(Radio Iowa) — A north-central Iowa man who pleaded guilty to stealing heirlooms from the family of fallen rock star Ritchie Valens during the Winter Dance Party in Clear Lake was sentenced to one month in jail. The Valens family had reported two framed family photos of Ritchie Valens and a framed movie poster were stolen from the Best Western Motor Lodge during a family luncheon on February 2nd. The items were recovered 12 days later in good condition.

Fifty-nine-year-old Mark Hobbs was later arrested and charged with second-degree theft and conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony, with authorities saying that he had been seen on surveillance video taking the photos. As part of a plea agreement, Hobbs pleaded guilty to a charge of third-degree theft, with the conspiracy charge being dismissed. Judge Adam Sauer on Monday sentenced Hobbs to 30 days in jail and issued a 625-dollar fine, which was suspended.

Hobbs late last month was also charged after authorities allegedly found more than a pound of methamphetamine in a Mason City storage unit. His trial on that charge is scheduled for November 5th.

(Radio Iowa) – The state Flood Mitigation Board has approved spending 15 million dollars on six flood recovery projects. Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management spokesperson, Lucinda Parker says Hamburg was awarded money for buyouts and to raise a levee. “The city of Hamburg for that buyout project was 940-thousand-856. Also the city of Hamburg to do that additional raising of that levee was six-point-three million,” Parker says.

Other money is also going to southwest Iowa projects. “The city of Hornick — where they are going to build a berm in that area — was a little over two million. Then down there in Mills County in a rural area there, they are receiving two-point-three million for a share of the local property buyouts. And then in Pacific Junction itself, they are also going to be doing property buyouts and they are going to be getting about three-point-one million to cover their local share,” she says.

Freedonia was awarded 135-thousand-555 for a levee district. All of the money approved by the Iowa Legislature was awarded, and Parker says there were a few projects that did not get funding. She says the city of Davenport, the Vanman Levee District in western Iowa, and Muscatine County all submitted requests, but did not get funding. “Certainly the hope is that the legislature might approve some more funding in the upcoming session and these applications will be considered again as well as any others that might come into the flood mitigation board,” Parker says.

Parker says the state money will be used to help leverage federal funding for the flood recovery projects.

Marne Elk Horn, headquartered in Elk Horn, IA has agreed to sell a division which provides fixed wireless Internet to customers in and around the Atlantic and rural Exira areas to NISHNANET, LLC, a wireless Internet company based in Atlantic, IA, according to Janell Hansen, Marne Elk Horn’s CEO. The effective date of the sale is September 20, 2019. “This area of our business came to life about 18 years ago, when customers in and around Atlantic and Exira, needed, but could not get, faster Internet service. Since other options weren’t available, we stepped up to serve the customers in need,” said Hansen. “Technology  and competitors have evolved and changed since then, and it’s time for us to exit this area of  our business. This change should benefit customers who will be able to get faster wireless Internet from NISHNANET, and still be served by another local company.”

Hansen continued, “This will allow NISHNANET to grow and allow Marne Elk Horn to focus all of our staff attention on our fiber projects and other service areas of our business.” NISHNANET, LLC operates Wireless and Fiber Optic networks in Cass and Audubon county Iowa. The wireless network covers approximately 300 square miles delivering speeds between 25-100 megabits per second to rural businesses and homes; in downtown Atlantic speeds up to 10 gigabits per second are available via the company’s fiber optic network. NISHNANET also offers Information
Technology services via a Managed Services Platform for small to medium sized businesses.

“We are excited to extend our high speed network to cover rural Exira while improving connectivity for former METC wireless customers in both Cass and Audubon counties,” said Scott Bennett, NISHNANET President. “This transaction allows both of our companies to focus on what they do best and provide the connectivity for our communities to prosper and grow.” NISHNANET has been a part of the Atlantic business community since 2017 and donated over $10,000 in goods and services to local nonprofits and local economic development efforts in 2018. “We are proud to be part of this community and pleased to give back by supporting continued local business development.”

More information is available at www.metc.net/wireless-internet or by contacting NISHNANET at 712-243-2497 or stopping by their office at 2 East 6th Street in Atlantic.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report a Montgomery County man died from injuries he suffered in a collision that took place a little after 8-p.m. Saturday, near Carson. Authorities say 78-year old Harley Sperry, of Villisca, died at the scene, after his pickup truck failed to stop in a construction zone, and struck the rear of a semi tractor-trailer. The semi had stopped at the stoplight on Highway 92, on the western edge of Carson. The driver of the semi was not injured.

Mills County Emergency Management would like to share the following status updates for the communities it serves…

News –
#1. Missouri River anticipated to crest at 29.4 ft. at the Plattsmouth Gauge on Thursday, 9/19. Residents located between Interstate 29 and the Missouri River, S. of Lambert Avenue (Plattsmouth Bridge Road) and possibly as far North as Highway 34 – should be on flood alert and be prepared to evacuate if needed. If help is needed for relocation, please contact the Communication Center at 712-527- 4871.

The major concern is the risk to roads/infrastructure in the area between Interstate 29 and the Missouri River, South of Lambert Avenue and possibly as far North as Highway 34. There are several county gravel roads that are closed this morning, primarily in the very Southwest portion of the County. We are closely monitoring just North of the Plattsmouth Bridge near the levee (Kane/Karnes/195th). 195th St. N. of Lambert is closed, however, this is a dead-end road. Road closures can be monitored at this site: https://www.iceasb.org/roads/county/mills

Currently the only areas of the Interstate that may be impacted by rising waters are I-680 and I-29 North of Council Bluffs.

