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JoANN MILDRED LEES, 78, of Avoca (Svcs. 7/11/19)

Obituaries

July 8th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

JoANN MILDRED LEES, 78, of Avoca, died Saturday, July 6th, at the Oakland Manor Nursing Home. Funeral services for JoANN LEES will be held 10:30-a.m. Thursday, July 11th, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca. Pauley-Jones Funeral Home in Avoca has the arrangements.

The family will greet friends from 5-until 8-p.m. Wednesday, July 10th, at the funeral home.

Burial is in the Oaklawn Cemetery at Oakland.

JoANN LEES is survived by:

Her husband – Charles Lees, of Avoca.

Her daughter – Cheryl (Carlos) Carrasco, of Litchfield Park, AZ.

Her son – Paul (Suzanne) Lees, of Walnut.

Her sister – Janice (Dean) Kruse, of Glenwood.

and 5 grandchildren.

Glenwood Police report (7/8/19)

News

July 8th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

Three arrests took place in Glenwood, over the past few days. On Saturday, 20-year old Andre Topete, of Glenwood, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana. He has since posted a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

On Sunday, 37-year old Joel Terry, of Glenwood, was arrested for Operating a vehicle without the ignition interlock. The charge was summarily dismissed, and Terry was released.

Today (Monday), 19-year old Gage Bothwell, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for   Possession of Marijuana, and 23-year old Alvaro Herrera, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. Bonds for both were set at $1,000.

Holiday weekend drowning in Page County

News

July 8th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

A man from Missouri is dead following a kayaking accident in Page County over the holiday weekend. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says despite efforts to save him, 38-year old Jerrimiah Bryant Smiley, of Maryville, Missouri, died Friday at the Clarinda Regional Health Center.

Authorities received a 9-1-1 call at around 10:30-a.m. Friday, with regard to a man who drowned at the low head dam on the Nodaway River, on the east side of the Clarinda City limits. When emergency personnel arrived the man (Smiley) was out of the water, but CPR was in progress by another adult male that had been kayaking with.

An investigation determined Smiley and 33-year old David Medley, also of Maryville, MO., had been kayaking southbound on the West Nodaway River north of Clarinda, from where they had camped. Smiley and Medley were kayaking from the Villisca, area to Maitland, MO. The trip had been planned to span several days.

The men were sitting on top of their kayaks when they came to the low head dam on the east side of Clarinda. Smiley went over the dam first. He was thrown off his kayak. Medley was immediately behind Smiley and he was also thrown off his kayak. Both Smiley and Medley were wearing life preservers. Smiley got caught in the undertow on the south side of the dam. Medley was swept down river.

Medley saw that Smiley was unable to get out of the undertow and got to the bank. He then ran back to the dam, entered the water and attempted to get Smiley out of the undertow. Smiley had gone under several times at this point. Medley was again was washed downstream by the current. He then went back to try to get Smiley from the undertow. Smiley then went under and Medley was washed downstream.

Medley located a container with his cell phone floating from the kayak that was used to stow all their supplies and called 911. Smiley surfaced downstream from the dam and Medley got him out of the water. Medley then began to perform CPR. It was at this time Emergency personnel arrived on the scene and transported Smiley to the hospital, where efforts to save him were unsuccessful.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Clarinda Police Department, the Clarinda Fire Department, and the Clarinda Ambulance service.

Iowa man charged for critical Facebook post wins settlement

News

July 8th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A southwest Iowa man has won his free speech legal battle with a sheriff’s department and two officers who charged him with harassment for writing a social media post that profanely criticized a deputy.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office will pay Jon Richard Goldsmith $10,000 to settle a federal lawsuit he filed in May alleging violations of his free speech rights, retaliation and false arrest.

The sheriff’s office agreed to a court order filed Monday that prohibits it from bringing criminal charges against or threatening to criminally charge citizens on the basis of the lawful comments, posts, or other speech protected by the First Amendment.

Goldsmith criticized Deputy Cory Dorsey in a profane Facebook post in July that prompted the sheriff’s department to charge Goldsmith with third-degree harassment. The charge was dropped after Goldsmith hired an attorney to fight the misdemeanor charge.

Video shows Iowa trooper striking motorcyclist during stop

News

July 8th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

TIPTON, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa trooper pointed his gun at and knocked down a motorcyclist for no apparent reason during a traffic stop, then falsely charged the man with eluding law enforcement. Dash camera video released Monday shows then-Iowa State Patrol officer Robert Smith pulling over motorcyclist Bryce Yakish for speeding on Sept. 25, 2017.

What appears to be a routine stop escalates immediately when Smith runs out of his car with his gun drawn and strikes Yakish in his helmet. The force knocked the 150-pound Yakish backward and onto his motorcycle, and both fell to the ground. Yakish is repeatedly heard complaining of neck pain.

Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington has cited the case as among the reasons he has refused to book all suspects arrested by Smith. He says the video shows “pretty damning” evidence of excessive force and misconduct.

Smith now works as an officer in Durant. The Cedar County attorney’s office released the video Monday in response to records requests.

