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Former Iowa cop pens crime novel about warring motorcycle gangs

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May 30th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A crime novelist and former law enforcement officer from north-central Iowa is releasing his second book. Phil Queen is a retired Webster City policeman who’s now a criminal justice instructor at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. Queen’s newest work, “Forever Two Wheels,” follows an agent on a federal task force trying to break up a war between motorcycle gangs in southern Missouri.

“I got to go down to southern Missouri, down to the Branson area, and do some research of the area,” Queen says. “So it’s not for everybody. It is fairly violent but I think it’d be a pretty good read.” Queen released his first book last year, entitled “…And Hell Followed.” Queen says he decided to let the younger generation take over, so he quit law enforcement to become a teacher and author.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time off and I still keep keep in contact with a lot of the local officers,” Queen says. “Teaching the criminal justice classes at Iowa Central, this is my 14th year now teaching there, and I still feel like I’m part of the law enforcement community.” You can order the book through the websites of either Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

Iowans in Army Reserve trained with Ukrainian soldiers in 2017

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May 30th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A state legislator met some of Ukraine’s soldiers during a military training mission in Europe in 2017. Todd Prichard of Charles City is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve and his unit participated in drills with soldiers from NATO countries and partner nations, like Ukraine.  “My impression of them was they were quite competent and they were professional,” Prichard says. “This year they’ve demonstrated that professionalism and competency as they’ve done just an amazing job against a superior force and continue to do so.”

The training exercise in the summer of 2017 were staged in Poland and eight other countries. They focused on logistics and other defense capabilities. Some of the Ukrainian soldiers Prichard met had come directly from the Donbas region. “The border incursion fight was three years into it then,” Prichard said. “A lot of the Ukrainian soldiers looked tired and said that this was kind of a break for them to not have to be on the front line in the border region.” Prichard says the conduct of Russia’s army this year has been sobering.

“They seem to not mind to cause collateral damage to civilian populations and it’s heartbreaking,” Prichard says. “War is not kind. It’s brutal.” Prichard was an Army platoon leader in Kuwait. After the Gulf War, he joined the Iowa National Guard and was a company commander in Iraq. He’s currently in charge of logistics for the Army Reserve battalion at Fort Des Moines. Prichard says the world shouldn’t be surprised by Ukraine’s resistance.

“These are people that are motivated. They’re fighting for their freedom. They’re fighting for their country. They’re fighting for their homes,” Prichard says. “The other thing to appreciate is these countries in eastern Europe like Ukraine, like Latvia and Bulgaria — these other nations that are part of the former eastern bloc, they live in the shadow of a very large Russian aggressor.”

In the late 1800s, Russia was the largest country in the world and Russian President Vladimir Putin talked about restoring Russia empire in the lead up to the invasion of Ukraine this past February.

Shelby County Sheriff’s report, 5/30/22

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May 30th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports five arrests over the past nearly two-weeks.

On May 18th, following a traffic stop, 36-year-old Zachary Thomas Scheffler, of Harlan, was arrested on two active arrest warrants for Burglary 3rd, Theft 2nd, Criminal Mischief 2nd, Ongoing Criminal Conduct, Gathering where Controlled Substance are Used, Possession on Certain Property, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Prohibited Acts, Failure to Affix Drug Stamp, and Controlled Substance Violation. Scheffler was also charged with Possession of Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia from the traffic stop. Also arrested during the same traffic stop, was 31-year-old Kaleigh Marie Turner, of Harlan. She was charged with Prohibited Acts, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Driving While Barred.

One day earlier (May 17th), Shelby County Deputies arrested 23-year-old Clinton Paul Robinson, of Shelby, following a traffic stop in Shelby. Robinson was charged with OWI 1st, Possession or Carrying of Dangerous Weapons While Intoxicated, and Open Container.

On the 19th, 32-year-old Amanda Louise Lavender, of Kiron, was arrested for Driving while Revoked, and Failure to Provide of Financial Liability.

On May 22nd, Deputies in Shelby County arrested 28-year-old Brett Scott Wilke, of Harlan, for with OWI 2nd offense, Speeding, and Improper Lane Change.

