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Ankeny Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison For Failing to File Income Tax Returns

News

June 8th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, IA – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa said Wednesday (June 8th), that 59-year-old Kevin Jeffrey Stiller, of Ankeny, was sentenced Tuesday, June 7, 2022, to 18 months in prison for failing to file income tax returns. Stiller pleaded guilty on February 3, 2022, to two counts of failure to file income tax returns, one for each of the calendar years 2015 and 2017. Senior Judge James E. Gritzner imposed a 9-month prison sentence on each count, to be served consecutively, that is one after the other. Following completion of his prison term, Stiller will be on supervised release for one additional year. Stiller is responsible for paying his tax liability in full.

Stiller is the owner and operator of Spruce Hill Tree Service and he received taxable income from this business. Stiller knew he was required to file federal income tax returns for the years 2015 and 2017 and he willfully failed to do so. Stiller additionally failed to file federal income tax returns for the years 2008 – 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019. “The foundation of our tax system is the voluntary filing of tax returns by each citizen required to do so. Mr. Stiller flagrantly disregarded this basic duty for nearly 15 years”, stated Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge for IRS Criminal Investigation. “This sentence highlights the seriousness of filing income tax returns timely and accurately as prescribed by law otherwise you will be held accountable for not doing so.”

The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Kerndt.

More storm damage photos

News, Weather

June 8th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

A KJAN listener in the area of Norway Center in Cass County, sent KJAN these photos following a Tuesday night storm event. They speculated an EF-1 tornado may have caused the damage, due to “the way the wind was surging with the hail the cops out here or shredded beans were uprooted.  Crops are a total loss.” The property owner is working to remove the tree and clean-up from the storm.

Photos submitted

Public input requested on Iowa electric vehicle infrastructure deployment plan

News

June 8th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

AMES, Iowa — June 8, 2022 – Iowa DOT is requesting public input to help shape the Iowa Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan, currently in development. An online survey, featuring questions about transportation and electric vehicles, is now open and can be accessed at www.iowadot.gov/IowaEVPlan.

In 2018, the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) was asked to conduct a study on electric vehicle infrastructure pursuant to language in Senate File 2311, 2018 Iowa Acts. The Iowa Energy Office, housed at IEDA, led the development of the report which included representatives from IEDA, the Governor’s Office, the Iowa DOT, and members of the utility industry. A copy of this plan can be viewed online at https://www.iowaeda.com/UserDocs/IEDA_EVRpt_022019.pdf.

As part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, funds were authorized to support the continued development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Iowa is joining many other states in developing plans to create a national EV charging network along major transportation corridors.

Iowa expects to receive around $51.4 million in federal funds from this program over five years. To be eligible to receive funds, the state needs to submit a Statewide Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan by August 1, 2022.

Survey input provided by June 24, 2022, will be used by Iowa DOT and its partners to inform plan development. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. To learn more about the plan, electric vehicles and charging stations in Iowa, visit the project website at www.iowadot.gov/IowaEVPlan.

Cass Supervisors agree to fund County FD’s & Drone Team w/ARPA allotment

News

June 8th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors, today (Wednesday) passed on a voice-vote, a Resolution to fund the County’s seven Fire Departments/Associations, with the exception of Anita (Which has already been granted funds). The money is coming from the first half of the County’s share of the ARPA (COVID-relief) payment from the State of Iowa via the Federal Government. When a formal Resolution is adopted during the Board’s meeting next week, it will provide a total of $75,000 to each department. Supervisors Steve Green made a motion on the distribution of funds…

The plan allows the funds to be paid out of the current Fiscal Year, as well as FY 2023 and 2024. The Board heard an ARPA request from Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies Ben Bartholomew and Kyle Quist, who spoke on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office, Atlantic P-D and County Fire Departments. Bartholomew said their Drone has been used countless times under a multiple circumstances, to aid law enforcement and fire department personnel.

He said they would like to acquire a larger, more well equipped drone to supplement their smaller, easier to carry and launch drones that are kept in an on-duty vehicle. Deputy Quist said Montgomery and Mills Counties are looking to acquire the same or a similar drone. Cass County’s drone, he said would feature several new tools not currently available to the Drone Team.

The men requested funds for the Cass County Drone Program to purchase a new drone with features the current unit doesn’t have. The Board approved the Drone Team request for $29,500. The Cass County Supervisors tabled until next week, an ARPA funds request from the Cass County EMA until more information is obtained with regard to ambulance radios. In other business, the Board acted on passing a Resolution with regard to Courthouse Office Hours. Board Chair Steve Baier reads from a portion of the Resolution…

In the event of a unforeseen circumstances, such as one person getting sick or on vacation in a two-person department, Baier said that single employee is entitled to a lunch break, and a note on the door explaining the temporary closure is acceptable.

The Resolution falls on the heals of last week’s decision by Cass County Treasurer to reschedule the hours of her office due to a shortage of staff due to resignations and a forthcoming retirement.

Davenport police officer fatally shoots suspect after convenience store scuffle

News

June 8th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Davenport police say an officer fatally shot a man early this (Wednesday) morning during a scuffle. Police were called to a Casey’s on Davenport’s west side shortly before 1 A-M where the clerk said a suspicious man appeared to be tampering with the convenience store’s air conditioner. The officer talked with the man, got his name and learned he had outstanding warrants.

