(DES MOINES) – Gov. Terry E. Branstad today (Thursday) denied 18 applications for the commutation of prison sentences. Five prisoners who committed crimes in western and southwest Iowa were among those whose requests were denied. They include:

• 43-year old James W. Bettis, who committed his crime on September 6, 1988, in Page County. He is currently a life sentence for first-degree murder.

• 34-year old James Eaglefeather, who committed his crimes on October 6, 1998, in Pottawattamie County. He is currently serving a term of incarceration not to exceed twenty-five years for Robbery – 1st degree, 85%.

• 39-year old Danny Ray Long, who committed his crimes on or about December 11th and 18th, 1998, in Pottawattamie County. He is currently serving a term of incarceration not to exceed fifty years for two counts of Robbery – 1st degree, 85%.

• 46-year old Steven G. Sempek,  who committed his crimes on April 1, 1998, in Pottawattamie County. He is currently serving a 100-year sentence for six counts of Sexual Abuse in the second-degree (85%).

• 58-year old Simon C. Tunstall committed his crime on August 31, 1986, in Woodbury County. He is currently serving a life sentence for first-degree murder.

PANAMA, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing an Iowa trucking company accused of allowing a female worker to be sexually harassed and firing her for complaining. The commission claimed in a lawsuit filed Thursday that Panama Transfer violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Panama Transfer is based in Panama, 100 miles west of Des Moines. The family-owned company operates and maintains truck terminals in several states. The lawsuit claims a female worker at its Wellman, Iowa terminal was sexually harassed by a male supervisor who made sexual innuendos in private and over the workplace intercom. It says she was fired in May 2012 after she complained.

Company President Dean Kloewer said Thursday the allegations are false and the company’s lawyers will fight them. The commission is seeking damages.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports five people were arrested over the past week on unrelated charges.On Wednesday, deputies arrested 34-year old Phillip Christian Hunter, of Cumberland, on a charge of Domestic Abuse, second offense. Hunter was brought to the Cass County Jail and released Thursday (3/27) on his own recognizance. Also arrested Wednesday, was 44-year old Angela Dee Cook, of Atlantic. She was charged with OWI/2nd offense, and at the jail received an additional charge of Possession of Electronic contraband. Cook was booked into the jail and also released on her own recognizance Thursday (3/27).

On Monday, 20-year old Andrew Warren Laughlin, of Atlantic, turned himself-in to the Cass County Jail. Laughlin was wanted on a District Court warrant for a Probation Violation. He remains in the Cass County Jail on $3,000 bond.  Last Sunday, 49-year old Tab Norman Rasmussen, of Exira, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failing to Appear at a Child Support Hearing. He was being held without bond in the Cass County Jail.

And on Friday, March 21st, Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 49-year old Floyd Marvin Johnson, of Wiota, on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Johnson was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day on his own recognizance.

In an update to our earlier stories about two separate accidents in Atlantic, Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green reports the drivers of two vehicles involved in a collision this (Thursday) morning at the intersection of Highway 71 and 22nd Street, were transported to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Green says a pickup driven by Jason Jordahl, of Atlantic, was traveling north on Highway 71 at around 7:28-a.m., and slowing for a vehicle stopped and waiting to turn left onto 22nd Street, when his vehicle was hit from behind by an SUV driven by Chelsea Adams, of Atlantic. Adams was cited for Failure to Maintain Control and Reduce Speed. Damage from the crash amounted to $9,000.

And, an accident Wednesday afternoon just south of the intersection of 10th and Chestnut Streets resulted in 16-year old Caleb Kelly, of Atlantic, being sent to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Chief Green says Kelly was traveling south in a 2-door Saturn at around 2:17-p.m., when he suffered from a medical issue that caused him to jerk the steering wheel to the right. The car then hit a utility pole guy wire before flipping onto its left side and ending up on its roof. No citations were issued.