Note: Criminal charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Pedestrian/bike path opens on new Interstate 74 bridge

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May 30th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – After nearly five years and one-point-two billion dollars, the Interstate 74 bridge project between Bettendorf, Iowa and Moline, Illinois is finally complete — with the opening of a bicycle and pedestrian path. George Ryan, the I-74 corridor manager, says the 14-foot wide path is fully separated from the six lanes of traffic and offers a safe way for cyclists and walkers to cross the Mississippi River.  “The trail also includes an overlook area out over the channel that’s actually a destination point,” Ryan says. “There’s a 10-foot diameter glass oculus that you can stand on and watch the river flow beneath you, as well as benches and some lighting to really make that spot a destination.” Anyone who’s squeamish about great heights may be a little wobbly when they first approach the big, glass disc, with the Mississippi churning far below.

“People seem to be a little hesitant. I was a little hesitant myself the first time I stepped out on it,” Ryan says, laughing. “It’s perfectly safe. It’s laminated. It’s multiple layers and it’s plenty safe. It’ll hold more people than can physically stand on it.” The bridge path is seven-tenths of a mile long and joins existing bike trails on both sides of the river. In years to come, Ryan muses that the oculus might make a good destination for RAGBRAI riders, the next time the Quad Cities hosts the final day of the statewide bicycle ride. The path’s opening signals the close of a massive bridge project that first broke ground in July of 2017.

“Quad City residents put up with a lot of traffic detours, a lot of different construction over the past five years,” Ryan says. “They’ve responded very well to our different stages of construction and now they have a brand new pair of bridges over the interstate and a very nice corridor.” The new bridge fully opened to traffic in December. The cities of Bettendorf and Moline are assuming maintenance responsibility of the bike and pedestrian path. Bids will be taken soon on demolishing to old I-74 bridge nearby, a job that will likely take more than a year to complete.
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Just days after it was dedicated, an alleged drunk driver drove onto the new path, striking three pedestrians, killing two of them. The driver is jailed.

Fatal UTV accident in NW Iowa

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May 30th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(UPDATE) A 19-year-old Sioux City woman died in a U-T-V crash early Monday in rural Plymouth County. The Iowa State Patrol says Zoey Rene Cason was driving a utility terrain vehicle down a hill on private property at 12:20 a.m. Investigators say Cason braked and turned to avoid hitting a fence post and fencing which caused the vehicle to roll. Cason was transported by private vehicle to UnityPoint St. Luke’s where she was pronounced dead. The two-seater vehicle was occupied by four people and no seat belts were used. Twenty-year old Cass Camarigg, a passenger from Sioux City, was taken to MercyOne hospital with injuries. Cason just graduated Saturday from Sioux City East High School.

Counselors will be at East High today (Tuesday) from 8 a.m. until noon for any students who wish or need to talk with them. Cason is the 2nd Sioux City student to die in an A-T-V type of accident in Plymouth County in the past four days. Austin Blakey died Friday, the day after his 8th grade graduation from Holy Cross Catholic School.

Cass County Supervisors to discuss new employee(s) in the Treasurer’s Office

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May 30th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors have a full agenda for their meeting Tuesday morning. Their session takes place at 9-a.m. in their Boardroom at the Cass County Courthouse.

The Supervisors are expected to hear a request for ARPA funds from Jason Rouse, with the Cumberland Fire Department. They are then expected to discuss a new employee or employees, in the Cass County Treasurer’s Office. You may recall, on April 29th, the Board  had a lengthy conversation with regard to a new hire and the hiring process. That issue had been brought about after the Board of Supervisors previously approved hiring an employee as a Driver’s License Examiner at $18 per hour, a lower rate than what was requested by Treasurer Tracey Marshall.

Marshall had stated $18 per hour was not a proper wage for an employee in the Treasurer’s Office. The Supervisors stated that their biggest issue was that Tracey did not follow the proper hiring procedures. During the April 29th meeting, the Board agreed to hire Stacy Mueller, who at that time was a Dispatcher with the Cass County Communications Center. The sometimes heated discussion concluded with a motion to hire Mueller at $19 per hour with an increase on June 6th pay to $20 per hour. Upon full certification her pay will increase to $22.25.

In other business, the Board will act on passing:

  • A Rural Transit System Joint Participation Agreement with SWIPCO
  • A Business Service Agreement with the DHS – re: Mediacom
  • A Resolution approving ARPA funds for the Anita Child Care Center and Cass County Fire Association.

The Supervisors are expected to approve a cigarette, tobacco, alternative nicotine or vapor products sales permit to Hansen Valley Oil, Dollar General Store #20294, and 21st Century Co-Op. They will receive a weekly report as well, from Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken.

