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Wastewater discharge near Carroll stopped

News

June 8th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

CARROLL—Wastewater flowed into a drainage ditch on the east side of Carroll Thursday afternoon after a bridge contractor struck a sewer main. The Iowa DNR says Dixon Construction and the city of Carroll acted quickly to plug the pipe and divert the untreated wastewater.

Carroll city officials estimate less than 500 gallons were released near the intersection of U.S. Highway 30 and N. Grant Road. An unknown amount of wastewater traveled 1.4 miles through a drainage ditch before reaching the Middle Raccoon River.

The city hopes to complete repairs today (Friday) once parts are available. DNR will continue to monitor the situation and consider appropriate enforcement action.

Girls State Soccer Semifinals Scoreboard 06/08/2018

Sports

June 8th, 2018 by Jim Field

Class 1A Semifinals

Davenport Assumption 5, Center Point-Urbana 1
Bishop Heelan 1, Iowa City Regina 0

Class 2A Semifinals

Lewis Central 2, Spencer 0
Waverly-Shell Rock 3, Pella 1

Class 3A Semifinals

Ankeny Centennial 2, Waukee 0
Ankeny 2, West Des Moines Valley 1

(update) Body found on sidewalk identified as that of Des Moines teen

News

June 8th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police say a body found on a Des Moines sidewalk was that of a 17-year-old boy. Police identified him as Tyrese Parson, who lived in Des Moines. Officers and medics sent the scene around 6:30 a.m. found the body. Police say he’d been shot and that the case is being investigated as a homicide. No arrests have been reported.

Estherville infant death investigation

News

June 8th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Estherville Police Department say the death of an 11-month old child is under investigation. Jasmine Rodriguez Sebastian was transported to Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville at around 2:48-p.m., Monday, and subsequently transferred to a hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Jasmine died at the hospital Wednesday, June 6th. The Estherville P-D, Emmet County Attorney’s Office, Iowa Dept. of Human Services, and Iowa DCI are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death. Additional information will not be released by authorities at this time.

CHARLES D. VIETH, 96, of Atlantic (Gathering of family & friends 6/15/18)

Obituaries

June 8th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

CHARLES D. VIETH, 96, of Atlantic, died Friday, June 8th, at the Heritage House, in Atlantic. A gathering of family and friends for CHARLES VIETH will be held 3:30-p.m. Friday, June 15th, at the Heritage House, in Atlantic. Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic has the arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the Heritage House Good Samaritan Fund.

A private family burial will be held.

CHARLES D. VIETH is survived by:

His wife – Ruth Vieth, of Atlantic.

His daughter – Ellen (Dr. John) Barnard, of New Albany, GA.

His son – Christopher (Laura) Vieth, of Lansing, MI.

and 3 grandchildren.

Atlantic residents arrested on drug & other charges

News

June 8th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department reports four people were arrested on separate charges, Thursday. 47-year old Beverly Carroll, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Child Endangerment, a controlled substance violation, keeping premises or vehicle for controlled substance violation, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of prescription drugs.  30-year old Amber Stephens, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Possession of a controlled substance (meth), and two counts of unlawful possession of a prescription drug. 48-year old Craig Griffin, of Atlantic, was arrested Thursday, on a Cass County warrant for Failure to appear in court. And, 40-year old James Darrow, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault.

On Wednesday, 34-year old Ryan Richard, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI. On Tuesday, 29-year old Katherine Coleman, and 19-year old Drew Miller, both of Atlantic, were arrested on separate Cass County warrants for Probation Violation. All subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Auditor to review Iowa’s privatized Medicaid costs

News

June 8th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s auditor says her office will review the state’s claims of savings under its privatized Medicaid program. State Auditor Mary Mosiman confirmed the move in a statement Thursday night. She didn’t provide details on the scope of the review but says any findings will be released publicly. Mosiman says the review is in response to a letter from Democratic Sen. Pam Jochum of Dubuque, who says the Iowa Department of Human Services has given inconsistent information about program savings since switching to a private program.

DHS oversees the health care program for the poor and disabled, but private insurance companies provide coverage. The agency has defended reports of reduced services and officials say they’re addressing problems. A DHS spokesman says officials are “happy” to walk through the costs with Mosiman.

U. Iowa officer says he was fired before military deployment

News

June 8th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A University of Iowa campus police officer claims that he was unfairly fired days before leaving for a lengthy military deployment overseas. Jeffrey Williams argues in a legal petition that his May 3 firing violated a state law that gives veterans job protections in public employment. Williams was placed on leave April 19 during his final shift before he was leaving for a one-year deployment with the Air National Guard. Williams says his termination came after an internal affairs investigation related to his search for drugs in a residence hall.

A judge has scheduled a July 12 hearing in the case. The 30-year-old Williams says he had no prior discipline and was terminated without a hearing required by law. He’s seeking reinstatement. The university hasn’t responded in court to his petition. A spokeswoman was looking into the reason for his termination.

Additional info. released on two Cass County I-80 accidents

News

June 8th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

(Updated) The Iowa State Patrol has released additional information with regard to two recent accidents on Interstate 80 in Cass County. Lt. Joel Ehler, ISP Post 3 District Manager, told KJAN News an accident today (Friday), on I-80 westbound at around 4:40-a.m., took place when a female driving a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, crashed into the back of a semi tractor-trailer. The accident happened one-mile east of Exit 64. Ehler said the 16-year old was driving at a high rate of speed, and that alcohol was involved. The teen, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported to Mercy hospital in Des Moines by Mercy Helicopter, for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The owner/operator of the semi, 39-year old Randall Bartee, was not injured in the crash. Assisting the State Patrol at the scene were the following: Anita Rescue & Wiota 1st Responders; Cass County Sheriff’s Office; Atlantic Police; IA DOT and the Cass County Emergency Management Agency.

The other accident happened at around 8:11-p.m. Wednesday, on I-80 eastbound at the 69.5 mile marker. In it’s initial report, the Patrol said a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by 18-year old Caleb Lee Clemon, of Soldier, Iowa, ran into the side of a 2016 Volvo semi tractor trailer registered to Nationwide Transportation in Omaha, and driven by 70-year old Andre Lee Slusher, of Lake Milton, OH. Clemon was trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated by mechanical means. He was transported from the scene by Midwest Air to the UNMC in Omaha. Additional information on his status was not available. The report said he was wearing a seat belt. The car was totaled in the crash. The driver of the semi was not injured.

Lt. Ehler said the accident report was not fully complete, and additional information will be released later. Sources say however, that it appears Clemon’s vehicle was pulled off onto the shoulder of the Interstate along with a group of other vehicles, due to the heavy rain in a severe thunderstorm. He apparently pulled back onto the road into the path of the semi’s trailer and became wedged underneath.

Man’s body found on Des Moines sidewalk

News

June 8th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found on a Des Moines sidewalk. Officers and medics were sent to the scene around 6:30 a.m. Friday. The man’s death has been characterized as suspicious, and crime scene investigators were dispatched. The man’s name and other details haven’t been released.