DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Family members say former Speaker of the Iowa House and former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Dale Cochran has died. Iowa Rep. John Forbes, Cochran’s son-in-law, says Cochran died Monday in West Des Moines. He was 89. Cochran, a Democrat, was elected to the Iowa House in 1964. He served as House speaker from 1975 to 1979.

He was first elected Iowa secretary of agriculture in 1986 and served three terms, retiring from the job in 1999. Born in Fort Dodge in 1928, Cochran farmed for more than 40 years while serving in elected positions.
He is survived by his wife, Jeannene, three daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The funeral is scheduled for Friday at Dunn’s Funeral Home in Des Moines, with burial in Fort Dodge.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports several arrests. On Sunday, 33-year old Melanie Marie Morris, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of OWI 1^st Offense. Morris was released later that day on her own recognizance.  On August 22nd, Cass County Deputies arrested 39-year old Craig Robert Olson, of Griswold, on a charge of Trespass. Olson was taken to the Cass County Jail and released on his own recognizance later that day.

On Aug. 17th, 35-year old Anthony James Batiste, of Omaha, was arrested in Cass County for OWI 1^st Offense. Batiste was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance. On Aug. 16th, 43-year old Deborah Gail York, and 44-year old Preston Allen Lindberg, both of Casey, were each arrested on a warrant out of Guthrie County. Their arrests took place following a traffic stop. York and Lindberg were taken to the Cass County Jail and transferred the following day to Guthrie County authorities. Also arrested Aug. 16th, was 60-year old William Perry McDaniel, of Council Bluffs. He was arrested for  OWI 1^st Offense, brought to the Cass County Jai,l and released later that day on $1000 bond.

And, on Aug. 15th, 23-year old River Dean Pecha-Nichols, of Griswold, was arrested by Cass County Deputies, on a charge of Theft 4^th Degree. Pecha-Nichols was taken to the Cass County Jail and released on his own recognizance the following day.

VINTON, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa couple who kept hundreds of animals in and outside their home have been given two years of probation for child endangerment. Benton County court records say 36-year-old Marshall Galkowski and 38-year-old Barbara Galkowski have pleaded guilty. They received deferred judgments, which mean their convictions can be removed from court records if they complete their probation terms.
Among the terms are limits on how many animals they can have in their Vinton home: fish, one dog, two cats and up to an additional six small animals inside the residence in a properly maintained cage.
In January officials found hundreds of animals in the Galkowskis’ house and garage, including rabbits, rats, mice, hedgehogs, turtles, birds, guinea pigs, gerbils and a ball python. Several carcasses also were found.

Sheriff’s officials in Shelby County, today (Tuesday), issued a long report on arrests. Most recently, on Aug. 21st, 53-year-old Ross Alan Roecker, of Manilla, was arrested on a charge of driving while revoked. He was also cited for no insurance and no seat belt.   Roecker was transported the Shelby County Jail where he was processed and posted a $1,000 cash bond.   A passenger in the same vehicle, identified as 49-year-old Jody Ann Rhodes, of Dunlap, was arrested for possession of controlled substance (meth) and also possession of drug paraphernalia.  Rhodes was released the following day on her own recognizance. That same day,41-year-old Mary Marie Reseter, of Woodbine, was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 59.  Reseter was charged with possession of controlled substance (meth).  She was transported to the Shelby County jail and processed without incident.  Reseter was held under a $1,000 cash/surety bond after initial appearance.  She later posted bond and was released.

On Aug. 20th, Shelby County Deputies arrested 31-year-old Bradley Allen Hess, of Harlan, following complaints filed of a violation of no contact order.  Hess was transported the Shelby County Jail without incident and held without bond until appearance in front of the judge.  He was later released on a $1,000 cash/surety bond. On Aug. 18th, 18-year-old Preston Max Russell, of Kirkman, was charged with OWI 1^st offense, stemming from earlier investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.  Russell had initial appearance with magistrate the following morning and was released from custody.

On Aug. 14th, 24-year-old Dylan Michael Jager, of Elk Horn, was charged with Criminal Mischief 2^nd Degree (a Class D Felony), and Simple Assault. His arrested was the result of an investigation.  Jager was booked into the Shelby County Jail without incident, and later posted the $5300 surety bond before being released from custody.   As a result of the same investigation, 45-year-old Brian Kelly Jager, also of Elk Horn, was also arrested and charged with Simple Assault. He was released later that evening on a $300 bond. Also arrested Aug. 14th, was 33-year-old Aaron Robert McCutcheon, of Harlan. He was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for original charges filed back in May.  Those charges include a Controlled Substance Violation and Possession of Controlled Substance.  In June 2018, McCutcheon had posted bond through the courts and was released from custody, bond was revoked at the request of the co-signer, placing McCutcheon back in Jail under a $25,000 cash/surety bond.

