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2 Sexual exploitation cases involving a former C.Bluffs teacher will be combined

News

March 24th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A judge in Pottawattamie County has ordered two sexual exploitation cases against a former Council Bluffs teacher to be consolidated. The Daily NonPareil reports Fourth District Court Judge Gregory Steensland granted a motion by the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office to consolidate the cases against 29-year old Jeffrey Daugherty, who faces 12 charges in connection with two alleged inappropriate relationships with students. The defense did not object to the motion.

Daugherty, a former math teacher at Thomas Jefferson High School, is accused of two counts of third-degree sexual abuse, five counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee and one count each of sexual exploitation of a minor and lascivious conduct with a minor in connection to the first case. The teacher allegedly engaged in a relationship with a 15-year-old student. An arrest affidavit notes the alleged relationship lasted about two months. Police arrested Daugherty on Jan. 8th.

In late January, a second former student came forward. The now 18-year-old female was 17 at the time of the alleged relationship, which court records show occurred in April of 2014. Police arrested Daugherty on Feb. 5th on two counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee and lascivious conduct with a minor.

NFL gives 32 compensatory picks to 14 teams

Sports

March 24th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

PHOENIX (AP) — NFC champion Seattle, Denver and Kansas City each were awarded four compensatory picks in this year’s draft. The NFL handed out 32 such picks to 14 teams on Monday. They begin at the conclusion of the third round when Super Bowl winner New England gets the 97th overall choice.

New England lost LeGarrette Blount, Dane Fletcher, Brandon Spikes and Aqib Talib in 2014 free agency, while adding Brandon Browner and Brandon LaFell. Blount returned to the Patriots after being cut by Pittsburgh.

A team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory picks. The draft will be held April 30-May 2 in Chicago.

 

Cardinals and Red Sox rained out

Sports

March 24th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — The spring training game between St. Louis and the Boston Red Sox Monday, was rained out with the Cardinals leading in the middle of the fifth inning.

With the game three outs shy of being official, rain started and the game was called after a 55-minute wait. There was standing water on the field when the decision was made not to continue. Cardinals starter Lance Lynn allowed one hit in four innings. Boston’s Rick Porcello gave up two runs and six hits in five innings.(backslash)

 

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., March 24th 2015

News

March 24th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

HAWARDEN, Iowa (AP) — Wells Fargo has donated a home to the Center for Financial Education, a nonprofit ministry that provides counseling services free of charge in northwest Iowa. Wells Fargo donated the house mortgage-free in October. Through its Community and Urban Stabilization Program, which was started last year, Wells Fargo has donated more than 450 properties to nonprofit and faith-based organizations.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Police say a Des Moines man has been charged in connection with a stabbing in Newton. Court documents show 25-year-old Quentin Smith was arrested and charged with attempted murder after a stabbing incident Sunday night at a Newton home. Police say a man awoke to Smith standing nearby with a knife in hand.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad took the day off Monday to recover from a cold. Branstad’s spokesman Jimmy Centers said the governor caught a cold while on vacation last week. All his public events were canceled Monday so Branstad could take the day off to rest.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gun control advocates are reiterating their opposition to legislation that would allow a child of any age in Iowa to use a handgun with a parent’s supervision. The Rev. Cheryl Thomas with Iowans for Gun Safety says the legislation, which passed recently in the House, would increase gun violence in Iowa. The bill would allow children under 14 to use a handgun with a parent’s supervision. It would also remove mandatory background checks on some handgun purchases, removing a de facto three-day waiting period, among other things.

Bicycle vs. car accident in Council Bluffs

News

March 23rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

A 10-year old suffered from minor abrasions after the bike he was riding was struck by a car in Council Bluffs, Monday afternoon. Bluffs Police say officers responded to a reported car pedestrian crash at the intersection of 6th and Kanesville at 3:48-p.m.  When the officers arrived, it was learned that a 10 year old, his mother, and sister were crossing 6th Street, traveling westbound on bicycles.

32-year old Fernando Vasquez, of Council Bluffs, was traveling northbound on 6th Street in a Mazda. Vasquez stopped for a red light and started to turn right onto Kanesville, when the 10 year old ran into the side of the Mazda, fell to the ground and sustained minor scrapes. The child’s mother refused medical treatment at the scene. The child’s name is not being released.

Authorities right turns on red are allowed at the intersection, when safe to do so. Vasquez was cited for failing to yield to persons in a crosswalk.

