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(UPDATE) Glenwood woman wanted in connection with shooting is arrested

News

August 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

A Glenwood woman wanted in connection with a shooting late Wednesday night was arrested at around 10:50-a.m. today (Thursday) without incident, inside her Glenwood home. 37-year old Brandy Clark was taken into custody after she returned to her home, to check on her dog. The woman was reportedly seen by a neighbor entering her home. Police found her hiding inside a closet. Authorities had earlier described Clark as “armed and dangerous.” The Mills County Attorney’s Office said Clark was being held in the Mills County Jail pending charges, and an initial appearance before the magistrate.

Brandy Clark

Glenwood Police were called to the home in the area of 307 N. Vine Street at around 8:30-p.m., Wednesday. Upon arrival, officers located a 34-year old male who had suffered from multiple gunshot wounds. The man was safely evacuated from the scene and transported to a medical facility. Investigators initially believed Clark had barricaded herself inside a home after the shooting. They blocked off the neighborhood and evacuated people from several nearby homes. The Iowa State Patrol said a tactical unit eventually made entry into the home and only found a dog inside.

Police can’t find items sought for DNA tests in 1980 killing

News

August 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Law enforcement officials say they have lost track of evidence from a 1980 murder case that an Iowa inmate wants to examine for DNA that could prove his innocence or guilt. The missing evidence comes in the case of William Beeman, who is serving a life sentence in the stabbing death of 22-year-old Michiel Winkel.

Its absence could prevent the public from knowing definitively whether Beeman was the right man in the rape and killing of Winkel — or should be Iowa’s first inmate exonerated by DNA.
Winkel’s nude body was found in April 1980 at Wildcat Den State Park near Muscatine. Beeman was convicted based largely on a confession that he claims was coerced. His lawyers filed a motion seeking DNA testing on a sexual assault kit that included sperm recovered from Winkel and items of her clothing found at the scene. But the Division of Criminal Investigation and Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office said last week that they have searched and cannot find the evidence.

A court hearing is set for next week.

2 arrested Wednesday night in connection with items stolen from flood damaged home

News

August 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s Deputies in Fremont County have arrested two people in connection with the theft of items from a flood damaged home, in Hamburg. 37-year old Christopher Cody Endicott and 34-year old Jhezerae Lauryl Lungenbeal, both of Essex, were arrested for Theft in the 1st Degree and Burglary in the 2nd Degree. Both are being held at the Fremont County Jail on $20,000 cash bond.

Christoper Endicott

Jhezerae Lungenbeal

Their arrests occurred after Fremont County deputies were called at around 11:45-p.m. Wednesday, to the area of F Street and Adams Streets in Hamburg for a report of a suspicious vehicle. Deputies made contact with a white Chevy Trailblazer, pulling a trailer, occupied by Endicott and Lungenbeal. Deputies determined the vehicle and trailer contained items stolen from a flood damaged home with a value in excess of $10,000.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the citizens of Hamburg for their continued vigilance and assistance. The investigation is ongoing at this time.

Iowa WWII soldier returns home 75 years after he was KIA in Burma

News

August 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

More than 75 years after fighting in the siege of Myitkyina (Myt’keena), Burma during WWII, Cpl. Ralph L. Bennett is returning home to Iowa.  Bennett, a 22-year-old Ames, Iowa native serving with the Headquarters Company, 209th Engineer Combat Battalion, was last seen June 13, 1944 as his unit participated in the siege of Myitkyina, after they successfully took an airfield west of Myitkyina from Japanese control. After the battle at Myitkyina, Bennett was reported Killed in Action (KIA). Despite initial efforts, U.S. forces were unable to recover Bennett’s remains.

Cpl. Ralph L. Bennett

Cpl. Ralph L. Bennett

The remains of fallen U.S. troops in the region were buried in at least eight different temporary cemeteries and numerous isolated burial locations, according to the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). Eventually, all known burials were concentrated into the U.S. Military Cemetery at Myitkyina, then later disinterred and transferred to the U.S. Military Cemetery at Kalaikunda, India.

One set of remains was reportedly disinterred in October 1947 and transferred to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, where they were unable to be identified. They were subsequently buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu, in March 1949. Due to new historical investigations and new technology that could link an identification to the remains, they were disinterred in July 2018 by the DPAA. Dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence, were used in the identification of Bennett’s remains in 2018.

Bennett’s military awards and honors include the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with one bronze service star), World War II Victory Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and Honorable Service Lapel Button – World War II.  A memorial service will be held at the Ames Municipal Cemetery, 2019 E. 9th St., Ames, Iowa this Saturday, August 3rd at 11:00 a.m., with full military honors provided by the Iowa National Guard. The public is welcome to attend the memorial service.

