SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he stole a skid loader in an effort to free a stolen pickup truck stuck on railroad tracks.
The Sioux City Journal reports that 36-year-old Nicholas Penny entered the pleas Monday to charges of theft, burglary and criminal mischief.

Police say Penny drove the stolen truck over tracks and became stuck Jan. 26. Police say Penny then walked to a nearby Bobcat dealership and stole one of the dealership’s skid loaders. Police say he damaged a fence when he drove the skid loader through it and also damaged the loader’s door.

The Atlantic School Board will meet in a regular session Wednesday in the High School Media Center, beginning at 5:30-p.m. On their agenda is a presentation with regard to the Girls Golf Team, followed by approval of the first reading of Board Policies pertaining to Student Conduct, and, a Negative Balance. The Board is also expected act on approving the purchase of a 2017 Chevy Suburban from Karl Chevrolet in Ankeny, for $31,938, which is reduced $7,600 thanks to proceeds from insurance.

The District’s 2005 Suburban was totaled during an accident in Dubuque on January 10th. The 2005 vehicle will be repurchased by the District for the salvage value of $1,050, and repaired, since Transportation Director Dave Eckles thinks it can be made road worthy again. It would only be used as a staff vehicle, however, and not to transport students.

Among the items up for discussion during Wednesday’s meeting, is an update on the 2017-18 Certified Budget, and Summer 2017 Capital Projects.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest just before 9-a.m. today (Tuesday), of 36-year old Deena Morales, of Corning. Morales was charged with Harassment and brought to the Adams County Jail, where her bond was not set.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A judge says the second trial of a Sioux City man charged with murder will be held in Council Bluffs. On Friday the judge granted 48-year-old Elias Wanatee’s request for a change of venue, citing pretrial publicity. The judge said Monday the trial will be held in Pottawattamie County District Court, starting Feb. 28.

Wanatee’s first trial ended in a mistrial in December after jurors couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict. Wanatee is charged with first-degree murder in the Feb. 17, 2016, stabbing death of 50-year-old Vernon Mace in Sioux City. There were no eyewitnesses, and police never found the weapon. Defense attorney Jason Dunn has suggested that Wanatee acted in self-defense.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) – A woman has been given five months in jail and four years of probation for injuring a toddler at her northwest Iowa day care. Sioux County prosecutors say Dianna Winder, of Maurice, was sentenced Monday. She also was given a suspended prison term of five years. A jury had found her guilty of felony child endangerment causing injury and misdemeanor assault causing injury.

The incident leading to the charges occurred on Nov. 11, when the 15-month-old boy’s mother pick him up and noticed marks on his face. The mother says Winder said she didn’t hit the boy.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports a 17-year old female was referred to juvenile authorities, Sunday, on a charge of simple assault. The unidentified teen was cited and released to a parent. And, 24-year old Kyle Christopher Larson, of Audubon, was arrested Sunday for Domestic Abuse. Larson was transported to the Audubon County Jail and held pending an appearance before a magistrate.

The proposed Elite Octane, LLC Ethanol plant in Atlantic, is not going to happen. The Cass County Board of Supervisors were scheduled Wednesday morning, to act on approving a Development Agreement between the County and ethanol plant officials that would have authorized $8.5-million dollars in Tax Increment Payments. The agreement would have also Pledged Certain Tax Increment Revenues to the Payment of the Agreement, but Nick Bowdish, President of N Bowdish Companies, which represents the ethanol group investors, told KJAN News they reached an impasse over discussions about the amount the plant would pay for electricity, and have informed Board Chair Gaylord Schelling and Auditor Dale Sunderman, the deal is dead. (Click on the left side of the audio players below to hear comments)

Steve Tjepkes, Atlantic Municipal Utilities General Manager told KJAN News last week, that the AMU Board declined to approve a request from Elite Octane to reduce their electrical rate to 5.6-cents per kilowatt hour. Elite Octane officials told the Board that if they were unable to get that rate, AMU should transfer its service territory to Mid-American Energy, which likely can charge 5.5-cents per kwh. Tjepkes says the AMU Board voted against transferring the service territory to Mid-American because of a contractual obligation AMU has with its regional power provider.

Bowdish said since there’s no chance of getting a reduced rate, he’s “Out of ideas,” on how to make the project work.

Bowdish said the company could have explored “self-generation” of electrical power, but that would have been too costly.

He says from this point, he’s stepping back from involvement in the project.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A man from Lebanon has been arrested in connection with a scheme to smuggle guns purchased in Iowa to his country. Federal authorities arrested 42-year-old Fadi Yassine this week as he got off a flight in New York City. He made a court appearance Monday in Brooklyn, New York and will be transferred to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to face charges of conspiring to violate the Arms Export Control act.

Four Cedar Rapids residents with ties to Lebanon were sentenced to prison for their role in the conspiracy last year. Investigators say that Yassine purchased guns in Lebanon that the Iowa residents had shipped there, and told one of the conspirators which guns to purchase. Yassine is also accused of giving one of the conspirators $30,000 cash to buy more guns.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop Sunday resulted in the arrest of two Atlantic men. 26-year old Uriah Simeon Joiner, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/2nd Offense and Possession of Marijuana/1st Offense. And, 33-year old Mike Wayne Henson, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of Possession of Marijuana/1st Offense. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail and released later in the day, Sunday, on their own recognizances.

Last Saturday, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 26-year old Zachary Michael Bagshaw, of Cumberland, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. Bagshaw was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

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

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