Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:35 a.m. CDT

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police say a child has been killed in one of four overnight shootings that left three others wounded. The Courier reports that officers were called to a house around 5:15 a.m. Saturday and found a victim, described as a boy, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died. In two other separate shootings early Saturday, three other people suffered injuries not believed to be life threatening.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old Des Moines man accused of beating his infant son has pleaded guilty to charges in the case. The Des Moines Register reports that Dominick Joseph Clausi pleaded guilty Friday to three counts of child endangerment causing bodily injury and two counts of neglect of a dependent. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Clausi is expected to receive a 45-year suspended sentence in July.

EARLHAM, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have charged a south-central Iowa man after dozens of severely neglected horses _ and 2 horse carcasses _ where found on his property. The Des Moines Register reports that the nearly 60 animals were found Thursday night at the Lemontree Welsh horse stable in Earlham. Jimmy Lee Lemon, co-owner of Lemontree Welsh, has been charged with three counts of livestock neglect and two counts of failure to dispose of animal remains.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a bicyclist was serioursly injured during an accident in Red Oak on Saturday morning. At 10:48am a bicycle being operated by 53-year-old Dale Dean French of Red Oak was traveling southbound on Highway 48. At the driveway of 2508 Broadway a 2013 Ford Taurus driven by 35-year-old Elysia Dylene White of Red Oak turned left and into the path of the bicycle causing French to crash and hit his face on the front right tire of the vehicle. French was taken to Montgomery County Memorial Hospital by Red Oak Rescue and then flown to UNMC by LifeNet helicopter. The extent of his injuries were unknown.

White stated that she looked before making the turn but did not see French coming on the bicycle. White was not injured during the accident and was cited for Failure to Yield Upon a Left Turn and No Insurance. The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Red Oak Police Department.

No further details were released.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Police say a child has been killed in one of four overnight shootings that left three others wounded. The Courier reports that officers were called to a house around 5:15 a.m. Saturday and found a victim, described as a boy, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died.

In another shooting around 4:35 a.m., another person was shot, suffering injuries not believed to be life threatening.

Around 1:15 a.m., two people were shot in a separate incident. They, too, suffered injuries not believed to be life threatening.

Police had not identified any of the victims by late Saturday afternoon.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An 18-year-old Des Moines man accused of beating his infant son has pleaded guilty to charges in the case. The Des Moines Register reports that Dominick Joseph Clausi pleaded guilty Friday to three counts of child endangerment causing bodily injury and two counts of neglect of a dependent. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Clausi is expected to receive a 45-year suspended sentence in July.

Clausi was charged in December after his then-5-month-old son was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries that included skull fractures, a brain bleed and bruising. Des Moines Police Sgt. Paul Parizek says authorities believe the teenage father beat, shook and bit the baby and forced the baby’s face into a pillow.

The body of a man missing since Thursday evening was recovered this (Saturday) afternoon, in Lake Panorama. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports the body of 22-year old Kenton Greaves, of Brooklyn, New York, was located at around 2:12-p.m.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the recovery by Search and Rescue Christian Aid Ministries out of Illinois, the Story County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, Greene County Fire Department, Iowa DNR Officers from around the state, Lake Panorama Security Land and Water, Guthrie County Emergency Management, Panora Fire, and Panora EMS.

Greaves, who was on the lake with some friends, was reported missing at around 6:16-p.m Thursday, had just completed his junior year at Grand View University, where he was a member of the wrestling team, and a Senior Criminal Justice major

EARLHAM, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have charged a south-central Iowa man after dozens of severely neglected horses — and 2 horse carcasses — where found on his property. The Des Moines Register reports that the nearly 60 animals were found Thursday night at the Lemontree Welsh horse stable in Earlham.

Nine of the horses were taken in dire health to the Animal Rescue League headquarters in Des Moines. The rest remain on the stable grounds. One horse was found with 21-inch hooves that had curled back into her front ankles. Most of the horses were malnourished with visible ribs and hip bones and extreme hair loss.

Jimmy Lee Lemon, co-owner of Lemontree Welsh, has been charged with three counts of livestock neglect and two counts of failure to dispose of animal remains.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — The Sheaffer Pen Museum has closed its doors for good after seven years in southeastern Iowa. The museum announced the closure May 14. The institution lacked financial stability, the museum’s board of directors said in a statement.

“The museum, as a nonprofit organization, cannot afford to care for the archives and continue the exciting programs to display them as it has in the past,” the release said.
While several options to save the museum were considered, none were found to be successful, the statement said.

The Sheaffer Pen Plant in Fort Madison closed in 2008. The museum then opened in 2011 and displayed collections of pens, machines and other displays form the plant.
Discussions about closing the museum began in January, according to Andy Andrews, president of the North Lee County Historical Society, which loaned the museum a $32,000 pen collection.

Pen collector Bill Sexauer donated his collection of 160 Targa Pens to the historical society in December. “The reason it belongs to us is the guy who donated it wanted to deduct it from his income tax and to do that it had to stay with the owner for at least three years and it is owned by us,” Andrews said.

Andrews said he believes financial problems began in 2012 when Cross Pen Co. purchased the Shaeffer pen line. The museum didn’t receive funding after the ownership change, Andrews said.

The board is in negotiations with Cross Pen to determine where the pen collections will go.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A meeting seeking public opinion on work being done to revitalize the riverfront in Council Bluffs will be held later this month. The public meeting is set for May 30 at the Council Bluffs Community Hall. The project is part of a larger plan to improve the riverfront on both the Council Bluffs side of the Missouri River and in Omaha, Nebraska.

For those unable to attend the Council Bluffs meeting, all information will be available following the meeting at www.RiverfrontRevitalization.com .

A national team of experts is working to develop a master plan for areas in and around River’s Edge from north of Hanafan Park to the Union Pacific Bridge in Council Bluffs, as well as Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America Park and Lewis and Clark Landing in Omaha.

The Atlantic Kiwanis, Saturday afternoon, paid tribute to those in Law Enforcement during an event in the Atlantic City Park, near the Avenue of Flags. Kiwanis member Randy Maas said they were there to present members of the Atlantic Police and Iowa State Patrol to Officers and a Trooper who attended. A representative of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office was unable to attend.

(Left to right) Kiwanis members Dave Hancock, Randy Maas, Steve Green, ISP Trooper Kyle Mass, A-PD Sgts. Pieken and Walton. (Ric Hanson/photo)

Steve Green, whose father was with the Iowa Highway Patrol (later called the Iowa State Patrol), said “We, the Kiwanis of Atlantic, want to thank you for your service, and your sacrifice to keep us safe and allow us to leave our homes and talk a walk anytime we want. That’s so important for us here in Atlantic, Cass County and Southwest Iowa. It’s all due to what you guys do.”

He said also “We would like to thank your families for the long hours you work, and also for the interruption of family life, when things happen.” Green said he grew up with a father who was a State Trooper. He said further, “On this Armed Forces Day, we want to honor the veterans and anybody who has ever protected us.” The Kiwanis’ Dave Hancock presented Trooper Kyle Mass with a “Thin Blue Line” flag.

Kiwanis’ Dave Hancock presents the Thin Blue Line flag to Trooper Mass.

The flag, which has a blue line over a black background symbolizes the line of law enforcement [the blue line] against those who would do us harm [the bad guys of society]. Last year the Kiwanis gave a flag to the Atlantic Police Department.

Steve Green also presented Trooper Mass and Atlantic Police Officers with Certificates of Appreciation, for the Officers and Reserves. Police Sergeants Dustin Pieken Spencer Walton were on-hand to receive the certificates.

w/ Chris Parks

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