(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report three people were arrested on separate charges, Wednesday. 42-year-old Jamie Rae Neubauer, of Nevada (IA) was arrested at around 10:48-a.m. at the Creston Fareway Store, on a charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. Neubauer was taken to Union County Jail and later posted a $300 cash bond.

At around 11-a.m., Wednesday, Creston Police arrested 36-year-old Ashley Nicole Parmenter, of Kent, Iowa, was arrested at 1102 N. Pine Street. She was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Police say Parmenter was cited and released on a Promise to Appear in court.

And, at around 3:30-p.m., Wednesday, Police in Creston arrested 20-year old Kaylyn Grace McClellan, of Creston. She was taken into custody in the 600 block of N. Chestnut Street. McClellan was charged with allowing an Animal to run at Large. She was cited and released on a Promise to Appear.

(Fairfield, Iowa) – One of the Fairfield teens charges with killing their teacher, is appealing his sentence to the Iowa Supreme Court. Willard Miller plead guilty in April, to a charge of first-degree murder, in the death of Fairfield Spanish Teacher Nohema Graber. Miller admitted he and Jeremy Goodale, who were 16-years of age at the time, beat the teacher to death in a Fairfield park in November 2021, because they were mad about their grade in class.

The judge in the case sentenced Miller to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 35 years. Miller’s attorneys filed an appeal to the sentencing on Monday, July 17th.

The other teenager charged, Jeremy Goodale, dropped his appeal to resist his August sentencing date. His attorneys and the State Council now have until the end of the month to set a new sentencing date.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday, passed a Resolution that creates the position of Parks and Recreation Coordinator, including the job description and compensation for 2024, The Parks Director’s position will be divided between Public Works Director Kirk Knudsen and the new Parks Coordinator position, with the stipulation the Coordinator reports directly to the Public Works Director.

During the Public Forum portion of the meeting, Atlantic resident Frank Saddlemire, who was instrumental in establishing the highly successful Disc Golf course at Sunnyside Park, and has been involved with activities at the park since 2007, said he was opposed to eliminating the Parks Director’s position, as recommended by the City’s Personnel and Finance Committee earlier this month.

He said he doesn’t see where all the ideas for building the parks system in town will come from, if there’s no parks director to drive the ideas and focus on building the parks and rec system, not delegating it to seeing it through. Councilperson Linda Hartkopf was also opposed to the elimination of the position and dissolution of the Parks Board.

The Parks and Rec Board is the only such entity among the nine boards serving the City of Atlantic, that is elected. Councilman Pat McCurdy suggested an Advisory Board be established, but there is no need for an elected board, which the Parks Board is. Councilman H. Lee Sisco said those he’s spoken with are in favor of getting a new Parks Director, and not eliminating the position and Board. He also spoke with Public Works Director Kirk Knudsen, who said adding the position to his current duties would not overload those duties.

Councilman Dana Halder said an Advisory Board would likely come up with more ideas to improve the parks system, than just having a parks director. Councilperson Hartkopf responded.

The Council set their meeting on August 2nd as the date for a Public Hearing to discontinue to Parks and Recreation Board.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man from Nebraska was arrested late Wednesday evening in Montgomery County. Red Oak Police say 66-year-old Kyle Mark Smith, of North Platte, NE, was arrested at around 9:15-p.m., for OWI/2nd offense. Smith was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

(Newton, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports inmate Jermichael Jim Wells, currently assigned to the Correctional Release Center in Newton, has absconded from his worksite in Victor, IA and has been placed on escape status. Wells’ sentence is for the following crimes: Theft 2nd Degree, Burglary 2nd Degree, Burglary 3rd Degree-Motor Vehicle, Dominion/Control of Firearm/Offensive Weapon by Felon, and Forgery.

Wells was last seen at his assigned workplace, Quantum Plastics, in Victor, IA (Iowa County) at approximately 5:00 p.m. Wednesday (July 19, 2023). 

Wells is a 25-year-old black male, height 5’11”, and weighs 157 pounds. He has tattoos on his back, chest, and right shoulder, as well as “Keashia” on the left arm,  “Polo” on his chest, “Keasai” on his face and “Loyalty” on his neck.  He was placed in the Correctional Release Center on September 9, 2022.

Jermichael Jim Wells

Law enforcement agencies across the state have been notified through Department of Public Safety and are working to locate and apprehend Wells.  Department of Corrections Fugitive Teams are also working to locate and apprehend Wells.

Persons with information on Wells’ whereabouts should contact local police. If citizens believe they have encountered the escapee, they should not try to apprehend him. They should leave the area and call police immediately.