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NEwoman pleads guilty to stealing $4.1M & spending it at a Bluffs casino

News

March 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

PAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — A 54-year-old Gretna, NE., woman already serving time for tax evasion has pleaded guilty to stealing the $4.1 million on which she didn’t pay taxes. Caroline Richardson made her plea Monday in Douglas County, NE., District Court in Omaha. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 18th. She faces up to 10 more years in prison. She’s already serving a five-year term.

Prosecutors say Richardson stole from Omaha-based Colombo Candy and Tobacco in 2010 and 2011 while working as company controller. Prosecutors say she used the money to gamble at Ameristar Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Colombo has sued Ameristar, saying the casino knew about Richardson’s job and her approximate salary and should have known Richardson was gambling with ill-gotten money.

Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., March 4th 2014

News

March 4th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The first jury trial stemming from a contentious statewide crackdown on election-related crimes is set to begin, and a former Iowa felon charged with illegally voting is expected to fight the charge today. Kelli Jo Griffin of Montrose is scheduled to stand trial for perjury in Lee County. Prosecutors say that she signed an affidavit falsely claiming that she was not an ineligible felon when she voted in the Nov. 5 municipal election. Griffin has pleaded not guilty.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill allowing online voter registration in Iowa has passed in the Senate and been sent to the House. The measure passed 48-0 yesterday with no debate. Under the bill voters must provide the same information required on other voter registration forms. They would use the Secretary of State’s website to electronically register. Concerns about how electronic signatures will be verified are to be worked out in the House.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Several Iowa counties have issues on ballots tomorrow. Des Moines voters will decide whether to approve an increase in the fee charged on their utility bills to repay $40 million the city borrowed to pay a court-ordered refund of previously over-collected franchise fees. Story County voters will decide whether to approve borrowing up to $19 million to pay the city of Ames’ share of a convention center development at Iowa State University. Bond issues also are on the ballot in Pottawattamie County.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa pharmacist has been acquitted of 15 counts of health care fraud after a jury rejected allegations that he fraudulently billed an insurance company for life-saving drugs sent to hemophilia patients. The federal jury returned the verdict yesterday after a weeklong trial in the case of Michael Stein. He’s the owner of Pharmacy Matters in Iowa City. It was a defeat for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Des Moines and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Officials: Iowa inmate left work release facility

News

March 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are looking for an inmate they say never returned to a work release facility in Sioux City. Fred Scaletta with the state Department of Corrections says in a news release Monday that 21-year-old Eddie Sandoval-Rouillard failed to return to the facility from an assigned program meeting. He was placed on escape status Sunday.

Eddie Sandoval-Rouillard

Eddie Sandoval-Rouillard

Sandoval-Rouillard was transferred to work release on Feb. 14. He’s been serving a 10-year sentence for willful injury causing serious injury. Authorities say Sandoval-Rouillard has tattoos on his right ankle and left hand.

Burlington Notre Dame ends Adair-Casey’s Tournament run

Sports

March 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Tournament play looks just like the regular season for Burlington Notre Dame. The state’s highest scoring team completed the opening day of the Class 1A tournament with a 90-50 victory over Adair-Casey, the fourth time the Nikes have reached 80 or more points in as many postseason games.  Taylor Hickey scored 27 points to lead third-ranked Notre Dame, which shot 58 percent from the field and easily topped its season scoring average of 81.7 points. Riley Kilbride added 16 points for the Nikes and Courtney Coffin scored 10.

Notre Dame harassed Adair-Casey throughout with its full-court press and traps, came up with 18 steals and scored 34 points off turnovers. The Nikes improved to 22-3 and will play No. 2 Janesville in the semifinals at 10 a.m. Thursday.  London Vais led eighth-ranked Adair-Casey with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Zoey Dinkla and Shelby Sorensen each scored six for the Bombers, who finish 23-4 after the school’s second state tourney trip.

The 23 victories are a school record in the five-player era. Adair-Casey trailed by 15 midway through the second quarter, then started taking better care of the ball and drew to 33-26 in the closing seconds of the first half. But any hopes the Bombers had of taking some momentum into halftime ended when Hickey sank two free throws, then scored on a drive after a turnover just before the buzzer.

That mini-surge became an 18-0 run when Notre Dame began the second half with 14 straight points to make it 51-26. The Nikes held Adair-Casey to three field goals in the third quarter and led 74-37 heading into the final period.

Iowa bill grants benefits to more veterans

News

March 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — More veterans would be eligible to receive financial assistance when purchasing a home under a bill approved by the Iowa Senate. The Senate unanimously approved a measure Monday meant to expand eligibility requirements for veterans seeking grants through the Military Homeownership Assistance Program. The legislation, which coincides with Gov. Terry Branstad’s initiative to better support veterans in Iowa, now goes to the House.

Current law limits grant eligibility to veterans who served beginning on or after Sept. 11, 2001. The bill would extend eligibility to veterans who served during the Persian Gulf conflict, beginning Aug. 2, 1990, and ending April 6, 1991.

