Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The Water Emergency Declaration for the City of Elliott has been cancelled. Emergency Manager Brian Hamman said late Thursday afternoon, testing has concluded that the water is now safe to drink. City of Elliott officials would like to thank all citizens of the community for their understanding during this time and would also like to extend their appreciation to the local area businesses that assisted with donating and making potable water available.

Over 300 cases of water were distributed since early Tuesday afternoon, when a water main break disrupted the City’s municipal water infrastructure.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Woodbury County and its former sheriff have been dismissed from two federal lawsuits filed by women who claim their civil rights were violated at the county jail and they were given unlawful strip searches. U.S. District Judge Mark W. Bennett says in his recent rulings that the county did not have a policy in place that violated the rights of the women. He also ruled that they were not given strip searches because their bodies were not inspected.

The Sioux City Journal reports excessive force and retaliation claims against some jailers are essentially all that remain in the suits. The women claim officers assaulted and injured them by forcefully removing their clothing for jail-issued clothing.

The county says the women were disruptive and officers followed policy.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green reports that on December 21st, 2013 the Atlantic Police Reserves will sponsor the 6th annual Family Dream Christmas program. The program is for Cass County residents only. During the program we will furnish the officers and transportation to take the selected families shopping here within Atlantic. Families will be taken shopping in Atlantic for groceries for Christmas dinner, gifts for the kids from the parents and also gifts for the parents from their kids.

The police department will be accepting donations from now through the 20th of December. As with last year, they are asking for cash donations only, this year. Any donations can be brought to the Atlantic Police Department and received by an officer on duty or the secretary working.

Applications for families wishing to participate can be picked up at the Atlantic Police Department and are due on December 11th by 4:00 p.m. After all applications have been received, they will be reviewed and the chosen families will be contacted. There is no set limit on the number of families chosen; it will correspond to the amount of donations received. The P-D will try to help as many families as possible!

In 2012, the program sponsored nearly nine complete family units and gave other families toys as well as assistance, as available. Between 8-and 9-thousand dollars was spent through the program, the entire amount of which came through donations from the public. 

The Atlantic Police Reserves would like to thank everyone in the past that has helped and would also like to thank those of whom are anticipating on helping with our wonderful program. For questions or inquiries call the Atlantic Police Department at (712) 243-3512.

An Atlantic man who was sentenced to five-years in prison earlier this week in connection with an incident of domestic assault, has filed an appeal with the Iowa Supreme Court. Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner reports Rex Dean McDermott appeared in Cass County District Court just before Noon today (Thursday), and filed an appeal of the sentence imposed by Judge Jeffrey L. Larson. The Court had set an appeal bond in the amount of $10,000, which has since been posted. McDermott was released from custody pending a final appeal of his sentence.

Feistner says pursuant to the Iowa Rules of Criminal and Appellate Procedure, McDermott will remain free on bond pending a final ruling by the Iowa Court of Appeals or the Iowa Supreme Court which could take anywhere from a few months to possibly six months or more. The appellate court (Iowa Court of Appeals or Iowa Supreme Court) will address any alleged legal issues by the defendant regarding the sentence previously imposed by Judge Jeffrey L. Larson.

The options of the appellate court are that it could: (a) affirm the lower District Court’s decision, (b) reverse and vacate the lower District Court’s decision, or (c) affirm the lower District Court’s decision in part and reverse and vacate its decision in part. Once a final decision has been rendered by the appellate court and Procedendo issues, the appeal is then finalized or closed and the matter is remanded or sent back to the lower District Court for any final action, if any, or the original sentence will be imposed.

On Sept. 23rd., McDermott plead guilty to a felony charge of Domestic Abuse Assault by Strangulation. At the time of his sentencing, he was committed to the custody of the Director, Iowa Department of Corrections for a prison term not to exceed five (5) years. The sentence was not suspended. Mittimus was ordered to issue immediately and the defendant was immediately taken into the custody of the Cass County Sheriff pending transport to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center (IMCC) at Oakdale, Iowa to serve out the five-year prison sentence. But again as of today (Thursday), he is free on bond.