Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department said members of the Council Bluffs Police Department arrested a 12 year old girl this (Thursday) morning, for making terroristic threats, via a social media (Snapchat) account. The threats were directed toward the Kirn Middle School.

Prior to the start of the school day, the principal at Kirn was contacted by a parent of a student who had seen disturbing messages on Snapchat, making reference to firearms and killing people at the school. The principal and the CBPD Kirn School Resource Officer worked with detectives to identify the student responsible for posting the threatening messages. The girl is a student at Kirn Middle School and was in attendance this morning.

The police department kept a presence inside the school, monitoring the area, as the investigation proceeded. Further investigation revealed that the girl did not have access to any weapons. The girl was booked into the Southwest Iowa Juvenile Detention Center on one count of Threat of Terrorism (Iowa Code 708A.5), which is a class “D” felony.

Police are not releasing the name of the female student, due to her being a juvenile. They also will not be releasing the threatening postings that instigated the investigation, as they are evidence in a criminal case. Authorities say the incident was an example of how the “See Something, Say Something” campaign works, and that they “Encourage adults to have conversations with student age kids, stressing that these types of posts are not funny and will lead to very serious consequences. Law enforcement will treat every threat as being potentially credible, until proven otherwise.”

The Council Bluffs Police Department is not aware of any other threats within the school district at this time. Authorities say they will continue to work with school officials to provide a safe learning environment for the community’s children.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa doctor has been ordered to pay a $5,000 penalty and has been placed on three years’ probation in an agreement with the Iowa Board of Medicine to settle sexual misconduct charges filed against him.

The Sioux City Journal reports that Jeffrey Zoelle entered the agreement Feb. 15. The board ordered Zoelle to complete a board-approved sexual misconduct/sexual harassment evaluation, among other things.

The board has said Zoelle, who had practiced at clinics in Sioux City and Sergeant Bluff, made inappropriate sexual comments to a patient in 2015, and that from 2011 to January 2016, he rubbed female co-workers on the neck, shoulders and back, sent them inappropriate Facebook and text messages and tried to kiss one.

Zoelle is no longer employed at the clinics. A home phone number for him could not be found Thursday.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports six arrests took place over the past week. On Tuesday, Feb. 20th: 28-year old Anthony Gerome Moore, of Tampa, FL, was arrested on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Theft 2nd Degree. Moore was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond. And, 18-year old Timothy Dethlef Asmus, of Audubon, was arrested on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Theft 4th Degree. Asmus was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $1,000 bond.

Last Friday (February 16th), Deputies in Cass County arrested 20-year old Shelby Lynn Brusman, of Bagley, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Brusman was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $25,000 bond.

And, there were three arrests in Cass County on Feb. 15th: 23-year old Samantha Kim Jensen, of Atlantic, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Jensen was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $25,000 bond; 33-year old Ehren Michael Mardesen, of Anita, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Mardesen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he also remains held on $25,000 bond; and, 33-year old Miles Blake Cooley, of Anita, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation and an additional charge of Possession of Marijuana 3rd/Subsequent (Aggravated). Cooley was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released the following day on $2,000 bond.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa congressman has said in a sworn statement that a company he failed to disclose wasn’t “doing business” in 2016, despite evidence to the contrary. In an amended disclosure made public Thursday, Rep. Rod Blum lists himself as the majority shareholder and director of Tin Moon Corp. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Blum violated House rules by failing to list his ties to Tin Moon earlier.

Blum writes in the amendment that his failure to disclose was an oversight because Tin Moon was “basically worth less than $1,000 and not doing business in 2016.” Tin Moon was incorporated and registered its website in May 2016. In August 2016, YouTube user “rodblum” uploaded a customer testimonial claiming Tin Moon saved her company thousands of dollars. One of Blum’s congressional aides appeared in a similar testimonial weeks later.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers have faced pressure to improve the state’s privatized Medicaid program amid reports of problems, but that hasn’t translated into a lot of related legislation so far this session. Just a handful of bills that would make selective changes to the health care program for the poor and disabled advanced beyond a legislative deadline last week. The proposals don’t address key issues surrounding reports of reduced services and delayed reimbursements to health care providers. It’s also unclear if the bills have enough support in the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Separately, a state agency that oversees the private insurance companies that run Medicaid has offered few details about how it’s addressing problems. The agency has highlighted upcoming private meetings that will include health care providers and the insurance companies.

The Atlantic Police Department reports 23-year old Bryce Baker, of Atlantic, was arrested Wednesday, on Cass County warrants for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense, and Domestic Abuse Assault by impeding air or blood flow, causing bodily injury. And, 36-year old Sharlene Killion, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Violation of Probation. Both subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports that Wednesday afternoon, the Fremont County Sheriffs Office received a call from Otoe County Sheriffs Office in Nebraska, that there was an active vehicle pursuit crossing over into Fremont County, Iowa. Deputies from Otoe County continued to pursue the vehicle that was driven by 36 year old Brandon Scott Neumeister, of Nebraska City, NE. Neumeister was wanted by Nebraska authorities for a Felony parole violation.

Neumeister led deputies on a chase from Nebraska through Fremont County to include the state park. The pursuit continued into Hamburg city limits where 27 year old Brittany Rose Alexander also of Nebraska City, jumped from the vehicle and fled on foot. Deputies continued to pursue Neumeister until he rolled his truck after driving through a citizens back yard, as the citizen was outside. Neumeister then tried to flee on foot before a Fremont County K9 apprehended him for not complying with commands.

Neumeister was transported to jail after refusing medical treatment on scene and later transferred to the hospital once at the jail, for injuries from the dog bite and the wreck of his vehicle. Brittany Alexander was apprehended a short time later by the Iowa State Patrol, in the area where she fled from the vehicle. Both parties are awaiting their initial appearance before a magistrate. The are facing multiple charges. Neumeister will also be held on his Nebraska parole warrant until his Iowa charges are concluded.

Sheriff Aistrope would also like to express his gratitude to citizens in Hamburg during the pursuit for their help directing deputies towards the suspects.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Republican-led Iowa Senate panel has given preliminary approval to a bill that would make sweeping changes to the state’s tax system.
Republicans in a five-member Senate subcommittee agreed Thursday morning to sign off on the legislation, which GOP lawmakers say would cut more than $1 billion annually in taxes. A tax writing committee is expected to approve the bill in the afternoon, a little over 24 hours after it was first made public.

A key Senate Republican says the bill could have a full vote in the chamber next week.

The legislation would reduce corporate and individual income taxes and phase out some tax credits. There are multiple other provisions in the roughly 130-page bill.
GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds has introduced her own tax plan that she says would cut $1.7 billion in taxes over several years. Her plan doesn’t cut corporate tax rates.