What started with a student’s generosity has developed into a new locker room of sorts at Shenandoah High School. A project called the “S-H-S Locker of Giving” is making clothing items available to high school students who need them. Shenandoah sophomore Hannah Mulligan created the program after she started trying to purge her closet at home. “I have way too many clothes,” Mulligan says. “We were sorting through my clothes, and I said, ‘Mom, I don’t need half of this stuff.’ She said, ‘All right, do you want to donate it to one of my friend’s granddaughters?’ And, I said, ‘Mom, what if we started a program that we could donate our clothes to students who might be able to get those at home?'”

After talking to the Shenandoah school superintendent, Mulligan decided to seek donations of not only clothing items, but coats and prom dresses. “What if someone isn’t able to afford a prom dress at the time?” Mulligan asks. “Then, we could have part of our Google classroom be having prom dresses or homecoming dresses. Or, maybe you just couldn’t get out and get a winter coat for the season. We could offer you those for no charge at all.”

With the help of instructors, administrators and students, donations have been flowing into the locker. Kelsey Heintz, the high school’s Life Skills, Special Ed and Health instructor, says the project has helped her Life Skills students with learning important skills, such as washing and folding the donated clothes. “It has definitely helped with the washing of clothes,” said Heintz. “We’re learning how to sort between colors and whites, and not filling our washer too full. That way, we don’t have overflow.”

Heintz says the students are also learning about sorting clothes: “That’s something that we are definitely learning, because when they are at home, they actually don’t have to sort their clothes by size. So, that’s kind of something new to them. But, that’s something I hope will help them if they do get a job in retail, to help them sort clothes there.” Donations to the Locker of Giving are still being accepted, but Mulligan says there are guidelines. “We don’t want anything that’s too, what we might call ‘summer clothing,’ and we wouldn’t want anything with tears, rips, stains or overworn clothing,” Mulligan says. “We’re open to any sizes that would fit a 9th through 12th grader. So, no youth sizes quite yet. We haven’t moved down to the middle school or elementary.”

Other wanted items include shoes, scarves and other accessories. All clothing items are made available to students anonymously.

(Radio Iowa)

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports that an investigation into a stolen vehicle has resulted in new information. Palmer says that at around 10:30-p.m. January 13th, a Page County Deputy attempted to stop a vehicle that was southbound on Highway 71 just north of Braddyville, for a traffic infraction. The Deputy was northbound on the highway when he met the vehicle. The vehicle fled into Braddyville prior to the Deputy being able to get close enough to the vehicle to get a complete license plate number. The Deputy did however, have a description of the vehicle, a red 2008 Ford F-250 pickup with Nebraska license plates. The pickup, which had been abandoned by its occupant or occupants, was found parked in Braddyville.

During the investigation the Deputies searched the area but were unable to locate anyone. The license plates that were on the pickup were not registered to that vehicle. A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) check through the County dispatch showed the vehicle was stolen from Bellevue, NE. Further investigation this week indicated that it was taken sometime between 6:30-p.m. January 12th, and 7:56-a.m., January 13th, from inside of a fenced-in business lot. The business was also burglarized, with numerous hand / automotive tools, a Miller welder, and cash stolen.

The Page County Sheriff’s is investigating the stolen vehicle incident with the Omaha Police Department. Page County Deputies were assisted in Braddyville by Troopers from the Iowa State Patrol. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Page County Sheriff’s Office at 712-542-5193 or their local Law Enforcement Agency.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrested Thursday night, of 20-year old Travis Winfield Shannon, from Avoca. He was arrested at around 9:20-p.m. for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop near 430th Street and Tamarack Road. And, a man was arrested at around 11:45-p.m Thursday at a residence in Carson. 34-year old Curtis Allen Yelton, of Carson, was taken into custody on a Pott. County warrant for a Sex Offender Registry Verification Violation/2nd offense.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections report Arthur Kieth Lobley, who was convicted of two counts of Robbery, 2nd Degree in eastern Iowa’s Scott County, failed to report back to the Davenport Work Release/OWI Center as required this (Friday) morning. Lobley is a 24 year old black male, height 6’0″, and weighs 159 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on November 29, 2017.  Persons with information on Lobley’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Arthur K. Lobley

Officials with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) have announced, that in 2018 they will once again be awarding $2,000 Student of Integrity Award Scholarships to twelve high school seniors in its service area, including three from the metro Omaha and the southwest Iowa counties of Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby. The BBB Student of Integrity Awards were created in 2007 to recognize and nurture future ethical business leaders. Independent panels of judges from the academic and business communities in Omaha, Lincoln, Wichita and Sioux Falls select the scholarship recipients who best demonstrate their commitment to honesty and accountability inside and outside of the classroom.

These scholarships are made possible by BBB’s Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This Foundation exists to educate consumers about marketplace issues and charitable giving practices, and it seeks to reinforce BBB’s mission of advancing marketplace trust. “Each year we are inspired by the hard work, community involvement and integrity of our applicants,” said BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty. “We are looking forward to learning about our applicants and announcing the winners.”

The application guide with full details and required forms can be downloaded by going to bbbinc.org and clicking on the “Student Scholarships” icon. The winners will be announced in April. For more information or questions please call 800-649-6814 #8526.

The application materials, including an essay and letters of recommendation, must be sent to a BBB office, postmarked no later than March 9, 2018.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests, three of which took place Thursday. On Jan. 18th, James Brown was taken into custody at around 9:12-p.m., for Possession of Paraphernalia. At the same time, Desiree Evans was arrested for Harassment in the 3rd Degree. And, at approximately 6:45-p.m., Thursday, Adams County Deputies arrested Anthony Keeler, of Creston, for Leaving the scene of an accident, Reckless driving, Failing to display a registration plate, Failure to maintain control, Open container, Failure to wear a seat belt and expired registration.

A call about a speeding vehicle on Highway 148 Tuesday afternoon, resulted in the arrest of Shyla Waldhauser, of Orient. She was placed under arrest for Driving While License Revoked from a previous OWI.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa court records say a 79-year-old woman has been accused of stealing more than $346,000 from her sister who has Alzheimer’s disease. The Des Moines Register reports that Jewell Davis, of West Des Moines, is charged with dependent adult abuse or exploitation. Davis’ next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 29.

The records say Davis’s sister lives in a Des Moines nursing home and that Davis had power of attorney over her sister’s finances. The records also say Davis wrote checks to herself on her sister’s account and used money from the sale of her sister’s home to buy two homes. Investigators say in court documents that Davis admitted using her sister’s money for herself.