The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office posted two new reports, Tuesday. At around 12:40-p.m. Monday, Deputy Brian Miller with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop on a 2017 Chevy Cruze for excessive speed. The vehicle was stopped on Interstate 80 eastbound, about two-miles south of the exit to Highway 6. While speaking with the occupants of the vehicle, Deputy Miller detected the odor of marijuana coming from within the vehicle. A probable cause search was conducted, during which 143-pounds of marijuana was located. The
driver, 32-year old Moua Tong, of St. Paul., MN., said the drugs were his. He was placed under arrest for narcotic violations and transported to Pottawattamie County
Corrections and booked in on those violations.

Officials said that at around 7:36-a.m. Monday, 33-year old Walter David Mercado, of Omaha, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense, after a Deputy was dispatched to Old Lincoln Highway and Coldwater Avenue a little after 5-a.m.. Monday, for an unknown injury accident. The vehicle, a 2016 KIA Optima, was down in a ditch with its lights on. Mercado was found still in the vehicle, and placed under arrest.

A man from Minnesota was arrested Monday following a traffic stop

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified the remains of a body found on a riverbank in southern Des Moines. Police said Tuesday that the body was that of 61-year-old Thomas Francis Hoye III, of Des Moines.

Police say the Polk County Medical Examiners Office is continuing its investigation into the cause of Hoye’s death. A pedestrian reported around noon Sunday that he’d spotted the body below a bridge over the Raccoon River. Police had said the body appeared to have been at the spot for some time and showed no obvious signs of injury.

Police in Council Bluffs today (Tuesday) arrested 18-year old Daniel Page, of Council Bluffs, on a charge of Burglary in the 3rd Degree. Police responded at around 12:35-p.m. to the area of 1100 block of 5th Avenue, for a possible burglary to a vacant residence.

The suspect (Page) had fled from the residence when confronted by a neighbor. Officers searched the area and located the man hiding in a backyard. He was taken into custody and transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Page County executed a search warrant at around 1:40-p.m. today (Tuesday), at 510 2nd Street, in Shambaugh. The warrant was for 29-year old Joseph Cody Foster, of Shambaugh, who wanted on Page County District court warrants for Harassment 1^st degree, Assault causing bodily injury or mental illness, and Failure to Appear for a Revocation of Probation hearing on charges of Harassment 2^nd degree and Violation of probation.

Joseph Cody Foster

Foster was also wanted under the authority of warrants out of Adams County, for Failure to appear on violation of probation with an original charge of Burglary 3^rd degree and possession of burglary tools and Failure to appear on an original charge of Interference with Official Acts. His total bond was set at $3,000, but bonds for the some of the charges were not set until he appears before a magistrate.

Foster was found hiding in the attic of the residence in order to avoid arrest. He was transported to the Page County Jail where he was being held without bond until seen by Magistrates of Page and Adams Counties.

Police in Council Bluffs say a man was arrested after a brief stand-off this (Tuesday) morning. Just before 9-a.m., officers were dispatched to 649 Parkwild Drive in reference to a male refusing to leave an apartment. Upon arrival officers made contact with the caller and was informed 22-year old Devon Anderson, of Council Bluffs, had taken her car without permission and abandoned it. Anderson was refusing to leave the apartment. When officers made contact with Anderson he grabbed a knife and locked himself in the bathroom. Police negotiators were brought to the scene and were able to get Anderson to turn the knife over to officers and a short time later Anderson exited the bathroom.

Devon Anderson

He was taken into custody and was transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail on charges of Operation without owners consent, and Obedience to Peace officer.

Several Iowa state parks are hosting spring clean-up events to get ready for the summer season this April and May. Events will be tailored to each park’s needs and could include activities such as litter and branch pick-up, painting, trail work, and clipping back limbs and plants. Todd Coffelt, State Parks bureau chief, says “We greatly appreciate the time and energy our volunteers provide to help take care of Iowa’s parks. Even if you haven’t visited one of these parks, we invite you to come out for an event and spend time outdoors lending a hand.”

