DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Supreme Court justices are struggling with legal questions in a case that asks them to restore voting rights for thousands of felons. During oral arguments Wednesday, justices seemed divided and puzzled over how to interpret an 1857 provision in the Iowa Constitution that disenfranchises those convicted of “infamous crimes.”

At stake is voting rights for 57,000 felons who’ve been disqualified from participating in Iowa elections or holding public office. The American Civil Liberties Union, NAACP and the elections commissioner of Iowa’s largest county asked the court to define infamous crimes as only those that are particularly serious and an “affront to democratic governance.” That definition would restore voting rights to most felons and potentially some inmates. But an attorney for the state argued all felonies should be considered infamous.

A traffic stop late Tuesday night in Mills County resulted in one person being arrested on a drug charge. Mills County Sheriff’s Officials say 23-year old Joshua William Bell, of Shenandoah, was taken into custody on Highway 34 at around 11:30-p.m., on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charge. His bond was set at $300.

And, at around 11:15-p.m., Tuesday, Mills County deputies arrested 39-year old Tangee Nicole Bennage, of Shenandoah,  on a Page County warrant for Theft in the 5^th degree. Bond was set at $300.

(In an update to our earlier reports) – A chase that began early this (Wednesday) morning in rural Cass County resulted in the arrest of a woman on drug and other charges. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says 28-year old Denise Jean Chamberlin, of Atlantic, faces a felony Eluding charge, along with an aggravated misdemeanor charge of OWI/2nd offense, and a serious misdemeanor charge of Driving While Revoked. She was also cited for numerous moving violations, including: speeding; Reckless driving; and, four counts of Failure to Obey a Stop Sign.

Chamberlin was arrested after a nearly 15 minute pursuit that began a little after 1-a.m.  Deputy Ben Bartholomew noticed a 2002 Mitsubishi took an abrupt turn onto a gravel road when he passed by the vehicle while on routine patrol. When Bartholomew turned around near 710th and Galveston Road and tried to question the driver, the SUV sped-off.

The chase wound its way across gravel, dirt and paved roads before coming to an end when Bartholomew performed a PIT maneuver just west of the intersection of White Pole Road and 690th Street, at around 1:20-a.m. The move caused the SUV to spin into the south ditch off White Pole Road.

(Photos by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson)

Chamberlin was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released n her own recognizance. A passenger in the vehicle was not charged. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office Dodge Charger was damaged during the pursuit, but still functional.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports an Atlantic woman was arrested Monday, on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for Prescription Drug Violation (a Serious misdemeanor). 24-year old Thea Marie Sherman was taken to the Cass County Jail and released Tuesday on her own recognizance.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst will hold her second annual “Roast and Ride” fundraiser at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on August 27th. Ernst held the first edition of this event last June at the Central Iowa Expo site near Boone. Seven Republican presidential candidates addressed the crowd. Ernst and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker each rode Harley’s and led a procession of motorcycles to Boone.

This year’s edition will feature another motorcycle ride. Ernst will speak. Her staff says the event will give Iowans “an opportunity to rally in support of the Republican presidential nominee” and hear from Iowa Republicans who are on the 2016 General Election ballot.

Sen. Joni Ernst on last year’s “Roast and Ride.” (pic from Radio Iowa)

Last year Ernst said she wanted to start a “new tradition” for Iowa Republicans like the high-profile “steak fry” fundraisers former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin held for Iowa Democrats for four decades. Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Barack Obama all made more than one appearance at the annual Harkin Steak Fry. Ernst’s staff says “additional details” about the 2016 “Roast and Ride” will be released later.

(Radio Iowa)

A man from Calhoun County was arrested Monday by Audubon Police, on multiple charges associated with lottery tickets. 21-year old Ryan Patrick McDonald, of Rockwell City, faces eight felony counts of Lottery Ticket Theft, two felony counts of  Attempted Lottery Ticket Theft, a single felony Ongoing Criminal Conduct charge, and two misdemeanor counts of Fraudulent Practices in the 5th degree.  McDonald is currently being held in the Audubon County Jail on $25,000 bond.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports also, on Sunday, officers in Audubon arrested 30-year old Nicholas Steven McClure, of Audubon, on an outstanding warrant issued out of Crawford County.  McClure was then turned over to the Crawford County Sheriffs Office.

Last Thursday (March 24th), 29-year old Lachelle Petersen, of Elk Horn, turned herself-in to authorities on an Audubon Police Department warrant for trespassing.  Petersen was processed and then taken to appear before a magistrate.

And, on March 18th, Audubon Police arrested 32-year old Larry Jack Oles, of Audubon, for Domestic Abuse Assault.  Oles was transported to the Audubon County Jail to appear before a magistrate.  The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting on Thursday, this week. During their 8:30-a.m. session in their Board room at the Courthouse, the Board is expected to act on a request from the Atlantic Parks & Recreation Department, for a commitment of $40,000 to help secure a $360,000 Vision Iowa CAT (Community Attraction and Tourism) Grant for improvements to the Schildberg Recreation Area. The Board had twice previously tabled action on the matter.

During their meeting last week, the Supervisors mentioned the constituents in some of their districts were opposed to the County committing tax dollars. The idea of using Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) monies was brought-up, as the project might be considered a “Rural/County Betterment/Development” project, but it was also pointed out that the Board preferred to use LOST dollars to reduce debt and focus more on the county’s roads and bridges. The Board asked Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring to bring information to their next meeting, on the potential economic benefit to the County from tourism dollars.

In other business, the Board will likely act on establishing the rate of compensation for Precinct election officials, and the appointment of a Grove Township Trustee, to fill a vacancy term that will end Dec. 31st, 2018.

The National Weather Service, in its Hazardous Weather Outlook for western and south west Iowa, says thunderstorms are likely today and tonight, with a slight risk of severe thunderstorms, mainly from late this afternoon through this evening. The primary threat will be from large hail and damaging winds, but isolated tornadoes cannot be ruled out. The threat area is primarily for those counties along and south of Interstate 80.

Stay tuned to KJAN for further weather updates, keep a NOAA Weather Radio handy, or download alerts for your mobile and land line phones through Alert Iowa (http://homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/about_HSEMD/alert_iowa.html). Cass County residents can sign up for localized alerts at a link available on our home page at kjan.com (or here: http://entry.inspironlogistics.com/cass_ia/wens.cfm)