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Eastern Iowa man sentenced to 5 years for bomb threat

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for making a bomb threat against a Davenport community college. Federal prosecutors say 39-year-old America Yegile Haileselassie, of Bettendorf, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to interstate communication of a bomb threat.

Investigators say that on Nov. 4, 2015, papers found on a Scott Community College printer read: “There is a bomb at Scott Community College. It will explode at noon today.” A search found no bomb, and investigators traced the threat to Haileselassie’s email address.

Officials say Haileselassie made the threat after learning he was going to be suspended for stealing a book. Prosecutors say Haileselassie’s sentence was lengthened because he sent false anonymous tips naming someone else as responsible for the threat.

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Braddyville man arrested Wed.

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A rural Braddyville man was arrested Wednesday (today) at the Page County Sheriff’s Office. 57-year old Edward Paul Swanson was arrested on a Page County Warrant for Violation of Probation. Swanson posted a $1000 cash bond and was released pending further court proceedings. Swanson was at the Sheriff’s Office on other business at the time of his arrest.

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Montgomery County Sheriff’s report (2/14)

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 10-a.m. today (Wednesday), of 47-year old Shelby JoAnn Olivares, of Red Oak. The woman was arrested in the 200 block of N. 2nd Street, in Red Oak, on two warrants for Contempt of Court. Her cash bond was set at $600. And, at around 10:10-a.m. today (Wednesday), 41-year old Tommy Joe Lovell, of Red Oak, was arrested in the same area as Olivares, on a warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. His cash bond was set at $5,000.

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GARY SYMONDS, 79, of Atlantic (Svcs. 2/24/18)

Obituaries

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

GARY SYMONDS, 79, of Atlantic, died February 13th, in Treynor. Funeral services for GARY SYMONDS will be held 2-p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24th, at the Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home, in Atlantic.

Visitation with the family will be held one-hour prior to the service, on Saturday (from 1-until 2-p.m.)

Burial will be in the Victoria Township Cemetery in Massena.

GARY SYMONDS is survived by:

His wife – Joann Symonds, of Atlantic.

His daughters – Kelly (Jack) Hendrix, of St. Joseph, MO., & Stacy (Mike) Gray, of Omaha.

His sisters – Barb (Leland) Nelson, and Carolyn Symonds, all of Anita.

4 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

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Iowa developer, city push for greyhound track demolition

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A developer and city officials are working to demolish an abandoned greyhound track in northeast Iowa and replace it with a business park. The Waterloo City Council voted Monday to add the Waterloo Greyhound Park to the city’s contract with Deer Creek Development. The move could allow for incentives to raze and redevelop the deteriorating structure, which has broken windows, graffiti and overgrown weeds. The track shuttered more than 20 years ago.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that the developer will need to cooperate with National Cattle Congress Inc. and the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, who are in a legal dispute over the property’s ownership. Deer Creek official Mike Youngblut is hopeful the groups can reach a solution, but “an infinite number of moving parts” complicate the process.

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Woman denies allegations that she misused clients’ funds

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A former support manager has pleaded not guilty to allegations that she stole from clients of a Sioux City organization that helps people with intellectual disabilities. Court records say 29-year-old Jessica Rivera is charged with two counts of dependent adult abuse-exploitation. The records say she submitted the written pleas Tuesday in Woodbury County District Court.

Court records say that between January and July 2017, while she worked for Mosaic, Rivera made unauthorized purchases using gift cards or other funds from the clients and kept the items.

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Mills County Sheriff’s report (2/14/18)

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three people were arrested Tuesday on separate warrants. 23-year old Brittany Nichole Rector, of Allegan, MI, was arrested on a  Warrant for  Theft in the 2nd Degree. She was taken into custody at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. Bond was set at $5,000. 48-year old Steven Ray Gooch, of Omaha, was arrested Tuesday night at the Douglas County, NE. Sheriff’s Office, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 64-year old Victor Ray Jackson, of Emerson, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Violation of the Sex Offender Registry. His bond was set at $2,000.

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18-year-old pleads not guilty to 2 Sioux City slayings

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old in northwestern Iowa has pleaded not guilty to charges that he stabbed to death his ex-girlfriend and another young man. Court records say written pleas were filed Tuesday in Woodbury County District Court for Tran Walker, who’s charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The records don’t show that a trial date has been set.

He’s accused of killing 17-year-old Paiten Sullivan and 18-year-old Felipe Negron Jr., who both lived in Sioux City. Police say Walker was in a car with the other two on Jan. 28 when he began to stab Sullivan because he was upset that she had broken up with him. Police say that when Negron tried to intervene, Walker stabbed him, too.

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UPDATE: The website information will be available Feb. 21 – visit the I-80 Planning Study website to view the third online public meeting

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa – Feb. 14, 2018 – The Iowa Department of Transportation is conducting a planning study of Interstate 80. The study is being developed and released through a series of technical reports that identify the existing condition of I-80, the way the system is performing, short- and long-term issues, and strategies to improve the route. Each report will be accessible online beginning Feb. 21st, on the Iowa DOT’s I-80 Planning Study website at: www.iowadot.gov/interstatestudy.

The third and final online meeting is now available to view on the website. To view the meeting, navigate to https://iowadot.gov/interstatestudy/public-meetings, or select the “PUBLIC MEETINGS” tab on the home page, and then select “Meeting 3.” The meeting was recorded allowing persons to view it any time and will be available on the website throughout the duration of the planning study.

Four new technical reports have been included on the website, these include:

  • Existing conditions.
  • Resiliency and vulnerability.
  • Viability of modal options.
  • Tolling considerations.

The Iowa DOT is asking interested parties to take a few minutes to view the online public meeting and review the information on the website. The website also offers a way for those interested to receive future emails or text messages regarding the study. Use the “STAY CONNECTED” link on the I-80 Planning Study website to subscribe.

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Portugal. The Man tour bus catches fire before Iowa show

News

February 14th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a parked tour bus for alternative rock band Portugal. The Man caught fire before a show in eastern Iowa. Iowa City Fire Department Battalion Chief Greg Tinnes says no one was on the bus when the blaze broke out a little before 4:45 p.m. Tuesday. No injuries were reported. The bus was sitting near the Iowa Memorial Union on the University of Iowa campus. The fire is believed to have started in the heating and cooling system. The cause is being investigated.

The band performed Tuesday night. It has a show scheduled for Wednesday night in Columbia, Missouri. The band’s single “Feel It Still” won best pop duo/group performance at the Grammy Awards last month.

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