And, on Aug. 13th, the Iowa State Patrol arrested 48-year-old Karen Sue Schuemann on an outstanding warrant out of Shelby County for failure to serve 7 day jail sentence. Schuemann was transported to the Shelby County Jail for processing, where she obtained an additional charge of Possession of Contraband in a Controlled Facility.  She was held under $5,000-dollar bond after making an initial appearance with the magistrate.  A passenger in the vehicle was also arrested as a result of an outstanding warrant out of Shelby County.   31-year-old Joey Lee Ranney was taken into custody for charges of Stalking, 6 counts of no contact order violation, providing false information to a peace officer, as we as possession of controlled substance (methamphetamine).  Ranney was also transported to the Shelby County Jail where he is being held under a $50,000 cash/surety bond. 

Authorities in Guthrie County are investigating the alleged attempted robbery Monday evening of a bar in Jamaica. According to the Sheriff’s report, Tommy Jo Schuermann, the owner of Tojo’s Bar at 408 Main. Street, said a tall, thin white male with facial hair, black glasses with diamond in-lays on the sides, walked into the bar sometime before 8:10-p.m., and allegedly said he was there to rob the bar, and that it “wasn’t a joke.” The suspect then demanded $100 to get his 11-month-old-daughter from a drug dealer. He told Scheuermann he didn’t want to shoot her [Schuermann], but made movements as if he was reaching for a weapon.

During the incident, a customer came in to pick up his order and witnessed the demands for money and the threats to shoot Scheuerman. Shortly after the customer came in, the suspect ran out without getting any money. He took off to the east and entered the back seat of a red, 2010-to 2012 model year four-door Chevy Malibu, parked near the corner of Van Nest and 2nd streets by the Methodist Church. The car then took off northbound.

The suspect was further described as wearing a ball cap, black jacket, and dark clothing. The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 641-747-2214.

Atlantic, IA – The Parents as Teachers (PAT) program through Cass County Public Health is now enrolling young families in their program; however, space is limited. PAT Educators Nancy Gibson and Victoria Means provide monthly home visits to families with young children—from prenatal visits through entering Kindergarten. During those visits, they work on getting a complete health history, doing developmental screenings to catch any delays as early as possible, check on immunizations, and much more. Children in the program also have access to free vision, hearing, and dental checks.

Nancy Gibson & Victoria Means (Photo provided)

PAT provides home visits to help young children grow up healthy, safe, and ready to learn. The PAT educators help communities partner with parents to do a better job of preparing children for a stronger start in life and for greater success in school. Gibson says “We’ve been in Cass County for 20 years, and we are a credentialed, evidence-based program. We provide support to the parents and kids. It’s not just for the children—it’s about the whole family,” said Nancy.

The families are very active in deciding the goals for the program. Maybe it’s a goal for the child, but it might be a goal for the parent. “We also provide activities that are specifically chosen to meet a need for that family – maybe it’s a game that works on fine-motor development. Or we’ll work on discipline strategies and techniques, language, or healthy back-to-school routines,” said Nancy. “If it’s a goal or concern for that family, then that’s what we are going to work on together.”

Literacy is a major component, and PAT offers a “traveling library.” The educators will bring a selection of books with them for the family to read during the next month, when a new batch of books will be swapped out. Parents who are interested in the program can contact Nancy at 712-243-7475. Referrals are also welcome—anyone who knows of a family that could benefit from participating is encouraged to call.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Administrators say most of a roughly $400,000 reward fund aimed at gathering information about a missing Iowa student will be returned to donors now that she’s been found dead. Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa said Tuesday that most of the donations from individuals and businesses were provided on the condition of Mollie Tibbetts’ safe return. Group vice president Greg Willey says those donations will be returned. Donations not linked to Tibbetts being found alive will go to the group’s general fund and Tibbetts’ family.

Tibbetts vanished on July 18 while she was out running in her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa. Police say 24-year-old Cristhian Bahena Rivera led them to Tibbetts’ body in a cornfield on Aug. 21. Rivera is charged with first-degree murder in her death.

Police in Council Bluffs arrested a man in connection with the assault of his grandmother.  Officers were called to 2119 Ave. K at around 9:45-p.m., Monday, to investigate an assault that had taken place involving the victim, 71-year old Karen Fort and her 29-year old grandson, Jacob Heyer. Both are from Council Bluffs. Officers found Fort in her residence and called medics right away. The woman was transported to UNMC for treatment of several injuries to her face.

Jacob C. Heyer

Heyer was found across the street and refused to talk to officers at the time of the incident. He was taken into custody for Willful Injury and Violation of a Restraining order that had been issued for him, and pertained to having no contact with his grandfather, Ron Fort, who was in the residence at the time of the assault. Karen Fort is in critical but stable condition at UNMC at this time. The investigation is on-going and the Council Bluffs Police Department will update this incident as information arises.