(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department says a resident of the community reported Wednesday, that someone has stolen his 2017 Dodge RAM 2500 pickup truck. The vehicle was last seen at around 9-p.m. Tuesday. The loss was estimated at just under $10,000.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a man was arrested early this (Thursday) morning, on an Assault charge. 35-year-old Malachi Jesus Hilkey was arrested at around 3:40-a.m. in the 1200 block of 130th Street, in Montgomery County. Hilkey was charged with Assault on persons in certain occupations – without injury (a Serious Misdemeanor).

He was taken into custody with the assistance of Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputies and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $1,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnson, Wednesday, told members of the Atlantic School Board, that the district’s Robotics Team was notified they have been awarded three grants totaling $14,000, as part of the start-up process of funding a robotics course as part of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program.

Board member Kristy Pellett mentioned the district has had a robotics program in the past, and asked if there was a way to incorporate the new program into a TAG (Talented And Gifted) funding and TAG programs.

A Robotics Club will be funded through grants for the first year, but that does not cover the costs of club member’s lodging, food and transportation to competitive events. The Board discussed having district patrons and businesses help defray team costs in the future. During the action portion of the Board’s meeting, Wednesday, they approved Stacey Schmidt and Andy Mitchell as Robotics Club Sponsors.

In other business, Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) Executive Director D.T. Magee presented Atlantic School Board President Laura McClean, with an award of appreciation for her service on the State board. McLean has served on the Board since 2003. Her District 7 representation expires at the end of the month. About three months ago, McLean was hired by the City of Atlantic for the City Clerk’s position.

Magee said they are excited for her new job duties, but “It came at a loss for us.”

He presented her with an award of recognition, Wednesday evening.

(Atlantic, Iowa) [corrects spelling of Johnson’s first name]– Atlantic resident Eric Johnson spoke before the Atlantic School Board Wednesday night during the Public Comment portion of their agenda, with regard to reports of bed bugs in the district’s buildings.

Johnson said on November 22nd, 2024, bed bugs were discovered on one or more students at the Atlantic High School. Those students, he said, have younger siblings at the Schuler Elementary School.

Eric Johnson said he spoke with Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen on December 5. “She alleged that the whole school board was aware of this issue,” he said.

Eric Johnson speaks during the Atlantic School Board meeting, Dec. 11, 2024

Eric Johnson said the Dept. of Public Health believes the District is handling the issue properly, and that they will not be stepping-in until it becomes a bigger issue or an infestation at the schools.

He said he agrees the affected students’ rights to a public education cannot be deprived, but there are other policies in-place to protect the health and safety of staff and students. He went on to say that “Inaction on the ground we [the district] don’t have a policy on that [bed bugs], “Is completely unacceptable,” and parents who pull their children out of school until the situation is resolved may be held legally accountable, and “the infestation will be allowed to continue.”

Johnson said he thinks the entire Trojan community is at risk. The Atlantic School Board typically does not respond to statement made during the public comment period, but those statements are entered into the record.

Read Johnson’s full statement here: letter from Eric Johnson presented to Board Meeting Dec 11 2024

(Radio Iowa) – Many Iowans already have big plans for New Year’s Eve, so the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is suggesting anyone who loves the outdoors to take part in an event on New Year’s Day. Sherry Arntzen, chief of the D-N-R’s Parks, Forests and Preserves Bureau, says what are known as First Day Hikes are being held on January 1st at dozens of Iowa’s state parks. “It’s just a fantastic way for people to get out and start the year,” Arntzen says. “Everybody makes New Year’s resolutions, and if one of them is to get healthy, why not go out and enjoy getting healthy in our state parks?” The First Day Hikes tradition started in Iowa in 2012 as a way of launching the new year with a new outlook on the outdoors and getting healthy.

Arntzen says participants are surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature in winter, and they experience spectacular views, beautiful settings and the cultural treasures offered by Iowa’s state parks.  “A lot of our parks, people don’t realize, are open year-round,” Arntzen says, “weather, obviously dependent for road conditions, but it’s a great way to get out and enjoy the outdoors in the off-season when people don’t typically think of going outside.” First Day Hikes are being offered in 45 of Iowa’s state parks on the first day of 2025, and there are essentially two different types of hikes. “This year, we have 19 parks that are offering hosted guided hikes. They have a meeting area, and you actually tour along with either a park person or a friends group member,” Arntzen says. “A number of them have refreshments available, hot cocoa or snacks, and it starts at a designated time.”