Cass County Extension Offers Youth Day Camps in August: Three different camps for youth of all ages on Tuesdays in August

News

August 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Cass County ISU Extension is offering three different camps and workshops to wrap up summer before school starts in late August. With a variety of topics, there’s something for everyone to get in a little day camp fun before the summer’s over. Here’s a list of the upcoming Youth Day Camps and registration information:

Tuesday August 6- Rainwater Runoff STEM Day Camp for 3-5th graders:

Design, Build and test a model of subsoil for a rain garden, and learn how We All Live in a Watershed from the ISU Water Rocks! Team. Youth will develop an understanding of how water is distributed on earth and how several kinds of pollution affect natural sources of water! There is no cost to attend this camp, and any youth who have completed 3rd-5th grade are invited to sign up for this day of hands-on learning! Camp will be held at the Cass County Community Center, 805 W 10th Street in Atlantic. Please RSVP by August 5 to the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132. Space is limited so register early! Plan to bring a sack lunch to this camp.

Tuesday August 13- Fun with BOTS Camp for K-2nd graders: Join Extension staff on August 13 from 9 AM– 3 PM to learn all about robotics! Work with Bee-Bots, Hexbugs and Dash & Dot to master how robots work and move. Learn to code and program different machines. Dash & Dot are even going to do fun fair-related activities! There is no cost to attend this camp, and any youth who have completed K-2nd grade are invited to sign up for this fun day camp! Camp will be held at the Cass County Community Center, 805 W 10th Street in Atlantic. Please RSVP by August 9 to the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132. Space is limited so register early! Plan to bring a sack lunch to this camp.

Tuesday August 20- Babysitting Basics Workshop for Youth age 11-15: A course on how to build the skills necessary to be a successful babysitter. Any youth ages 11-15 who are interested in learning the skills to be a successful babysitter is welcome to attend. The workshop will be held on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at the Cass County Community Center, 805 W 10th Street in Atlantic from 9 AM to 4 PM. There is a $10 fee per participant to sign up. Lunch is provided, along with a babysitting take home bag.

To register, bring a completed registration form and medical release/information form, along with enrollment fee, to the Cass County Extension Office by August 16. Register early! Space is limited. Snacks and lunch will be provided. For more information on any of these camps, or to register, visit the Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass, stop by the Cass County Extension Office, or call (712) 243-1132.

Social Security phone scam being reported in Harlan

News

August 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Harlan Police Department say they have been receiving numerous calls with regard to the phone calls being made to citizens, from persons claiming to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The caller demands payment or says that they will be arrested if the person called doesn’t pay. THIS IS A SCAM. Simply hang up. Don’t give out any information or send any funds of any kind. The SSA will never contact you by phone.

Iowa board decides to require seat belts on school buses

News

August 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Board of Education has adopted new rules that would require lap-shoulder seat belts on all new buses bought by school districts and state-accredited nonpublic schools. The administrative rules adopted Thursday are still subject to legislative review. Other safety equipment required includes one additional stop arm per bus, hand rails, exterior boarding lights and fire-resistant crash barriers between the front bus seats and the bus drivers.

Districts won’t have to retrofit their current fleets. The rules apply to new buses manufactured on or after Oct. 2, the date the new rules are scheduled to take effect. In 2018 the National Transportation Safety Board recommended lap-shoulder seat belts on all new school buses.

Semi chase on I-80 in Polk County ends w/driver tased

News

August 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The pursuit of a semi this (Thursday) morning in Polk County ended with the driver being tased. According to WHO-TV in Des Moines, the pursuit began  just east of Altoona in the westbound lanes of Interstate 80, near mile marker 143. Sgt. Nathan Ludwig with the Iowa State Patrol, told the station when a state trooper tried to pull the semi over at around 6:30-a.m., the driver took off.

A pursuit that followed went on for about 13 miles before the rig stopped just short of stop-sticks on I-80/35, under the 86th Street Bridge. The driver of the semi, 46-year-old Ryan Tourtillott of Apple Valley, California, refused to leave the vehicle, and was not responding to the six officers ordering him to get out of the truck. After officers deployed a Taser, Tourtillott was transported to the hospital for evaluation.

August 2019

Birthday Club

August 1st, 2019 by admin

August 1st:

  • Larry Jessen of Exira (Winner)
  • Jody Parks of Glenwood
  • Sarah Murray of Audubon

August 2nd:

  • Judy McClure of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Toby Thomas of Atlantic
  • Maine Jorgensen of Exira
  • C.G. Lindeman

August 3rd:

  • Clarissa Terpstra of Exira (Winner)
  • Rachel Jensen of Exira
  • Mia Nelson of Exira

August 4th:

  • Linda Petersen of Exira (Winner)
  • Rita Rohde of Atlantic

August 5th:

  • Eric Wilson of Exira (Winner)
  • Karen Kitelinger of Elk Horn
  • Melanie Heinnichs of Exira

August 6th:

  • Dwain Thompson of Exira (Winner)
  • Jim Finnell of Atlantic
  • Jordan Westphalen of Atlantic
  • Jerry Templemen of Atlantic
  • Wendell Wedeman of Atlantic

