A woman from Des Moines wanted on Page County warrants for Trespassing and Conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony, turned herself-in this (Friday) morning. 30-year old Charlene Lynn Chaney, appeared at the sheriff’s office at around 8:30-a.m., was processed and booked, then later released on $5,000 bond, pending further court proceedings.

Charlene Chaney

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A divided Iowa Supreme Court has overturned the robbery conviction of an Iowa City man establishing that police can’t search someone’s personal belongings without a warrant even when the items are in the home of another person who consents to a search. The case involves a backpack owned by Marvis Latrell Jackson located in an Iowa City apartment housing men police suspected of robbing a pizza restaurant on Dec. 31, 2012.

One of the apartment’s occupants consented to a search but police did not ask Jackson if they could search his backpack where they found a gun and cash. Justices in a 4-3 opinion say officers should’ve gotten a warrant or Jackson’s permission to search the backpack. They threw out Jackson’s conviction and ordered a new trial.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Friday), set May 11^th as the date and time for a public hearing on a construction permit application for Southwest Iowa Egg. Supervisor Duane McFadden explained the facility near Massena intends to renovate the plant buildings in phases, over a period of years. Two buildings will be removed, and replaced with one, larger building with increased capacity for both the laying hens and manure management.

Supervisor Frank Waters said the people who he’s spoken with – some of whom were originally opposed to the facility when it was first proposed a dozen years ago – said they didn’t object to plans, and so far, there have been no written objections. Steve Baier, of Griswold, is a Southwest Iowa Egg stockholder, who says the facility will be modern, efficient and, better for the birds. It will feature larger cages, and a better manure storage.

The new facility will keep the manure drier, and provide less “out-gassing” of odors. In other business, the Board approved a request from the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund, for the creation of an avenue of flags and plaza area, in the County’s portion of the downtown, Atlantic City Park. Trevor’s mom, and fund spokesperson Melanie Petty explained the project to the Board.

Conceptual sketch of the proposed City Park plaza improvements.

She said the Atlantic Parks and Rec Dept. and members of the TFMF will install 8, 16-foot flagpoles purchased from the Kiwanis Club. The flags will be lit by solar lights installed on the flagpoles. A new, 3-foot by 58-foot sidewalk will be installed next to the current sidewalk on both sides, to act as a surface for the poles and plaza for memorial benches.

The memorial benches will lock into the concrete, so they aren’t stolen. The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund will take care of all costs associated with the project, and  will continue to maintain the flowerbed in the plaza area. The project has the blessing of the City of Atlantic’s Parks and Rec Department, and Kiwanis Club, and the Supervisors were in unanimous support of it. The project will likely be completed sometime late this fall.

And, the Cass County Supervisors tabled action until May 11^th, on authorizing the County Recorder to purchase specialized equipment to take passport photos. The equipment would cost about $1,695. The current driver’s license camera and equipment cannot be used for passport purposes. Supervisor Mark Wedemeyer wanted the request be tabled because a local businessman wanted the chance to object. That person was not able to attend today’s (Friday’s) meeting.

Police in Glenwood arrested a man Thursday on an assault charge. 50-year old David Smith, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. Smith was being held without bond in the Mills Jail pending an appearance before the magistrate.

The National Weather Service in Omaha/Valley has confirmed an EF-1 Tornado touched down in rural Montgomery County on Wednesday, April 27th. No injuries were reported and damage was limited.

According to the Weather Service Survey of the event, the twister touched down at 3:14-p.m., three-miles east/southeast of Stanton and ended 5-minutes later three-miles east/northeast of Stanton.

Tornado track

It packed winds of 85-to 90-miles per hour, and was about 25-yards wide. It was on the ground for about one and three-quarters of a mile before dissipating.

Photo of the twister as is crossed Hwy 34 near Viking Lake (Photo credit: Adam Wainwright via the Montgomery County EMA)

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A Sheriff’s Deputy from Cass County was recognized Wednesday night at a State conference held in Okoboji.  Deputy Ben Bartholomew received the “Outstanding Achievement Award” as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) for the Southwest Region of Iowa.  It’s the 5th year in a row he’s won the award, which was presented April 27th during a conference of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB).

Police in Creston arrested a man on a Domestic Assault charge, late Thursday morning. 37-year old Demion Garrison, of Creston, was brought to the Union County Jail and later released on $1,000 bond.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A trial has been delayed for a western Iowa man accused of fraudulently billing Medicaid. Online court records say 52-year-old Darren Washington, of Avoca, has pleaded not guilty to charges of theft and fraudulent practice. His Pottawattamie County trial was to have begun Tuesday but now is set to begin May 31.

The Daily Nonpareil reports that Washington allegedly billed Medicaid for services he didn’t perform while working for Health Homes Family Services. Court records say the fraudulent billings totaled more than $13,400.