An Iowa woman is now charged in connection with a South Carolina kidnapping case. William and Jessica Ray were arrested last Thursday in Winneshiek County after the sheriff’s office received a tip that the couple was spotted at the Decorah Walmart. The Rays were wanted for taking their daughter from Camden, South Carolina on April 15. They do NOT have custody of the two-year-old child.

Authorities say the Rays had been staying with 56-year-old Tami Linne at her home in Bluffton for three weeks. Linne is accused of helping hide the couple and the toddler. She’s now charged with accessory to a felony.

(Radio Iowa)

Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department Director Seth Staashelm, Monday, told the Parks and Rec Board, that with regard to the Schildberg Recreation Area campsite availability for this upcoming Memorial Day Holiday, “We’re gonna be booked-up this weekend.” Staashelm said there are three open spots, but two of those are already reserved, with the remaining spot available on a first-come, first-served basis.

He said all sites at the campground this year are on the same basis. Many of the sites are already in use by crews working at the Elite Octane Ethanol site, and Seth says “It feels like they’re bringing more people in, so I don’t know when they’re gonna be done out there.” Board member John Krogman said the completion date keeps getting pushed back, and Staashelm said it appears they may be there through the summer, which puts a crimp on persons wishing to camp for recreation.

That’s the only drawback to having construction crews camp at Schildberg. On the plus side, their use of the site has brought in much more money than the City ever expected, to the tune of $58,000 already, when it was optimistically estimated at the onset, only $700 would be generated. And, even though the Parks Department is over budget on municipal water, electric and garbage removal, Seth says “Our percentage is huge right now. As much as I like having the income come in it’s gonna be nice when they’re all out of there and we can maintain the place and make everything look nice.” That includes grading the ruts out, spraying, reseeding and other necessary maintenance.

Staashelm said also, the Grand Opening for the Sunnyside Pool is 1-p.m. Saturday, May 26th, and the Sunnyside Park Block Party takes place June 1st, from 5-until 9-p.m., at the Kiddie Korral. Local organizations including the ARISE, Kiwanis, Lions Club and 1st Church of Christ are helping out for the event. Free hot dogs will be available, along with 150 free cotton candy’s to tie-in with Atlantic’s 150th Anniversary (Sesquicentennial). And, movies in the park will be held at the Kiddie Korral June 8th (“The Lion King”) and July 11th (“Coco”), with activities at 7-p.m. and the movie at 8:30-p.m.  On August 17th, the movie will take place in the Shelter at the Schildberg Recreation Area, with a showing of “Jumanji.” Local groups, Royal Neighbors, Atlantic Rising and Megan Roberts State Farm are helping run the events, with free popcorn being served. All shows are free and fun for the family to enjoy.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state agency has selected a private insurance company to join two others in providing health coverage under Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program. The Iowa Department of Human Services confirmed Monday that Iowa Total Care, a wholly owned subsidiary of St. Louis-based Centene, will provide coverage beginning in July 2019.

Centene attempted in an earlier bidding process to participate in Iowa’s Medicaid program but was not selected. Agency spokesman Matt Highland says the company will undergo a readiness review over the next year and more information will become available later.

Iowa privatized its Medicaid program, which provides health care to the poor and disabled, in 2016. The program was initially run by three companies until one dropped out last year.

The other companies providing Medicaid coverage are UnitedHealthcare and Amerigroup. Some patients and health care providers have reported reduced and delayed services under the privatized system.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Democratic candidate for governor has topped Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in fundraising by giving $2.1 million to his own campaign. Fundraising records released Monday show businessman Fred Hubbell, the perceived front-runner among a field of six Democrats, raised about $3 million so far in 2018. Reynolds, the only Republican seeking her party’s nomination, raised about $1.2 million.

Reynolds has more than $4.2 million available to spend. Hubbell has about $248,000 available. Democrat Cathy Glasson, a union organizer, raised nearly $600,000 in large part to a donation by Service Employees International Union. Democrat Sen. Nate Boulton brought in about $500,000.

The other three Democrats raised significantly less. Former party chairwoman Andy McGuire raised about $270,000, while former party chairman John Norris collected about $235,000. Former Iowa City mayor Ross Wilburn raised about $6,400, and his campaign owes $515.

The Freedom Rock, located just south of Interstate 80 on Highway 25 in Adair County, is being painted once again this year, by Greenfield artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen. It’s the 20th Anniversary of the Freedom Rock, which is repainted each year in honor of Memorial Day. Images on the 12-foot tall, nearly 60-ton boulder, pay tribute to our  men and women in the military.

Freedom Rock. Photo courtesy Maria & Ray Sorensen.

Sorensen started painting the original Freedom Rock® the first week of May and plans to be finished by Memorial Day 2018. In a press release, Sorensen says  “This year’s edition is simple yet powerful.” Almost the entire surface will be covered with random faces of those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, from the Revolutionary War to Iraq/Afghanistan.

Complimenting the faces will be a quote over a flag that reads: “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.” – George S. Patton. The helicopter remains as the paint that it is comprised of has been mixed with the ashes of our Vietnam Veterans since 2006.

