ANAMOSA – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports a staff member was assaulted by an inmate at the Anamosa State Penitentiary in Anamosa at approximately 11:30-a.m. today (Friday).

The staff member, a correctional officer, was working at his post when an inmate jumped across the officer’s desk and kicked him in the face. The inmate then landed several closed-fist strikes on the officer, who then used defensive tactics to subdue the inmate until additional staff could respond moments later and restrain the aggressive inmate.

The staff member was escorted to the local hospital, was found to have suffered a broken nose, and has since been released. The inmate was seen by medical staff and found to have no major injuries from the incident.

Authorities say the incident remains under investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa – Two DNR Conservation Officers were placed on paid administrative leave, following an incident that took place Thursday, Sept., 19, involving their response to a dispute between two women at the corner of 2nd and Court avenues in downtown Des Moines.

Alex Murphy, DNR Director of Communications, said in a News Release today (Friday), “Two Iowa DNR conservation officers have been placed on administrative leave following an incident that occurred last night at the Court Ave District. There are many questions left to be answered and we are working with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation to conduct a full, fair, and thorough investigation into the matter.”

A native of Atlantic was interviewed for about 75-minutes Friday afternoon by the Cass County Board of Supervisors. 31-year old Nicole Marie Stinn was interviewed for the position of Cass County Engineer. She was the only person to apply for the job, following the resignation last month of current County Engineer Charles Bechtold. The County began advertising for the position on Sept. 4th.

Nicole Stinn (Left) speaks with the Cass County Board of Supervisors during her interview for the County Engineer’s job. (Ric Hanson/Photo)

Stinn has nine-years of experience in the field of Engineering. She currently serves as the Engineer for northern Iowa’s Hamilton County. Prior to that, she was employed by the Tama County Engineer’s Office. Nicole Stinn gradated from the Atlantic High School in 2006, when her last name was Vogl. Her parents are Dennis and Kathy Vogl. Nicole graduated from Iowa State University in 2010, with a degree in Civil Engineering. She currently lives in Webster City with her husband John Stinn, and their young son.

During the more than hour-long interview, she was asked about the obstacles she’s overcome, how she deals with different personalities, fiscal responsibility and problem solving, to name a few. She was also asked what her references would say about her. When it came time for Stinn to ask questions, one of the things she mentioned was the daycare situation in the County.

The Board did not offer her the position following the interview, because both parties needed time to consider what was discussed. Stinn would also need to provide Hamilton County with 30-day’s notice.

It’s not clear when the Board will make it’s decision, in-part because they may still get additional applications. Supervisor Steve Green said there is a shortage of qualified/licensed Engineers in Iowa, and many Counties are looking for someone to fulfill that role.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday) said a Villisca woman was arrested last week on numerous charges. Deputies stopped an SUV driven by 31-year old Kardeye Renay Mitchell on Sept. 13th, about four-miles north of Clarinda, on Highway 71.

During the traffic stop Michell identified herself as Tatanisha James. She was found to be under the influence of Alcohol, and was arrested for OWI. As she was being booked into the Page County Jail, authorities learned her real name, and that Mitchell had 2 previous convictions for OWI and a Missouri warrant for Driving while intoxicated, two-counts of Driving while license revoked or suspended, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident.

The bond on the Missouri warrant was $20,000. Mitchell confessed to using false identification information in order to avoid the Missouri warrant.  She was being being held in the Page County Jail on Page County Charges of OWI 3rd/or subsequent offense, & Providing false identification information. Bond on the Page County charges is $5,000, for a total bond of $25,000.

Two men from Villisca were arrested today (Friday) on motor vehicle theft charges. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports that at around 3:27-p.m. Wednesday (Sept. 18th), they took a report of a motor vehicle that was stolen from the City of Villisca.

Following an investigation, Deputies arrested in rural Villisca, 40-year old Jamie Ryan Straw and 20-year old Cordell Ryan Straw, on warrants for Theft in the 2nd Degree (Motor-vehicle related). Both men were being held in the Montgomery County Jail, on $5,000 bond, each.

Three people were sentenced on drug charges Thursday, in Council Bluffs U-S District Court. United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum reports 34-year old Chase Lee Richard; 28-year old Brandy Lee Kumpula, and 31-year old Jackie Lynn Thielan, were sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine.