August 7th:

  • James Mortensen of Kimballton (Winner)
  • Chuck Sorensen of Exira
  • Linda Marek of Anita

August 8th:

  • Dustin Clouser of Exira (Winner)
  • Elaina Kelly of Omaha

August 9th:

  • Linda Eilts of Massena (Winner)
  • Ann Martin of Exira
  • Doug Weston of Audubon

August 10th:

  • Zoey Nielsen of Exira (Winner)
  • Jana Mathisen of Atlantic
  • Kent Euken of Wiota
  • Treva Pitka of Atlantic
  • Larry Johnson of Exira

August 11th:

  • no birthdays submitted

August 12th:

  • Larry Schwab of Atlantic (Winner)

August 13th:

  • Dianna Williams of Lewis (Winner)
  • Herb Wahlert of Exira

August 14th:

  • Linda Riesberg of Exira (Winner)
  • Kylee Hartl of Audubon
  • Denise Lowary of Atlantic

August 15th:

  • Braxton Androy  of Elk Horn (Winner)
  • Mike Murphy of Lewis
  • Jack Mullin of Atlantic
  • Mary Muller of Atlantic

August 16th:

  • Mallory Pope of Harlan (Winner)

August 17th:

  • Savannah Hays of Hamlin (Winner)
  • Margo Wolff of Atlantic
  • Janice Peterson of Atlantic

August 18th:

  • Colby Madsen of Kimballton (Winner)
  • Barb Larsen of Exira
  • Pastor Leon Hodges of Atlantic

August 19th:

  • Issac Hart of Atlantic (Winner)

August 20th:

  • Tracy Auerbach of Atlantic (Winner)

August 21st:

  • Erin Smouse of Exira (Winner)
  • Ardella Petersen of Exira

August 22nd:

  • Carter Witzman of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Sherri Brink of Atlantic
  • Maureen Smith of Atlantic
  • Margie Herbert of Atlantic
  • Dick Wright of Atlantic
  • Kathy Fiddelke of Atlantic
  • Jake Skartvedt of Atlantic

August 23rd:

  • Jovie Trailer of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Tatum Santisteban of ExirA
  • Lori Sampson of Atlantic
  • Dennis Newman of Lyman

August 24th:

  • Barba Jean Duvall of Audubon (Winner)
  • Mark Jespersen of Atlantic
  • Charlie Wheeler of Exira
  • Kynleigh Brown of Fontanelle
  • Claire Paulsen of Exira
  • Sandy Kneisel of Griswold
  • Sharon Foster of Griswold
  • Doug Jensen of Audubon

August 25th:

  • Terry Mathisen of Atlantic
  • Brenda Swope of Atlantic
  • Ryan Shuman of Avoca
  • Nancy Poore of Audubon
  • Audi Crane of Exira

August 26th:

  • Janice Kinnison of Atlantic (Winner)
  • Elleen Wheatley of Marne

August 27th:

  • Galen Sornson of Exira (Winner)
  • Chance Lauritsen of Exira

August 28th:

  • Charlee Hockenberry of Anita (Winner)
  • Irene Rydll of Anita
  • Barbara Lamp of Atlantic
  • Madonna Nisson of Atlantic
  • Brandon Westphalen of Atlantic

August 29th:

  • Codi Olsen of Audubon (Winner)
  • Madonna Nissen of Atlantic
  • Casey Westhphalen of Atlantic
  • Alberta Becker of Cumberland
  • Marilyn Munch of Exira
  • Melanie Larsen of Audubon

August 30th:

  • Hannah Nelson of Exira (Winner)
  • Charlene Johnson of Atlantic
  • Fern Lindvall of Atlantic
  • Mardell Walter of Elk Horn
  • Donnie Schlater of Exira

August 31st:

  • Aiden Petersen of Atlantic (Winner)

Report: Iowa isn’t doing enough to deter kids from tobacco use

News

August 1st, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa is falling short on deterring kids from using tobacco, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network. Danielle Oswald-Thole, the organization’s Iowa government relations director, blames the state’s tobacco tax, which can help push kids away from smoking, though Iowa’s tax is far below the national average. “We haven’t passed a significant increase in the tobacco tax since 2007 when we passed a dollar increase,” Oswald-Thole says. “So, that’s over 12 years ago, even though we know that that is an evidence-based policy that would save lives and save money.”

The annual report ranks how well states are implementing policies to reduce cancer rates. Danielle Oswald-Thole says it estimates more than a quarter of cancer deaths in the state are connected to tobacco. “Fifty-one-hundred Iowans are estimated to die this year because of tobacco-related illness and disease,” she says, “and 55,000 Iowa kids alive today will die prematurely if we do nothing and we continue the status quo.”

The report estimates nearly 18,000 Iowans will be diagnosed with cancer this year.

(Thanks to Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)