Police in Council Bluffs, Wednesday, released the identities of two officers involved in an incident that took place Oct. 14th, where one of the officers fired on a stolen vehicle that was being driven by a man who escaped from custody. Authorities said Uniform Officer Ben Lake (a four-year veteran of the force) was the initial officer on scene at the Bomgaar’s store on east Kanesville Blvd.,  following a report of a fraud in progress.

Lake was able to identify a suspect, 27-year old Adam W. Thomas, of Council Bluffs, who was still in the store. With the assistance of Officer Aaron Legband (a seven-year veteran of the force), Thomas was handcuffed and taken into custody. He was placed in the Officer Lake’s patrol vehicle, but while both officers were continuing with their investigation, Thomas somehow escaped from the patrol car.

He got into the stolen pickup he had arrived in and began to drive away. Officer Lake ordered Thomas to stop, but he continued to try and flee the parking lot. In the process the pickup he was driving struck Officer Lake in the lower torso. Lake fired his service weapon toward the vehicle, but Thomas was able to flee the scene. Officer Legband did not fire his service weapon.

Thomas was apprehended two days later by Omaha Police.  Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber is reviewing the shooting incident with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and is in the process of reviewing the criminal charges in Pott. County. He is also coordinating with authorities in Nebraska, to determine the best course of prosecution.

Thomas was being held in the Douglas County, Nebraska, Jail, on charges out of Nebraska that include Felony Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm by Prohibited Person, Burglary and (3) counts of Possession of Stolen Firearms. He was also being held for extradition to Iowa a warrant for Attempted Murder, Theft in the 1st degree, Theft by Deception, and Escape from Custody.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office has released details on a Wednesday morning accident that resulted in an Omaha man’s death.  At approximately 7:39am Fremont County Dispatch received a call of a vehicle in the ditch at the I-29 northbound off ramp at Highway 2.  Upon arrival deputies and medical personal located a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe in a field on the east side of the off ramp.  45-year-old Roy David Walker of Omaha, NE was found dead outside the vehicle.

Deputies believe Walker was northbound on I-29 and missed the off ramp and made a corrective maneuver to get on the ramp and lost control and began to roll.  The Tahoe then hit a sign and continued to roll going over a tree and the interstate fence before coming to rest in a field.  Walker was not wearing his seat-belt at the time of the accident.

Walker’s body was sent to the DCI Crime Laboratory in Ankeny for an autopsy and the investigation into the accident continues.  The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Percival and Sidney Fire and Rescue and the Fremont County Coroners Office.

CARTER LAKE, Iowa (AP) — A 14-feet-tall totem pole has a new home between a library and elementary school in southwestern Iowa. About 50 people attended dedication ceremony for the colorful totem Tuesday. It stands in the Wilson’s Grove potted tree nursery on Edward F. Own Memorial Library grounds, in between the library and Carter Lake Elementary School.

The Daily Nonpareil reports Omaha resident Lowen Kruse began making the totem more than four years ago after a windstorm knocked the branches off of a 60-year-old hackberry tree on his property. The totem shows a bear, a lion, a crest with a vineyard, a beaver and a raven. They are all symbols of a “heraldic totem,” which Kruse says “heralds a message.”

Kruse said he avoided infusing religion into the totem to make it inclusive.

Deputies in Page County responded to a domestic situation at 411 Galesburg in College Springs, Tuesday. An investigation showed 40-year old Kevin Allen Long had gotten into a verbal argument with a 13-year old male. Both Long and the teen live at the residence.

Kevin Allen Long

Their argument became heated and then turned physical. Long was arrested for Simple Assault and transported to the Page County Jail. He later posted $300 bond and was released, pending further court proceedings.

Officials with the Atlantic Medical Center (AMC) report Dr. Carmelita Shah, M.D., will be providing care at Atlantic Medical Center through the end of the year. Dr. Shah will be available Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm, to provide general family medical care for patients of all ages.

Dr. Carmelita Shah

While she specialized in pediatrics early in her career, Dr. Shah has provided general family medical care for over 30 years, including 26 years with the Winthrop Medical Clinic in Winthrop, Iowa. She now works as a locum tenens physician, traveling to different locations to help out with temporary staffing needs.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Shah, call Atlantic Medical Center at 712-243-2850.

Cass County Conservation Director Micah Lee presented his quarterly report to the Board of Supervisors this (Wednesday) morning. In his report, Lee said the past quarter has been unique, in that there was so much rain that resulted in work on some major projects being delayed. Most of the time, the staff concentrated on trying to keep up with mowing and maintenance duties at the various county parks and recreation area.

