(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff/Jail Administrator Jesse Swensen, today (Monday), released data on inmates housed at the Guthrie County Jail during the month of September. Swensen says they “processed 88 inmates through the facility with an average population of 29.”Billing invoices to other entities, including the Department of Corrections, and three counties (Greene, Polk and Webster) for holding of their inmates amounted to $45,660. Polk County had the greatest number of inmates (29) held in the Guthrie County Jail last month, at a cost of $23,460.

Guthrie County Jail

(Bedford, Iowa) – The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help in locating and apprehending 30-year-old Ely Laramie Will. He’s wanted on multiple warrants throughout the state of Iowa for theft and violations of his probation. Will is a white male, 5-feet 10 inches tall, and weighs about 230-pounds. He was last known to be in the Lenox, Clearfield and Creston areas.

Do not attempt to apprehend or detain Will. Call the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office at 712-523-2153, your local law enforcement agency, or 9-1-1 if you see him.

*All persons charged with a crime are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – A man arrested Sept.25th near Casey in Adair County, has a preliminary hearing set to take place this week. The hearing for 50-year-old Michael Todd Dolezal, of Mason City, will occur 10:30-a.m. Thursday, in Adair County District Court. Dolezal faces a Class B Felony charge of Attempted Murder, and a Class D Felony charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd of subsequent offense, in connection with a stabbing incident. He remains held in the Adair County Jail on a $300,000 cash-only bond.

As we previously reported, the Adair County Sheriff’s Office received a cellular 9-1-1 call at 11:58-p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24th. The line was open but initially there was no response. A short time later, the dispatcher could hear a female screaming “stop” repeatedly. 911 mapping showed that the call was coming from a location on Interstate 80. A review of the 911 call later revealed a man saying “I’m going to kill you.” Shortly after midnight, a passerby placed a second cellular 911 call. The male caller described some sort of altercation between a male and a female, in or very near the inside of lane of travel. The caller also noted a vehicle in the ditch west of the male and female. The caller placed the incident at approximately the 84mm on I-80, which is east of the Casey interchange.

An Adair County deputy sheriff and an Adair police officer arrived at the 84mm at 12:06 a.m., Sept 25th and located a vehicle in the ditch, but did not initially locate any persons. Later, yelling could be heard east of their location. A man was heard yelling “Get up.”

Michael T. Dolezal booking photo

Law enforcement then located a man – Dolezal – on his knees, holding a woman in his arms, with what appeared to be blood on the ground near the two. Dolezal was handcuffed, and life-saving treatment was immediately administered to the adult female, who was identified as Ashlee Clarke. The woman said Dolezal was her father. She told a paramedic Dolezal stabbed her, and had hit her on the head.

Clarke was stabbed 14 times. She had wounds on her wrists, forearm, upper arm, chest, back and neck. The stab wound to her upper chest penetrated deep enough to allow air into her chest cavity, causing a tension pneumothorax – a severe condition that results when air is trapped in the chest cavity, compromising cardiopulmonary function. Clarke was transported by air ambulance to a Des Moines area hospital.

(Shenandoah, Iowa, October, 1, 2023) – The Best of Southwest Iowa competition begins October 1st. Spokesperson Bethann Tillman, in Shenandoah, says “The competition has been much-anticipated as a celebration of the businesses and individuals that make Southwest Iowa a vibrant, contiguous community.” The platform is exclusively online at bestofsouthwestiowa.com.

Some Key Details of the Competition:

– Nominations open October 1, 2023, and close October 15, 2023.

– Voting commences November 1, 2023, and concludes December 8, 2023.

– Winners will be notified January 8, 2024, and are asked to keep status confidential until January 15, 2024.

– The complete list of category and subcategory winners will be made public January 15, 2024.

The “Best of Southwest Iowa” competition is an independent initiative by BA Marketing & Publicity, LLC, aimed at showcasing the excellence that thrives within Southwest Iowa communities. It provides an opportunity for businesses and individuals primarily operating from Southwest Iowa to be recognized for their contributions while creating exposure to new, potential consumers. The overall goal is to enhance the Southwest Iowa retail and service environment by creating awareness of offerings.

Businesses and individuals local to Southwest Iowa are invited to participate in this exciting competition as participants, voters, and nominees. Free promotion assets are available on the website in addition to paid advertisement opportunities. Paid advertising space in no way impacts or influences the voting process or the determination of competition results. Votes are solely based on the preferences and choices of the community, ensuring a fair and impartial outcome.

For further information, suggestions or inquiries about the Best of Southwest Iowa competition, please contact: votes@bestofsouthwestiowa.com.

(Fort Dodge, Iowa) – Officials with the Fort Dodge Police Department report a man died after being shot Sunday night. Officers and emergency personnel responded to the 200 block of 3rd Avenue at around 8:42-p.m., and found an unresponsive male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers began life-saving efforts on the male, until medics with the Fort Dodge Fire Department arrived. The unidentified victims was ultimately pronounced deceased on scene. His name was being withheld pending notification of family.

Investigators are working to determine exactly what took place Sunday evening. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Fort Dodge Police. Information may also be submitted anonymously via Crime Stoppers.

The Fort Dodge Police Department was assisted by the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Fort Dodge Fire Department, and the Webster County Attorney’s Office.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Cass County (IA) will meet Tuesday at 9-a.m., at their courthouse Board Room in Atlantic. During their session, the Board is expected to act on setting the date of Oct. 24th for a Public Hearing on Budget Amendments for Fiscal Year 2023-24.

They are also expected to discuss Capital Project priorities, and establish a schedule to develop a Capital Improvement Plan.

The meeting may be viewed via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2899195216?pwd=R0hSa2FOOTh0NUdra1ZSdVhVWHpMUT09

Meeting ID: 289 919 5216
Passcode: 012064

Or, you may Call In: 312-626-6799, and press *9 to indicate you wish to speak.

(Cedar Rapids, Iowa/KCRG) – The Cedar Rapids Community School District has cancelled classes for today (Monday, October 2nd). According to KCRG-TV, the action is the result of a threat made on social media. The nature of the threat was not disclosed. The incident remains under investigation. All school sites in Cedar Rapids are affected by the closure.

In an email to families and staff the Cedar Rapids School District said “We understand that the news of school closure due to a threat made on social media by an unidentified person may concern you. We assure you that the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community is paramount to us. Our dedicated team at CRCSD and the Cedar Rapids Police Department in conjunction with state public safety agencies and the FBI, has been working over the last 24 hours to investigate this threat.”

The district will have more information later this (Monday) afternoon.