DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A top state official says Iowa is providing better mental health care after an overhaul of the system, though critics question the recent closure of two state-run mental health institutes. Department of Human Services Director Chuck Palmer told an advisory board Wednesday that Iowa’s mental health system was serving more people and providing more modern care. The effort to remake the system began in 2011 and was implemented last year.

Gov. Terry Branstad has been criticized for halting funding for two Iowa mental health institutes this year. The Des Moines Register reported Wednesday that a third patient from one of those centers died after being moved to a private nursing home.

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating a homicide. Officials say just before 7-a.m. today (Wednesday), the Pottawattamie County 911 center received a call from a person who said he was outside the home of his employee, 55-year old Robert R Schendel, who resides at 706 Mynster Street. Schendel had not shown up for work as usual, and the employer was requesting a welfare check.

55-year old Robert R Schendel (Council Bluff P-D photo)

Uniformed officers arrived at the residence and were unable to get a response so entry was made. Officers located Schendel inside the home. The man was dead from several gunshot wounds. Schendel’s vehicle, a 1988 Gray Dodge Caravan bearing Iowa License plate BGZ696, was missing.

The Criminal Investigation Division was called to the scene, and while the death was in the early stages of investigation, the incident was being treated as a homicide. An autopsy has been scheduled for Thursday in Ankeny. Anyone with any information about the crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

A joint investigative effort between the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and the Atlantic Police Department into illegal drug activities in Cass County has led to numerous arrests. Taken into custody on August the 4th were the following individuals:

• 26-year old Brittiny Christina Marie Sampson, of Atlantic. Sampson was arrested for Conspiracy to Deliver Methamphetamine (a Class-C Felony).
• 32-year old Jacob Michael Leary, of Atlantic. He was arrested on a felony charge of Delivery of Methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a Public Park.
• 33-year old Ryan Michael Paul, of Atlantic. Paul was arrested on felony charges of Ongoing Criminal Conduct, Delivery of Methamphetamine, Delivery of Methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a Public Park, Possession of Methamphetamine 3rd or Subsequent Offense, and Sponsoring a Gathering where Illegal Drugs are Used. He also faces misdemeanor charges of Prohibited Acts and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
• 29-year old Albert Alexander Johnson, of Atlantic, was arrested Aug. 4th on a felony charge of Conspiracy to Deliver Methamphetamine.
• 46-year old Richard Dean Fineran, of Atlantic, was arrested on felony charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, Sponsoring a Gathering where Illegal Drugs are Used, and a misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge.

On Tuesday, August 11th, authorities arrested 21-year old Jessica Lee Mack, of Atlantic, and 29-year old Tony Lee Mack, of Atlantic. Both face felony charges of Conspiracy to Deliver Methamphetamine within 1000 feet of a School. On Wed., Aug. 12th, 53-year old Clayton Wade Schmitt, of Atlantic, was arrested on a felony charge of Delivery of Methamphetamine.

The suspects who remained in the Cass County Jail as of Wednesday afternoon include: Brittiny Sampson, Jacob Leary, Albert Johnson, and Richard Dean Fineran,  who were being held on $50,000 bond, each. Ryan Paul was being held on $100,000 bond. Tony Mack’s bond was set at $10,000, while Clayton Schmitt was being held on $25,000 bond. Jessica Mack was released on August 11th on her own recognizance.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture says farmers are expected to produce 13.7 billion bushels of corn this year, down 4 percent from last year’s record. It will be the third highest annual production on record in the U.S. Farmers are expected to harvest 81.1 million acres, down 2 percent from a year ago.

The USDA monthly crop update released Wednesday says Iowa, the nation’s top corn producer, expects to harvest 2.43 billion bushels, up 2.8 percent from 2014. Nebraska’s corn production will increase 3.8 percent to 1.66 billion bushels. Illinois corn production will fall nearly 15 percent.

Soybean production is forecast at 3.92 billion bushels, down 1 percent from last year. Production will drop 2.5 percent in Illinois, the nation’s leader. Iowa production will increase 2 percent.

HAWARDEN, Iowa (AP) – A mobile replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is headed to Sioux County. The Sioux City Journal reports that The Moving Wall will be placed near the Hawarden Pavilion on Thursday afternoon and will remain there through Monday morning. A welcoming ceremony is scheduled for Saturday.

U.S. Army Specialist 4th class Steven Wayne Hendricks is one of two Hawarden natives who were killed in Vietnam.  Hendricks died in May 1971 after a land mine detonated beneath his armored personnel carrier. He was 20. His 84-year-old mother said she plans to attend the welcoming ceremony. She has offered her son’s U.S. Army uniform, plus photos and his possessions for display, at The Moving Wall.

A traffic stop late Tuesday evening resulted in a pursuit, the collision of two law enforcement vehicles and arrest of the suspect after he crashed his vehicle. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says Justin Gerlach, who was wanted out of Hamilton County for Eluding, OWI 3rd, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and a Parole Violation, now faces charges in Guthrie County. Those charges include Eluding, Possession of Marijuana 3rd Offense, Carrying Weapons, Driving While Barred, and Interference with Official Acts.

