DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The space used to treat patients at a now-closed state mental health institute in southwest Iowa is reopening under new management. The Iowa Department of Corrections is expected to sign a contract this month with a company to lease four wards at the facility once known as Clarinda Mental Health Institute. Zion Recovery Services, which offers substance abuse treatment, wants to expand its residential services.

The three-year contract could complicate any effort to reopen the space as a state-run mental health facility. The Iowa Supreme Court is in the midst of reviewing a lawsuit that challenges Gov. Terry Branstad’s decision last year to close the institute along with a facility in Mount Pleasant. Attorneys for plaintiffs in the lawsuit want the closed centers to reopen.

Authorities in Glenwood say one person was taken into custody as a result of the investigation into the shooting on the night of September 17th, 2016. In  a press release, Police Chief Eric Johansen said the investigation is ongoing and they will be releasing additional information at a press conference later today (1-p.m.), along with representatives from the Mills County Attorney’s Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Investigators request that anyone with further information about the incident to contact the Glenwood Police Department at 712-527-484

At least 320 people are needed to participate in a week-long Bible Reading Marathon that begins Monday, in Atlantic. Sheryl Iekel, event organizer, says the bible will be read on the east lawn of the Cass County Courthouse from 7-a.m. until 7-p.m. each day, Monday through next Sunday. Persons wanting to partake in reading a segment of the bible will do so in 15-minute blocks of time, beginning with Genesis and ending in Revelation.

Time may be shared or anyone may sign-up for more than one segment. In addition to readers, 80 assistants are needed for two-hour shifts, to help with registration and other matters. To participate, call or text message Sheryl Iekel at 712-249-6120, or e-mail cassbiblereading@gmail.com. Include your name, the number of people in your group who are participating, contact information and how you would like to help and/or time preference to read.

The Cass County event was approved by the Board of Supervisors earlier this month. It’s part of a 99-County Bible Reading Marathon that began with an April 26th proclamation by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad that encouraged Iowans to read the bible in front of all the courthouses in the State. The first sessions took place June 30th through July 3rd at some 50 courthouses around the State. Branstad, in his proclamation, also encouraged “Individuals and families in Iowa to read the Bible on a daily basis each year, until the Lord comes.”

The Cass County Democratic Party is sponsoring a Food Drive to help stock the shelves of county food banks. County Chair Sherry Toelle (Tell-ee) said “While we generally have done this drive in the weeks preceding the holidays, this year—due to the elections—we are holding the drive earlier than usual. People can drop non-perishable food items, household supplies, paper products, and personal care products at our Atlantic Headquarters at 511 Chestnut during regular working hours through October 15th.”

Toelle said also, “We will then distribute the items to food banks across the county. Like our school supply drive, this is a non-partisan activity that we choose to sponsor to help the needy throughout the county. We welcome donations from any citizen or group.”

Questions can be directed to Sherry Toelle at 243-4861 or the Cass County Democratic Headquarters at 243-7771.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:15 a.m. CDT

SANDUSKY, Iowa (AP) — At least 15 people have been arrested during a protest intended to block the construction of a major oil pipeline through southeast Iowa. More than 150 protesters gathered at the work site entrance of the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline in Sandusky, a Mississippi River town across the river from Illinois and five miles north of Missouri

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Officials in Council Bluffs say they aren’t worried that a proposed new casino in Cedar Rapids will divert business away from their city’s three casinos. The Daily Nonpareil reports that local gaming officials say the casino would likely have a limited impact if it gets built.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A former eastern Iowa jail clerk has admitted to misappropriating at least $169,000 from the Scott County sheriff’s office. The Quad-City Times reports that Jennifer Wierson, a former senior account clerk, pleaded guilty Friday to a federal charge of theft from a government receiving federal program funds. Wierson was fired in 2015.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A late-night fire in Waterloo has destroyed a mobile home. KWWL-TV reports that the fire started around 11 p.m. Friday. The flames spread quickly and destroyed the home. Neighbors say a woman inside the house was able to get out safely on her own. Two men helped a dog get out of the home.

Iowa Department of Corrections spokesman Fred Scaletta said late Saturday evening, that a prisoner who failed to report back to the Ft. Des Moines Work Release Facility (WRF) Friday, and was listed as escaped, has been apprehended.

39-year old Ronnie Lamare Johnson was listed as escaped when he didn’t return to the facility after completing his assignment at his employer.

Ronnie L. Johnson

He was transferred to Work Release on Aug.18th, 2016. Johnson was serving a 10-year sentence for two counts of 2nd Degree Robbery out of Polk County.

A traffic stop at around 8:25-a.m. Saturday in Adams County, resulted in an alcohol-related arrest. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office says Joshua Hoskins, of Prescott, was taken into custody for OWI/1st Offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Officials in Council Bluffs say they aren’t worried that a proposed new casino in Cedar Rapids will divert businesses away from their city’s three casinos. The Daily Nonpareil reports that local gaming officials say the casino would likely have a limited impact if it gets built.

Jill Beasley, marketing director for Harrah’s and Horseshoe casinos in Council Bluffs, says the a Cedar Rapids casino might draw visitors from Des Moines, but most of Harrah’s and Horseshoe’s customers come from the Council Bluffs-Omaha metro area.

The proposed $40 million “boutique” casino in Cedar Rapids would have parking on the first floor, a gambling area on the second and commercial office space on the third and fourth floors. It wouldn’t include any restaurants, hotels or other entertainment venues.

Hundreds of football fans at a homecoming game in northwest Iowa witnessed a horrific traffic accident that produced an explosion and sent two people to the hospital. It happened at about eight Friday night in Le Mars, during the halftime of the Le Mars Gehlen game against Woodbury Central. The marching band was performing when a motorcycle collided head-on with a pick-up on the street just beyond the field. The motorcycle slid beneath the pick-up, a fire was sparked and fans in the stands saw a ball of fire erupt. Officials believe it was the gas tank on the motorcycle that exploded.

Le Mars Fire Chief Dave Schipper was at the football game and quickly determined two people were injured. “The fortunate thing was we had an ambulance right at the football field so those people received medical treatment within minutes and, of course, the fire department responded to put the fire out,” Schipper says. The game was suspended for nearly a half an hour while emergency crews worked at the scene. The fire chief wasn’t just concerned about the two people directly involved. He worried Woodbury Central fans on the visiting sideline were too close to the fire.

“They got on the PA right away and told visiting folks to please exit the bleachers and go to the north side, leave everything there, just get out of those bleachers,” Schipper says. “We had the pick-up fully engulfed. We had gasoline on fire. We had explosions happening with the tires. We’ve got power lines right above there, some bigger trees and things like that, so we wanted those people to clear out of there for their safety.” Heavy smoke from the fire drifted across the playing field and over the bleachers on both sides of the field. Fire fighters used foam to smother the fire.

The accident remains under investigation, but the accident report from Le Mars Police had identified the drivers of both vehicles. Twenty-one-year-old Dillon McKinney of Le Mars was the driver of the motorcycle. He was taken to the hospital in Le Mars, then airlifted to a hospital in Sioux City for treatment of severe injuries. Twenty-three-year-old Samantha Priekset of Le Mars was a passenger on the motorcycle. She was treated at the hospital in Le Mars and has been released.

Surprisingly, the driver of the pick-up and his passenger were both able to escape without injury. The vehicle was completely destroyed by the fire.

(Radio Iowa)

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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