The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled is a case involving a Harlan company that cooks bacon and a utility consultant. Utility Consultants International contacted Shelby County Cookers in July of 2011 offering to review the company’s utility bills for any errors or overpayments. S-C-C agreed to a free review of three months of bills and the consultant later called back to say they had found significant savings. U-C-I then offered a contract that would split the savings 50-50 between the two. S-C-C signed the contract and the consultant then requested three years worth of utility bills for review while telling S-C-C they had found overpayment of sales taxes.

The law limits requests for refunds of the overpayment of sales taxes to three years. S-C-C then terminated the contract, saying it only covered the three months of utility bills already reviewed. The consultant sued, but the district court and Iowa Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the bacon company.

The Iowa Supreme Court overturned those rulings, saying the goal of both sides was to maximize the savings. The Supreme Court says U-C-I provided valuable information that S-C-C did not know before signing the contract and the consultant should be compensated for the information. The Supreme Court also sent the case back to the district court to rule on U-C-I’s counter claim that S-C-C breached its contract.

(Radio Iowa)

Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner, Thursday, filed  a motion requesting a continuance in the case against Leatha Slauson, the Atlantic woman accused of faking her five-year old daughter’s cancer by giving her cannabis oil, inserting a nasal gastric tube and giving her a drug that makes her appear to be sick. Slauson’s trial is tentatively set to begin next Wednesday.

A hearing will be held on Monday morning, with regard to change of venue request from Slauson’s attorney, in addition to the waiving of a speedy trial in her case.

Logan, IA (A-P) A western Iowa teenager who claimed he killed his 5-year-old foster brother because he thought the child was a goblin has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. Harrison County District Court Judge Kathleen Kilnoski issued her ruling today (Friday) in the bench trial of Cody Metzker-Madsen, who was charged with first-degree murder in the August 2013 death of Dominic Elkins, of Atlantic. Metzker-Madsen will remain in the Harrison County Jail until he can be transferred to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville, for evaluation.

Authorities say Metzker-Madsen killed Dominic while the two played outside of their home in western Iowa. Metzker-Madsen was 17 when the boy’s body was found at the bottom of a ravine.  Metzker-Madsen told the judge during the trial that he believed he was in a fantasy world and thought he was killing a goblin instead of Dominic.

A man from Adair County and another from Union County were arrested Thursday in Creston, for Probation Violations. 32-year old John Robert Lemon, of Greenfield, was wanted on a Polk County warrant. He was held without bond until being turned over to Polk County authorities.

And, 20-year old Timothy Allen Culpepper, of Creston, was arrested for Probation Violation, and for being in the presence of a Minor Child. He was being held in the Union County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Three people were arrested on drug charges Thursday, in Creston. According to Creston Police, 31-year old Adrian Jacques, of Creston, was arrested at around4:45-p.m. on two Union County warrants for Failure to Appear on original charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Domestic Abuse Assault by Impeding air and/or blood flow resulting in Bodily Injury, and Willful Injury. Jacques was also charged with Interference with Official Acts. He was being held in the Union County Jail on $30,300 bond.

And, at around 9:45-p.m. Thursday, 26-year old Margaret Williams, of Afton, and 25-year old Brandon Parker, of Davenport, were arrested in Creston. Both were taken into custody in the 600 block of Wyoming Street. Williams was charged with OWI/1st offense, Possession with the Intent to Sell/Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Xanax. She was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $100,000 bond.

Brandon Parker was charged with being a Felon on Possession of a Firearm, Theft in the 3rd degree, Possession of Meth, Providing False Identification Information, Possession of a Concealed Weapons, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also arrested on two warrants out of Polk County, for Robbery in the 1st degree. Parker was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $5,000 bond.

With Ric Hanson.

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With KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Authorities in Montgomery County say a Wisconsin man suffered self-inflicted stab wounds early this (Friday) morning, at the site of the Villisca Axe Murder house.

Villisca Axe Murder house

37-year old Robert Steven Laursen, JR., of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, was transported by Villisca Rescue to the Clarinda Regional Health Center and then flown to Creighton Medical Center in Omaha.  A report on the man’s condition is currently not available.  The incident was reported at around 12:45-a.m.

