DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Storms rolling across the Upper Midwest are bringing strong winds and the threat of tornadoes to northern Iowa. The National Weather Service says a funnel cloud was reported yesterday afternoon about 3 miles west of Algona. A severe thunderstorm watch was in effect until this morning for northern and central Iowa.
 
     CHICAGO (AP) – Federal authorities say the conviction of a former Iowa letter carrier for sending dud pipe bombs to investment advisers shows they can successfully track down such attackers. A Chicago official at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service says John Tomkins of Dubuque, Iowa carried out “a reign of terror.” Jurors in Chicago convicted Tomkins after just two hours of deliberations yesterday.
 
     MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) – A 41-year-old Bettendorf man has been charged with stealing money from a customer. Shawn Mask faces two counts of felony theft. Prosecutors say he was working for a Muscatine insurance broker in 2010 when he misappropriated more than $88,000 from a customer by falsifying bookkeeping entries. Mask is free on $10,000 bond and didn’t return messages from the Associated Press seeking comment yesterday.
 
     KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) – A Keokuk man faces trial in July on a charge that he killed his mother in August 2011. Twenty-three-year-old Adam Pitman is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 46-year-old Rosa Pitman. He has pleaded not guilty. His trial is set for July 10th.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety said late this (Friday) afternoon, that law enforcement in western Iowa have arrested and charged a 17-year old Sac County resident for the alleged sexual assault of a family member. An investigation into the allegations began on February 27th, 2012, after a local doctor contacted the Sac County Sheriff’s Office to report the sexual assault of a minor girl who was mentally handicapped.

On March 1st, the Sac County Sheriff’s Office requested the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) assist in the investigation.  The Sac County Sheriff’s Office and the DCI proceeded to collect evidence related to the sexual assault.  Through the evaluation of evidence, 17 year old Avery Tjossem was identified as the offender.

Tjossem turned himself in to Sac County Authorities today (Friday, May 4th), He was booked and charged with Sexual Abuse 3rd (a Class C Felony) and Incest (a Class D Felony).  Tjossem has since been released on his own recognizance.

The Atlantic Police Department reports 22-year old Tyler Johnston, of Atlantic, was arrested Thursday on a Cass County warrant for Contempt of Court/Failure to Appear, on orginal charges of Trespassing and Contempt. Johnston was booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Iowa State Patrol says a Missouri truck driver was cited following an accident Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 29, in Mills County. Officials say a semi driven by 54-year old Daniel Smoot, of Atlanta, MO, was traveling south near mile marker 35 on I-29 at around 4:20-p.m.

After Smoot and the driver of a semi who was near him exchanged words over the C.B. radio, Smoot merged in front of the other semi, driven by 61-year old Stephen Greever, of Red Oak, and slammed on the brakes. Greever’s semi hit the back of Smoot’s truck, causing Greever’s vehicle to become disabled. Both drivers suffered minor injuries, but refused transport to the hospital.

Smoot was cited for Failure to Signal a Stop or Rapid Deceleration. Damage to his 2012 Volvosemi, registered to Dickey Transport, was estimated at $10,000. Greever’s 2004 semi, registered to Sully Transport, sustained $4,000 damage.

The Iowa State Patrol says a distracted driver and a deer caused a single-vehicle accident early Tuesday morning on Interstate 80 in Pottawattamie County. Official say 19-year old Rashaund Lobdell, of Peoria, IL, was traveling eastbound near Walnut at around 2:55-a.m., when he became distracted while changing a CD. When he looked up, Lobdell saw a deer and swerved to avoid a collision. The move caused the car to veer into the south ditch, where it spun around and hit a tree before coming to rest in an adjacent corn field.

Neither the driver, nor his three sleeping passengers were injured during the crash. The Patrol says Lobdell was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.