The confrontation became physical, shots were exchanged — and the unidentified man was killed. The officer had non-life-threatening injuries and is now on administrative leave. The Scott County Sheriff’s office and D-C-I will investigate.

Work release escape of Richard Martinez

News

June 8th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Sioux City, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections report 27-year-old Richard Allan Martinez, who was convicted of Robbery 2nd Degree and other charges in Crawford County, failed to report back to the Sioux City Residential Treatment Facility as required, Tuesday.

Martinez is a white male, 5-feet 7-inches tall. He weighs about 172 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on 12/17/21.  Persons with information on Martinez’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Richard Martinez (IA-DOC photo)

GRC fined $10k after a death investigation

News

June 8th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) — A citation report filed by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals shows a 30-year-old resident at the Glenwood Resource Center died of dehydration. According to KETV, the report alleges that a “lack of training and communication” led to the man being given lower fluids than were ordered for him several times over a one-month period. The report said the agency fined the Glenwood Resource Center $10,000 in the man’s death.

The report says the man “experienced a hospitalization in November 2021 due to dehydration and acute kidney injury.” The citation reads “Based on interviews and record review, the facility failed to ensure nursing staff provided appropriate training to staff and care to clients to ensure implementation of client health care plans.”

Read the public report here.

In January, the facility was fined for not ensuring adequate staffing and failing to report potential abuse, per the DIA. The facility is scheduled to close in 2024.

Other match-ups for General Election decided

News

June 8th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A host of other races have been settled for the General Election ballot. Linn County Auditor Joel Miller is the Democratic Party’s nominee for Secretary of State. Miller will challenge Republican Paul Pate’s bid for a 4th term as the state’s top election official. Miller finished with about 72 percent of the vote. Clinton County Auditor Eric Van Lancken finished with about 28 percent.

A far closer contest between Republicans vying to run against Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand in November. Realtor Todd Halbur finished about two-and-a-half percent ahead of former state legislator Mary Ann Hanusa. It was a margin of about 39-hundred votes when about 96 percent of statewide votes had been tabulated.

None of Iowa’s four U.S. House members had opposition in Tuesday’s Primary and challengers were unopposed in three of the four congressional districts. Here are those fall match-ups: Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa will face Democrat Christina Bohannan of Iowa City. Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion will face Democrat Liz Mathis of Hiawatha and Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull will face Democrat Ryan Melton of Nevada.

Franken picked by Democrats to challenge Grassley in 2022 General Election

News

June 8th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Senator Chuck Grassley will face retired Navy Admiral Mike Franken in the General Election. Franken won the Democratic Party’s U.S. Senate nomination, finishing 12 points ahead of former Iowa Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer, the early favorite in the race. “We must defeat Chuck Grassley,” Franken said, pausing as his supporters cheered, then adding: “so for too long, he has said: ‘We’re working on that…There’s a committee addressing on that,’ from the NRA, from a host of other things.”

Franken, a northwest Iowa native, had a 36 year career in the Navy, including a stint in leadership at the Pentagon. “My promise to you is that I will reinforce every day a basic precept that I learned (over) many, many years in the military,” Franken said, “and that is caring for those you’ve never met as much as those you know.”

Franken got 55% of the vote in Tuesday’s Primary. He spoke to supporters in Des Moines after the race was called. “My promise to you is that I will support Social Security for all of us, make sure it’s vibrant. I will give Medicare to all those who want it,” Franken says. “My job is to make education, the type that I received, available to everybody in the state and renew the basic Iowa precept where we came to this state and we graduated from this state better than anyone else in the nation.”

Finkenauer finished with 40% of the vote. Finkenauer told supporters in Cedar Rapids last night that she had called Franken to congratulate him. “And for winning tonight in a way that I know is going to bring together Iowans to do what needs to get done in 2022, which is defeating Senator Chuck Grassley,” Finkenauer said, to cheers at an event in Cedar Rapids. Finkenauer served one term in the U.S. House, but lost her bid for reelection in 2020. Finkenauer told supporters she’ll “never stop fighting” for Iowa. “We are going to do everything we can for these Iowa Democrats in 2022 because our state and our democracy depends on it,” she said at the conclusion of her speech..

Glenn Hurst, the third candidate in the race, finished with about five percent of the vote and he has offered his “full support” to Franken’s bid to defeat Grassley. Grassley, who is seeking an 8th term, cruised to victory in his G-O-P contest against Sioux City attorney Jim Carlin. Grassley won his primary with 73.5% of the vote compared to Carlin’s 26.5%. It was the first time Grassley had faced a primary since 1980 — the year he was first elected to the U.S. Senate.

Reynolds backed candidates defeat handful of House Republicans

News

June 8th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds endorsed a handful of G-O-P Primary candidates for Iowa House seats — all were running against House Republicans who opposed her state scholarships for 10,000 students — and the governor’s picks won on Tuesday.

Reynolds helped defeat the Republican chairman of the House Education Committee and the Republican who led House debate for her E-15 bill and tax cut plan. Reynolds said her party is unified and ready for the General Election.

“For heaven’s sakes, the state convention is Saturday and we will be ready to go, to rally the troops, to have the team defined,” Reynolds said early Tuesday morning.

It appears none of the five GOP candidates running for a House seat in the Newton area reached the 35% mark — the threshold required to win the party’s nomination. That means a nominating convention will be held to select the GOP candidate for the General Election.