Tyson Foods says its Tyson Fresh Meats subsidiary in Council Bluffs will spend 27 million dollars to expand production at the plant to be able to make more of its beef and pork products and meal kits that it distributes to grocery stores. A company news release says the expansion will allow them to add 350 jobs to bring the total number of employees to 14-hundred. The company also operates a pepperoni plant in Council Bluffs and a bacon plant in Omaha, for a total of two-thousand employees in the Council Bluffs-Omaha area. Work on the expansion in Council Bluffs is already underway, and the company says it should be completed by July of 2017.

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Chris Parks

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The Cass County Memorial Hospital’s Board of Trustees will meet this afternoon to act on approving an offer of employment to the Board’s selection for Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The meeting begins at 2-p.m.

30 people applied for the position left vacant by the termination on June 7th of Todd Hudspeth. Former CEO Pat Markham (whom Hudspeth had succeeded following her retirement) is serving as the interim top officer for the Cass County Health System until the new CEO is in place. The field of 30 applicants was narrowed down to six finalists who went through four sets of interviews with 25 people in four individual groups representing Board Members, the Administrative Team, medical providers and Health Department directors.

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating the robbery of an elderly man in the parking lot of a casino. Officers were called to the Ameristar Casino in Council Bluffs at around 5:23-p.m., Thursday.  The victim, 78 year old Gary McDonald, of Albion Nebraska, informed officers that an unknown black male began a conversation with him as he exited his vehicle, which was parked in the south lot of the Casino.

McDonald said he left his vehicle and walked towards the main entrance of the Casino. While walking, the suspect began accusing him of having relations with his girlfriend. The offender pushed McDonald down onto a grassy median, located south of the valet drive thru of the Casino. While on the ground, the suspect removed McDonald’s wallet from his pants pocket.

After witnesses were alerted by McDonald yelling for help, the suspect left McDonald on the ground and ran to the southeast taking his wallet. The man got into a maroon or red sedan, driven by an unknown female. The vehicle drove out of the Casino parking lot towards the interstate. The suspect’s identities are unknown and McDonald did not require medical assistance at the scene.

The male suspect was said to be in his 30’s, about 5-feet 9-inches to 6-feet 3-inches tall, with a muscular build. He was wearing a blue and white bandana on his head and a white “NYPD” t-shirt and blue jeans. The female driver was also black. Witnesses described the vehicle as a 2002 Ford Taurus with Nebraska plates, the first three letters on the license plate are possibly “CEG”.

The investigation is ongoing by the Criminal Investigation Division. Anyone with any information that was in the area at the time of this incident is encouraged to contact this Division at 712-328-4728 or they may call Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a two vehicle accident in Red Oak on Thursday resulted in disabling damage to one vehicle but no injuries.  The accident occurred at 5:41pm at the intersection of Oak and Broadway Streets in Red Oak.  A 1999 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by 47-year-old Jon Richard Goldsmith of Red Oak and a 2004 Honda Accord driven by 34-year-old Kham Lian of Lexington, NE were both west bound on Oak Street.  Goldsmith stopped at the stoplight to turn north onto Broadway Street when Lian rear-ended his vehicle.  Lian was cited for Following Too Close and his Honda was towed from the scene due to an estimated $2,500 worth of disabling damage.  Goldsmith was able to drive his Mercury away from the scene, it sustained an estimated $800 damage.

Police in Council Bluffs report one person was arrested today (Thursday), following an investigation into a road rage incident that occurred earlier this month (September). The driver of the suspect vehicle, 25-year old Derek Edward Rodwell, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on several outstanding felony warrants stemming from the Sept. 8th incident on Interstate 29.

On September 8. 2016 at approximately 9:35-p.m.. Officers of the Council Bluffs Police Department were dispatched to the 52 mile marker of Interstate 29 in reference to a road rage incident.

Derek Rodwell

The victim, 20-year old Alyssa Huber and passenger Ethan Hoden, told officers that a Silver Dodge Caravan began tailgating them as they were entering Interstate 29 from South 24th Street. Huber exited the interstate in an attempt to avoid the driver of the Silver Caravan while Hoden called the 911 Center.

