(Glenwood, Iowa) – Police in Glenwood report 18-year-old Casey Jones, of Glenwood, was arrested Sunday, on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault. Jones was later released on her own recognizance

(Radio Iowa) – House Speaker Pat Grassley says he’d like to ensure a new moratorium on casinos would have enough votes to pass the Senate and be signed into law by the governor before the House takes a vote on the proposal.  “I would like for us to reach some sort of a consensus on what that would look like if we are to move forward,” Grassley said. Last spring, just before the 2024 legislature adjourned, 71 House members voted for a ban on new casino licenses through 2029, but the Senate never considered it. The chairman of a House committee says he’ll introduce a casino moratorium bill this week.

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has scheduled a February 6th vote on a casino license for a 275-million dollar “Cedar Crossing” casino in Cedar Rapids, but that would be nixed if lawmakers enact a moratorium before then. “The legislature, if we make that decision, has the ability to move fairly quickly. It still takes time, obviously, to move bills whether it’s through the House or the Senate,” Grassley says. “…There are some divides in the legisalture, regardless of party…so we’ll have some conversations if that’s the route we decide to go.”

House Speaker Pat Grassley on “Iowa Press” taping in House chamber on Jan. 15, 2025. (Iowa PBS photo)

Grassley made his comments during an appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) released a report on arrests dating back to December 28th. In order from the most recent to earliest arrests:

On Sunday, January 19th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 47-year-old Christopher Sharp, of Griswold, on the charge of Domestic Abuse Assault – 1st Offense.  Sharp was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On Friday, January 17th, 44-year-old Kantauo Mark,  of Atlantic, on warrants for Failure to Appear and Violation of Probation.  Mark was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On January 14th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Sherry Franzen, 67, of Elliott, on the charge of OWI 1st Offense.  Franzen was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.

On January 13th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Benjamin Caldwell, 41, of Omaha, on warrants for OWI 1st Offense and Driving while Revoked.  Caldwell was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release.

On January 12th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Brock Knapp, 36, of Atlantic, on the charge of Domestic Abuse Assault – 1st Offense.  Knapp was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On January 9th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Daneos Matheus, 23, of Atlantic, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Matheus was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On January 8th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jene Zarbano Jr., 24, of Atlantic, on the charges of OWI 1st Offense and Speeding.  Zarbano was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On January 7th, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Alicia Dellaca, 34, of Avoca, on a warrant for Assault.  Dellaca was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond.

On January 2nd, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Steifi Otup, 39, of Atlantic, on the charge of Driving while Revoked.  Otup was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance. And, 36-year-old Shea Young, of Atlantic, was arrested on warrants for Domestic Abuse Assault and Obstruction of Emergency Communication.  Young was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On January 1st, 2025, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Tarek Punan, 25, of Atlantic, on the charges of Public Intoxication and Interference with Official Acts.  Punan was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release.

On December 29th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Adia Hebron, 21, of Cumberland, on the charge of Operating a Motor Vehicle without the Owner’s Consent.  Hebron was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.

On December 28th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Dolyne Canfield, 32, of Griswold, for Public Intoxication.  Canfield was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s congressional delegation was in a packed U-S Capitol Rotunda for today’s inauguration ceremony. Senator Joni Ernst posted videos on social media as she’s walked around the Capitol complex this (Monday) morning.

As Senators filed into the area, Ernst noted it was a bit chaotic.

House and Senate members are seated. Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn of Bondurant posted a video message to constituents.

Governor Reynolds gathered with other Republican governors in the rotunda as well.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest at around 10:45-p.m. Jan. 16th, of 21-year-old Brandon Quentin Sargent, of Stuart. Sargent was arrested in Stuart by Officers with the Stuart Police Department, for OWI/1st offense. At the scene of his traffic stop, Sargent’s BreathAlcohol content measured .206%, which was more than twice the legal limit for intoxication. At the Adair County Jail, the test results showed .185% for intoxication.

Sargent was released from custody the following day on a $1,000 bond.

(Sioux City, Iowa) – The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa reports a man on supervised release was sentenced January 16, 2025, to 16 years in federal prison. Bob Schonrock, age 54, from Sioux City, received the prison term after pleading guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user, and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Schonrock has an extensive criminal history including, aggravated battery, grand theft, possession of controlled substance, eluding and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) in state court, and possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user and possession of a stolen firearm in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.