Sheriff’s officials say Laursen was visiting the historic location as part of a recreational paranormal investigation. Since there was no indication of foul play, authorities say it’s unlikely charges will be filed.

Deputies were assisted in their investigation by personnel with the Red Oak Police Department. Six children and two adults were murdered in the house just over a century ago in a crime that was never solved.

Iowa motorists will be encouraged to hear that after more than one-thousand-four-hundred days, a mile marker has been reached on gasoline prices. Rose White, spokeswoman for Triple-A Iowa, says prices have hit the lowest level in almost four years. White says, “The national average price of gas dropped below $3 a gallon for the first time since December 22nd, 2010, ending its longest streak ever above that price.”

The national average for ethanol blends is now two-95 a gallon. In Iowa, pump prices have been falling, holding steady, then falling some more for weeks. White says the statewide average for ethanol blends is now two-97 a gallon, though some Iowa retailers are in the two-70s.  “They continue to drop almost on a daily basis,” White says. “We did see processed fuel trickle up a little bit on the commodities market but we don’t expect it to stay there.”

Crude oil prices are trading around $79 a barrel, down from $107 a barrel just a couple of months ago. Several factors are fueling the drop in gas prices, including a big increase in domestic crude oil production.  “It’s currently at its highest level in 30 years thanks to North Dakota,” White says. “With corn prices being down, ethanol prices have dropped as well. Also, the demand is flat right now and we have to look at the hurricane situation. There has not been a hurricane that’s impacted oil operations in the U.S in the last two years.”

It’s typical for gas prices to fluctuate heading into winter but White says at this point, there’s no indicator that prices will rebound anytime soon. White says, “There are many factors that impact fuel prices which makes it very difficult to predict but looking at what we have right now, with the increase in production, the demand being flat, we do anticipate paying very favorable rates throughout the rest of the year.”

The cheapest average gas price in an Iowa metro area is in Sioux City at two-88, while Davenport is the most expensive, averaging three-oh-two.

(Radio Iowa)

The Atlantic Area Chamber’s 14th Annual Scrooge Contest, sponsored by Hockenberry Family Care
and Longaberger Consultant – Dolly Bergmann, is underway during the month of November. Eleanor
Hoover organized the contest back in 2002 just one year after the inaugural Lighted Parade.
The Scrooge contestants raise money and collect non-perishable food items for the Atlantic Food
Pantry.

Karla Eilts

Mark McNees

Kyle Bartholic

Rob Tarrell

Kevin Wieser

The 2014 candidates include: Karla Eilts, Rex Pharmacy; Kevin Wieser, Brown’s Shoe Fit;
Kyle Bartholic, Youth Leader at E Free Church; Mark McNees, Atlantic Fire Chief and U.S. Postal
Service; and Rob Tarrell, Cub Scouts. According to Hoover, “Candidates can choose any method they want in collecting their points. In the past, candidates have hosted soup suppers, and put pictures and boxes in local businesses to collect food donations.”

Contestants are responsible for collecting and submitting their points to the Chamber by December 4th at Noon. The contestant with the most points will be named, Scrooge, and all proceeds will benefit the Atlantic Food Pantry. Winner of the Scrooge Contest serves as the Grand Marshal in the Lighted Parade on Dec. 6th at 6 p.m. in Downtown Atlantic. Cash donations are worth one point on the dollar and two non-perishable items earn the contestants one point.

Past Scrooge titles have been awarded to: Devin Ferguson 2002, Eleanor Hoover 2003, Rex
McDermott 2004, Tonia Goft 2005, Rick Harlan 2006, Mary Ann Moorman 2007, Dana Halder
2008, Tammy Wise & Janet Huey 2009, Ritchie Anderson 2010, Janet Cappel 2011, Melanie Petty
2012 and David Miller 2013.

Hoover said the Scrooge title is used because,“Contestants find the meaning of Christmas, by giving
to others,” explaining that is the real honor of being named Scrooge.“Therefore, I am hoping that
together as a community we will assist the contestants to provide many neighbors and friends the
same joy of having a meal to celebrate the holidays.”

The contest will run from November 1st to December 4th. Donations to a contestant can be made by
delivering food or funds to their drop off locations or the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. For
more information please call the Chamber at 712.243.3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.