Democratic Sen. Jeff Danielson says expanding eligibility would hopefully further the program’s success. Similar legislation being considered in the House would allocate more money to the program.

Senate: landowners can’t allow underage drinking

News

March 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has passed a bill that would make it illegal for landowners to allow drinking on their property by anyone under 21. The bill, which passed 48-0, makes it a simple misdemeanor for the first violation and imposes a $200 fine. A second offense and future offenses carry $500 fines.

The bill also holds juveniles responsible by making it a simple misdemeanor for anyone aged 18, 19, or 20 to drink alcohol in violation of the bill and imposes a fine of $200. A second offense carries a fine of $500 and a third offense carries a $500 fine and the loss of a driver’s license.

Sen. Robb Hogg, a Cedar Rapids Democrat, says the bill sets expectations for parents and communities. It moves to the House.

Clarinda Police report

News

March 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers, Monday, released a report on his department’s most recent arrests and incidents. In the report, Brothers said on Saturday, 53-year old Kevin R. Lindahl, of Clarinda, was arrested for Aggravated Assault.

Last Thursday, 76-year old Kenneth Lee Polsley, of Blanchard, was arrested for first offense operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. On Feb. 25th, a 15-year old female from Council Bluffs was picked up as a runaway from Council Bluffs. On Feb. 23rd, a 16-year old male from Clarinda was arrested for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and on Feb. 11th, 39-year old Christopher Paul Hamm, of Clarinda, was arrested on warrant for violation of probation/parole.

 

Peralta homers twice against former team: Tigers 8 Cards 5

Sports

March 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) – Jhonny Peralta homered twice against his former team, going deep in his only plate appearances Monday in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 8-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Peralta played for the Tigers for three and a half seasons before signing with St. Louis as a free agent this offseason. He said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny asked a couple days earlier if he wanted to make the spring training trip to Lakeland to face Detroit. Peralta accepted that offer – then made his visit worthwhile with two solo homers off left-hander Drew Smyly.

Nick Castellanos homered for the Tigers. Castellanos, Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Austin Jackson had two hits apiece. Detroit, which played a 10-inning scoreless tie against Atlanta on Sunday, scored seven runs in the first three innings Monday.

Cass County Master Gardeners Grant Money Available for Local Garden Projects

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Now is the time to plan and plant for future gardens. The Cass County Master Gardeners group is offering a total of $1500 in grant money to be used in the 2014 growing season, to encourage gardening to grow food and/or beautify local communities. The money may also be used for gardening education purposes. The David Williams Master Gardener Grants are offered to honor the many years of service Master Gardener David Williams provided as a long-time volunteer, with the Master Gardener program and other community organizations, including a term as Cass County Master Gardener president in 2012.Master Gardner

Any Cass County not-for-profit group or individual may apply. Schools, churches, libraries, 4-H clubs, Scouts, and individuals working to improving their communities can use the money to begin or improve gardens or landscaping, or to provide education for their members or the public. To ensure the money is helping a wide variety of community organizations, groups who were funded by 2012 and 2013 grants will not be eligible to apply in 2014. Each grant has a maximum value of $300. The application must also include plans for teamwork and sustainability. Consideration for the environment is also an important selection factor.

Applications must be received by Thursday, April 10th for consideration. They may be submitted by mail or email. Grant recipients will be informed of their selection by the end of April. More information, and a grant application, is available on the Cass County Extension website, www.extension.iastate.edu/cass or by calling the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132, emailing keolson@iastate.edu, or stopping by the Extension Office at 805 W. 10th St in Atlantic. You may also contact committee members Judy Kennedy, LaVon Eblen, Connie Jones or Carolyn Hartmann for more information.

The Master Gardener program trains volunteers to develop their knowledge and skills in horticulture. These volunteers then give back to their communities through gardening service and education. The program is available in all 50 states and Canada through land grant university Extension programs such as Iowa State University. Education courses are available throughout Iowa on a regular basis. Contact Cass County Extension Program Coordinator Kate Olson, at 712-243-1132 or keolson@iastate.edu for more information.

2 accidents in Cass County, Sunday

News

March 3rd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s officials in Cass County say one person was injured during one of two separate accidents Sunday morning. The first happened just before 5-a.m. on White Pole Road, in Wiota. Authorities say a 2005 Jaguar owned and driven by 19-year old Bryson Thomas West, of Atlantic, was eastbound on White Pole Road when the car hit a large snow drift in the road and went out of control before running through a fence. West was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac ambulance. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $3,500, while damage to the fence was estimated at $500.

The second accident happened at 7:50 a.m. on 710th Street. Officials say a 2004 Ford F150 pickup owned and driven by 22-year old Joshua Brian Behnken, of Massena, was southbound on 710th Street when the driver lost control. The vehicle rolled once into the east ditch and landed on its wheels. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $7,000. Behnken was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.