A call about a suspicious subject at the Sapp Brothers Truck Stop in Fremont County early this (Saturday) morning, led to the arrest of 26-year old Kory M. Pierce, of Nebraska City, NE. Pierce was taken into custody at around 4:30-a.m. on charges that include Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of multiple pieces of drug paraphernalia.

Pierce was being held in the Fremont County Jail on a $2,300 cash bond.

Police in Red Oak say a Villisca woman was arrested early this (Saturday) morning, following a traffic stop at Highway 34 and Ironwood Road. Authorities say 23-year old Danielle Lynette Archer was taken into custody on an OWI charge a little before 3-a.m., and brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center. Her bond was set at $1,000.

A Red Oak woman with a long history of arrests, was taken into custody Friday afternoon on a charge of Driving While Suspended. 44-year old Shelby Joann Olivares was arrested at around 3:20-p.m. and taken to the Montgomery County Jail, where her bond was set at $566.

A narcotics investigation Friday by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest of one person on drug charges. Authorities say 39-year old Donald James Ryan, of Sidney, was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with the intent to deliver/over 5-grams.

Fremont County deputies, assisted by the Iowa State Patrol and Sidney Police,  made the arrest in the Sapp Brothers Truck Stop parking lot. Ryan was being held in the Fremont County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond.

The attorney for a man convicted in a 2014 murder and arson in Crawford County is seeking a new trial for his client. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Attorney Michael Williams filed a motion in Crawford County District Court on Wednesday, requesting a new trial for 26-year old Michael David Schenk, of Denison, who was convicted on Jan. 28th of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree arson, in connection with the March 2014 murders of 80-year old Marvin Huelsing, of Maple River and 81-year old Alice Huisenga, of Arcadia. Their badly burned bodies were found on Huelsing’s farm between Deloit and Denison.

Williams’ motion contends that the verdict was contrary to the evidence in the case. It also says the court erred in several ways, including overruling the defense’s objection to the introduction of a Walmart receipt that was used to connect Schenk to a pickup found at the scene. Schenk’s sentencing is March 13th.

Schenk and a codefendant, 19-year old Jayden Ray Chapman, of Denison each were initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson. The arson charge against Schenk was reduced during the trial. Chapman’s trial is set for April 28.

A third defendant, 37-year old Erika Dains, of Denison pleaded guilty to reduced charges of second-degree burglary and misdemeanor accessory after the fact. As part of a plea agreement, she testified for the prosecution in Schenk’s trial.

Two men were arrested Thursday night in north Omaha, while a third escaped, after the vehicle they were in stopped as it was being pursued by Iowa State Patrol troopers into Nebraska. 38-year old Michael McNary was identified as the driver of the vehicle. Authorities say a passenger was 24-year old Anthony Miller. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Douglas County, NE, emergency 911 dispatchers told Omaha police that Iowa troopers were chasing a westbound vehicle on Interstate 480 into Omaha and that it left I-480 onto Dodge Street. The troopers ended their pursuit shortly after crossing the Missouri River into Omaha.

ABLE 1, the Omaha police department’s helicopter, was in the area and spotted the vehicle at 15th and Dodge Streets, police said. ABLE 1 provided updates for officers as the vehicle traveled in the northeast precinct area. Police said no Omaha officers pursued the vehicle.The vehicle stopped in the area of 38th and Cass Streets and three occupants fled from the vehicle on foot.

After a perimeter was established by police, McNary and Miller were taken into custody around 10 p.m. They were taken to police headquarters at 15th and Howard Streets and were booked into the Douglas County Jail on suspicion of various charges.

The Iowa D-O-T estimates the state could collect about 40-million dollars a year from farmers and construction companies if the tax exemption for so-called “red dye” fuel was lifted — and a few lawmakers are questioning why that tax advantage is being maintained. Farmers and construction companies that primarily operate diesel-powered machinery off of the state’s roads buy fuel that has a dyed with a red tint, to signify it is NOT subject to the state’s fuel tax. Representative Ralph Watts, a Republican from Adel, says the size of farming operations has grown significantly and heavy farm equipment is now being driven on more miles of road to get from field to field.

“If you live in a rural area, you meet them all the time,” Watts says. “The heavier equipment with cleated tires place more stress on the roadway than vehicles with road tires.” That “additional stress” is taking a toll on rural roads and bridges, according to Watts. “The need for moving manure from hog confinements has become a huge factor for rural roads where the movement of manure is done by large tank wagons pulled by farm tractors over the roads,” Watts says. “My personal experience in watching this happen showed me those movements literally pulverize the existing gravel, which requires replacement.” Watts tried, but failed this past week to get his fellow legislators to go along with charging just a 10-cent-a-gallon state tax on red dye fuel.

“Some misguided miscreant might ask: ‘What do you have against farmers?'” Watts said during House debate of the bill that raised the state’s motor fuel tax by a dime a gallon. “I have nothing against farmers. Although I am not a farmer, I am a member of the Farm Bureau — at least I was earlier this morning.” The Iowa Farm Bureau opposes the idea of taxing the diesel fuel that’s used in farm equipment. Only eight other members of the Iowa House joined Watts this past Tuesday to try to force a debate over his proposal, while 87 voted against Watts and his idea was permanently tabled.

(Radio Iowa)

A collision between two semis Friday afternoon in Harrison County resulted in a Missouri man being sent to the hospital. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 36-year old Jason Durham, of Bates City, MO., was transported by Mondamin Rescue to the hospital in Missouri Valley, after the 2007 Freightliner semi he was driving went out of control and hit another semi at around 3:40-p.m. on southbound Interstate 29, about seven-miles north of the Mondamin exit.

Officials say the semi entered the west ditch and hit a large sign before re-entering the interstate and hitting a second southbound 2007 Freightliner, driven by 52-year old Jose Ramirez, of Atascosa, TX. Ramirez’ semi was in the right lane when it was hit. After the collision, Durham’s semi entered the west ditch again, went through fence and hit a culvert before coming to rest in a wooded area.

Ramirez was not injured in the crash. He pulled his semi onto the shoulder of the road, and stopped. His vehicle sustained damage to its trailer. Durham’s semi was considered a total loss. The accident remained under investigation.