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.

ALLEMAN, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a worker who died after plunging hundreds of feet from a broadcast tower near Alleman in Polk County. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office identified the man Thursday as 47-year-old Kevin Wright. The sheriff’s office says Wright fell about 1,000 feet to his death around 10:50 a.m. Wednesday. The cause of his fall is being investigated.

Wright was an employee of PCI Communications. Television station KDSM said in a Facebook post that he was one of the contractors making repairs to its antenna.

Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reports “Westel customers in the Anita area are currently unable to call 911 on their landline phones. Cell phone service should not be affected.”  The EMA will put out another notification when service is restored.

MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) — A prosecutor says a dentist won’t be charged in connection with the death of a man suspected of trying to steal items from dentist’s office in eastern Iowa.
Dr. Clyde Overturff had told officers that he was spending the night of March 17-18 in an apartment at his Maquoketa (muh’-KOH’-keh-tuh) office when he tackled and tussled with a man he found in his dental office’s garage. Overturff says the man slumped over and stopped fighting, ending their struggle.

The Telegraph Herald reports that an autopsy report says the man, 44-year-old Richard Purcell, died from sudden cardiac arrest. Jackson County Attorney Sara Davenport says she won’t charge Overturff because Purcell’s death “was the result of pre-existing medical conditions aggravated by the actions of the property owner who was defending himself and his property.”

The City Council in Walnut will hold a Special Meeting beginning this evening at 5. On their agenda is discussion with regard to: the future and finances of, the Wellness Center; the Community Center, involving Family, Inc.; RAGBRAI, and, the transfer of Debt Service Institute.