SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of fatally punching a Sioux City resident intends to argue self-defense at his August trial. Woodbury County District Court records say 24-year-old Ray Avila filed notice of that intent Monday and pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter, assault and flight to avoid prosecution. Avila was arrested last month in Jalisco, Mexico, where he had relatives. His trial is set to begin Aug. 20.

Sioux City police say Avila became involved in an altercation last July between Juan Espinoza and Peter Johnson. Police say Johnson suffered a skull fracture when Avila knocked him to the pavement.

CAMANCHE, Iowa (AP) — A pipe company is planning to lay off more than 100 workers from its eastern Iowa plant in Camanche. TMK Ipsco spokeswoman Donna Smith said Monday that the company’s notified 101 workers of the closing. The remaining 18 workers will run the plant on a limited basis. Smith says the Houston-based company is taking the step because of a “downturn in the business and the demand for our products.” The pipes are used in oil production.

(Radio Iowa) — Authorities have arrested an Estherville man for allegedly stealing funds from a booster club for Estherville Lincoln Central athletic teams. The Estherville Police Department has completed an eight-month-long investigation into allegations an Estherville man misappropriated more than 29-thousand dollars from the E-L-C Booster Club from August, 2015 until his removal in November, 2018. Fifty-four-year-old Timothy Loock, of Estherville, has been charged with first degree theft, a class “C” felony. He’s being held in the Emmet County Jail and is scheduled to make a court appearance today.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two juveniles from Stanton, along with 20-year old Ashley T. Crouse, of Red Oak, were arrested Monday on Criminal Mischief charges. The charges are the result of an investigation into an incident where several vehicles in-and-around Stanton, were vandalized on June 7th. Additional arrests are anticipated, as the investigation continues. The juveniles were released to the custody of their parents, and Crouse was released after she posted bond.

Montgomery County Deputies also investigated two accidents on 200th Street that occurred about 150-yards west of the intersection of M Avenue and 200th Street. Both accidents were the result of drivers traveling westbound on 200th Street, who were unable to see that the roadway had buckled upwards over a culvert in the road, after construction crews had ground off the top layer of asphalt. The first accident happened at around 4:10-p.m., Monday. A 2006 Dodge Durango, owned and operated by 58-year old Edith Mattson, of Villisca, struck the heaved portion of the road, causing it to go airborne. A 16-year old passenger who was unrestrained in a rear seat, to hit the interior roof. The teen suffered from a back pain following the incident. The Durango sustained about $200 damage.

A 2018 Chevy Silverado, owned by Twin Pines Farms, Inc., and driven by 70-year old Gary D. Mundorf, of Griswold, was also traveling westbound on 200th when it hit the damaged portion of the roadway. The pickup also went airborne. Mundorf was not hurt, but the vehicle sustained an estimated $4,500 damage. In both cases, no citations were issued. Authorities note that 200th Street is closed to traffic from Highway 34 to Highway 71, while it is under construction. Drivers should find an alternate route while construction is underway.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal safety investigators say enforcing better school bus driver standards and installing a fire suppression system may have prevented the deaths in a 2017 school bus fire in western Iowa. National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt said Tuesday that the Riverside Community School District didn’t ensure the driver was medically fit before the crash.

Sumwalt says 74-year-old bus driver Donald Hendricks, who died in the fire along with his 16-year-old passenger Megan Klindt, had mobility issues that limited his ability to evacuate the bus. Hendricks used a walker and had back surgery scheduled the week of the fire. Investigators said the fire likely started in the bus’ turbocharger, which overheated after the bus’ rear tires became stuck in a drainage ditch.

Sumwalt says having an improved fire suppression system could have provided more time to evacuate. The federal requirements for school bus fire safety haven’t been updated since 1971.

Shared CAM/Nodaway Valley School District Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau attended his last, regular monthly meeting of the CAM School Board, Monday evening (June 17th). Berlau will begin his duties as the Carroll Community School District Superintendent on July 1st. During the meeting, Monday, the CAM School Board heard a presentation with regard to the Summer Lunch program. This is the first year the District has offered summer lunch to students.

The Board also received a report from the Compensation Committee.

The Board approved the purchase of a diesel school bus from Hogland for $93,500. The other bid was from School Bus Sales. They also approved an agreement with Casey Computing for the 2019-20 School Year. Jim Casey serves as the District’s Technical Director, and the Board approved a 4% increase in pay for his services. In other business, the CAM School Board approved three resignations. They include Brian Sexton – Middle School Social Studies Teacher, Kathy Claussen – ParaEducator, and Becky Peach – Model Teacher.

There were also several contracts issued.

Berlau gave his thoughts on leaving the shared Superintendent position and embarking on a new endeavor at Carroll

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

• 1 box refrigerated pie crusts (softened as directed on box)

Filing:

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
• 1/4 cup chunky style salsa
• 1 cup cubed cooked chicken or turkey
• 1 cup chopped tomato
• 1/4 cup sliced green onions
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 450 degrees.  On ungreased cookie sheet, unroll crusts.  In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise and 1/2 cup salsa.  Spread evenly over each 1/2 of crust.  Sprinkle on 1/2 of each crust with 1/2 cup chicken, 1/2 cup tomato, 2 tablespoons onion and 1/2 cup cheese.  Fold 1/2 of each crust over fillings.  Do not seal.  Bake 14-18 minutes or until golden brown.  Cut into wedges.  Top with chopped lettuce, ripe olives and sour cream.  Serve with additional salsa.

HAMBURG, Iowa (AP) — Two new bridges are planned for a highway low spot near a Missouri River bridge that connects southeast Nebraska with southwest Iowa. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Iowa Transportation Department will begin taking bids next month for construction of eastbound and westbound bridges for a section of Iowa Highway 2. The highway runs from Interstate 29 west to the bridge and Nebraska City on the Nebraska side.

The highway reopened in May after 56 days of being shut down, with drivers forced to use a temporary lane made of permeable rock. But that section eventually became submerged again. The section also was flooded in 2011. An Iowa Transportation Department official says construction could start as soon as August but probably wouldn’t be finished until fall 2021.

The Creston Police Department says 33-year old Kyle Kreb, of Creston, was arrested on drug charges at around 4:50-a.m. today (Tuesday). Kreb was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1,300 bond. Monday evening, 41-year old Cari Langille, of Senaca, MO., was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. Langille was released on a $300 bond.

And, late Monday morning, 37-year old Zeke Chafa, of Greenfield, was arrested in Creston for Driving While Revoked. He was later released on a $1,000 bond.