The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Monday night of a Red Oak man. At 10:30pm Deputies arrested 29-year-old Phillip Michael McDonald of Red Oak for Public Intoxication following an incident in the 100 block of West Valley Street in Red Oak. McDonald was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department, Monday evening posted a message to their social media followers, with regard to a falsely reported abduction and arrest. On their Facebook page, the following statement was issued:

“The Atlantic Police Department is aware of information being shared on a social media site about law enforcement being notified of a female and two males at a local restaurant that seemed out of place. It further states that after notification of the situation to law enforcement, the stolen vehicle the individuals were in was stopped in Adair County and the female had been drugged and abducted. The Atlantic Police Department has spoken to staff at the local restaurant, as well as the agencies that were reportedly involved, and found that all of this information is false. We request that anyone who has shared this information take it down as it is spreading worry and concern with false information.”

Officials with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Monday afternoon, issued a report on numerous recent arrests. Last Saturday (Aug. 11), two people were arrested on drug charges, following a traffic stop. 29-year old Benjamin Tomoya Sorensen of Harlan was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance (Marijuana), Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The second party in another vehicle arrested, 26-year old Brooke Rena Petersen of Audubon, was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance (Marijuana). Both were transferred to the Shelby County Jail for processing, and upon further investigation Petersen was assessed an additional charge of Possession of Contraband in a Controlled Facility, a Class D Felony. The charge was added after officials discovered additional marijuana hidden on her person. Both subjects had an initial appearance in front of the magistrate Sunday morning and were given a date to appear in court and then released on their own recognizance.

Also arrested Saturday was 20-year-old Evelyn Marie Rzonca of Portsmouth. Her arrest followed a call for deputies to respond to a residence on Dogwood Avenue for a woman destroying property. The subject was later identified as Rzonca. She was charged with Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree (Class D Felony) and transported to the Shelby County Jail without incident. She had her initial appearance Sunday, and was being held in the Shelby County Jail on a $5,000 cash/surety bond. Harlan Police assisted in making the arrest.

On Sunday, Shelby County Deputies arrested 32-year-old Michael John Carroll of Shelby after they were called to a residence with regard to a disturbance. Carroll was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault by Strangulation. He was held until Monday and then released on a $2,000 cash/surety bond, with a future court date assessed.

Last Tuesday, Deputies in Shelby County arrested 44-year-old Gary Wayne Hastings of Shelby on an outstanding warrant. Hastings was charged earlier last month with Willful Injury (Class D Felony) through the District Court of Shelby County. He was located in Shelby and arrested on the outstanding active warrant. Hastings was later released on a $5,000 cash/surety bond.

And, on Aug. 4th, 34-year-old Jordan Michael Flaherty of Harlan, was arrested on drug charges, after authorities were called the 59’er Motel outside of Harlan for a male party who was refusing to leave. Harlan Police assisted in the arrest. Flaherty was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) a Class D Felony, Prohibited Acts and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was transported to the Shelby County Jail, where he posted bond and was released later that evening.

That same day (Aug. 4th,) 22-year-old Andrew James Nippert of Council Bluffs, was arrested on drug and weapon charges, following a traffic stop.  Nippert was charged with Operating while Intoxicated (2nd Offense) Possession of Controlled Substance 2nd Offense (Marijuana), Prohibited Acts, Carrying Weapons, and Driving while Revoked. He was transported the Shelby County Jail and later released on $2,000 bond. The Shelby County K-9 Unit assisted in the investigation.

In an update to our broadcast reports and those online, Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman, Monday, sent out a new agenda for Wednesday morning’s meeting. In the update, discussion and action on a property tax abatement for the ADM elevator requested by Pipeline Foods, LLC., was removed from the schedule.

Officials with Pipeline had requested the five-year property tax abatement during the Supervisor’s meeting on Aug. 8th, but it was taken under advisement at that time. Pipeline Foods – a developer of supply chains in agriculture with a focus on organic foods and feeds, grains, oilseeds, and ingredients will be acquiring, converting and utilizing the ADM facility for organic grain handling.

Their plan is to acquire the facility in mid-September. The only “action item” on the agenda Wednesday, is to approve a beer permit for the 21st Century Co-Op C Store, in Massena.

(Radio Iowa)  — After years of waiting, the date has been set for the dedication of the completion of the final segment of the expansion of Highway 20 to four lanes in northwest Iowa. The D-O-T’s Dakin Schultz says the event is set for October. He says the Highway 20 association has set a ribbon cutting for October 19th at three p-m in Holstein at the new hotel on the south side of U-S 20 and U-S 59. Schultz says there are some final pieces being completed along the highway.

“We’ve got the work between Correctionville and Holstein that we’ll be looking at completion on that. All the paving, mainline paving is complete out there. The contractors are working on shoulders and will continue to do grading work,” According toe Schultz. “From Holstein over to Early, all the pavement is down.” Crews are doing other finishing work east of Moville.

He says they are doing clean up work, putting up signs and doing work on side roads that has to be completed to connect gravel roads. Schultz says they expect to have that section open before October. The completion of the final segment will end the work that has gone on for several years to expand Highway 20 to four lanes from Dubuque to Sioux City.

More information on the completion celebration will be released as the event gets closer.

SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa (AP) — Residents in northwest Iowa have banded together to save their local park. Jon Anderson told the Sioux City Journal that he and his neighbors recently petitioned to save the Oak Hills park in Sergeant Bluff. The pocket park is small and consists of basketball courts and playground equipment, but it’s still used by children in the neighborhood, Anderson said.

“When we heard the city was considering taking the basketball hoops down, we had to spring into action,” he said. Anderson and his neighbors were able to secure 118 signatures in a petition to save the park. The move led to the City Council deciding not to get rid of the basketball hoops and agreeing to help write a grant for new playground equipment.

“There are other, newer parks in Sergeant Bluff,” Brandy Cook, a longtime resident in the neighborhood. “But this park was our park.” Anderson believes showing the City Council that residents were passionate about bettering the neighborhood is what made the difference.

“It wasn’t a handful of people making a decision,” he said. “Instead, this was an entire neighborhood wanting to preserve something that was important to everybody.”
Anderson has planned a community day with food and music to clean up the park Aug. 19.