(Clarinda, Iowa) – Officials with a precision ball bearing manufacturer based in Japan, have announced their facility in Clarinda will be closing at the end of March, 2025. Thursday’s news about the closing of the NSK–AKS plant means the loss of 54 jobs associated with the plant, according to the state’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, website.

Clarinda’s AKS plant primarily manufactures ball bearing components for the automotive and industrial markets. Company officials say many of the markets served by AKS have moved offshore, thereby reducing the manufacturing demand for domestically-produced products.

Clarinda NKS plant (Photo from the company’s website)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Shenandoah man was sentenced today to seven years in federal prison for receipt of child pornography.

According to public court documents, 34-year-old Evaristo Hernandez Flores Carnes uploaded images and videos containing child sex abuse material to a social media application. Law enforcement executed search warrant at Carnes’s residence and seized a cell phone that was later found to contain images and videos of child sex abuse material.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Carnes will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), DCI Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Shenandoah Police Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigations.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Two Council Bluffs men were sentenced for their roles in conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Council Bluffs metropolitan area:

• Douglas Marqueis Louis, 45, was sentenced on August 28, 2024, to a 210-month prison term; and
• Nikolas Alan Koebel, 27, was sentenced on September 20, 2024, to a 100-month prison term.

According to public court documents, in December 2023 during a search warrant a Louis’s Council Bluffs residence, law enforcement located more than three pounds of methamphetamine, more than one pound of marijuana, more than an ounce and a half of cocaine, and more than $13,000 cash. Some of the cash at Louis’s residence came from a controlled purchase of fentanyl that law enforcement made from Koebel. In total, law enforcement arranged six controlled purchases of fentanyl from Koebel.

After completing their terms of imprisonment, Louis and Koebel will each be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A man from Cass County (IA) was sentenced today (Friday) to 14 years in federal prison for possessing a distribution quantity of methamphetamine.

According to public court documents, 38-year-old Derek Allen McDermott, of Atlantic, was found in possession of distribution quantities of meth during two traffic stops in October 2023 and December 2023. McDermott has two state convictions for possession with intent to deliver meth.

Derek Allen McDermott (Pott. Co. Jail photo from 3-4-24)

After completing his term of imprisonment, McDermott will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, to 8 years (96 months) in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.

According to public court documents, Marshon Lamarr Johanson, 30, shot his dog after it reportedly bit him. In August 2024, Council Bluffs Animal Control went to Johanson’s house to check on the welfare of the dog. Johanson was uncooperative. The Council Bluffs Police Department returned a few days later with a search warrant. The dog was found dead in the basement. A Ruger handgun and loaded magazine were found in the bedroom of the residence. Johanson was convicted of animal torture in the Iowa District Court for Pottawattamie County and sentenced to a 75-day suspended prison term.

In 2015, Johanson was convicted of burglary and aggravated robbery in Texas, and, in 2022, Johanson was convicted of two felony assault charges in the Nebraska District Court for Douglas County. As a result, Johanson is prohibited from possessing firearms.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Johanson will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by Council Bluffs Animal Control, the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

(Radio Iowa) – After push-back from residents who raise AND race homing pigeons, the Storm Lake City Council has hit pause on a proposal that would have allowed no more than 10 pigeons to be kept at a single property. At a city council meeting this week, a woman told the council her family sometimes has up to 80 pigeons.

The family’s racing pigeons are banded and she said the birds spend most of their day in the coop.

Storm Lake officials say they’ve fielded complaints about the family’s pigeons flying around the neighborhood. Storm Lake’s mayor says the council may convene a working group to make changes in the proposed ordinance that’s been tabled. The policy would have set time limits on when pigeons could be released in Storm Lake for exercise or for racing. The sport of pigeon racing started in Belgium in the 19th century and became popular in Great Britain and other parts of Europe. The American Pigeon Racing Union says there are 700 clubs around the country, with races for the birds that are between 100 and 600 miles.

[Council Bluffs, Iowa] – Persons impacted by April storms and June flooding in Pottawattamie County now have access to enhanced capabilities within the Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy Program (DCA). The DCA program addresses serious needs related to disaster-related hardship, injury, or adverse conditions. Disaster case advocates work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice, and referrals to obtain a service or resource. There is no cost for this service or to connect with available resources.

Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management has approved this local request for enhanced support to residents impacted by disaster. “Our state partners are providing experienced case management staff that can provide support and guidance for those struggling through the recovery process,” said Doug Reed, Pottawattamie County Emergency Management Director. Reed says, ” This is a valuable resource for anyone impacted that still has needs or feels lost in the process; take advantage of this free service.”

Impacted residents in Pottawattamie County can start applying for this program now. In the near future, announcements will be made where you can also visit a DCA Specialist and other resources in person.

How to Apply for the Disaster Case Advocacy Program
· Call 515-675-1884
· Online at https://homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/disasters/individual-disaster-assistance-programs#disaster-case-advocacy-dca

Eligibility
· No income restrictions and there in no cost to the individual
· Household has disaster related needs that represent a burden that is unable to be resolved
· Household members are citizens or legally residing in the United States

For more information on disaster-related programs and resources available to Iowans, visit DisasterRecovery.iowa.gov.

Online Resource and Information Links
Pottawattamie County Emergency Management

Share Iowa Emergency Relief Resources

Iowa Disaster Case Advocacy Program

Iowa Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Iowa Legal Aid Disaster Relief Project

USDA Rural Development Disaster Assistance

Disaster Recovery Farm Interest Program

Flood Cleanup Resources

Health & Human Services Disaster Assistance

Iowa Disaster Housing Programs

Get connected to assistance for your ongoing and long-term disaster recovery needs by completing the online
Pottawattamie County Needs Assessment Survey.