INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — A jury convicted a woman Tuesday whose attorney had said his client was insane when she stabbed to death her former husband in northeast Iowa. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Hillary Hunziker, was found guilty of first-degree murder and will be sentenced later to life in prison.

A Buchanan County District Court document says a child called 911 early on Nov. 6, 2017, and said, “My mom just stabbed my dad.” That was followed by a call from Jason Hunziker, who said his former wife had stabbed him. The complaint says deputies later found Jason Hunziker dead in his Independence home.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department report 47-year old Gerry Dean Ballantyne Jr., of Harlan, was arrested last Friday, following a traffic stop. Ballantyne was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving while suspended and no proof of insurance.

The H-PD is reminding citizens, also, that 2020 dog tags are available.  The current licenses expire on December 31st.  Cost is $10 per tag and proof of rabies is required to be shown at the time of licensing.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 43-year old Willard Edward Frazier, Sr., of Red Oak, was arrested Monday afternoon. Frazier was taken into custody at the Mills Count Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Contempt of Court. He was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

And, an Audubon man was injured during an accident Monday morning, in Mills County. Officials say 21-year old Travis Wolff was driving a 2010 Mazda southbound on Highway 59 at around 5:13-a.m., when for reasons unknown, his vehicle crossed the center line of the road between Marh and Noyes Avenues. The vehicle came to rest in the ditch. Wolff was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital by Malvern Rescue.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 25-year old Jacob David Jones, of Corning, was arrested Monday on a Page County Warrant for Failure to appear on an original charge of Driving while Barred. Jones was arrested at the Adams County Jail and transported to the Page County Jail, where he was being held on $2,000 cash only bond.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Tuesday of 29-year-old Logan Matthew Hughes of Red Oak on charges of Domestic Abuse Assault 1st Offense and Interference with Official Acts. Hughes was arrested at 12:21pm at 1409 N 5th Street in Red Oak. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on no bond.

Associated Press – Billionaire former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was granted an extension that will allow him to avoid filing a mandatory financial disclosure until after Iowa’s presidential contest. Presidential candidates are required to reveal their investments, businesses and streams of income. Only Bloomberg, fellow billionaire Tom Steyer and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick have yet to do so. Bloomberg sits atop a sprawling business empire and is worth north of $50 billion, making him the wealthiest candidate in the contest. His attorneys say his finances are too complicated and they need more time to file the report.

Members of the Exira-EHK School Board met Monday evening in Elk Horn. Superintendent Trevor Miller told KJAN News the Board’s Negotiations Committee elected two representatives for negotiations, as they do every year.

(Tamie Fahn and Kevin Petersen were chosen to represent the Board.)

Miller said also, the Board passed the second and final reading of a policy pertaining to seat belts on school buses, since the District now has at least one bus equipped with lap/shoulder belts.

And, the Board approved Early Retiree Applications for those 55 years of age and have served the District for at least 15-years. That includes: Lisa Dreier – Elementary PE/Tag & Works Leadership; Geralyn Christensen – Title Reading; Connie Burns – Academic Intervention; Tami Jacobsen – School Board Secretary/Superintendent Secretary; Char Bintner – Elementary Special Education Para; and Patty Mortensen – Head Cook.

The Board also approved those same individuals’ resignations, effective the end of the school year. The next step is for the Board to come back in January to determine what staff positions they need to fill for the coming school year, as well as adjustments to the schedule, and post those positions in an effort early enough, to get the best qualified persons.