A south central Iowa man charged in connection with a fatal crash involving an Audubon resident last year, has been arrested in North Dakota. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday, 56-year-old Kendall Lee Ware, of Lineville, was arrested Wednesday in Minot, North Dakota on an Audubon County warrant charging him with vehicular homicide and serious injury by vehicle.

The charges again him stem from an October 19th, 2011 accident that resulted in the death of 17-year-old Kristopher Crawley of Audubon, and serious injuries to 22-year-old Jason Robert Rattenborg, also of Audubon.  The accident occurred on Highway 71 just north of Brayton.  Ware fled the area following the incident.

A warrant was issued on June 29th, 2012, following an extensive investigation into the crash.  The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office requested and received assistance from the U.S. Marshalls Service in conducting the arrest. Ware is currently being held in the Ward County Jail in Minot, North Dakota, and is awaiting extradition back to Iowa.

The Iowa State Patrol also assisted in the investigation of the accident.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Police are asking Iowans to help officers return a grave marker that was found in a recycling bin. Council Bluffs Police Capt. Terry LeMaster says that workers at the Council Bluffs Recycling Center found the marker last week.  The name on it is Megan Alaine Kjellberg, a 6-month-old child who died Jan. 2, 1986. The inscription on it reads: “Now you have the sun and stars to play with.”

LeMaster says area cemeteries and funeral directors have been checked, as well as funeral and obituary databases and reports about stolen items.  LeMaster thinks someone might have stolen the marker thinking it was solid copper. When it turned out to be only copper coated, it was tossed into a recycling bin.

The Iowa Department of Transportation proposes to replace the bridge on Iowa 141 over the Middle Raccoon River, 0.4 mile east of the Carroll County line, near the south corporate limits of Coon Rapids. This project will require the acquisition of right of way from Sculpture Park, a city-owned park adjacent to the proposed project. Sculpture Park has been determined to be a Section 4(f) resource and the acquisition of right of way is expected to have “de minimis” impact on the park.

Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, was enacted as a means of protecting publicly owned parks, recreation areas and wildlife/waterfowl refuges, as well as historic sites of local, state or national significance, from conversion to transportation uses. De minimis impacts are defined as those that, after consideration of any measure(s) to minimize harm (such as avoidance, minimization, mitigation or enhancement measures), do not adversely affect the activities, features and attributes of the Section 4(f) resource.

The public is invited to review the proposed impacts of the bridge replacement project on the protected activities, features and attributes of the park by visiting www.iowadot.gov/ole/otherprojectinfo.html, or by calling 515-239-1251 to request information. You can also send an email request for information to jorge.zamora@dot.iowa.gov.

The public comment period ends Nov. 15, 2012. Comments may be submitted through the online comment form at the above website, via email to jorge.zamora@dot.iowa.gov.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is seeking public input on the DOT’s proposal to construct several projects as part of the Council Bluffs Interstate System (CBIS) improvements in Pottawattamie County. These projects will affect the Indian Creek and Lake Manawa trails; portions of which are proposed to be reconstructed or relocated and could be closed at certain times during construction. The Indian Creek and Lake Manawa trails have been determined to be Section 4(f) resources and the proposed reconstruction or relocation of these trails is expected to have “de minimis” impacts on them.

Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966, was enacted as a means of protecting publicly owned parks, recreation areas and wildlife/waterfowl refuges, as well as historic sites of local, state or national significance, from conversion to transportation uses. De minimis impacts are defined as those that, after consideration of any measure(s) to minimize harm (such as avoidance, minimization, mitigation or enhancement measures), do not adversely affect the activities, features and attributes of the Section 4(f) resource.

The public is invited to review the proposed impacts of the CBIS project on the Indian Creek and Lake Manawa trails by visiting http://www.iowadot.gov/ole/otherprojectinfo.html. You can also call 515-239-1467 to request information. Persons interested in commenting on the proposed impacts by the Nov. 15, 2012, deadline may do so through the online comment form, via email to janet.vine@dot.iowa.gov.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A state panel has agreed to pay $100,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the estate of a 26-year-old man who died following a seizure and lax medical care at a home for disabled Iowans.  Records released in response to an Associated Press request show the State Appeals Board approved the settlement with the estate of Timothy N. Alexander last week. The lawsuit claimed that poor supervision at the Glenwood Resource Center in southwest Iowa contributed to his 2008 death.  The state-run home has already been fined $11,500 for errors related to its care for Alexander.