Current River level is 28.47 ft. at 8:15 this morning and predictions indicate the River will not be below 27 ft. until 9/28/19. The US Army Corps of Engineers has repaired the inward levee breaches throughout the Mills County section of the Missouri River and they are monitoring these areas closely during this time of flooding. There is an outward breach located South of the Plattsmouth Bridge that is not repaired and is allowing water to access farm ground in that area. This is a link to video that was taken on Monday 9/16/19 and shows water movement in the breach area. https://drive.google.com/…/15FSs3fstYfvDSeKNvlqmJiAZ3…/view… We are noting increases in water accumulation – marshland now appearing as a lake – and movement of this water in a northward pattern. Water is moving North under Lambert Avenue (Plattsmouth Bridge Road). We are unsure what areas N. of Lambert Ave. will be affected but will continue to monitor closely.

#2. Gavin’s Point Dam to increase releases today. Current release level is 60,000 Cubic Feet Per Second (CFS). There will be an increase in releases today and over the next several days to handle increased rain in the northern Missouri River basin. These increases will create higher river levels as they pass through our area.

9/18/19 – 65,000 CFS
9/19/19 – 70,000 CFS
9/20/19 – 75,000 CFS
9/21/19 – 10/1/19 – 80,000 CFS

#3. Information Meeting Scheduled for County Residents (unincorporated area) participating in the Hazard Mitigation Program (Buy-outs). October 1st at 6:30 at the Glenwood High School Auditorium.

This meeting is being held at the request of several flood affected families who are in need of additional information. Questions are being collected in advance – email sherib@mcph.us so we can assure the correct people will be on hand to provide information. There will also be an opportunity to submit questions at the meeting. City of Pacific Junction residents interested in buyout are welcome to attend, however, Mills County is not the applying entity for these individuals.

#4. Sign up for ALERT Iowa.
Mills County is changing from Code Red to ALERT Iowa for emergency notification. Please take a moment and sign up for ALERT Iowa so your information is available in the event an emergency notification is needed. You can sign up at https://entry.inspironlogistics.com/mills_ia/wens.cfm or find more information on the Mills County EMA webpage – https://www.millscoia.us/index.php/depts/ema

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A prosecutor says a man accused of killing his wife was a man irate over her affair and fearful that he’d lose their farm if she divorced him. Testimony resumed Wednesday after opening statements for the trial of 43-year-old Todd Mullis. He’s charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of 39-year-old Amy Mullis on Nov. 10 at the farm about 4 miles northwest of Earlville.

He reported that she’d accidentally fallen on a corn rake, but prosecutors say medical evidence showed she’d been stabbed in the back with it. The Telegraph Herald reports that Mullis’ attorneys don’t dispute that Amy Mullis was killed but say there is reasonable doubt about who killed her. Prosecutor Maureen Hughes said Tuesday that being a farmer meant everything to Todd Mullis, and he “had to find a way to keep that farm.” Defense attorney Gerald Feuerhelm agreed the farm was important to Todd Mullis, “but not so important that he would murder the mother of his children.”

ONAWA, Iowa – Sept. 18, 2019 – Emergency repairs at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing near the west city limits of Dunlap require closing Iowa 37 at U.S. 30 beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, until Monday, Oct. 7, weather permitting, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Onawa garage. During this project, traffic will be directed onto a detour route using Harrison County Road F-14, Remsen Street, and U.S. 30.

The Iowa DOT reminds motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, drivers should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

(Radio Iowa) — The mother of a toddler who was found unattended in Ottumwa Monday morning has been arrested, along with her boyfriend. Police were called to North Court Street just before ten o’clock Monday morning because a three-year-old girl was wandering around unsupervised. The toddler was unable to tell the officers what her name was, who her parents were or where she lived, so she was taken to the police department. Later in the morning, authorities released her picture on social media, leading family members to contact police and give them the girl’s identity. 19-year-old Faith Knedler and 22-year-old Colby Rysdam were taken into custody Monday afternoon, each of them charged with one count of child endangerment.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man who set himself aflame at Des Moines’ main library downtown has died. Des Moines police say the 36-year-old man died around 6:20 p.m. Tuesday at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics burn center in Iowa City. His name hasn’t been released.

Witnesses reported the man doused himself with a flammable liquid just before 2 p.m. and ignited it. Library staffers used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames. Police say no one else was injured. The fire occurred in what police say is an enclosed hallway outside the library interior.

(Radio Iowa) — Sioux City will be represented by a six member honor guard that will travel to Seattle, Washington on October 5th to participate in the funeral for United Flight 232 Pilot Captain Al Haynes. Brad Echter of the Sioux City Police Department helped organize the honor guard. He says Captain Haynes made such a huge impression on the city following the crash in 1989. “I thought it was only fitting that we go out and do something for him for all the good words he has said about the police department and the fire department and the emergency services…,” Echter says.

Haynes was the pilot of Flight 232 flying on its way from Denver to Chicago in 1989 when the DC-10 sustained hydraulic failure and made a crash landing in Sioux City. While more than 100 passengers perished in the flight, more than 180 survived the crash. Echter says Haynes children told him they would love to have the Sioux City honor Guard at their father’s service: “It was great coordination on all of our parts and the family was happy to have us on board. We’re obviously happy to go out there and do this for them, for the city of Sioux City, and the police department, and the fire department and the county,” Echter says.

United Airlines offered to fly the Honor guard to the service at the airline’s expense. Echter says two police officers, two firefighters and two Woodbury County deputies will make up the Honor Guard.