At Cold Springs State Park, the playground equipment was repaired or replaced, and work is underway on painting the shelter and the outside of the pit toilets. He says they hope to complete electrical outlet upgrades at Cold Springs later this fall.

At the Nodaway Recreation Area, Pellett Memorial Woods and T-Bone Trail, Lee says they’ve been battling brush encroachment along the road and pathways, and trying to keep those maintained. Micah says volunteer help has been invaluable where the T-Bone Trail clean-up is concerned.

Pellett has an additional issue of invasive Honeysuckle plants. He says controlled burns will help keep the plants in-check. And, Micah says Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning presented 52 educational program during the last quarter, and saw 1,136 people in the process.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, today (Wednesday), announced Nicholas A. Klinefeldt will step down as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, effective November 15th, 2015. After leaving office, Mr. Klinefeldt will become a partner in the Des Moines office of an international law firm.

U-S Atty. Nicholas A. Klinefeldt.

On September 25th, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Klinefeldt to be the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa. The United States Senate unanimously confirmed his nomination on November 21, 2009, and he was sworn into office on November 25, 2009. Prior to his appointment as United States Attorney, Mr. Klinefeldt practiced white collar criminal defense in Boston, Massachusetts, and then both civil and criminal law in Des Moines.

Klinefeldt is credited with developing a comprehensive discovery policy for the Southern District of Iowa that ensures criminal defendants receive even more information about the case against them than is required by the rules and that they
receive it quickly. As United States Attorney, Klinefeldt has served as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Iowa, which covers 47 of Iowa’s 99 counties, and includes Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Ames, Iowa City, Davenport, and Burlington.

The United States Attorney’s Office, with staffed offices in Council Bluffs, Des Moines, and Davenport, has 26 Assistant United States Attorneys and is responsible for conducting all criminal and civil litigation in the district involving the United States government.

Officials with Atlantic Municipal Utilities are warning their customers about a service disconnect scam. AMU was notified that some of its customers continue to be contacted by someone claiming to be from AMU, stating that their account was past due. The caller indicates that the customers’ service would be disconnected shortly if payment was not made over the phone or by wiring funds to a bank account.

AMU says similar scams have been occurring all over the country, and that if you receive such a call, be aware that it is NOT AMU calling. The utility says if your account is past due, you will be contacted by an individual who will provide their name and indicate that they are with Atlantic Municipal Utilities. You will not be required to make payment over the phone to prevent service from being disconnected.

In addition, prior to being disconnected for a delinquent payment or payments, AMU will send you a written notice in the mail, and post a notice at your residence. Also, AMU’s office hours are Monday through Friday from 7-am until 4-pm. Their staff will not contact you regarding delinquency or account balances outside of those business hours.

Also, AMU only accepts payments at its Main Office located at 15 W. Third St. in Atlantic. They do not accept payments at any other institutions. It’s important to note that AMU only has a local telephone number, they do not have an 800 or 877 number. Scammers will call from those prefixes.

AMU warns you should not provide your credit card or banking information to individuals who call you from an 800 or 877 number. And, if you question the status of your account, contact AMU directly at 243-1395. In the event you receive one of the scam messages, obtain as much information from the caller as possible and contact either AMU or the police department.

The three member Cass County Civil Service Commission already has a few good men, but with the recent death of a commissioner, they’re looking to fill the vacancy with a person who is preferably female, and who must be Democrat. The Cass County Board of Supervisors is looking for eligible applicants to fill the seat through at least December 31st. The normal term in office is six-years.

County Auditor Dale Sunderman explained who must be considered according to Iowa Law: No more than two of the three members can be from the same political party, and can hold no other elected or appointed public office. Gender balancing shall be taken into consideration. The appointee must also have been a resident of Cass County for the past two-years.

The Civil Service Commission’s sole responsibility is reviewing a list of qualified candidates (those who have passed the Civil Service Exam) for, and making a recommendation for the appointment of, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies. Sheriff Darby McLaren then appoints a person to fill any open deputy positions.

The person who applies for the Civil Service Commission can be from anywhere in the County, but is not paid. They are, however, reimbursed for any necessary expenses (such as mileage) pertaining to the attendance of meetings and other such business. If you are interested, and meet the qualifications mentioned, please contact Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman, at the Cass County Courthouse.