In the 3600 block of Avenue G Huber stopped and the driver of the Silver Caravan rammed her vehicle. The driver of the Silver Caravan (Rodwell) rammed her vehicle a second time in the area of 23rd Avenue & South 10th Street. Authorities say fortunately, there were no injuries resulting from the incident.

Police in Council Bluffs say two juveniles were arrested following a carjacking incident Wednesday night. Authorities say officers were called to the vicinity of S. 30th St. and 3rd Avenue at around 9:35-p.m., following a reported carjacking.  The victim’s, 66-year old Melva Fiscus and 45-year old Laurie Gustin, both of Council Bluffs, had driven from the area and contacted the 911 Center.

Fiscus and Gustin told officers that as they approached the intersection driving Southbound three Black males were standing in the intersection. Fiscus who was driving stopped believing the subjects were merely pedestrians crossing the street. A forth Black male who was standing out of sight approached the car, opening the driver’s door and repeatedly told the occupants to “Get out”. He was armed with what appeared to be a small back handgun. Fiscus managed to get her door closed and fled the area prior to contacting 911.

As officers checked the area they observed two subjects that matched the description of the suspects. The officers attempted to initiate contact and the two subjects took off running. After a short foot pursuit the two subjects were apprehended. An airsoft pistol was located in the area where the two subjects were apprehended. The two suspects were determined to be juveniles.

After being identified both Juveniles were placed at the Juvenile Detention Center charged with Robbery 3rd Degree and Theft 1st Degree. The Criminal Investigation Division continues to investigate the incident, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact (712) 328-4728 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-7867.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports a pickup truck stolen from Clarinda on Friday, September 23rd, was located this (Thursday) afternoon in a Sioux Falls, South Dakota residential neighborhood. The truck appeared to be in good condition. The vehicle was towed to a storage facility in Sioux Falls, with arrangements pending for the owner to retrieve it.  The three students that absconded from the Clarinda Academy still remain at large.

The students include a 15-year-old Native American Male, 5’9”, 155 lbs., brown eyes, black hair, from Interior, South Dakota; a 16-year-old Native American Male, 5’7”, 150 lbs., brown eyes, black hair, from Wagner, South Dakota; and a 17-year-old African-American Male, 5’4”, 140 lbs. brown eyes, black hair from, Sacramento, California.

All three juveniles were being held at the Academy on orders from South Dakota and California respectively.  The teens were reported missing late Friday night (Sept. 23rd).  It’s believed that the Clarinda Academy juveniles stole the pickup and  fled.

The Harlan Police Department reports a search warrant executed Tuesday at 1001 Park Street, unit #2, resulted in a California man being arrested on numerous drug charges. 25-year old Manolo Iniguez Arechiga, of San Francisco, CA, faces felony charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance with the intent to deliver, and Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp. He was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Prohibited Acts. Various amounts of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were recovered at the scene.

Arechiga was being held in the Shelby County Jail on the local charges, and on outstanding warrants out of California.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office released information Thursday on several recent arrests.

On Tuesday, September 27th Mills County Deputies arrested 45-year-old Rafael Jean Petitphant of Lauderhill, FL for Possession of Controlled Substance.  He was arrested on Interstate 29 at 12:11am and taken to the Mills County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

On Wednesday, September 28th deputies arrested 40-year-old Joseph Duane Uhlmann of Red Oak for Possession of Controlled Substance (marijuana) and Possession of Controlled Substance (Cocaine).  He was arrested on Highway 34 at 7:25pm and taken to the Mills County Jail and held on $6,000 bond.

On Thursday, September 29th Mills County Deputies arrested 40-year-old Jimmy Dale McKee of Dakota City, NE for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Failure to have a Valid Drivers License.  He was arrested on Highway 275 at 7:01am and taken to the Mills County Jail and held on $660 bond.

Also arrested on Thursday was 23-year-old Nicholas Alan Stewart of Pacific Junction on a Warrant for Failure to Appear in regards to Violation of Probation.  He was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office at 10:26am and held on $2,000 bond.