Here are some of the (local) state park volunteer events for April and May:

• Lake Anita State Park, Cass County – April 20, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Join a DNR naturalist on an earth hike to pick up litter. Participants can also make plant pots from recycled newspaper to plant milkweed seeds and take home. Meet in the campground near the popcorn stand. Contact Anne Riordan at (641) 747-8383.
• Springbrook State Park, Guthrie County – April 21, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Help remove weeds and a newly established pollinator plot. Activities that day will also celebrate Earth Day week, including art projects and family activities. Meet at the campground gazebo. Contact Anne Riordan at (641) 747-8383.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man has been sentenced to 250 days in jail over the fatal stabbing of another man. The Sioux City Journal reports that 44-year-old Jeremy Lillich pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Friday and was credited with 250 days already served in custody. He was on parole from a 10-year prison sentence for drugs when the stabbing occurred. His parole has been revoked and he’s been returned to prison.

A grand jury indicted Lillich in November for the June 3 slaying of 21-year-old James Purcell, of Sioux City. Police have said they think the stabbing started as a fight over a theft.

The Audubon School Board met this (Tuesday) morning and acted on approving Teacher transfers, contracts and resignations. Superintendent Brett Gibbs told KJAN News the Board approved the hiring of Tyler Christensen, of Atlantic, for 4^th Grade Teacher.Christensen will also do some coaching for the District. Other moves include:

• Megan Kjergaard, who currently teaches Special Ed, will move into a 5^th grade Teacher’s position;
• Rachael Andersen, who currently teaches 2^nd grade, will also become a 5^th grade teacher;
• Sean Birks, will move from 4^th grade teacher to Middle School Social Studies. He replaces Molly Lange, who has accepted a position in Carroll;
• Heather Griffith who is currently a Kindergarten teacher, will be moving up to teach 1^st grade.
• The Board also accepted the resignation of Dustin Christensen, who has accepted a position with the North Polk School District.)

Christensen had been making a long commute from Huxley to teach 1^st grade in Audubon. Gibbs said finding good teachers is a difficult task, because they’re aren’t a lot of people entering the field. He said they still need to fill a Spanish, Special Ed, Kindergarten and 2^nd grade positions, and they’ll be working to do that this Spring.

Next up for the Audubon School Board: A Budget Hearing on April 11^th.

Consumers will have the opportunity to dispose of unneeded or unwanted medications during the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 28, 2018. From 10 AM to 2 PM, consumers may safely dispose of unwanted medications at one of thousands of collection sites coordinated by DEA and provided by law enforcement agencies and community organizations in all 54 United States and jurisdictions. Those who cannot participate in the event can find a list of permanent, year-round drug disposal sites by using the AWARXE® Prescription Drug Safety Program’s Drug Disposal Locator Tool. ( https://nabp.pharmacy/initiatives/awarxe/drug-disposal-locator/ ). NABP’s AWARXE Program provides the public with information and resources for safe prescription medication use, abuse prevention, and disposal.

DEA Drug Take Back Day is free and anonymous, with no questions asked. Sites will accept tablets, capsules, and all other solid dosage forms of unwanted medication. Personal information should be blacked out on prescription bottles, or medications may be emptied from the bottles into the bins provided at the events.

National take back days create an opportunity for consumers to safely and legally dispose of unneeded medications, including prescription controlled substances, such as certain pain medications. In October 2017, over 5,300 collection sites were set up and over 912,300 pounds (456 tons) of unused medications were collected during the 14th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. DEA’s Take Back Day website has more resources about the upcoming opportunity

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Dubuque will spend $1.5 million over seven years to buy and rehab housing in some of the community’s poorest neighborhoods. The Telegraph Herald reports that City Council approved an agreement Monday with True North Community Development Corp. to work on up to 50 residential properties in the city’s low-income neighborhoods, such as the North End.

The rehabbed homes will be sold to those making 80 percent or less of the area’s median income, which would be no more than $53,100 for a family of four. The city will also provide homebuyers with up to a $25,000, no-interest loan. Homeowners would be required to keep the property a single-family home for 21 years.

Council Member Jake Rios cast the only dissenting vote. He says he’s worried about gentrification and displacing low-income residents.