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Iowa early News Headlines: Saturday, 2/4/17

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February 4th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

CAMANCHE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are identifying the person who shot and killed a 22-year-old man in eastern Iowa earlier this week. The Division of Criminal Investigation said Friday that 25-year-old Derick Carroll has been identified as the shooter who killed Nicholas Luskey in Camanche on Wednesday. A press release says that Carroll, of Clinton, has been cooperating with investigators and has not been charged in the shooting.

SANDYVILLE, Iowa (AP) — The Animal Rescue League of Iowa says more dogs have been removed from a Sandyville property in south-central Iowa where at least three dead dogs were found. Officials say 19 living dogs and three dead ones in various states of decomposition were found Wednesday and Thursday on the property. The Warren County Sheriff’s Office is investigating and pursuing possible animal cruelty charges.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa Gov. Chet Culver is no longer president of the YMCA of Greater Des Moines. The news comes seven months after he took the job. The Des Moines Register reports that Culver’s last day was Jan. 27. YMCA spokeswoman Ruth Comer declined to answer the Register’s questions about whether Culver elected to leave or was fired.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers say it will close federal property where Dakota Access oil pipeline protesters have been camped beginning on Feb. 22 because of concerns about flooding. In a statement on Friday, the Corps says there has been a record snowfall and long periods of frigid temperatures at the mouth of the Cannonball River where the protesters have been camped.

Lewis/Griswold Fire Depts. called to residential fire Sat. morning

News

February 4th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Crews with the Lewis Fire Department and Griswold Fire/Rescue, were called to a report of smoke inside the home southeast of Lewis at 64848 600th Street early this (Saturday) morning. The call came in at around 1:45-a.m. from the Danny Kirchhoff residence. The caller indicated smoke was visible, but they did not see any flames. Medivac Ambulance was also dispatched. Heavier smoke was observed when authorities arrived on the scene.

According to Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon, authorities determined the hot water on-demand system was to blame for the smoke. The home was ventilated and residents were back inside by around 2:40-a.m., which was at about the same time all emergency units were leaving the scene to return to their stations.

Traffic stop in Shenandoah Fri. night results in 2 arrests

News

February 4th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Shenandoah Police Department report a traffic stop late Friday night in the 400 block of N. Center Street, resulted in the arrest of two people. The K9 “Argo” was deployed and upon further investigation, 46-year old Ray Kalkas and 44-year old Michelle Kalkas, both of Imogene, were taken into custody a little after 10:15-p.m.

Ray Kalkas was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Michelle Kalkas was charged with Driving While Barred (Habitual Offender). Both were transported to the Shenandoah Police Department, where they were able to post a $3,000 bond.

SW Iowa girl held down on school bus as bullies use marker on her face

News

February 3rd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The parents of a ten-year old Council Bluffs girl want more answers after their daughter’s scary experience with bullies on a city school bus this week. Rae-Ann Dabney says two other girls said they wanted to write on her face with a black magic marker. “I said ‘no’ and then they just grabbed me and held me down and colored on my face,” Dabney says. The girl says it was a very frightening experience.

“I was scared that they were going to draw inappropriate things on my face,” she says. The bullies did write a word on the girls face using the marker, in addition to a beard, mustache and other scribblings. “They put ‘loser’ on my head,” she says. School officials say the two girls lost their bus riding privileges for one day. Rae-Ann’s parents are outraged and say more should be done. They’ve filed a report with the police department.

RaeAnn Dabney

(Radio Iowa, with Thanks to WOWT-TV, Omaha)

Firings of 2 teachers at Iowa School for the Deaf will stand

News

February 3rd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Two longtime teachers who challenged their firings from the Iowa School for the Deaf will not be returning to their jobs. Judge David May has ruled that the Iowa Board of Regents, which governs the Council Bluffs-based school, had “just cause” to terminate 25-year teacher Tina Murdoch.

May’s ruling overturned an arbitrator’s decision that ordered Murdoch be reinstated. The regents had appealed that ruling, arguing Murdoch should be fired because of poor performance. Murdoch’s former colleague, Tricia Tighe, meanwhile, recently dropped a court appeal of her firing.

Attorney Raymond Aranza, who represented both teachers, says Tighe has found a teaching job in Arkansas and decided her firing is “not worth fighting over.” He says he’s disappointed in the decision that upheld Murdoch’s firing. Aranza says both teachers were popular with parents and students and that administrators unfairly second-guessed their teaching skills.

