Deputies in Montgomery County arrested a Walnut man this (Saturday) morning. 36-year old Erik A. Appley was taken into custody at around 10-a.m. on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Violation of Probation. Appley was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $10,000 cash bond.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources said Saturday, that damage to the entrance road at Springbrook State Park near Guthrie Center, in Guthrie County, has led to closing of the facility. A hole in the asphalt near the entrance to the park was discovered Friday evening and, upon further inspection, it was discovered that a large cavity had developed under the road, likely due to the recent heavy rainfall. After consulting with the Iowa Department of Transportation, it was determined that the road was unsafe.

All of the campers were safely evacuated from the campground and the park entrance was closed. A full assessment of the damage will be done on Monday along with determining a plan for making the necessary repairs. The park will be closed until the repairs can be completed and travel on the road is safe.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Friday of 22-year old Cody Carlson of New Market. Carlson was stopped for a traffic violation and then arrested for driving under the influence and open container. His bond was set at $2,434.

Two Nebraska men were arrested Friday in connection with a fatal shooting incident that occurred early Wednesday morning on the Omaha side of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian bridge over the Missouri River, which links Omaha and Council Bluffs. Authorities told the Omaha World-Herald that 23-year old Terrece R. Cox, of Omaha, was booked into the Douglas County, NE Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree assault, three counts of using a weapon to commit a felony and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person.

Omaha Police also arrested 27-year old Billy T. Kellogg, Omaha, on suspicion of being an accessory to a felony. 26-year old Shamari Richards, of Omaha, was killed during the shooting, which happened at around 1:15-a.m., Wednesday. Two other men, 29-year old Kevin Jenkins, and 19-year old Jeremy Fejeran, also were shot, but have since been released from a hospital.

A Mills County Sheriff’s Deputy suffered non-life threatening injuries during an accident early this (Saturday) morning. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 31-year old Deputy Joshua England, of Glenwood, was responding across Gaston Avenue at around 12:12-a.m. to assist Pottawattamie County authorities who were in an active pursuit. England was driving his patrol vehicle in an emergency status (lights and sirens), when a deer entered the roadway.

Unable to avoid a collision, England’s 2009 Ford Crown Victoria cruiser hit the animal, causing the Deputy to lose control. His car then ran off the road. England was transported by Glenwood Rescue to Mercy Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

On Friday, May 31st the Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 20-year old Samantha Eletta McCuen for possession of drug paraphernalia. McCuen was cited and released on citation.

Also on Friday, The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office took a report of a single vehicle in a ditch at 210th Street and G Avenue. Upon arriving at the scene it was determined that 14-year old Siera Brooke Bissel-Abraham of Red Oak was operating a 1994 Oldsmobile Achieva owned by Malissa Ann Bissel of Red Oak. Bissel-Abraham was traveling eastbound on 210th Street when she attempted to turn north onto G Avenue, lost control of the vehicle and entered into the east ditch. The vehicle didn’t sustain any damage. Bissel-Abraham was cited for violation of an instruction permit and no insurance (accident related).

w/Marissa Hovde

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The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce reports the Atlantic business community showed First Whitney Bank they accepted the Cash Mob challenge by adding 13 new businesses to the list of participants and generating nearly $3,500 in sales in under two months. First Whitney President Paul Gude said “This is exactly what we wanted to see happen, and I would further the challenge to say, we want to see more.” Forming a partnership with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, First Whitney Bank originated the idea of handing each of their 23 employees $20 and sending them to a local small business at the same time to “mob” them with cash sales.

The Chamber’s initiative to increase Local Option Sales Tax receipts and relaunch the +5 Grow Atlantic Campaign led to the team effort for the organized events. Cash Mobs have been hosted at Robinson’s Hardware, Sweet Joy Shoppe, Cappel’s and Bonnesen’s 5 & 10 in April and May. Chamber Executive Director Megan Roberts said the calls from businesses wanting to jump on board just keep coming.  Roberts says “The Chamber membership is embracing the program wholeheartedly. “The majority of those who attend are being given the $20 from their employer to spend and most of them spend a little of their own cash on top of that.”

According to Roberts, social media like Facebook, YouTube, email marketing and photos have helped spread the word. The First Whitney Bank Cash Mob Challenge video went viral, reaching 1,900 views in three days. Roberts says the Chamber will “Officially re-launch the +5 Grow Atlantic campaign in mid-June. The original +5 Grow Atlantic campaign started in 2005-2006 with a study done by Iowa State University Economist Dave Swenson. His research showed a number of jobs would be created, and the general economy boosted if Atlantic shifted a simple 5 percent of its leaked spending back to a local business.

The City of Atlantic’s resolution to distribute Local Option Sales Tax funds stipulates 25 percent of the funds will be used for a Recreation Center Fund, 40 percent to Capital Improvement/Streets, 7 percent to Community Promotion Fund, and 28 percent to Progress Fund including industrial, housing, commercial development, sidewalks/pathways and Bull Creek Storm Sewers.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a man from Shelby County was sentenced Thursday to 10-years in prison on a drug charges U-S District Court Senior Judge Robert Pratt handed down the sentence against 48-year old Jon Monte Rodacker, of Harlan. Pratt sentenced Rodacker to 120 months imprisonment for manufacturing methamphetamine. The judge also ordered Rodacker to serve a five-year term of supervised release following incarceration.

On September 5th, 2012, Rodacker pled guilty to a charge of manufacturing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The charge was the result of an investigation conducted by several law enforcement agencies into the manufacturing of methamphetamine in rural areas in and around Shelby County. The investigation revealed that Rodacker was actively producing methamphetamine from as early as July of 2009, up to March 6th, 2012, using pseudoephedrine pills purchased in Iowa and Nebraska.

The investigation was conducted by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Harlan Police Department, Iowa State Fire Marshal, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the U. S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.