GRINNELL, Iowa (AP) — Grinnell College has selected an internal candidate as the school’s newest president. The private liberal arts college in east-central Iowa announced in a news release Tuesday that Anne Harris has been named the school’s 14th president. Harris has been vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college since 2019. Before her move to Grinnell, she spent nearly 20 years at DePauw University in Indiana, where she served as a faculty member and later vice president for academic affairs.

Harris was unanimously selected by the Grinnell Colldge Board of Trustees. She has been serving as acting president since July 1, after former longtime president Raynard Kington left to become head of school at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The U-S Attorney’s Office reports a Shelby County man was sentenced last week in Council Bluffs District Court, to six and a-half years (78 months) in prison, for Distributing Methamphetamine.  43-year old Ryan Nicholas Schwery is also required to six years of supervised release following his prison sentence, which was the result of an investigation by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The investigation was focused on the distribution of methamphetamine in Harlan.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, using a confidential source, made three separate purchases of methamphetamine from Schwery before serving a search warrant on his living quarters at the Harlan Inn and Suites. During the search, officers located approximately 144 grams of pure methamphetamine, along with drug distribution paraphernalia, and over $1,000 in cash from the sale of methamphetamine. On February 21, 2020, Schwery entered a guilty plea to Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute.

The matter was investigated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for
the Southern District of Iowa.

Officials with Atlantic City Hall has issued a warning to residents. Apparently, someone is impersonating City Administrator, John Lund. The scammer is using an @gmail.com address. They are writing residents and asking for pictures of gift cards. City Hall warns you to “Please disregard all emails of this nature.”

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Police and dozens of volunteers have been searching for a 10-year-old Davenport girl missing since last week. The Quad-City Times reports that law enforcement officials searched an area along River Drive late Monday night after receiving a tip, but found no sign of 10-year-old Breasia Terrell, who was last seen Friday on East 53rd Street. Earlier Monday, dozens of volunteers walked through the woods of Davenport’s Credit Island looking for the girl.

Police have also searched the apartment of a 47-year-old convicted sex offender linked to the case in court documents for a separate charge. The man has not been charged in Breasia’s disappearance.

(Radio Iowa) — The Sioux City Council has approved an initial agreement to provide one daily round-trip flight from Sioux Gateway Airport to Denver, Colorado. The agreement with SkyWest Airlines would provide air service through United Express beginning October 1st. Councilwoman Julie Schoenherr voiced her approval for the deal after a unanimous council vote. “I think it’s something that’s going to be enjoyed and very beneficial to Sioux City people and surrounding area,” she says, “not just those who live in Woodbury County.”

Schoenherr says the flight may benefit the area in terms of those flying into Sioux City as well as those flying out to Denver. “Family and friends coming in, business partners and perhaps potential businesses who may want to have an office or a home base here,” she said. It has not been determined what time of day or how many passengers would be on the westbound flight. The Sioux City airport’s direct will meet with Sky West officials this weekend to discuss details.

(Radio Iowa) – Des Moines city workers and the public are now required to wear masks inside city buildings to reduce the chance of spreading coronavirus. In a resolution passed Monday, the Des Moines City Council also encouraged businesses and nonprofits to follow suit in their workplaces. Council member Josh Mandelbaum says with cases of COVID-19 surging in the area, residents need to take extra precautions.  Mandelbaum says, “The only way that we can help solve this is if we all get to a point where we are wearing masks, and wearing face coverings, and doing the simple things that we can to protect each other.”

Governor Kim Reynolds says her state emergency order preempts local officials from mandating face coverings for all residents. Paden Sheumaker of Des Moines encouraged council members to challenge the governor’s position. “We can lead the rest of the state,” Sheumaker says. “We can make mask mandates and go against the governor, honestly, to be a leader in this and make sure everyone in your city is safe.”

The council is asking city attorneys to look for ways to accomplish that.

(By Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)