A spokesman for the Iowa Attorney General’s Office says Alexander’s estate is expected to sign the agreement Thursday, although that step is considered a formality because a judge has already approved the settlement.

Sheriff’s Officials in Montgomery County say a Red Oak man faces a Felony charge of Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree, in connection with an October 1st incident in the Montgomery County Jail. 32-year old Michael Parsley allegedly damaged a sprinkler system in the jail. The damage was in excess of $1,000. Parsley continues to be held in the jail, on $5,000 cash bond. He was sentenced to 30-days in jail on October 1st, after being found guilty of a Serious Misdemeanor charge of Theft in the 5th degree. His arraignment on the Criminal Mischief charge will take place October 29th.

Steve Pelzer, superintendent of the CAM Community School District, was a nominee for the 2012-13 Iowa Superintendent of the Year award sponsored by the School Administrators of Iowa. Dan Smith, the association’s executive director, said “SAI is pleased to recognize leaders who are dedicated to advancing student achievement by providing students a quality education.”   Nominated for the award by his peers, Pelzer will be recognized at SAI’s awards banquet August 6, 2013, along with Carlisle Superintendent Tom Lane who was recently selected as the recipient.

Superintendent Pelzer said it is an honor to be recognized by your peers for such a prestigious award. Pelzer said also, that he’s “Always believed that it takes a great team to provide a solid education in today’s ever-changing society. We are blessed with a great educational staff and support personnel here at CAM. As a district, CAM continues to be proactive in providing our staff and students with the tools needed to maximize and expand our educational programs.”

Pelzer has been superintendent for the CAM District since 2011. Prior to becoming the superintendent at CAM, he served as superintendent at the former Anita Community School and superintendent and principal at the former C & M Community School District. SAI, a statewide organization founded in 1987, represents more than 2000 Iowa educational administrators. The mission of the organization, is to support, encourage and develop Iowa’s educational leaders and learners.

w/ Ric Hanson

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Crime victims who want to know when a registered sex offender moves locations, or anyone who wants information on sex offenders moving into our out of designated areas, can now register for real-time notifications through a new addition to the state’s sex offender registry website.

Sample text message from “Offender Watch” (DPS provided image)

The new option, called “Offender Watch,” enables crime victims and others to receive a confidential automatic notification via phone or text message of a registered sex offender’s change in residence when the offender notifies the state of the change.

An email notification system has been available for several years. The addition of the mobile notifications gives users the ability to stay with information as they move. Offender Watch also notifies users when a convicted sex offender moves in or out of an area defined by the user.  Registered users can set up a “watch” using an address and a specified distance around that address.  Users will receive text, voice, or email notices each time a registered sex offender moves into or out of that area, or moves to a new location within that area.  Users may also create watches based on a city, county, zip code, or a specific registrant or group of registrants.

The Iowa Sex Offender Registry was established by law in 1995. Currently, more than 5,700 convicted sex offenders are registered on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry.  In fiscal year 2012, offenders registered more than 3,400 address changes. To sign up for Offender Watch or learn more about the Iowa Sex Offender registry go to www.IowaSexOffender.com.

The Cass County Chapter of the American Cancer Society is seeking decorators for it’s 26th Annual Festival of Trees to be held November 29 through December 2 at the Catholic Parish Center in Atlantic. Caryn Barbero-Just, Project Chair, says “It’s hard for some people to think about Christmas in October, but the registration deadline is November 17, which is only five weeks away!”

Festival of Trees is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Individuals, businesses, and organizations lend their time and talents to create seasonal displays of trees, wreaths, quilts, vignettes and/or collections for the public to enjoy.  Many decorators use Festival as an opportunity to honor a loved one, advertise a business, showcase an achievement, announce an event, do a service project, share a pastime/collection, or just get together. Organizers suggest looking through the pictures from the last four Festivals on their Facebook page, Festival of Trees! (Atlantic, IA), for ideas.

Set up times for the event will be Tuesday, November 27, from 10am-8pm and Wednesday, November 28, from 10am-2pm. No decorating is allowed after 2pm on Wednesday. There is no fee to participate and the displays are not sold. Anyone interested in participating can contact Barbero-Just at 254-0989 or casscofestivaloftrees@hotmail.com for more information.