The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, today (Friday), began presenting more information with regard to their Press Releases. Previously, unless there was a major incident, the Sheriff’s Office would simple send a call sheet or list of what Deputies responded to, but not much in the line of details. Officials say “The purpose of the new weekly press release is to give the public a better understanding of the case work done by the members of the sheriff’s office and to keep the public informed about who is arrested and for what.”

Among those arrested over the past week, was Stephanie Cooley, of Guthrie Center, who was taken into custody today (Jan. 25th) on a warrant for Pre-Trial Release Violation. Cooley’s original charge was for Methamphetamine Distribution. At the time of the press release, Cooley was being held on a $50,000 cash or surety bond.

On January 23^rd, Conar Hornsby and Samantha Henderson, both of Jefferson, were arrested following a traffic stop in Stuart.  Hornsby was charged with Possession of Marijuana 3^rd Offense, Drug Paraphernalia and Child Endangerment.  Henderson was charged with Possession of Marijuana 1^st Offense, Possession of Psilocybin Mushrooms 1^st Offense, Possession of Cocaine 1^st Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Child Endangerment.  Henderson also has a pending Operating While Intoxicated 1^st Offense charge as well. Hornsby is being held on a $2,000 cash or surety bond and Henderson posted a $5,000 surety bond.

January 21^st,  a juvenile male from Stuart was referred to juvenile court on a charge of Theft 5^th Degree. The charges stem from multiple vehicle burglaries in Adair and Guthrie County. The juvenile’s name was not released.

January 18^th – Sheryl Palmer, of Jamaica and Curtis Jurgensen, of Woodward were arrested in Perry following a disturbance in Jamaica.  Palmer was charged with Harassment 1^st Degree, Domestic Abuse Assault while Displaying a Weapon and Disorderly Conduct.  Jurgensen was charged with Harassment 1^st Degree and Accessory to a Misdemeanor.

Both Palmer and Jurgensen are still in the Guthrie County Jail. Palmer is being held on a $2,000 cash bond. Jurgensen is being held on $1,000 cash or surety bond. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Woodward Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and the Perry Police Department.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Tuesday afternoon of 66-year old James Edward Vaughn, Jr.  The Emerson man was taken into custody on a warrant for Sex Abuse in the 2nd Degree. His bond was set at $25,000.

And, a Glenwood teen was injured during a single-vehicle accident Thursday morning. 17-year old Harlan Wetterlund was driving a 2015 Chevy westbound on Gaston Avenue at around 8-a.m., near the intersection with 262nd Street, when his vehicle went out of control on the snow and entered the south ditch. The vehicle then collided with a utility pole, causing the pole to snap. Wetterlund was transported to the Bellevue Medical Center by Silver City Rescue.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld the use of speed cameras in Cedar Rapids in a revised ruling. The Supreme Court reheard the class action lawsuit against the cameras on Interstate 380 — after the city said the ruling did not rely on the most current version of the ordinance. In the new ruling the high court says many citizens many regard the automated cameras as “speed traps,” and the city seeks to encourage payment of fines rather than to force driver into small claims court.

But the ruling says while the court respectfully acknowledges these concerns — the case involves traffic citations with small fines — “not the pumping of a resisting person’s stomach.” The ruling does say it is possible to imagine a scenario in which the challenger develops a factual record that demonstrates the system is not related to public safety concerns and is simply designed to raise revenues for the city. But it says the drivers in this case have not done so.

(Radio Iowa) — Information was released this week on the investigation into the actions of three Denison city employees who were placed on administrative leave in December. The city manager, city clerk and fire chief were reinstated while the investigation continued, but the city said it was personnel issue and no public information was released. Attorney James Gilliam gave the city council an update and revealed the investigation reviewed how the three employees handled various budget and personnel actions.

He said “I did not find any evidence that any of the administrative decisions I review as part of my investigation were a product of bad faith, personal profit or constituted criminal conduct. Instead the decisions were made in what that the administrators believe were in the best interest of the city,” Gilliam says. Gilliam says that a portion of the problems resulted from a change enacted in 2012 when the current city manager took his position and a portion of his duties were assigned to the city clerk position. He says the changes led to a less active management style by the council.

“The decisions were made in an environment where the council was exercising less than full oversight and control over administration decisions,” Gilliam explains. “And the administrators — taking advantage of that lack of council control — usurped the council’s policy-making authority.” He says this led to a lack of communication among the council and administrators.

