The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 38-year old April Marie Watson was arrested Thursday. Watson was taken into custody on two active Montgomery County warrants for Violation of Probation. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $7,500 bond.

(Radio Iowa) — The U-S Ag Secretary announced another round of aid to help farmers deal with the trade and tariff issues. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says the aid will be welcome. “It will be helpful obviously for those farmers who have suffered as we go through these trade negotiations — but what I still hear from farmers in Iowa is that they would rather see trade not aid, and I believe in that too. I think we need to continue working on these trade deals,” Ernst says.

She says they can’t ease up on the push for getting the trade deals done. “While we do appreciated the federal government stepping up and finding a way to support the farmers, we have to remember that we have to continue pushing to not only open up new markets, but to resecure the markets we’ve had in the past, like China,” according to Ernst.

Ernst says they need to keep pressuring the Speaker of the House to the trade deal with Canada and Mexico passed. “It does have to go through their Ways and Means Committee first before it comes to the floor,” Ernst says. “In the Senate, I see absolutely no problem getting U-S-M-C-A done.” Ernst made her comments on a conference call with reporters.

(Radio Iowa) — Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law that makes changes in how cities and counties set budgets and raise PROPERTY taxes. The bill was a priority for Republican House Speaker Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake.

“Just making sure that the community has a good voice and they aren’t surprised when their taxes go up,” Upmeyer told Radio Iowa. A two-thirds majority on a city council and county board of supervisors will have to approve any increase in property tax REVENUE of more than two percent. Upmeyer says another public hearing must be held if local government officials plan to increase property taxes.

“So if, in fact, you’re raising taxes and you’re going to spend more money, if I’m a county supervisor, I should just let the public know: ‘We need more money for X, Y and Z and this is where we’re going to spend it,'” Upmeyer said. Republican lawmakers said during debate of the bill that it may make local leaders think twice about raising property taxes.

Critics like Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh, a Republican, say the “heavy hand of state government” is placing unnecessary limits on growing cities. “I’m elected by the people of my community to do a job and when somebody who doesn’t have that perspective starts to tell me how to do the job and I don’t know that they’ve got the expertise that I do, it bothers me greatly,” Walsh says. Walsh made his comments last month on Iowa Public Television.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — One of two people charged in the slaying of a Des Moines man has been convicted of murder. Jasper County court records say 25-year-old Jaycie Sheeder, of Coon Rapids, also was found guilty Tuesday of robbery and being an accessory after the fact to murder.

Prosecutors say Sheeder helped 50-year-old Jeffrey Stendrup, of Clive, find and assault 36-year-old Jeremy McDowell. McDowell was found dead June 22 in Newton in the back of a vehicle Sheeder had been driving. Authorities say Sheeder kept silent about Stendrup’s involvement in the attack and never tried to stop it.

Sheeder’s sentencing is set for July 1st. Authorities think Stendrup suspected McDowell of stealing items from him and beat McDowell with a baseball bat in an effort to get the items back. Stendrup has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other crimes. He’s scheduled to begin trial Oct. 23.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials at a zoo in Des Moines say one of its elderly giraffes has been euthanized after suffering deteriorating health. The Blank Park Zoo said in a news release Thursday that 21-year-old Zuri was euthanized. The female giraffe was born in captivity at Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City, Kansas, in August 1997. In May 1998, she was moved to Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines.

Television station KCCI reports that veterinarians and keepers at the zoo had been successfully treating some of Zuri’s conditions for years with laser and stem cell therapy and a special shoe she wore. According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a female giraffe has a median life expectancy of about 19 years.

Four other giraffes remain at the zoo.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a couple of recent arrests.

At approximately 4:32pm Wednesday Officers arrested 57-year-old Jason Troy Waters of Red Oak on a charge of Harassment 3rd Degree. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and booked in on $300 cash bond.

At approximately 12:22pm Thursday Red Oak Police arrested 57-year-old Dawn Terese Nelson of Red Oak for Domestic Abuse Assault 1st Offense. Nelson was arrested after officers were called to the intersection of East Valley Street and North Miller Avenue in Red Oak for a report of a domestic situation. Nelson was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on no bond.

The Exira-EHK School Board met Tuesday evening in a regular session, during which Public Hearings were held. No comments were received during the hearings. Superintendent Trevor Miller says one of the hearings was with regard to a FY 2018-19 Budget Amendment. (Click on the left side of a sound bar below to listen)

The second hearing pertained to changes for the 2019-20 School Calendar.

The Exira-EHK Board approved 2019-20 fees, also.

The Board approved the purchase of a new school bus, which is equipped with shoulder belts.

They approved roof estimates for the Elk Horn Building.

As for personnel matters, the Exira-EHK Board approved a shared School Business Official (SBO) Agreement with IKM-Manning. Other personnel matters approved by the board include resignations and new hires.

And, the Board discussed but took no action on, a request for the district to join the Western Iowa Conference. Action on that is expected during their meeting on June 11th.