A Judge in Taylor County today (Tuesday), sentenced a Bedford man to life in prison without the possibility of parole, in connection with a first-degree murder conviction. 26-year old Charles Emanuel Hall was also sentenced to ten years in prison for the charge of child endangerment resulting in serious injury. Hall was convicted last month by a jury in Taylor County district court. The charges stemmed from the investigation of the death of 3 year old Janiya King in May of 2015, in Bedford.
Hall is the father of the child.

Charles Hall

On May 22nd, 2015, authorities said they responded to a 911 call for a child not breathing at 806 Washington St. Deputies found Janiya King, unresponsive. She was pronounced dead by the medical examiner. Court documents indicate Janiya had severe burns on her face and right shoulder.
Hall’s girlfriend, 25-year-old April Clair, of Bedford, was also initially charged with child endangerment causing serious injury, a Class-C forcible Felony. Clair had told authorities that Janiya accidentally knocked over a pot of boiling hot dog water onto herself two weeks prior to her death. Clari told authorities she didn’t think it was necessary to seek medical attention.

Authorities however, said the burns were so bad that they caused permanent disfigurement. Clair also told investigators the girl fell down the stairs multiple times and became weaker, but still did not seek medical attention. The woman reached a plea deal and was found guilty by the court on Sept. 8th of Child Endangerment Causing Bodily Injury, a Class-D Felony, which carries a maximum prison term of 5-years.

Des Moines, Iowa (Feb. 16, 2016) – Elevate Advanced Manufacturing, a non-profit initiative spreading the word about career opportunities in manufacturing, is offering fifteen $500 scholarships to Iowa high school seniors interested in studying a manufacturing-related career at one of Iowa’s 15 Community Colleges. One award will be made per college region.

Mike Ralston, President of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, says “Manufacturing firms supply more than 208,858 jobs to Iowans. These well-paying careers require education and training beyond high school, but don’t require the often burdensome cost of a bachelor’s degree. Recent studies have shown that two-year degree and technical certificate holders, especially in high-demand manufacturing occupations, can earn salaries that surpass those of four-year college graduates.”

Examples of training programs to which the scholarship can apply include Welding, Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machining, Industrial Automation, Industrial Maintenance, Robotics, Tool and Die and Transportation and Logistics.

Interested candidates should apply by completing the application found at www.elevateiowa.com (click on “About”). Applications are due April 1st, 2016. For more information about manufacturing careers, visit www.elevateiowa.com.

Elevate Iowa is a statewide, integrated marketing campaign to promote careers and educational pathways in advanced manufacturing. The initiative is directed by a coalition of all 15 Iowa Community Colleges represented by the Iowa-Advanced Manufacturing (I-AM) Consortium, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, the Iowa Department of Workforce Development, the Iowa Department of Education, the private manufacturing sector and the State of Iowa.

The initiative is funded in part by the I-AM Consortium, which is 100% financed through a grant from the Department of Labor’s Employment & Training Administration. Elevate Iowa offers resources to the public specifically targeting those eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for workers, unemployed/underemployed Iowans, U.S. veterans, along with K-12 students and their families.

(Press Release)

A southern Iowa man is accused of sexually assaulting an infant. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, deputies took a report about a two-month-old child being sexually assaulted on February 4th. The girl was taken to a local hospital by the mother and later transported to Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines.

Monroe County Sheriff Daniel Johnson said the girl is recovering. Deputies have arrested 30-year-old Justin Stickrod on charges of felony child endangerment and sexual abuse. Stickrod was being held in the Monroe County Jail on a $68,000 bond. According to Sheriff Johnson, Stickrod has only a minor arrest record and doesn’t have a prior history of sexual abuse arrests.

Justin Stickrod

Albia Police are assisting with the investigation.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Department reports one person was arrested on a drug charge, Monday. 29-year old Lovelle Joseph Ward, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 11:50-p.m. near Highway 34 and 360th Street, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $300.

And, the Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest last Friday, of 49-year old Sherry Harvey, from Glenwood. Harvey was taken into custody on a Mills County warrant for Theft in the 5th degree. She was also arrested that same day for possession of drug paraphernalia. Authorities said also, 23-year old Fred Oburur, of Omaha, was arrested Sunday, for OWI 3rd Offense.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released more information on an Interstate 80 traffic stop that resulted in an arrest and 14-pounds of marijuana being seized.

Kyle Krueger (Cass Co. S/O) booking photo

According to the report, on Sunday, Feb. 14th, Deputy Tyler Shiels stopped a vehicle driven by 23-year old Kyle James Kruger, of Ottawa, at the 56 mile marker on I-80 eastbound.

