IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City business owner accused of repeatedly asking a customer if he was a Muslim and a terrorist has been sentenced to probation. Court records say Chad Cermak entered an Alford plea Monday to a misdemeanor charge of harassment. Under an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges the state likely can prove the charge.

A court document says Cermak will receive a deferred judgment and serve six months of probation. Under a deferred judgment, records of his conviction will be expunged if he completes the terms of his probation. Cermak was arrested after a person complained to authorities that he went Jan. 8 to Cermak Automotive, where Cermak repeatedly asked if he was a Muslim, a terrorist, a suicide bomber and other questions.

Members of the Atlantic Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Directors, Monday evening, received updates on projects at the Schildberg Recreation Area (SRA) and Sunnyside Park. Parks Director Seth Staashelm said “We’re moving right along with the Schildberg Rec Area Projects, including a red metal roof shelter to be constructed on the west side of the quarry area, near the parking lot. The shelter will be 30-by-50-feet long, with an accessibility path to the parking area. It also leaves room for a future playground on the west side of the SRA. The Board elected to have the six metal columns surrounded by a stone veneer, similar to what you can see at the shelter at Sunnyside Park. They wanted a red roof to better coordinate with the color of roof on the Sunnyside Shelter and keep things uniform throughout the park system. The shelter will be equipped with electrical outlets on the columns, with LED lighting.

From left to right: Seth Staashelm; Erin McFadden; John Krogman; Stuart Dusenberry; Jolene Smith; Charlene Beane.

Staashelm said they won’t be able to start construction until sometime in April. He said also, the east side SRA playground equipment is in, and being kept in storage until sometime in late May. Once it begins, the project will take two-days to assemble under the guidance of the playground manufacturer’s representative/engineer. Volunteers will be needed to help assemble the pieces. The playground will feature 11-inches deep wood chips to act as a cushion if someone should fall. There will also be a small concrete pathway to help keep the fall material in-place, and six perforated steel-type park benches that will be sold as part of a fundraiser. Two of the benches are already sold. Persons who donate will receive a plaque on one of the benches.

Staashelm also reported work on replacing the Sunnyside Park Entrance Sign will probably begin in April. The old sign will be torn down and replaced with a powdercoated, arched black wrought-iron sign and brick fascade pillars. Staashelm also talked about the Parks Dept. 10-year Capital Improvement Plan priorities, which includes development of the Schildberg Area over the next couple of years as the main priority.

There was also discussion on tentative plans to hold the 4^th of July Fireworks out at the Schildberg Rec Area, but that’s only an idea at this point – one Staashelm said is “Being pushed pretty strongly by certain groups” – not one being made by the Parks Board. Other entities are discussing where to hold the event, which is normally held at the Atlantic Municipal Airport. Parks Board Member John Krogman and President Stuart Dusenberry thought there should be much more discussion before permission is given to hold the event at Schildberg. The main concern was over a lack of parking. Board Member Charlene Beane said she wasn’t opposed to it though, if it was held on a barge in the middle of one of the three lakes.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A woman accused of sexually abusing a 2-year-old child at her Mason City in-home day care has been given five years of probation. Court records say 31-year-old Tawny Symonds also was sentenced to a suspended five-year prison term at a hearing Monday in Mason City.

Symonds had submitted a written Alford plea in Cerro Gordo County District Court to child endangerment after prosecutors agreed to drop sexual abuse and assault charges. Under an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges the state likely can prove the charge. Symonds must pay more than $1,000 in restitution and is barred from contact with minors.

A traffic stop for a vehicle driving recklessly in Fremont County, resulted in the arrest of the driver and his passenger. Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports Deputies conducted the traffic stop early this (Tuesday) morning in the 3600 block of Highway 2. During the course of the stop, a passenger in the vehicle, 51-year old Timothy Holdaway, of California, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and trying to introduce a Controlled Substance (contraband) into a secure facility. The driver, 56-year old Douglas Swisher, of West Virginia, was arrested for Reckless Driving. He was also cited for traveling 90 miles per hour in a 55-mph zone.

Both men are being held in the Fremont County Jail while awaiting an appearance before the Magistrate.

HOLDAWAY,T

SWISHER,D

Sheriff’s Deputies in Montgomery County, late Monday night, arrested a man on an OWI charge. 52-year old Bartholomew Leo Chabotte, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 11-p.m. at the intersection of C Avenue and 130th Street. Chabotte was charged with OWI/1st offense. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond.

A Ringgold County Sheriff’s Deputy conducting a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle traveling on Highway 25, Monday, arrested the driver of the vehicle on drug charges. The incident occurred at around 12:10-a.m.  Authorities say Seth Allen Millslagle was pulled over.

After he was informed a K9 was going to conduct a sniff around the vehicle, Millslagle admitted to having drug paraphernalia. K9 “Heky” was deployed and alerted to the vehicle. A search was conducted, and drug paraphernalia along with a small amount of marijuana, was seized from the vehicle.

Millslagle was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Speeding. He was brought to the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office and later booked into the Ringgold County Jail.