A Mills County man was sentenced Tuesday to spend 11-years in prison following his conviction on a drug charge. 31-year old Jesse R. Salmons-Rice, of Malvern was sentenced by United States District Court Judge John Jarvey to 132 months in prison for manufacturing methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school. Rice was also ordered to serve eight-years of supervised release following the period of imprisonment.

On September 4tg, 2013, Salmons-Rice pled guilty to the charge. The guilty plea was the result of an investigation by law enforcement into the manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine in and around Mills County. He was found to have been manufacturing methamphetamine on or about November 6th, 2012, in the loft of his garage which was located within 28-feet of an elementary school in Malvern.

The investigation was conducted by the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Iowa Division of Narcotic Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding a a body found floating in a creek near the east edge of Council Bluffs, Wednesday afternoon. According to the Omaha World-Herald, the body of a man in his 50’s was found in Mosquito Creek. The 9-1-1 call to Pottawattamie County Dispatch came in at around 12:25-p.m.

The body, which was found face down, remained in the creek under the Madison Avenue overpass an hour or so after it was found. Police said it appeared that the body had not been in the water long. The location is near Valley View Road and Madison Avenue just east of the Mall of the Bluffs and Interstate 80.

No other information was available late Wed. afternoon.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate granted final approval of a bill meant to stop the release of sexually violent predators. Lawmakers unanimously approved the measure Wednesday, sending it to Gov. Terry Branstad.

The bill allows those convicted of a violent sexual offense as a juvenile to be sent to a civil containment unit for sexually violent predators upon release from prison. Officials now don’t consider such juvenile convictions when making adult release decisions.

Cedar Rapids Sen. Robert Hogg says those who commit sex offenses as juveniles could be dangerous as adults. He says this was true in the case of Kathlynn Shepard, who authorities say was abducted and killed last year by Michael Klunder. Under the proposal, Klunder could have been kept in civil containment for past offenses instead of being freed.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Veterans would receive various tax and job benefits under a bill overwhelmingly approved by the Iowa House. In a 94-2 vote Wednesday, the House passed a measure that combines several of Gov. Terry Branstad’s initiatives intended to attract veterans to Iowa and to support those already in the state. The legislation now goes to the Senate.

The bill exempts military pensions from state income tax, permits companies to offer preferential treatment to veterans in hiring decisions, and gives veterans credit for military experience when obtaining an occupational license. All provisions had been considered separately at the committee level.

Republican Rep. Matt Windschitl, of Missouri Valley, says moving forward with these efforts is a small step to better support those who have served the country.

(Updated 7-p.m.)

An Atlantic teen suffered minor injuries during an accident Wednesday afternoon just south of the intersection of 10th and Chestnut Streets.

Ric Hanson photos

Atlantic Police said 16-year old Caleb Kelly lost control of the 2 door Saturn his was driving at around 2:18-p.m. The accident happened as he was traveling south on Chestnut. A medical condition is thought to have been the cause of the crash.

The vehicle hit a telephone pole guy wire before flipping onto its top, coming to rest facing west on Chestnut. Kelly, who managed to crawl out of the car on his own, was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac Ambulance, to be checked out.

Firefighters from Atlantic, Anita and Wiota were on the scene Wednesday afternoon of a large grass fire east of Atlantic. Marne Fire was also asked to respond. The fire was reported to have occurred near 63930 Hamburg Road at around 2:30-p.m.. The flames spread quickly during the extremely dry and windy conditions and at one point reportedly jumped Highway 71. Authorities reported smoke so thick across Highway 6/71 for a time, they stopped traffic to try and avoid any accidents. Traffic was allowed to resume on Highway 6/71 at around 3:50-p.m., once the fire was brought under control.

A train that was heading west out of Anita was stopped on the tracks about 5-to 6-miles away from the burning area, because the flames were threatening to jump the tracks heading into Atlantic.

No other details are currently available. Earlier in the afternoon, the National Weather Service had warned of an Enhanced Fire Danger due to the dry and windy conditions.