Rollover accident claims a life in eastern Iowa

News

May 30th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Epworth, Iowa) – A single-vehicle accident Sunday in eastern Iowa’s Dubuque County, claimed one life and resulted in one person being injured. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country van was traveling west on Millville Road at around 7:10-p.m., when the vehicle went out of control and entered a ditch before rolling over.

One occupant of the van died at the scene. The other was injured and transported by Epworth Fire/Rescue to Mercy Hospital, in Dubuque. Neither occupant was wearing a seat belt. Their names were being withheld pending notification of family.

The accident remains under investigation. Peosta Police assisted the Patrol at the scene, along with the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office and Medical Examiner.

New state mentoring program to ensure deaf and hard of hearing kids are prepared for school

News

May 30th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A new state law outlines the visual language skills deaf and hard of hearing children need to learn — things like fingerspelling and American Sign Language — so they’re prepared for kindergarten. The law also establishes a mentoring program for parents of newborns and toddlers who are diagnosed with hearing difficulties. Tina Caloud, outreach director for the Iowa School for the Deaf, attended the bill signing ceremony in the governor’s office and spoke with Radio Iowa through an interpreter.

“We have been trying to propose this bill for several years now and it finally has been passed into law and we are absolutely thrilled. We are ready to work hard, work collaboratively for education our deaf and hard of hearing children across the state, to ensure they have language access,” she said. “This means both American Sign Language and English.” Studies show the majority of deaf children who enter kindergarten without knowing American Sign Language never catch up academically. Shirley Hampton of Davenport, president of the Iowa Association for the Deaf, spoke through an interpreter during a Radio Iowa interview.

“Don’t leave deaf children out. Don’t leave them behind,” she says. “Involve them in any type of communication that is occurring and that will allow them to thrive.” At least 2000 deaf and hard of hearing students are enrolled in Iowa’s K-through-12 schools. The Iowa Association for the Deaf is pushing legislators to offer closed captioning on the livestream of debate in the House and Senate. And the group says a state law may be needed to ensure emergency warning systems alert everyone.

“Any public places, such as the airport, anything like that, restaurants — we really need to make sure that it’s accessible for deaf individuals and the community, especially in those emergency situations such as a tornado,” Hampton said. “It’s vital not only for deaf people, but blind people as well to make sure they have access to that communication.” Hampton says she was recently eating in a central Iowa restaurant and saw other customers clustered around a television, then leave the dining room. She had no idea they had heard about a tornado warning through the television and were seeking shelter in the kitchen.

Fatal accident west of Shelby Sunday morning

News

May 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

A collision on Interstate 80 Sunday morning in Pottawattamie County, claimed the life of a man from Nebraska and resulted in a woman being injured. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2004 Toyota 4Runner pulling a camper, and a 2015 Ford F350 & camper, were both traveling eastbound about a mile west of Shelby, when the Toyota, driven by 66-year-old Andrea J. Barge, of Oshkosh, NE, went out of control as it was traveling in the left lane.

The SUV/camper struck the pickup/camper, which was in the right lane, and driven by 31-year-old Benjamin J. MIller, of Lennox, SD. The pickup and camper went into the south ditch and came to rest. The SUV/Camper spun and came to rest on the driver’s side, partially in the right lane and south shoulder, facing southwest. The accident happened at around 10:54-a.m.

Andrea Barge – who wore her seat belt – was injured and transported by Shelby Rescue to Myrtue Medical Center, in Harlan. Her passenger, 72-year-old Delbert E. Barge, of North Platte, NE, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene. Benjamin Miller was not injured.

3 arrests in Montgomery County, Sunday

News

May 29th, 2022 by Ric Hanson

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Three people were arrested Sunday, in Montgomery County. Red Oak Police report 35-year-old Cody Allen Keith Tunnel, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 10:20-a.m. for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, for allegedly damaging a windshield. He was taken into custody and held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

And, at around 7:16-a.m. Sunday, Deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office arrested 38-year-old Garret Allen Horgdal, and 38-year-old Jannelle Marie Davis, both of Henderson. They were taken into custody on valid U.S. Marshals warrants. Horgdal was wanted for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Davis was wanted for making False Statements during the purchase of a firearm, and Sale or transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person.

Horgdal and Davis were being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.