in 2006, working for the Road Division. Sheriff Danker appointed him to the Investigations Division in 2008. While working in the Investigations Division, Ambrose was promoted to corporal in 2010 and sergeant in 2013. In 2015, he was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to oversee the Road Patrol and Investigations Division.

When he was appointed as Chief Deputy Sheriff, Rob Ambrose began overseeing the entire Sheriff’s Office. This includes six divisions, approximately 215 full-time employees, and a budget of approximately $21,000,000. As Sheriff, he says he “Will be committed to working diligently to provide residents of Pottawattamie County with dedicated and quality leadership within the law enforcement, communications and jail divisions.”

Ambrose is a graduate of Upper Iowa University. He previous experience, as from the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office, include serving as a Corrections Office for the Missouri Department of Corrections, and as deputy with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

He and his family live in Underwood. Ambrose’ wife teaches second grade at Underwood Elementary. The couple has three school-aged daughters. His bio says in his free time, he enjoys being with his family, watching our daughters participate in their school and athletic events, and playing golf. He says he’s also been actively involved with the community and school by volunteering his time as a coach for several athletic teams, and as a member of the Underwood School Safety Committee.

Ron Ambrose said also, “I enjoy participating in the annual Shop with the Sheriff event.”

Police in Harlan report two recent arrests. On Jan. 21st, 23-year old Stephaun Javon Lancer, of Harlan, was arrested on trespass and possession of drug paraphernalia charges. And, today (Tuesday), 34-year old Brandon Amos Woodruff along with 36-year old Maura Margarita Reyes Mejia, both of Omaha, NE were arrested following a traffic stop.

Woodruff faces charges that include speeding, failure to have a valid driver’s license, and prohibited acts. Reyes Mejia was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Harlan Police report also, a 1996 Dodge Ram driven by Michael Arnold, of Harlan, went out of control Jan. 23rd at 12th and Hill Streets. The pickup left the road and hit a tree before going airborne over an embankment and flipping. The vehicle landed on all four wheels, and was declared a total loss. No injuries were reported.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) – A warming center being evicted for not meeting fire codes has found a new spot to serve the homeless in Waterloo. The Waterloo Warming Center announced Tuesday it will be moving to the former Hawkeye Community College Metro Center and open for service on Friday. The overnight shelter opened Jan. 6 at Jubilee United Methodist Church Freedom Center to provide a safe haven from freezing temperatures. But organizers later were told it would have to close because inspectors found the space didn’t have a sprinkler system — a requirement for any building serving residential needs.

(Radio Iowa) – A half dozen lawmakers have taken the first steps in the legislature toward cutting red tape — so a Waterloo barber can take his cuts on the road. William Burt has built a mobile barbershop in a bus, hoping to drive to customers who can’t get to a brick-and-mortar shop for a hair cut.We can get in those remote locations and bring haircuts to some of these seniors and kids who have to travel 40 miles, 50 miles let’s say to Des Moines to get that haircut,” Burt says.

The problem is current state law requires barbershops and beauty salons be in a permanent structure and a bill that’s cleared subcommittees in the House AND Senate would authorize mobile hair-cutting units like Burt’s. His vision is to help train other barbers and encourage them to take their shears on the road, too. Representative Ras Smith, a Democrat from Waterloo, has been working for a couple of years to change state rules so mobile barbershops can be licensed. “In the black community, a barbershop is a safe haven. It’s a sanctuary. It always has been through civil rights,” Smith says. “For us to be able to take the next step forward is really exciting not only for out community, but for the state of Iowa as a whole, opening up doors for a lot of people to seek a profession and a livelihood that we know is impactful.”

Smith says everybody feels better after a haircut, but there are too many Iowans who do not have access to a neighborhood barbershop or beauty shop anymore. Representative Rob Bacon, a Republican from Slater, is a fan of Burt’s concept. “it’s a great idea. It’s a great business proposal,” Bacon said. “It’s entrepreneurship at its best.”

Governor Kim Reynolds invited Burt to her “Condition of the State” speech in Des Moines early this month, introducing him to the crowd as “an active and productive citizen.” Burt spent much of his early life in prison, but is now a business owner who cuts hair at four different locations in the Waterloo area. The governor recently restored Burt’s voting rights.