Richard was sentenced to 15 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release; Kumpula was sentenced to eight years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release; and Thielen was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.

In late 2017, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force began investigating a large drug trafficking organization that was transporting large quantities of methamphetamine in and around the Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska areas. As part of that investigation, law enforcement determined that Jackie Thielen was transporting and distributing large amounts of the methamphetamine to various locations in Shelby County, Iowa.

Law enforcement determined that Thielen was obtaining the methamphetamine from Chase Richard. Law enforcement learned that Richard was also providing large quantities of methamphetamine to multiple people including Brandy Kumpula, who was selling methamphetamine to individuals in Council Bluffs and Omaha. Previously sentenced in this case were Jessica Snavely to a prison term of ten years and William LaBenz to a prison term of five years.

Four additional defendants are pending sentencing. The case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, Omaha Police Department, Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Council Bluffs Police Department, Harlan Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The Cass County Auditor’s Office has released information on the various Public Measures that will be on some of the ballots during the Nov. 5th City/School elections:

City of Lewis:

Shall the City of Lewis, Iowa be authorized to amend Section 5-1-2 of the City of Lewis 2018 Code of Ordinances changing the composition of the Lewis Library Board of Trustees as follows from: “Five (5) voting members shall be from the Community At-Large, and one (1) non-voting member shall be the Librarian” And changing to: “Five (5) member Board of Trustees with Four (4) Bona Fide Citizens and Residents of the City and One (1) Non-Resident?”

AHSTW School:

Shall the Board of Directors of the AHSTW Community School District, in the Counties of Cass, Harrison, Pottawattamie, and Shelby, State of Iowa, for the purpose of purchasing and improving grounds; constructing schoolhouses or buildings and opening roads to schoolhouses or buildings; purchasing of buildings; purchase, lease or lease-purchase of technology and equipment; paying debts contracted for the erection or construction of schoolhouses or buildings, not including interest on bonds; procuring or acquisition of libraries; repairing, remodeling, reconstructing, improving, or expanding the schoolhouses or buildings and additions to existing schoolhouses; expenditures for energy conservation; renting facilities under Iowa Code Chapter 28E; purchasing transportation equipment for transporting students; lease purchase option agreements for school buildings or equipment; purchasing equipment authorized by law; or for any purpose or purposes now or hereafter authorized by law, be authorized for a period of ten (10) years, to levy annually, a voter-approved physical plant and equipment property tax not to exceed One Dollar ($1.00) per One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) of the assessed valuation of the taxable property within the school district commencing with the levy for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, or each year thereafter? 

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a Pottawattamie County man was sentenced to prison, Thursday, on drug charges. 31-year old Travis Wright Scott was sentenced to a total of 160 months (13.3-years), for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Carrying a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime. Wright was also sentenced to 100 months of imprisonment on the drug charge and 60 months of imprisonment for the gun charge. The sentences will run consecutively.

Following Scott’s prison term, he will serve five years of supervised release. In 2018, detectives with the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force conducted controlled buys of narcotics with Scott. Following the issuance of an arrest warrant, when Scott was located, he possessed a small amount of methamphetamine, a digital scale, serialized money from the controlled buys, and a loaded Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm handgun that was reported stolen. Scott pleaded guilty to these charges in April 2019.

The case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board, Friday (today) approved awards for three legacy companies, which will assist in the creation of 150 jobs and result in more than $145 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Eddyville, Dubuque and Lime Springs. The board also approved innovation funding in support of five startups located in Washington, Ames, Red Oak and Des Moines. 

Locally, a Startup Award went to JBI Distributors, based in Red Oak. The company services the poultry industry in the areas of biosecurity, animal welfare and innovation. The company has created specific applicators (farm technology) to better apply disinfectants in barns and facilities to curtail issues associated with bacteria and virus outbreaks, such as salmonella. JBI was awarded a $100,000 loan from the Demonstration Fund, primarily for key personnel and equipment.

Award recommendations for these funds are made by the Technology Commercialization Committee to the IEDA Board for approval. For information on the other awards, click here: https://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/newsDetail/6679