Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, today (Tuesday), released more details about Monday’s shooting and chase in Harrison County. Authorities say at 12:34-p.m., DOT Motor Vehicle Enforcement Officer Derek Floerchinger located a vehicle parked along the side of I-29 south bound near mile marker 90 in Harrison County.  Officer Floerchinger stopped to conduct a motorist assist.

He made contact with the driver who initially provided a false Iowa Driver’s License.  During questioning by Officer Floerchinger, the driver put the car in gear and sped away.  Officer Floerchinger then pursued the vehicle and called for assistance.  Several Agencies to include the Iowa State Patrol, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri Valley Police Department responded.

During the pursuit the subject’s vehicle reached rates of speed exceeding 100MPH.  At these high rates of speed Officer Floerchinger observed the driver leaning out the driver’s side window; at that point Officer Floerchinger heard a loud noise.  One bullet struck Officer Floerchinger’s marked unit.

The driver retreated back into the car and the pursuit continued south bound to a rest area located at the 80 mile marker.  In the parking lot the driver lost control of his vehicle and struck a parked vehicle.  The driver ran into a wooded area behind the rest area and was later taken into custody by officers from the Missouri Valley Police Department. A female passenger was also taken into custody by Motor Vehicle Enforcement officers.  Both subjects were transported to the hospital in Missouri Valley to be checked for injuries and then released to law enforcement.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was requested to conduct the shooting investigation. The driver of the vehicle is a 17 year old male whose name is not being released.  The female passenger is 20-year old Sydney Swanson, of Sioux City, Iowa.  The driver has been charged with Attempted Murder, and Swanson was charged with Identity Theft and Interference with official acts.  The investigation is still ongoing and more charges are pending.

Authorities in Montgomery County say a person who sounded like an adolescent, called-in a bomb threat this (Tuesday) morning, in the Stanton Community School District. According to reports, the call came in just before 8-a.m. from someone claiming they would bring a bomb to the school. Montgomery County Sheriff Joe Sampson and deputies investigated and in the process, screened all K-thru-12th grade students as they entered the school. The students then reported to their homeroom under the supervision of adults.

After a thorough search of building failed to uncover any suspicious devices, the all-clear was given at 9:10-a.m., with classes resuming as normal. The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information about the threat is asked to call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office or Stanton school administration.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday) issued a report containing information about numerous arrests. Officials say on May 12th 31-year old Eloy Flores, Jr., of Escondido, CA, and 22-year old Karla Cristina Cabrera, of Somerton, AZ., were arrested on drug charges, following a traffic stop. The pair were charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver approximately 20-pounds of methamphetamine, Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp, and Prohibited Acts. They were released the following day on their own recognizance.

Also arrested that same day, was 54-year old Gregory Scott Kline, of Griswold, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Kline was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released on his own recognizance later that day. And, 41-year old Joseph Jesse Betances, of Harlan, was arrested May 12th in Cass County, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear for a Child Support Hearing. Betances was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $2,000 bond.

On May 15th, deputies in Cass County arrested 35-year old Travis Lynn Sickels, of Red Oak, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear for a Child Support Hearing. Sickels was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held without bond. On May 16th, 19-year old Wyatt Lee Sargent, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Cass County on a charge of Driving While Barred. Sargent was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

On May 19th, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 47-year old Robert Lee Olwell, of Avoca, on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. Olwell was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance. On May 7th, 51-year old Richard Lee Clausen, of Adair, was arrested on a charge of Theft 3rd Degree (Aggravated). Clausen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

On May 9th, 36-year old Heather Marie Christensen, of Atlantic, turned herself in at the Cass County Jail on a charge from the Sheriff’s Office from earlier in the week of Driving While Revoked (Serious). At the time Christensen turned herself in, she was charged with Public Intoxication. Christensen was released on her own recognizance later that day.

On May 10th, Russell Shearer was arrested in Cass County, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear and an additional charge of Driving While Revoked. Shearer was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $2,000 bond. On May 11th, 24-year old Morgan Kay Leeder, of Griswold, was arrested on charges of OWI 1st Offense (Serious), Assault on a Peace Officer (Serious), and Interference with Official Acts (Simple). Leeder was taken to the Cass County Jail where she was released later that day on $1,000 bond.

LAKE CITY, Iowa (AP) – Students have resumed classes this week in Lake City after their high school was damaged by a tornado. The Messenger reports students of South Central Calhoun High School attended classes Monday at various locations, including churches, a public library and a bank.

The last day of school for everyone in the district is next Thursday. Principal Randy Martin said he’ll leave it up to the teachers to decide whether students would be given end-of-the-semester tests.  An EF1 tornado on May 10 damaged the school’s roof, making the building unusable for the rest of the academic year.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday, will continue discussion with regard to the bid process for the courthouse HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) replacement project. The meeting begins at 8:30-a.m.

During their meeting last week, the consensus of board was to move forward with replacement of the courthouse HVAC system. Auditor Dale Sunderman says since the cost will exceed $135,000, the competitive bid process under IOWA CODE chapter 26 must be followed.

In other business, the Board may take action on the appointment of a Cass Township Trustee. A vacancy term is available through 2016, with a four-year term to follow.

During their meeting last week, the Supervisors moved to appoint Kenneth Harrison, of Anita, to the Cass County Commission of Veteran Affairs for the 3 year term beginning July 1st, 2015.  They also approved the bond and contract with A.M. Cohron & Son, Inc. for a bridge replacement project near the Griswold Golf Course.

And, the Board held discussion with regard to the avian bird flu and what proactive and preventive measures Cass County could take. It should be noted there has been NO reported case of the H5N1 outbreak in Cass County. Officials say if there is an outbreak, the economic impact would be significant, not only in the loss of animals, but the loss of jobs. The Supervisors stressed local media will help increase public awareness, and the County asks for the public’s cooperation. Cass County will continue to work closely with emergency management and other local, state and federal agencies.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says two people were injured during separate accidents, Friday. A collision at around 12:30-p.m. in the 2900 block of Highway 34 resulted in a passenger in one of the vehicles, Tasha Strange, of Omaha, being transported by Malvern Rescue to Jennie Edmundson Hospital, in Council Bluffs. Officials say the accident occurred when a westbound vehicle driven by Brandon Reed, of Council Bluffs, crossed the center line of Highway 34 and struck the trailer of an eastbound semi driven by Leonard Eakes, of Lamoni.

Earlier in the day, a single vehicle accident happened near 190th Street and Jesup Avenue, when the driver, Thomas Howell, of Plattsmouth, NE., swerved to miss a deer on the road. His 2001 Honda entered a ditch which was full of water. Four-inches of water ended-up on the floor board of the car and both the front and rear bumpers were damaged. Howell was transported to Jennie Ed by Pacific Junction Rescue.