The other 26 hikes are self-guided and while most of them are just one or two miles, some are longer, depending on the location. Find full details here: www.iowadnr.gov/firstdayhikes

(Radio Iowa) – The U-S Department of Labor says it has reached an agreement with a Minneapolis-based construction services provider on allegations of sexual harassment by employees in Iowa.

The Labor Department says the conciliation agreement with Ryan Companies will have them pay 350-thousand dollars to resolve allegations employees faced sexual harassment, a hostile work environment or retaliatory actions after cooperating with federal investigators. The incidents happened while the company worked on federally funded projects including the construction of the new federal courthouse in Des Moines. The federal compliance office determined the harassment was severe and pervasive, and officials with Ryan Companies knew of and, in some instances, participated in the harassment.

The federal compliance office is seeking employees in Des Moines who may be due payment or job placement as a result of Ryan’s actions. They are asked to contact the office.

MASON CITY, Iowa (KTTC) – Christopher Revak, a deceased suspect in Jodi Huisentruit’s murder case, is once again the focus of the on-going investigation. Huisentruit went missing in 1995 while on her way to work at KIMT-TV in Mason City. She has not been seen or heard from since.

According to findjodi.com, a Mason City Police (MCPD) Sargent assigned to the case is expected to meet with a Wisconsin investigator to compare notes and discuss an old lead that was previously dismissed by the MCPD. Wood County Wisconsin Sheriff’s office say they believe Wisconsin Rapids native Christopher Revak could be responsible for the crime. However, Revak took his own life while in a Missouri jail one day after being charged with second-degree murder for the March 2007 death of Rene Williams.

MCPD Sgt. Terrance Prochaska said the cases of two women who went missing in Missouri may be related to Revak.

The most recent tip led investigators to Winsted, MN, where someone had thought they might have discovered human remains. The recent search only discovered animal remains.

(Radio Iowa) – Three policemen have been honored for saving a man from a burning apartment in downtown Oelwein last February. Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephen Bayens says the officers were first to arrive at the scene of an apartment building fire, went door to door to evacuate residents and rescued a man after they heard his feeble call for help.

“These three officers showed exceptional courage and judgment knowing that immediate action was necessary,” Bayens says. “They disregarded their own safety by plunging into a smoke-billowing apartment without the benefit of safety equipment to preserve life.”

Oelwein officers Gage Voshell, William Ward and Codi Wurzer were treated for smoke inhalation. Their Awards of Valor are named for the five Sullivan brothers of Waterloo who were killed in action during World War II when the U-S-S Juneau was sunk by Japanese torpedoes. Kelly Sullivan, the granddaughter of one of the siblings, attended yesterday’s (Wednesday’s) ceremony at the Capital and handed each officer their honorary medal.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Henningsen Construction in Atlantic announced Wednesday night that the company’s third-generation owner, Mike Henningsen, died Tuesday, at the age of 72. In addition to his business leadership and vision, the company said in his obituary, that Henningsen had served as president of the Asphalt Paving Association of Iowa, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2015.

He was a long-time board member of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and served for 20 years on the Atlantic Airport Commission. Henningsen owned a P-51D Mustang, “Big Beautiful Doll,” that was frequently heard in the skies over Atlantic until it was sold in 2014. He also owned a North American T-6 Texan.

A funeral service to celebrate the life of Mike Henningsen will be held on Tuesday, December 17, at 1 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church in Atlantic, Iowa.

(Iowa DNR News) – Iowans can buy 2025 resident hunting, fishing and other licenses on Dec. 15.  Licenses purchased for 2024 expire on Jan. 10th. The menu of license options includes the popular Outdoor Combo annual resident hunting/fishing/habitat combo license for $55; the Angler’s Special three-year fishing license for $62; and the Hunter’s Special three-year hunting license with habitat included for $101.

Also available is the Bonus Line option for $14 letting resident and nonresident anglers to fish with one more line in addition to the two lines allowed with the regular fishing license. Upgrade your paper license to a durable hard card with custom art from Iowa artists for only $6.

Download the GoOutdoorsIowa mobile app for iPhone and Android devices to buy and access your license information, no matter where you are. Sync your hunting and fishing licenses on the app to show in the field. You may download multiple customer licenses to offer one secure digital license document location for families, groups, and more.

Licenses are available at 600 locations across the state, and on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/GoOutdoorsIowa.

The Iowa DNR says “Hunting and fishing are often enjoyed with family and friends. A fishing or hunting license makes a great stocking stuffer. “