Tyler Shiels w/his K9 partner and the drugs seized. (photo courtesy the Cass Co. S/0)

During the stop approximately 14 pounds of marijuana was found inside the front fender well of the vehicle. Krueger was arrested on felony charges that include a Controlled Substance Violation and Drug Tax Stamp Violation. He was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was released Monday on $5,000 bond.

Two other arrests took place Sunday, in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Office says 18-year old Seth Alan Nelson, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of Eluding. Nelson was also cited for Failure to Maintain Reasonable Speed, Reckless Driving, and he received three citations for Failure to Obey a Stop Sign. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $2,000 bond.

And, 25-year old Timothy Alan Brown, of Atlantic, was arrested Sunday on a charge of Driving While Suspended. Brown was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was also charged by the Atlantic Police Department with three Aggravated Misdemeanors. Brown remains held at the Cass County Jail on $6,300 bond.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop in Kimballton Monday night resulted in an arrest. 21-year old Dylan Michael Jager, of Elk Horn, faces charges that include OWI, Careless Driving, and Speeding. Jager was taken into custody at around 9-p.m. Monday and brought to the Audubon County Jail. He was later released after appearing before a magistrate. A preliminary hearing in Jager’s case was set for March 7th.

The Sac County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man wanted in connection with an allegedly intentional hit-and-run incident. Jeremy Allen Werneburg is wanted in Sac County for attempted murder. The charge steams from an incident on February 14, 2016 where Werneburg is alleged to have hit a Glidden man on purpose with his car.

Jeremy Werneburg

Werneburg has connections in Humbolt, Carroll and the Ida Grove area. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Werneburg is asked to call 911 or the Sac County Sheriff’s Office at 712-662-7127. Werneburg should NOT be approched by the public.

Due to snow days, and related scheduling changes with Atlantic schools, the Food, Family and Fun cooking class will be moving it’s start date back a week. The first Atlantic class will now take place on Tuesday, February 23rd, from 6-8 PM. Spaces are still available, and organizers encourage anyone interested in cooking healthy, family-friendly meals on a budget to get registered!

Food, Family and Fun is a five session course, held once a month, where families will come together to have a little fun while learning how to cook and eat good food! Cass County ISU Extension and Boost 4 Families are excited to offer this program in Cass County. The program will utilize the Family and Consumer Science classrooms at the high school so participants can get hands-on practice in a kitchen environment. Open to any family interested in improving their skills in family meal-planning and preparation, this program is geared towards families with children aged 5-18.

At each monthly session, families will get together with class leaders to prepare healthy meals through hands-on cooking experience. Families will make TWO meals at each session- one to enjoy during the class, and a second meal to take home and freeze or eat later in the week. Families will also participate in activities on communication, teamwork, meal-planning, and health and nutrition.

A small fee of $10 per session applies for the first 4 sessions, and the final session is free! Scholarships for the full $40 are also available to ensure anyone can participate. For a family of 5 this costs less than $1 per meal! In addition, families completing at least 4 of the 5 classes will receive a kitchen “supply kit” full of kitchen essentials to put those new skills to use at home. To allow planning for food and materials, registrations are requested by Monday, February 22nd.

To register, or for more information on class content, dates, etc.- find a brochure and registration form on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or email xcass@iastate.edu.

The Audubon Community School District’s Board of Education met Monday night at the High School. Superintendent Brett Gibbs told KJAN News the Board approved the Fiscal Year 2017 School Calendar, which has some changes from the way the semesters are run. Gibbs says the district will utilize a “Balanced Semester” next year, which means the first semester will end after the Christmas break instead of beforehand. Classes will resume afterward and wrap the semester most likely the first Friday afterward.

The 2016-17 School Year will begin August 23rd. Gibbs said also, because they’ve missed 5 days so far due to the weather, the current school year will end on June 2nd for students (except graduating Seniors – there is no change in the date for graduation), with the teachers’ last day being June 3rd.

In other business, the Audubon School Board received the Audubon Education Association’s initial bargaining proposal. The Association requested a 6-percent total package increase. The Board will come back and meet with the Association again within 10-days, to present its initial proposal.

After that, action depends on what the State Legislators do as far as State Aid is concerned. In other business, the Audubon School Board approved a quote from MUSCO lighting for the Softball Field lighting project. The project will come in at $57,000, which was about $20,000 less than expected. The Board he says, was happy with that.

The next step is getting a company lined-up to replace the fencing, and for some infield work to be done. Those projects aren’t expected to start until after this spring’s season games have wrapped-up, probably in July or August at the earliest. The project will be paid for using the District’s PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy).

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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