Officials with U-S Cellular, based in Chicago, have announced voting has begun for the company’s $1-million “Calling All Communities” campaign, which will award 18 schools across the country with some much needed funding. The school with the most votes wins $150,000, while the next 17 schools each receive $50,000. The winnings may be used in any manner needed to enhance students’ learning experiences.

Now through October 6^th, anyone 18-years or older can visit a U-S Cellular store and ask an associate for a code that will allow them to vote for their favorite school at www.uscellular.com. Each online voting code gives the person an opportunity to vote online once per day during the campaign. Each voting card also features a pee-off sticker that gives thousands of school supporters a chance to cast two votes per day, or win a prize.

Public and private schools, kindergarten through high school, are eligible to win. No purchase is necessary, and you don’t have to be a U-S Cellular customer to vote. The winning schools will be announced in October and November.

Since the program began in 2008, $2 million has been awarded to schools across the country.

A man authorities believe is connected to a homicide has eluded capture in Council Bluffs. According to Omaha television station KETV, officers with the Council Bluffs Police Department and Metro Area Fugitive Task Force set up a perimeter Friday afternoon at a house near 16^th Street and 5^th Avenue, thinking the unidentified suspect was inside.

As it turned out, the man was not at the home, and authorities continue to look for the suspect.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa said Friday, a California man was sentenced Thursday to nearly 22-years in prison for leading a conspiracy to distribute multiple kilograms of Methamphetamine in the Southern District of Iowa and elsewhere, for at least seven-years. 44-year old Elfego Ignacio Cid, of Visalia, CA, admitted he conspired to deliver of 15 kilo’s of meth to the Des Moines area from California.

According to testimony at his sentencing, Cid’s network actually delivered hundreds of kilo’s of meth and crystal meth, or “ice”, to Des Moines and four other cities, located in California, Colorado, Utah, and Georgia. Witnesses testified he provided his couriers with cars equipped with secret compartments used to deliver meth.

U-S Attorney Nick Klinefeldt said Cid’s 262 month prison sentence should quote — “Serve as a warning to those tempted to profit from the Methamphetamine addictions of others, that their cost of doing business will include years in prison should they head down that path.” He said also, that Cid’s conviction is due to years of hard work and perseverance by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

A Council Bluffs man faces numerous charges after allegedly stealing a pickup truck, leading an Iowa State Patrol Trooper on a high-speed chase, and then collided with the Trooper’s car. The Patrol says 25-year old Jesse Charles Adams was charged with Reckless Driving, Eluding and speeding, with numerous other charges not listed.

Officials say 43-year old Trooper James Bullington pursued a stolen 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup with an attached stolen camper southbound, on Interstate 29 in northwestern Mills County at around 12:45-a.m., Friday. Both the pickup and camper were taken from a man in Council Bluffs. At one-point, the pickup was clocked doing 104-miles per hour in a 70-mile per hour zone.

When the vehicles exited the interstate heading east on Bungee Avenue, the Trooper drove along side the pickup in his 2009 Dodge Charger in an attempt to prevent Adams from re-entering the interstate northbound. As he did so, Adams turned the pickup left as if to head onto the I-29 northbound ramp, and collided with the Patrol vehicle.

After the Charger became lodged between the truck and camper, both vehicles came to rest on the on-ramp. The pickup sustained minor damage. The camper sustained $1,000 damage, and the Patrol car sustained what was termed “Functional Damage.”

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Farmers, businessmen and local officials affected by this year’s record Missouri River flooding recounted the damages they suffered and urged Iowa officials to make rebuilding a priority. Gov. Terry Branstad and an assortment of top state officials gathered in Council Bluffs Friday afternoon to hear about millions of dollars of damage caused by the flood. The people who live and work along the river say they want to know how soon repairs will be made and what will be done to limit future flooding.

Doug Palmer had to shut down his barge and rail terminal business in Sioux City in June. He says the flood has been economically painful. Several other business leaders said they hope they won’t have to remove expensive levees they built to protect their facilities.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Iowa man has been sentenced to up to 140 years in prison for sexually assaulting two women in Omaha. 46-year-old Todd Mills, of Shelby, was sentenced on two counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of using a weapon to commit a felony. He pleaded no contest in June. Authorities say the attacks took place in September 2008 and August 2010. A Douglas County judge sentenced Mills to 110 to 140 years in prison.

Police say Mills, a father of five children, picked up women in his car, assaulted them at gunpoint and left them in remote areas. Mills is suspected in similar attacks in Pottawattamie County in Iowa.

Police in Harlan say a Guthrie Center man was arrested September 1^st on a warrant out of Des Moines. 55-year old Milton Sheeder was taken into custody following a traffic stop for speeding. He was also cited for failure to provide proof of insurance.

And, 14-year old Joshua Hytrek, of Panama, was cited August 30^th for simple assault, for an incident that allegedly took place at the Harlan Community High School. Hytrek’s case will be turned over to juvenile court for disposition.

Police in Harlan say two men were arrested over the past week on drug charges. This past Tuesday, 24-year old John Cox, of Harlan, was arrested after officers with the Harlan Police Department assisted the Denison and Woodbine Police Departments, in executing a search warrant at 2014 Garfield Avenue. Cox was subsequently charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and prohibited acts. Cox has plead not guilt to the Possession charge. He’s scheduled to appear in court September 15^th on the other charges.

And, on September 3^rd, 49-year old Mardy Miller, of Harlan, was taken into custody on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. He was also charged with Driving While Revoked, and cited for having improper tail lamps on his vehicle. Miller posted a $1,000 bond, and is scheduled to appear in court on September 13^th.