Authorities in Pottawattamie County are investigating the recent theft of a backhoe from a property east of Hancock. Chief Deputy John Reynolds said the theft of a Case 480-E backhoe occurred at a location in the 16000 block of 450th Street, sometime between 4-p.m. April 17^th and this past Thursday. The machine is yellow, with a brown cab. The back window is also missing.

The bachoe’s owner, Larry Pracht, has been the target of thefts before. Past reports to the Sheriff’s Office indicated Pracht had two trailers and scrap metal take during separate incidents. Pracht is offering a $1,000 reward for the return of the machine, and an additional $1,000 reward if the other stolen equipment is returned. He says also, he won’t press charges if the thief returns one or more of the items, or provides a tip as to where they are located. Pracht can be reached at 712-355-1566.

Authorities are reviewing surveillance video to try and obtain clues as to the thief’s identity. Anyone with information regarding the thefts should call the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office at 890-2200 or Sergeant Dwayne Ritchie at 890-2233.

The Harlan Police Department said today (Friday), a Harlan woman was arrested April 20th on drug-related charges, after officers were called to assist a woman at a residence in the 500 block of Main Street. 38-year old Vicki Garrison faces a trio of felony charges, including 2 counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana & Methamphetamine), Possession of a Controlled Substance with the intent to Deliver, and Bribery. She remains in the Shelby County Jail on $50,000 bond.

And, on April 21st, 21-year old Kipp Christen, of Hastings, NE, was arrested in Harlan following a traffic stop. Christen was charged with OWI and Careless Driving. Christen made his initial appearance in court this (Friday) morning.

The Harlan Police Department reports 38-year old Curtis Baldwin, of Harlan, was arrested Tuesday on disorderly conduct and public intoxication charges. The arrest occurred after officers responded to a report a man was “dancing in the street and running out in front of on-coming cars.” Baldwin plead not guilty to the charges. A date for his trial has not yet been set.

Authorities in Harlan also report the arrest on Wednesday, of 53-year old Michael Garrison, of Harlan. Garrison was charged with public intoxication and interference with official acts, after officers were called to assist with a man who was allegedly out of control and threatening suicide. He plead not guilty to the charges and was being held in the Shelby County Jail on $300 bond.

And, on Sunday (April 22nd), two Harlan men were arrested following a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle, 26-year old Zachary Scheffler was charged with Driving While Barred, while his passenger, 21-year old Cody Lister, faces Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Open Container charges. Both men were brought to the Shelby County Jail. Lister plead not guilty to the charges.

Abortion opponents may soon be able to buy specialty license plates in Iowa.

"Choose Life" new IA license plate design

 The state Department of Transportation has approved a plate that will read “Choose Life” below a drawing of two smiling kids’ faces. DOT spokeswoman Dena Gray-Fisher says the group Iowa Right to Life is sponsoring the effort. “Their application for that plate has been approved,” Gray-Fisher says.

“Now they have to gather 500 paid applications before the DOT will take any further action and actually issue the plate.” The group has a deadline of one year to get those 500 applications. While the agency would not allow license plates that support a political candidate, for example, she says the DOT does not judge viewpoints on issues like this. “It is an organization,” Gray-Fisher says. “They can submit an application. As long as the emblem itself is not in some way a sexual connotation, vulgar, profanity, then the DOT will issue them if they can qualify and gather the 500 applicants.” It’s part of a national effort by an anti-abortion group, Choose Life America. Iowa is reportedly the 29th state to approve a “Choose Life” plate.

(Matt Kelley/Radio Iowa)

A new report claims sexual violence, in just one year, cost the state of Iowa $5.8 billion, or $1,875 per resident. The research was financed by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center. Binnie LeHew, with the IDPH, talked about the report Thursday at a press conference in Des Moines. “The conclusion we have is that sexual violence is a costly and serious public health problem in Iowa and it has profound short and long term impacts on its victims,” LeHew said. “Because of this, we feel strongly that we have to invest in prevention.” 

The report shows, in 2009, more than 55,000 people experienced sexual violence in Iowa. LeHew said around 55-percent of the government’s expenditures associated with sexual violence were tied to the criminal justice system, while just one-percent was directed at prevention efforts. “Not that we don’t need to have resources in the criminal justice system, but we cannot continue to put all of our eggs in that basket,” LeHew said. “We have to invest in prevention and recognize, because so little of sexual violence is ever reported, we have to reach out to people in many other ways – which is what a comprehensive prevention program would do.” 

The report noted this year 1 in 35 women in Iowa between the ages of 18 and 44 will experience sexual violence.

(Pat Curtis/Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Army Corps of Engineers plans to cut the flow of water coming out of Gavins Point Dam in southeast South Dakota next week to check for damage from last year’s flooding.  The corps said Friday it will conduct the test on Tuesday to look for damage caused by last summer’s sustained high water releases. People who live downstream from the dam in Nebraska and Iowa could see the Missouri River drop more than a foot on Tuesday because of the test.  The corps’ John Remus says preliminary inspections indicated the dam sustained minor damage to its spillway, so officials want to get a better look. If the test is successful, officials will plan to reduce the flow for a longer period in May to complete damage assessments.