Evidence in the case revealed that in November of 2023, Sioux City Police officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle Schonrock was operating for an equipment violation. Drug paraphernalia was observed in plain view on the front passenger seat. During a search, a scale with methamphetamine residue was located on Schonrock, and a handgun was found in a tool bag in the back seat of the vehicle. A magnetic container was also located underneath the vehicle adjacent the driver’s door which contained approximately 10.74 grams of methamphetamine.

Officers also located a garage Schonrock was known to use. and upon a search found methamphetamine residue on a countertop adjacent to packaging materials and a plastic bag containing methamphetamine with an approximate gross weight of 483 grams. Schonrock was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 180 months’ imprisonment, consecutive to 12 months imprisonment for the supervised release violation. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Rockwood is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests that took place over the past week. Most recently:

• Friday night (1/17), 43-year-old Eurvin Ray Morgan, Jr., of Omaha, was arrested for Violation of Probation.
• Thursday night, Mills County Deputies arrested 28-year-old Vance Scott Yates, III, of Neola, for OWI/1st offense.
• Wednesday morning, 37-year-old Deonte Levon Manuel, of Bellevue, NE, was arrested for Failure to Appear.
• And, at around 11:25-a.m. on Jan. 14th, Mills County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 37-year-old Myles Dustin Loncor, of Henderson, for Interference with Official Acts.

Atlantic, Iowa— Officials with Cass Health in Atlantic have announced Megan Frederiksen ARNP, FNP-C is now seeing patients. Frederiksen is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). She provides family practice care for patients of all ages. In a press release, Frederiksen said she “Started at Luther College as a pre-med major. Throughout my experience, I learned I wanted a career with better work/life balance, which led me to bedside nursing. While I developed my nursing skills, I realized I wanted a greater say in patient care. Becoming a nurse practitioner allows me to experience the benefits of both work/life balance, and helping a patient determine a plan of care that’s best for them.”

Frederiksen earned a Bachelor of Science from Luther College in 2007 and then completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Nebraska Methodist in 2009. During her nursing career at Cass Health, Frederiksen primarily worked in the Emergency Department, Obstetrics, and most recently, Cardiac Rehab. After more than a decade in nursing, Frederiksen returned to school and completed her Master of Science in Nursing at Clarkson College, graduating in August 2024.

Megan Frederiksen, ARNP, FNP-C. (Photo submitted)

When asked about what it means to now provide care in the community she grew up in, she said “Since I grew up here, I know a lot of the community, and over the course of my nursing career, I’ve met even more people. Small towns are big families, so it’s like taking care of family.”

To schedule an appointment, please call Cass Health at 712-243-2850.

(Radio Iowa) – A northwest Iowa organization is helping immigrants make legal preparations as the new administration takes office, since President-elect Donald Trump promised to order mass deportations after he’s sworn in. Yareli Flores is the office manager of the Mary T. Treglia House in Sioux City, which has been busy assisting immigrants without legal status.  “Anything from getting their green card, applying for citizenship, applying for work permits, asylum, TPS,” Flores says. “They are very persistent on what can be done for them and what are their options. They’re scared of what’s to come.” The American Immigration Council estimates there are more than 52-thousand immigrants without legal status living in Iowa.

Flores says the nonprofit has been offering a lot of advice lately on how to stay in the country legally. “There has been an uptick in folks visiting our site, worried about what might happen. They want to take action and prepare themselves as best they can.”

Due to privacy and safety concerns, the nonprofit will not disclose how many people without legal status they are helping. Flores says she came illegally to the United States at the age of two and returned to Mexico after high school for 18 months to acquire her green card. She’s now a U-S citizen.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Rotary Club wants to remind graduating seniors from the Atlantic Community School of scholarships available from the Atlantic Rotary Club. The Atlantic Rotary Club will award two (2) $1,000 Scholarships to graduating Seniors from Atlantic High School that will be attending a four-year college or university. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in a four-year college or university on or before October 1st of the year in which the scholarship is awarded.

The Atlantic Rotary Club will also award two (2) $1,000 Scholarships to graduating seniors from Atlantic High School that will be attending a Community College, Vocational or Technical Institution. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in the program on or before October 1st of the year in which the scholarship is awarded.

Applications are available on the Atlantic Community School website and must be submitted by March 31st, 2025 to Atlantic Rotary Club, PO Box 82, Atlantic, IA 50022. For more information, contact Rotarian Dolly Bergmann, 712-249-9275, or email at bsktcola@gmail.com.