The incident leading up to his arrest began at around 8:45-p.m., when Guthrie County Sheriff’s Deputy Blake Michelsen initiated a stop on a Pontiac in the 1000 block of Highway 25, for not displaying a license plate light. The vehicle began to accelerate northbound on Highway 25. The car continued northbound on Highway 25 and was gaining speed in an attempt to elude the Deputy, who lost track of the vehicle at around 8:52-p.m. on E Avenue, in Greene County.

A Greene County Deputy made contact with the vehicle at 8:56-p.m. and pursued it until losing it at Highway 141.  A 911 call came in at 9:34-p.m. of a white Grand Prix or Grand Am heading westbound from Bayard on highway 141 at a high rate of speed. A Coon Rapids Police Officer made contact with the vehicle in Coon Rapids at approximately 9:37-p.m. and pursued it westbound on Highway 141 from Coon Rapids. The vehicle was involved in an accident, and caused two police vehicles (driven by a Coon Rapids Police Officer and a Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy) to run into each other.

Gerlach was taken into custody without further incident, following the crash of his vehicle. No injuries were reported.

Police in Council Bluffs say a three-year old was taken into protective custody early this (Wednesday) morning, after the boy was found alone, walking near the Burger King restaurant at 3209 W. Broadway Street. The incident was reported at around 5:45-a.m.  When officers arrived on the scene, the child was able to provide his first name, but not any information regarding where he had come from or why he was alone.

The boy was then taken into protective custody until a parent could be located. At approximately 8:30-a.m., the Pottawattamie County 911 Communications Center received a call from a woman who said her three-year old son was missing. Officers met with the mother and interviewed her. Police say she told them she left the child in the care of a relative in the area of 35th and 11th Avenue in Council Bluffs, at approximately 5-a.m., and went to work.

The woman received a frantic call from her relative saying that the child was missing shortly, before 8:30-a.m. A preliminary investigation indicates that the child was able to exit out of the locked residence, while other family members slept. The incident is being reviewed by the Council Bluffs Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division and DHS. Due to the ongoing investigation and the age of the minor child, no names are being released at this time.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors paid a visit to a new business, recently. Steve and Sue Andersen are the owners of the Bike Farm, which Steve operates out of a garage on his property just outside of Atlantic. Andersen handles  bike repairs, sells some bike equipment and accessories, and looks forward to one day selling both bikes and bike apparel.

Ambassadors Pictured: Darryl Hockenberry, Sue Muri, JoAnn Runyan, Dr. James Kickland, Donnie Drennan, Crystal Christensen, Debbie Leistad, Russ Joyce, Lana Westphalen, Pat McCurdy, Kerry Jepsen, Sara Nelson, Diane Gipple, Rich Perry, Carole Schuler, Dolly Bergmann, Kathy Sweeny, Rollie Landsness, Dr. Keith Leonard D.V.M., Carol Seddon, Gerald Brink, Nedra Perry, Dr. Hailey Kickland.

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said today (Wednesday), that last weekend’s “AtlanticFest” celebration was a big success,” with “An overwhelming amount of positive comments from business owners, volunteers, participants and vendors,” according to Chamber Executive Director Quida Wymer. .

AtlanticFest Committee Chair Randy Sandage, of West Central, said the event started off slow with a rainy forecast, but quickly developed into a perfect summer day. The annual Road Race kicked off AtlanticFest with over130 racers. The overall winners included Marc Bierbaum for the 5 mile race, David Thomsen for the 2 mile race, and Guy Somers for the 2 mile walk.

The annual Tractor Ride started at the Cass County Fairgrounds and ended at AtlanticFest, where the tractors were on display for everyone to check out. Officials say the craft fair was well attended with a good variety of vendors. Baxter Cycle and Steffens Cycle worked together to host the Motorcycle Show. The new location on Chestnut was a welcome change for the motorcyclists and observers, according to the Chamber. Registration has increased every year, with over 80 bikes this year.

The 17th annual Car Show, sponsored by Atlantic Motor Supply, NAPA and coordinated by Steve and Angie Butcher of the Butcher Shop, had 128 registered cars.
Kelly Schlake, Atlantic Motor Supply, NAPA helped award all the winners with 75 trophies. The Best of Show Award went to Keith Cooper for his 1937 Ford H Custom.

The Bags Tournament, sponsored by Megan Roberts, State Farm, and Fajen Lumber, had over 64 teams registered. The 50/50 raffle was won by local resident Heidi Hinman, with $781 in AtlantiCash.

You can find all the results from AtlanticFest on www.AtlanticIowa.com. AtlanticFest 2016 will be held Saturday, August 13th, 2016. If you have questions, comments or want to be a part of the planning in 2016, contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or e-mail: chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

The Cass County Conservation Board is considering a resolution to open the east half of the Turkey Creek Wildlife Area to public hunting. The Turkey Creek Wildlife Area is located between Atlantic and Lewis, just off Highway 6. The area is currently not open to public hunting, and the Conservation Board feels the area is underutilized.

A public hearing will be held August 27th beginning at 5-p.m. to address the matter. The hearing takes place at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Office at Cold Springs State Park, at Lewis. Input will be taken at that time with regard to a proposal to open the area to public hunting.

If you have any questions, please call Micah Lee with the Cass County Conservation Board, at 712-769-2372.