Atlantic School Board to act on FRK contract for facilities improvements

News

July 8th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education is set to meet 5:30-p.m. Wednesday in the High School Media Center. Among the items on their agenda is action on the following resignations:

  • Cindy Nichols, Musical Assistant
  • Tony Wiley, High School Social Studies Teacher
  • Kathleen Wendt, Washington Elem. Nigh Custodian.

And, the following contracts or Letters of Assignment:

  • Michael Applegate, STEM Coordinator & Teacher.
  • Connor Larson, HS PE/Weights Teacher; MS Football Coach & Asst. HS Wrestling Coach.
  • Jeremy Blake, Freshman Volleyball Coach.
  • Tricia Nicewanger, HS Spanish Club Sponsor.

The Atlantic School Board will also act on a contract with FRK Architects, with regard to the Athletic Facility Improvements. The current timeline is as follows:

  • August 2019: Construction document approval
  • Sept. 2019: Construction commences.
  • Substantial Completion date or dates:
    • Trojan Bowl projected completion – Sept., 2020
    • HS Stadium projected completion – March, 2021.
    • Baseball/Softball Complex projected completion – April, 2021.

Other, “milestone dates” have yet to be determined. In other business, the Board will act on Investment of Bond Proceeds, in the amount of $154,077.50, including: placing $3-million in a Money Market Account at 2.02% interest at Rolling Hills Bank; Placing $3,544, 152 in 1st Whitney Bank & Trust at 2% interest and $3.395-million in a 12 month CD at $2.10%. The District’s bond counsel has indicated those moves would provide the District with more than $6.54-million of principle to be used for the project until 7/1/2020.

The Board will also act on a pay application for the Washington Elementary parking lot. Most of the work done in the dropoff/pickup lane is complete now, and the excavation of the parking lot is near completion, with some large concrete pours to follow. And, the Atlantic School Board will act on approving an agreement allowing the YMCA to take on the role of SWIFS (Southwest Iowa Family Services), now that the Wickman Building has been paid-off.

The 501(C)3 that was created (SWIFS) in order to secure the loan and pay-off the building, wishes to dissolve, now that their mission is complete. The only difference with the agreement, is that the USDA is no longer involved, due to the completion of the loan.

(Update) Officer-involved shooting in Leon

News

July 8th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

As a follow up to Sunday’s officer involved shooting in Leon, the DCI today (Monday), released additional information including the identity of the officer and the driver: On July 7th, 2019, at 3:08 a.m., Leon Police Officer John Thomas stopped a vehicle driven by 55-year old Patrick Bauer of Marshfield, Missouri. During the stop, Mr. Bauer approached Officer Thomas, who was seated in his marked police vehicle. Mr. Bauer sprayed Officer Thomas with a chemical agent, which is commonly referred to as “mace”. After being sprayed, Officer Thomas fired multiple rounds from his handgun, striking Mr. Bauer.

At the scene, law enforcement and emergency medial responders provided medical attention to Officer Thomas and Mr. Bauer. Officer Thomas was released from the scene. Mr. Bauer was airlifted to a Des Moines hospital, where his condition is currently unknown.

There is no known video recording of this incident. Officer Thomas was not wearing a body camera and his vehicle was not outfitted with a video camera. Officer Thomas is on paid administrative leave.

DCI agents will continue to gather the facts surrounding the shooting. The findings will be forwarded to the Decatur County Attorney’s Office. This process may take several weeks. No additional information will be released concerning this investigation.

Iowa secretary of state named to head national association

News

July 8th, 2019 by admin

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is the new president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, a professional organization for top state election officials.

Pate was sworn in July 3 at the group’s annual meeting in New Mexico and will serve as the NASS president through July 2020.

Pate is the second Iowa official to lead the group since its founding in 1904. The first was Melvin Synhorst in 1960.

Pate says he will make election security his top priority. He says the group’s mission for 2020 is to ensure “the sanctity of the vote is protected at every level, from the smallest county to the largest state.”

Pate’s colleagues from other states also voted to award him the NASS IDEAS award for his election cybersecurity efforts.

Des Moines suburb closes splash pad for safety review

News

July 8th, 2019 by admin

WAUKEE, Iowa (AP) — Slips, slides and an injury have prompted the Des Moines suburb of Waukee to close its new splash pad.

The city said Friday in a Facebook post that the splash pad at Fox Creek Park was being shut down for a safety review. City spokeswoman Summer Evans told The Des Moines Register that one person required an ambulance ride to medical care after slipping at the pad.

The city held a grand opening for the pad on June 25.

Man injured in fireworks explosion; officer treated, too

News

July 8th, 2019 by Ric Hanson

NEW HAMPTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man was hospitalized after a fireworks explosion in northeast Iowa. The explosion occurred Saturday afternoon at a mobile home park in New Hampton.

The Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office says the man was setting off fireworks, and they ignited flammable material in his shed, causing the blast.

The 22-year-old man was taken to a hospital. His name hasn’t been released. A police officer who responded to the scene was treated for smoke inhalation.