Detectives with the Council Bluffs Police Department arrested a Council Bluffs man Tuesday afternoon, for allegedly communicating through social media and text messages, with a person he thought was a 13-year old girl. 30-year old Andrew Newport was arrested at around 1:30-p.m.  The “girl” was actually an undercover detective. During his communications, Newport offered to pay for sex and sent a photo of his genitalia.

Andrew Newport

The detective, posing as the young girl, agreed to meet Newport Tuesday afternoon, with the understanding that they would have sex.  Once Newport arrived at the meeting location, he was apprehended and taken in for questioning. Newport was booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail on Felony charges that include: Sexual Exploitation of a Minor (a Class “C” Felony), Enticing a Minor (a Class “D” Felony), and Solicitation (a Class “C” Felony). He was also charged with Dissemination of Obscene Material (a Serious Misdemeanor).

(Radio Iowa) — Temperatures have cooled in recent weeks, but a spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Public Health says that isn’t enough yet to slow down all mosquito activity. There’s been an increase in cases of the West Nile Virus virus in Iowa this year and Deputy State Epidemiologist Anne Garvey says you shouldn’t let up on protecting yourself.

“I know as we get into the fall weather we kind of forget about the sunscreen and the mosquito repellent. It’s important to continue to use that as we’re outside,” Garvey says. This year’s summer flooding and increase in mosquitoes may be a contributing factor in the increase in West Nile Cases. But Doctor Garvey says, most people that become infected don’t even know it. While others could contract another more severe disease — such as hepatitis. With meningitis you can get a fever, severe headache and a stiff neck.

“There can be a lot of different causes of meningitis. If you are ever having those types of symptoms you need to call your health care provider right away and seek care,” Garvey says. “Because in some situations it might be a bacterial cause and you might need specific treatment. And so it is important that you are seeking health care right away if you are having those types of severe symptoms.” Doctor Garvey says if you are in an area that has been getting a lot of rain, you should continue to take steps to try and hamper areas where mosquitoes can breed.

“Dumping out standing water — like in bird baths or buckets — or anything that’s collecting water where mosquitoes might be able to breed,” according to Garvey. “And also making sure you are taking care of those screens to keep mosquitoes out of your home.” The mosquito danger in Iowa does not end until after the first hard frost. West Nile was first identified in Iowa during 2002 and cases of the virus this year have hit the second highest number of infections recorded in the state. The highest total reported was in 2003 when Iowa had 147 cases.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met Friday morning in Atlantic. Auditor Dale Sunderman reports a public hearing was held during the meeting on an application by Dollar General Retail Store, for a change in zoning classification near Griswold, that would allow for construction of the store.

Zoning Administrator Rich Hansen reported that the Zoning Commission met on Sept. 13th, and recommended approval. No objections were filed.  After brief discussion, the public hearing was closed. Later during the meeting, the Supervisors agreed with  the recommendation of the Cass County Zoning Commission, and approved a change in zoning from General Agricultural District to Business District for a parcel just outside the Griswold City limits.

In other business, Cass County Treasurer Tracey Marshall requested the approval of the appointment of a deputy treasurer to fill the vacancy left by resignation of a deputy. The person the Board approved for appointment, Ashley Kress, was a full time treasurer’s assistant at the time of the request. As Deputy Treasurer, Kress’ salary will amount to $49,500 per year.

Two applications for the part-time position of Cass County Mental Health Advocate were received.  After review of the applications and a lengthy discussion, the Board approved the employment of Debbie Schuler as part-time Cass County mental health advocate effective October 1st, 2018 at $29,500 annually.

[Atlantic, Iowa]  U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced on September 25th, that the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) will award $366.2 million in grants to improve the safety and reliability of America’s bus systems and enhance mobility for transit riders. A total of 107 projects in 50 states and territories will receive funding from FTA’s Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program.

As part of this grant award, Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO), which operates Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA), based in Atlantic, will receive $1-million, 16-thousand 983-dollars ($1,016,983) toward 11 new light duty buses and 4 vans.  SWIPCO will provide a local match of $179,469 to complete the purchases.  SWIPCO serves an 8 county region that includes Harrison, Shelby, Pottawattamie, Cass, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, and Page Counties.

SWIPCO Executive Director John McCurdy said, “Iowa is a national leader in rural public transportation, and SWITA is one of the largest rural transit providers in the state.  However, that means we have a lot of vehicles that put on a lot of miles.  This grant will help replace vehicles that have anywhere from 200,000 to 250,000 or more miles on them.  Under this grant SWITA will be receiving more funds than some states did, but keep in mind our area is about the same size as Connecticut.  We are fortunate that the Iowa DOT Office of Public Transit has a very fair system for ranking the equipment needs of systems, and we had a number of vehicles at the top of the list for replacement.”

The funding supports projects to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment, as well as projects to purchase, rehabilitate, and construct bus-related facilities. In Fiscal Year 2018, FTA has awarded more than $15 billion in funding through both formula and competitive grant programs to support public transportation.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Police say human remains found in Iowa are that of an Arkansas woman missing for nearly 10 years. Bentonville police Sgt. Greg Page said Tuesday that police in Mason City, Iowa, have confirmed the remains are those of Cerilla Ann Doyle, who disappeared in late October 2008. A suspected cause of death and how she wound up in Iowa have not been released.

Police say it appears she had purchased a bus ticket to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and left Arkansas voluntarily at the time. Doyle had recently retired from the Pea Ridge Police Department and was 51 when she disappeared.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — A prosecutor is alleging that attorneys for an Iowa man charged with killing an amateur golfer have a potential conflict of interest. Prosecutor Timothy Meals is asking a judge to hold a hearing on the alleged conflict and to bar the media from attending. The development comes in the first-degree murder case against Collin Richards. He’s charged in the Sept. 17 stabbing of Celia Barquin Arozamena. Police allege Richards attacked the star collegiate golfer from Spain on a course near Iowa State University.

Richards is represented by Paul Rounds and Michelle Wolf of the public defender’s office. Meals argues the attorneys have a potential conflict because their office has represented a prosecution witness in the case previously. Rounds says he’ll object to closing the hearing and being disqualified from the case.

One person was injured during a collision Saturday afternoon, in Page County. The Sheriff’s Office said today (Tuesday), that 17-year old Ami Louise Apperson, of Riverton, was transported to Shenandoah Memorial Hospital by Shenandoah Ambulance Service, with unknown injuries. The collision occurred on Highway 2 near the intersection with Highway 59, at around 2:50-p.m., Saturday, when the 2007 Chevy Cobalt Apperson was driving struck the rear of a 2006 BMW X-3 SUV, as the SUV was slowing down for the intersection stop sign. The driver of the SUV, 55-year old Robert James Schechinger, of Treynor, was not hurt. 

Damage from the collision amounted to $12,000 altogether.