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1 dead, 2 injured in Harrison County crash, Tue. evening

News

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Corrects vehicle 1 to a car) A man from Harrison County died, and two people from Pottawattamie County were hurt Tuesday, following a collision on Highway 30 in Harrison County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 1999 Saturn SL driven by 28-year old Cody Jay Grandmont, of Persia, was traveling west on the highway at around 6:45-p.m., when for reasons unknown, the car crossed the center line of the road, into the eastbound lanes, and collided head-on with a 1998 Buick Century.

Following the crash, both vehicles came to rest on the traveled portion of Highway 30. Grandmont, who was not wearing a seat belt, died from his injuries at the hospital in Missouri Valley. The driver of the Buick, 34-year old Rebecca Eileen Smith, and her passenger, 31-year old Austin Lee Tasich, both of Council Bluffs, were injured and transported by ambulance to Bergan-Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. Authorities say Smith was not wearing her seat belt, but Tasich was. The extent of their injuries was not released.

The accident remains under investigation. The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by Missouri Valley and Logan Fire and Rescue, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri Valley P-D and Iowa DOT road crews.

Posted in News |

Central IA man formally charged in late December double fatal crash

News

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Iowa State Patrol report a central Iowa man was arrested and formally charged Tuesday, in connection with a Dec. 29, 2018 crash, that took the lives of two men. 37-year old Travis Gonzales, of Bondurant, faces charges that include two counts of Homicide by Vehicle/OWI, Two counts of Homicide by Vehicle/Reckless Driving, and OWI/1st offense.

Travis Gonzales

Gonzales was traveling westbound on I-80 on Dec. 29th near the 138 mile marker, driving at a high rate of speed, when the vehicle he was operating rear ended a vehicle containing two occupants. After impact, both vehicles lost control and entered the north ditch of I-80.  An investigation determined Gonzales’ vehicle was traveling 126 mph in a 65 mph zone.

He showed several signs of impairment and allegedly made several incriminating statements causing troopers to serve a search warrant on the subject for blood. The blood was analyzed at the DCI Crime Lab and a BAC of .219 was returned (more than twice the legal limit of .08).

Posted in News |

Iowa early News Headlines: Wed., Jan. 16, 2019

News

January 16th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Many Republicans who supported Iowa Rep. Steve King for years despite his contentious comments about race now appear to be turning their backs on him. The shift comes at a moment when the party is grappling with its stance on racial issues, in part because of President Donald Trump’s own inflammatory racial rhetoric and hardline views on immigration. GOP leaders also have conceded that the party must do better with minority voters and bring more diversity to their own ranks.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — A Marshalltown public works employee has been charged in federal court with transportation of child pornography. The Marshalltown Times Republican reports that Jeff Roads appeared in Des Moines’ federal court on Monday. An FBI special agent testified Monday that the case started when Roads was accused of molesting an Oklahoma minor in Iowa. The agent testified that a search of Roads’ cellphone turned up about 100 images of child pornography.

MILLERSBURG, Iowa (AP) — Eastern Iowa authorities say a man has died in a house fire. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports the fire happened Tuesday morning in Millersburg. Firefighters were called to the house just before 6 a.m. The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office says firefighters found the homeowner, 88-year-old William Taylor, dead inside.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa would no longer bar former felons from voting after they complete their sentences and would ensure that crime victims be told of major status changes involving prisoners who wronged them under constitutional amendments proposed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. Reynolds on Tuesday used her first Condition of the State speech since being elected to a full term to outline some major policy goals, including several that would affect current and former prisoners.

Posted in News |

Officials: Man found dead in eastern Iowa house fire

News

January 15th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

MILLERSBURG, Iowa (AP) — Eastern Iowa authorities say a man has died in a house fire. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports the fire happened Tuesday morning in Millersburg. Firefighters were called to the house just before 6 a.m.

The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office says firefighters found the homeowner, 88-year-old William Taylor, dead inside. The sheriff’s office says the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Posted in News |

House approves measure rebuking Rep. King

News

January 15th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The House has approved a Democratic measure disapproving of Republican Rep. Steve King’s comments about white supremacy. The nine-term Iowa congressman was among those supporting the measure, which was approved, 416-1.

King says he agrees with South Carolina Democratic Rep. James Clyburn, the resolution’s sponsor, that white supremacy is an evil that cannot be ignored. King’s racist comments have been widely condemned by members of both parties in recent days.

King says the ideology of white supremacy “never shows up in my head” and that he does “not know how it could possibly come out of my mouth.” Democratic Rep. Bobby Rush of Illinois opposed the measure, saying the House should take the more serious step of censuring King for his “repugnant and racist behavior.”

Last week, King said in an interview that “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?”

Posted in News |

Federal trial for ‘AK-47 Bandit’ set for March in Nebraska

News

January 15th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A federal trial in Nebraska has been pushed to March for a man suspected of being the “AK-47 bandit,” who investigators believe robbed banks in five states, including Iowa. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that a federal judge on Tuesday denied a motion by Richard Gathercole for a new court-appointed attorney and set trial for March 25.