Ernst makes first speech on senate floor, touts her first bill

News

March 23rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Republican Joni Ernst has introduced her first bill in the U.S. Senate — the “Prioritizing Veterans’ Access to Mental Health Care Act.” The bill would make hiring more psychiatrists a higher priority for the Veterans Administration, plus Ernst proposes expanding coverage so veterans could seek mental health care elsewhere if they’d have a lengthy wait at a V-A facility.

“These veterans fought for us and defended us tirelessly. They endured more than some of us can ever imagine,” Ernst said. “The invisible wounds of war can no longer go unnoticed.” Ernst made her comments during a speech late Monday afternoon on the Senate floor. She spoke for more than 10 minutes, mentioning her own military service and the calls she’s gotten from veterans who are suicidal, but cannot get timely help from the V-A.

“We have to do better,” Ernst said. A veteran seeking mental health services from the V-A has to wait an average of 36 days before they get an appointment and Ernst suggests that’s one reason why the suicide rate among veterans is so high. “We hear this number from time to do, but think about it: 22 veterans suicides per days,” Ernst said. Under current practice, veterans are not allowed coverage for mental health services if a V-A facility is within 40 miles of where they live — regardless of the wait time for an appointment at that facility.

(Radio Iowa)

UI wrestlers suspended for alcohol arrests, burglary charges pending

Sports

March 23rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

Burglary charges are pending against three University of Iowa wrestlers who were arrested last week. The Hawkeye wrestlers have been suspended from the team indefinitely as they were arrested last week on alcohol-related charges. Marion Police say the three young men will also like face burglary charges. At the time of their arrest, around 1 a.m. on March 18, they were in possession of several items believed to be taken from burglaries in the Marion area.

The suspects are identified as Ross Lembeck of Lisbon, Logan Ryan of Bettendorf and Seth Gross of Apple Valley, Minnesota. All three are 19-years-old and freshmen at the University of Iowa. They were all red-shirt competitors on the Hawkeye wrestling team this season.

(Radio Iowa)

Glenwood man arrested for probation violation

News

March 23rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest last Friday of 29-year old Colbie Fike. The Glenwood man was taken into custody on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $1,000.

Shelby County Fire Danger “Moderate” 3/23-26

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 23rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency says with a burst of cool weather and moisture expected over the next few days, they’re asking businesses and fire stations in the County to place their “Fire Danger” signs in the “Moderate” category for the next few days. The next update will be Thursday, March 26th. Moderate Fire Danger rating

Smith Land Service welcomes a new member to the team

News

March 23rd, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Area Ambassadors visit Smith Land Service Co. to welcome Pete Smith to
the community and the company. Pete graduated from ISU in 2012 and is now beginning his training as an associate appraiser with the company.  Smith said “I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Agriculture Business and shortly after decided I wanted to grow my career and establish roots in my hometown of Atlantic.”

Smith Land Service Team: Wayne Nosbisch, Fauzan Smith, Glen Smith, Pete Smith, Deb Schuler Not pictured: Donald Kearn Ambassadors Pictured: Nedra Perry, Sue Muri, Pat McCurdy, Michelle Heath, Debbie Leistad, Jolene Roecker, Kathy Hockenberry, Connie Wailes, Lana Westphalen, Renea Steffens, Crystal Christensen, Julie May, Dolly Bergmann, Desiree Hoye, Megan Roberts, Carol Seddon, Christy Jespersen, Sara Nelson. Rich Perry, Ed Leistad, Dr. Mitch Peerbolte, Chip Hansen, Lucas Mosier, Russ Joyce, Melanie Petty, Dr. Keith Leonard, Darrell Hockenberry, Dr. Jim Kickland

Smith Land Service Team: Wayne Nosbisch, Fauzan Smith, Glen Smith, Pete Smith, Deb
Schuler Not pictured: Donald Kearn
Ambassadors Pictured: Nedra Perry, Sue Muri, Pat McCurdy, Michelle Heath, Debbie
Leistad, Jolene Roecker, Kathy Hockenberry, Connie Wailes, Lana Westphalen, Renea
Steffens, Crystal Christensen, Julie May, Dolly Bergmann, Desiree Hoye, Megan
Roberts, Carol Seddon, Christy Jespersen, Sara Nelson. Rich Perry, Ed Leistad, Dr.
Mitch Peerbolte, Chip Hansen, Lucas Mosier, Russ Joyce, Melanie Petty, Dr. Keith
Leonard, Darrell Hockenberry, Dr. Jim Kickland

Smith Land Service is located in downtown Atlantic and have over 32 years of experience. The company is a partner owned and operated farmland service company
offering farm real estate, management and appraisal services.