“In this environment city administrators developed a habit of under-informing council of their actions — and became defensive when the council asked legitimate questions,” Gilliam says. Gilliam presented several recommendations on how the council and administration could improve their working relationship and the way the city conducts its business.

The council accepted the report and concluded the investigation. No further action was taken, but the council will be able to ask written question of Gilliam to obtain information on specific items in his full report before a special city council meeting is likely to be scheduled. That council meeting could include an endorsement of the council to maintain the current staff. No other action was taken.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man already serving life in prison for killing an Iowa City cab driver has been convicted of murder in the 2017 shooting death of an Iowa City bail bondsman. Television station KGAN reports that a jury convicted 42-year-old Curtis Jones on Wednesday of first-degree murder in the death of 34-year-old Jonathan Wieseler.

Prosecutors say Jones was seen on security video near the crime scene and that Wieseler’s DNA was found in Jones’ vehicle. Jones was also convicted in November of first-degree murder for the 2017 death of cab driver Ricky Lillie and sentenced to life in prison.

Jones committed the murders after being released years early from prison in late 2016 by the Iowa Board of Parole. He had been serving a stint for armed robbery.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports that a traffic stop early Thursday morning on Highway 31 north of Braddyville, resulted in the arrest of a rural Essex woman. 30-year old Chasity Nichole Zaiger was arrested for driving while barred / habitual offender. She was transported to the Page County Sheriff’s Office and held on a $2,000 bond.

BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — A woman suspected in the fatal shooting of a man in an Omaha suburb has been arrested just across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs. Authorities say 18-year-old Sadie Grant, of Omaha, was booked Thursday night into Pottawattamie County Jail. After extradition she’ll face three Nebraska charges: first-degree murder, use of a weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery.

She and 18-year-old Dakota Pirruccello are accused of killing 23-year-old Brian Faeller, who was shot a little before 9 p.m. on Jan. 15 after opening the door at a Bellevue apartment. He also was known as Brian Faeller-Crom.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Republican-controlled Iowa House is denying press credentials to an influential liberal blogger who has covered the Legislature for years. Laura Belin, who operates the Bleeding Heartland blog , said the House chief clerk hasn’t cited any valid reason for the denial, which she suspects is tied to her critical coverage of Republican leaders and policies. Belin, who has reported on the Legislature since 2007, has appealed the decision and is considering legal action.

Belin applied for formal credentials for the first time to cover this session, which would grant her work space and easier access to briefings with key lawmakers, among other things. Staff in the Republican-controlled Iowa Senate indicated that her request would be granted for that chamber. But Carmine Boal, the chief clerk of the Iowa House, told Belin in a Jan. 3 email that “press credentials are not issued to members of the public.” Esteemed Iowa news executive Michael Gartner has praised Belin’s political reporting and national publications have recognized her work. She routinely breaks news and writes in-depth analyses of legislation and campaigns. While the Legislature is in session, her blog typically gets 1,500 or more unique daily visitors, including lawmakers, staffers and other insiders.

Belin is open about her liberal views and compares herself to reporters for left-leaning publications such as Mother Jones and The Nation. Iowa House rules do not define who qualifies as a member of the press and other non-traditional outlets have been granted credentials in the past. She has been critical of Democratic lawmakers, as well, including pieces in which she called for the resignation of a Democratic senator accused of sexual misconduct and criticized some Democratic legislators for not raising enough money to help their party compete with the GOP.

Boal told Belin in a follow-up email about the denial that the House has used Congressional rules governing press galleries for guidance. But those rules wouldn’t appear to bar Belin, either, as they require credentials to be granted to applicants who are engaged in news reporting. Belin has asked Boal to reconsider the decision several times over the last three weeks, but Boal hasn’t responded. Belin, whose late father founded one of Iowa’s most prominent law firms, says she has consulted with an attorney about taking legal action but hopes it doesn’t come to that. She said the slight isn’t going to affect her coverage of the Legislature, which started its session earlier this month.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An autopsy has been ordered on the body of a woman found inside a fire-damaged hotel room in Sioux City. Police say officers found 40-year-old Elizabeth Bockholt in the Wingate Hotel room Thursday night, and medics were unable to resuscitate her. She was pronounced at the scene. She lived in Hinton. Police and fire officials are investigating.