Gathercole has pleaded not guilty to robbery and other charges. He’s accused of stealing more than $90,000 in August 2014 from a bank in Nebraska City, about 50 miles south of Omaha. Officials believe Gathercole carried an AK-47 while robbing banks in California, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska and Washington.

Gathercole, of Roundup, Montana, was arrested in June 2017 near Lexington, Nebraska, after a sheriff’s deputy spotted a pickup truck that Kansas authorities had reported stolen by a man who fired at a state trooper.

Posted in News |

Trout stocking at Big Lake postponed

Ag/Outdoor, News

January 15th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS – Officials with the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources report the trout stocking and family trout fishing event scheduled for this Saturday, Jan. 19, at Big Lake in Council Bluffs, has been postponed due to unsafe ice conditions. The stocking will be rescheduled as soon as there is safe ice or open water this spring.

Posted in Ag/Outdoor, News |

Reynolds seeks felon voting rights constitutional amendment

News

January 15th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is proposing the Legislature pass a constitutional amendment that would no longer allow the state to strip convicted felons of their right to vote. Iowa is one of two states with significant barriers to felons regaining voting rights. Reynolds says Iowans believe in the power of redemption and should have the option to vote on this change. The proposal was made Tuesday as part of Reynolds’ Condition of the State address to lawmakers.

Reynolds also called for a constitutional amendment that would enshrine victims rights in the Iowa Constitution. It could include guaranteeing victims would be notified of the release or escape of the accused.
Reynolds’ budget request includes $93 million more in funding for education, $20 million for her Future Ready Iowa jobs training program, additional money for children’s mental health, state universities and funding for rural broadband and housing programs.

Posted in News |

Sen. Grassley is ‘not surprised’ House GOP is punishing Cong. King

News

January 15th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa/A-P) — Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says it’s no surprise fellow Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King is being punished for his comments about white supremacy. Grassley notes Republican House leaders have stripped King of his committee assignments and some Democrats are calling for King’s censure.  “That’s entirely within the view of the House of Representatives,” Grassley says. “When I was a member of the House of Representatives, I’ve seen that sort of punishment done by the House, both censure as well as being deprived of committees.”  On Monday, King was removed from three panels, the Agriculture and Small Business committees as well as the powerful Judiciary Committee. Grassley says he understands the actions of House G-O-P leaders who say King’s remarks won’t be tolerated. “I’ll have to accept their judgment on it. I don’t disagree with the judgment,” Grassley says. “I’m not surprised House Republicans took this step. It’s happened in the past when I was a member of the House because a particular member dishonors the chamber.”

King says his comments were “completely mischaracterized” and that booting him from the committees is “a political decision that ignores the truth,” yet Grassley and other Republicans are distancing themselves from King. “Under our constitution, I have to respect their decision,” Grassley says. “I strongly disagree with any comments supporting white supremacy. It’s offensive and it’s not a view that I hold.”  Grassley says while King won’t be able to represent the people of Iowa’s Fourth District in committee action, he’ll still be able to voice opinions on any issues that comes from those committees when they go before the full House for a vote.

On Tuesday (Today), The No. 3 House Republican suggested that Rep. Steve King leave Congress over his remarks about white supremacy. Wyoming Republican Liz Cheney on Tuesday said of King, “I think he should find another line of work.” Republican leaders noted that King has for years made racially insensitive remarks. Cheney said the most recent ones are “absolutely abhorrent. It’s racist. We do not support it or agree with it.”

King, a nine-term Iowa congressman says he’s advocating for Western civilization, not racism.

Posted in News |

Harlan Police report (1/15): 5 arrested on drug charges

News

January 15th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Harlan Police Department has released a report on arrests dating back to January 1st. This past Sunday, Joshua Lynn Mauseth, Omaha, was arrested on an active out of state warrant. Mauseth was transported to the Shelby County Jail. Last Friday, 45-year old Lyle James Kline, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for service in the 1200 block of Baldwin Steet. Kline was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with public intoxication.

On Jan. 10th, Harlan Police arrested 36-year old Christopher Daniel Ivey, of Harlan, on charges that include prohibited acts penalties, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to deliver and domestic abuse assault. Jan. 9th, 52-year old Darla Gay Christensen, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. Christensen was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance. On Jan. 7th, 39-year old Justin Dean Bywater, of Portsmouth, was arrested on an active warrant. Bywater was transported to the Shelby County Jail. And on Jan. 6th, 63-year old Terrianne Rushton, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop. Rushton was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with driving while suspended, violation of financial liability, operating a non-registered vehicle, possessing contraband, prohibited acts penalties, possession of a controlled substance and operating while intoxicated.

On Jan. 2nd, Harlan Police arrested 32-year old Phillip Michael Houston, of Walnut. Huston was arrested on an active warrant out of Carroll County and was also charged with possession of a controlled substance. That same day, 33-year old Tiffanie Ann Newcomb, of Logan, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Newcomb was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with driving while barred, prohibited acts penalties, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a non-registered vehicle, open container, violation of financial liability and theft 4th.

And, on January 1st, 28-year old John Todd Howard, of Harlan, was arrested following a call for a fight in progress in the 800 block of Willow St. Howard was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault.

Posted in News |