Bluffs resident cited after defending his property by shooting at alleged burglar

News

February 3rd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

A suspect in a Council Bluffs burglary was injured, treated and then placed under arrest after he was shot at Thursday night by the alleged victim of the crime. Council Bluffs Police say 34-year old Adam Daewood, of Council Bluffs, faces 5th Degree Theft and Criminal Trespass charges, and was being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail.

Daewood

Authorities say just before 10-p.m., Thursday, Council Bluffs police officers were dispatched to a call of burglary at 908 2nd Avenue. A resident there reported that he had observed a male subject, later identified as Daewood, on his property, stealing
items. The resident, armed with a small caliber rifle, exited his home and confronted Daewood. During the encounter, the resident, identified as 59-year old Gauino Gutierrez, of Council Bluffs, fired two shots from his rifle in an attempt to scare away Daewood.

Neither round struck Daewood, but he did suffer a leg injury due to either bullet or concrete fragments ricocheting up and hitting him. All parties involved were interviewed by detectives and evidence, including the rifle, was seized. After investigators consulted with both County and City Attorney’s Offices, it was determined that Gutierrez would be issued a citation for Discharging a Firearm within City Limits, a simple misdemeanor. His initial court appearance has been set for February 14, 2017.

Iowa reports rising number of flu-related deaths

News

February 3rd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa authorities say at least 25 influenza-related deaths have occurred since Oct. 2, including 11 reported to the state last week. The Iowa Department of Public Health said in a news release Friday that all but one of the people who died had underlying conditions or contributing factors. The department says the deaths included 19 people 81 and older and two people 61 through 80.

There’s still time for a flu shot. The department medical director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, says the flu vaccine takes a few days to reach its maximum protection level, so waiting too much longer will mean diminished protection during the peak of the season.

Flu is a viral respiratory illness with symptoms that include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches.

Last of 3 defendants pleads guilty in Council Bluffs slaying

News

February 3rd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – The last of the three defendants in a Council Bluffs slaying has pleaded guilty. The Daily Nonpareil reports 20-year-old Ben Lein pleaded guilty to reduced charges Monday: two counts of robbery and two of criminal mischief. He’d previously been charged with murder among other crimes. He was sentenced to 12 to 20 years in prison.

Lein, Markis Davis and Wesley Correa-Carmenaty were charged with the slaying of Anthony Walker during a botched robbery in March 2016. Correa-Carmenaty is set to be sentenced May 1 after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter, attempted murder and two counts of robbery. Davis pleaded guilty in November to robbery and was sentenced to 25 years.

Sioux City council reviews budget plans for body cameras

News

February 3rd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Police officials have told the City Council that it would cost more than $97,000 to outfit Sioux City officers with body cameras. Chief Doug Young and Lt. Mark Kirkpatrick said Thursday the money would cover software and hardware costs for 87 cameras.

Councilman Pete Groetken, who retired with nearly 38 years of police experience, says the cameras would provide video evidence in liability cases but wonders whether the technology is sufficiently mature to justify the expense.

Young says he doesn’t know of any instance in the past year that would have been helped or hindered by the cameras, but he says residents and officers support the camera idea. The council didn’t vote on the proposal, which is expected to resurface during the council’s Feb. 16 meeting.

CCHS Welcomes New Emergency Department Provider

News

February 3rd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Cass County Health System (CCHS) in Atlantic, say Ann Wieseler, (MSN, APRN-NP, ACNP-BC), is joining the Cass County Health System Emergency Department effective next Monday (February 6th).

Ann Wieseler (Photo submitted by CCHS)

Wieseler graduated from Creighton University in 2012, earning her Master of Science in Nursing, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner degree with a concentration on cardiology. Since that time she has worked at Bryan Health System in Lincoln, Nebraska in the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Departments. She is also currently a student at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and will complete her Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate in May. Ann received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with Honors from Nebraska Methodist College, and she also has a Bachelor of Science in Biological Systems Engineering degree from the University of Nebraska.

Ann is a member of the International Association of Forensic Nurses, and is a recipient of multiple awards including the Methodist Health System Nurse Excellence Award for 2016. CCHS Emergency Department Director Darci Young says “Ann is an experienced Nurse Practitioner, and she’s also been a mentor and instructor to nursing students throughout her career.” Young said also, “We are thrilled to have her join the CCHS team.”