Sorensen is not commissioned for his work on the original Freedom Rock® in Menlo, Iowa but works as an independent mural artist on the Iowa Freedom Rock® Tour. Sorensen is only able to complete about ten rocks per year, due to scheduling and weather and is currently booked into the 2021 year. Bubba said “I always say I have three goals with ‘The Freedom Rock®Tour’ and that is to honor America’s Veterans, promote Iowa tourism and provide for my family.”

The Freedom Rock® Tour is helped by the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation of Iowa Falls, Iowa, who provide the truck and Aluma Trailers of Bancroft, Iowa, who provide the trailer. For a list of complete counties booked for the Tour and locations of already existing Freedom Rocks®, please visit www.thefreedomrock.com.

Although it is Sorensen’s 20th annual year of painting the original Freedom Rock®, this is Sorensen’s sixth year on the Freedom Rock® Tour across Iowa. This also marked the second year since Sorensen began the 50 State Freedom Rock® Tour with rocks already painted in Missouri and Wisconsin. Freedom Rocks® have been booked for the states of Minnesota and Washington.

Sorensen plans to be at The Freedom Rock® over Memorial Day weekend, including Memorial Day to meet with visitors. Calendars as well as other merchandise are also available to help offset costs for the project.

Sheriff’s deputies in Mills County arrested a woman from Villisca on drug charges, late Sunday night, during a traffic stop. The Mills County K9 Unit stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation in Glenwood at around 11:30-p.m., and upon further investigation, arrested 60-year old Marlenedewylia Dukes, of Villisca, on four counts of possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of unlawful possession of  prescription drugs. Dukes was transported to the Mills County Jail without incident. Her bond was set at $6,000.

And, Friday night, 52-year old John Ira Bellville and 52-year old Julie Anne Adsit, both of Villisca, were arrested on drug charges, following a traffic stop on Highway 34 in Mills County. Both were taken into custody at around 11:25-p.m. and 11:57-p.m., respectively, and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. Bellville’s bond was set at $5,000, while Adsit’s bond was set at $1,300.

Two men from Nebraska were arrested in Council Bluffs early this (Monday) afternoon, in connection with a stolen vehicle. Authorities say 39-year old Mickey Scott of Bellevue, NE., the driver of the vehicle, faces charges that include Possession of a stolen vehicle, felony assault on a police officer, and felony forgery, for having several fake ID’s in the vehicle, which admitted to printing. Scott was also wanted on a felony warrant out of Nebraska. His passenger, 31-year old Anthony Orsi, of Omaha, was arrested on a felony warrant out of Nebraska

According to Council Bluffs Police, at around 12:30-p.m., officers noticed a Mercedes that they believed was stolen from previous notifications near the area of 8th street and 2nd Ave. The vehicle pulled into the parking lot of HyVee drug store from S. 8th street. It circled the parking lot and started heading south toward the exit.

Other officers responding to the area arrived about the same time and pulled in front of the vehicle. The original officer approached from the rear boxing the vehicle in. The Mickey Scott, the driver, looked back at that officer, accelerated in reverse and struck the push bumper of the police cruiser, causing minor damage to the Mercedes, and no observed damage to the cruiser. Scott refused to open the door when instructed.

Officers broke the driver side window out and removed Scott from the vehicle. He was taken into custody without further incident.

MOORLAND, Iowa (AP) — A prosecutor says an Iowa state trooper was justified in fatally shooting a man during a gunbattle. The Webster County attorney’s office said in a news release Friday that Trooper Justin Parman “reasonably believed that the use of deadly force was necessary to defend himself or another.” Parman shot 26-year-old Joshua Ewing on April 29 in rural Moorland, southwest of Fort Dodge. Authorities say Parman found Ewing and a woman on a rural road, arguing near a vehicle. The department says Ewing pointed a handgun at Parman, and the two exchanged gunshots. Authorities say Ewing had fired several shots into his own vehicle before the trooper arrived.

BEMIDJI, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say a father from Iowa and his 4-year-old son drowned in a kayaking accident on a northern Minnesota lake. Hubbard County sheriff’s officials say deputies were dispatched to Hart Lake near Bemidji about 1:30 p.m. Saturday on a report of an overturned kayak and two people that failed to surface. First responders found the boy in the water and administered CPR. He was flown to the University of Minnesota hospital. Sheriff Cory Aukes says the child was removed from life support Sunday night.

Searchers found the body of the boy’s father, 42-year-old Jesse Anderson, of Northwood, Iowa, in the water on Sunday morning. Aukes says neither Anderson nor his son were wearing life jackets.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials have approved using a conservative law firm to defend the state in a lawsuit challenging a law that bans most abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. The Executive Council of Iowa voted unanimously Monday to allow the Thomas More Society to represent the state in the lawsuit filed last week in state district court. The Chicago firm agreed to do the work at no cost to the state after Attorney General Tom Miller disqualified his office from defending the law.

The lawsuit, filed by Iowa affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood, says the law violates the Iowa Constitution. It bans most abortions at around six weeks of pregnancy, making it the nation’s strictest abortion law. It’s set to take effect July 1. The five-member council includes Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is named in the lawsuit. She was traveling and didn’t vote on the issue.