A committee of three individuals conducted a recount Monday afternoon of the ballots in Wards 4 and 5 and the Absentee votes, at the request of District 3 Supervisor candidate Dana Halder. Auditor Dale Sunderman reports the results changed very little, with Halder gaining one vote and Hartkopf losing one.

Hartkopf was the unofficial winner pending a canvass of the recount results by the Cass County Board of Supervisors tomorrow (Wed., June 20th), during the Cass County Board of Supervisors meeting. (Only Republican candidates ran during the Primary.)

The recount results from Monday, June 18th are as follows:

Dana Duane Halder – 158 votes          following the June 12 canvass:       157

John Hartkopf       – 160 votes                                                                 161

Linda Templeman   – 103 votes                                                                   103

Halder has stated he intends to run for the District 3 Supervisor’s seat again, in November, possibly as a non-partisan/Independent candidate.

Officials with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office say, as the result of a traffic stop at around 12:30-a.m. Friday, 26-year-old Crystal Jean Oliver, of Harlan, was arrested on multiple charges. They include Operating While Intoxicated, Prohibited Acts, 3 Counts of Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and open container. Oliver was transferred to the Shelby County Jail and later released on $1,000 bond.

Friday afternoon, 67-year-old Terry Lynn Cox turned himself into the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Cox had a warrant as a result of an ongoing investigation by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation being charged with Theft 1st (a Class C Felony) Felonious misconduct while in office (a Class D Felony) and Tampering with records. Cox was booked into the Shelby County Jail without incident, and after processing posted the $5,000 cash bond and then released from custody with a future court appearance required.

On June 14th, 21-year-old Brandon William Henderson, of Audubon, was arrested by Shelby County Deputies on an outstanding warrant for Violation of Probation charge in the District Court of Shelby County. Hendersen was transported to the Shelby County Jail without incident where he remains under a $5,000 cash/surety bond.

Saturday night, 27-year-old Brandon George Meier, of Harlan, was arrested as a result of a traffic accident. Meier was charged with Operation while Intoxicated, Reckless Driving and Failure to maintain control. Meier was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was held under a $1300-dollar cash/surety bond. The following morning, Meier was released on his own recognizance with a future court appearance date in Shelby County.

Sunday morning, Shelby County Deputies arrested 31-year-old Justin Michael Levell, of Irwin. Levell wascharged with Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Injury, Trespass,  Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and Obstruction of Emergency Communications. Levell was transported to the Shelby County Jail and later released on a $2,000 cash or surety bond.

Two children were flown to Des Moines hospitals in separate near-drowning incidents over the weekend at state park beaches. Alex Murphy, spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, is reminding parents to keep a close eye on their kids’ whereabouts and have them wear life jackets – even though they’re not required for swimming at a state park beach.

“There are no laws that say kids or anyone has to wear a life jacket when they’re in those swimming areas,” Murphy says. “But, I always tell people it’s the best idea to wear a life jacket. That could literally save a life.” A two-year-old girl disappeared while swimming at Big Creek State Park near Des Moines on Saturday night — and was found underwater.

CPR was performed, the child was revived and last reported in critical condition. A similar situation happened Sunday at Rock Creek State Park in Jasper County where a nine-year-old was rescued. Murphy says swimming at a state park beach can be dangerous, as the floor of the lake can drop off suddenly.  “When you’re visiting the lakes and beach areas, you’re going in at your own risk. This isn’t a controlled swimming pool, like a city swimming pool where there are lifeguards on duty. There are no lifeguards on duty (at state park beaches),” Murphy says.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re an avid swimmer or not, nobody knows exactly what those conditions are like under there. Everybody needs to take extreme caution when you’re out there at the beach.” Two other incidents on Iowa waterways claimed lives over the weekend. On Friday, a Minnesota man drowned in the Des Moines River while trying to save his 7-year-old niece.

It happened below Red Rock Dam in Marion County. The girl was rescued by a boater and transported to a hospital. In Wapello County, a fisherman disappeared Saturday morning on the Des Moines River in Ottumwa. His boat was found, unoccupied, later in the day. The body of 79-year-old Richard Mart, of Ottumwa, was recovered from the river this (Monday) morning.

(Radio Iowa)

Republican Congressman David Young says America is “leading the way” again, internationally, now that President Trump is in office. “Getting out of the Iran agreement, sitting down at the table with the leader of North Korea, moving our embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in Israel — some incredible things are happening right now,” Young says. “We need to keep the momentum going. The last eight years, it takes a while to dig out of that. That status quo was not working.”

Young made his comments Saturday to delegates at the Iowa G-O-P’s state convention. Cindy Axne, Young’s Democratic challenger in the third congressional district, addressed delegates at her party’s state convention on Saturday as well.  “When I’m out talking with people across this district, Iowans are working incredibly hard and they’re playing by the rules, but one thing is for sure: Washington doesn’t have our back and we deserve better,” Axne said.

The Cook Political Report — an agency that analyzes federal political candidates and races — classifies Iowa’s third congressional district as “leaning Republican” heading into November. The district covers 16 southwest Iowa counties and includes the cities of Des Moines and Council Bluffs.

(Radio Iowa)