Three suspects were taken into custody Wednesday morning, in Council Bluffs, in connection with an investigation into a stolen vehicle. Council Bluffs Police report two of the suspects have multiple felony warrants. Items in possession of the suspects, at the time of arrest, were four loaded handguns (one was reported stolen Wednnesday morning) and two trucks that were stolen within the past 24 hours (one was taken this [Wed.]morning). The suspects were identified as 25-year-old Joshua Holmes, of Council Bluffs, along with 29-year-old Dalton Holland and 22-year-old Javon Smith, both of whom are from Omaha.

Javon Smith

Joshua Holmes (Top photo) & Dalton Holland.

Authorities say at around 8:30-a.m., Wednesday, Officers received information about a stolen vehicle in the 1800 block of Avenue C. Officers coordinated an approach while three subjects were outside the suspected stolen truck. Upon arrival, suspect Joshua Holmes entered the driver’s seat of a 2005 Chevy Silverado, and attempted to flee. The Chevy was blocked-in by Police vehicles and could not leave. Suspect Dalton Holland jumped from the bed of the truck and ran on foot. The third suspect, Javon Smith, ran from the passenger side of the Silverado. He was located about two blocks away and apprehended. Authorities say Holmes had two loaded handguns on him, and was wearing a ballistic vest. Two more handguns were found in the Silverado. A second truck, a 2018 Dodge RAM 1500, was on location and confirmed stolen.

Holmes was charged with: Theft in the 1st Degree; Possession of a controlled substance/meth; Felon in possession of a firearm; fugitive from justice; interference with official acts, and Possession of paraphernalia

Holland was charged with: Theft in the 2nd Degree; Felon in possession of a firearm; eluding a police officer, and interference with official acts.

Smith faces charges that include: Felon in possession of a firearm; eluding a police officer, and interference with official acts.

Atlantic High School Agriculture Instructor and FFA Advisor Eric Miller reports the Atlantic FFA Chapter placed 4th in the annual Iowa FFA Farm Management Career Development Event virtually on November 12th. Members of the first place team included: Drey Newell, Caroline Pellett, Gunner Kirchhoff, and Garrett Reynolds.

Drey Newell, Caroline Pellett, Garrett Reynolds, Gunner Kirchhoff

FFA teams from 26 chapters participated in this year’s Career Development Event designed to provide the student an opportunity to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of Farm Management. The 95 individuals who participated in the event each completed an objective test which had three sections: economic principles, records and analysis, and risk management. All team members worked together to solve a problem related to break even analysis.

The Iowa FFA Farm Business Management Career Development Event was made possible with support from the Iowa Farm Business Association through the Iowa FFA Foundation. Dr. Ron Deiter, Professor of Economics at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, was the Career Development Event coordinator and prepared the test.

********

The Iowa FFA Association is a youth organization of over 16,100 student members as part of 246 local FFA chapters across Iowa. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The Iowa FFA Association was organized by delegates from 23 schools at Iowa State College on May 17, 1929 and is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The Iowa Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the Iowa FFA Association online at IowaFFA.com, on Facebook, and Twitter.

Atlantic, IA —Cass County Health System (CCHS) officials have announced increased visitor limitations for patients will begin on Monday, November 30. CCHS Chief Nursing Officer Amanda Bireline says “We truly believe that visitors are good medicine. While we know that many hospitals and clinics are not allowing any visitors, we continue to make it a priority to put ourselves in the shoes of our patients and their loved ones. We will keep allowing visitors as long as it is reasonable and feasible to do so. With increased COVID-positive patients, allowing visitors around the clock becomes a challenge.”

Bireline added “These patients need a higher level of care, which can strain staff who are juggling more than ever these days. Because of the increased spread in our community, and the increased hospitalizations, we felt it was the time to dial up our visitor limitations.”

Beginning on the 30th, the visitor policy is as follows:

• All visitors must be 18 years of age or older and in good health.
• All visitors must always wear a mask over their nose and mouth; additional PPE may be required dependent upon the patient’s diagnosis.
• Outpatients may have one visitor with them during their appointment.
• Inpatients may have one designated visitor.
• Daily visiting hours will be between 3 and 6 pm only.
• Emergency Department patients may have one designated visitor with them; visitors may be asked to leave at any time if staff deems it necessary for the health and safety of either the patient or visitor.
• Obstetrics patients will have two designated visitors/support persons who are 18 years of age or older and in good health.
• Special exceptions may be made in all departments on a case-by-case basis for pediatric patients, end-of-life patients, or other unique situations.

All visitors will be screened at the entrance before being allowed to proceed. CCHS encourages friends and family to use technology to keep in contact with their loved ones.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a theft that occurred in Exira. Authorities said Wednesday (today) the theft occurred between November 14th and 19th. The suspect(s) took several Dewalt brand tools and Dewalt accessories (20V, 40V, and 60V; no 18V).

Dewalt stolen items include: a chain saw, 40V battery chargers, 40V batteries, 60V Flex 2.5gal portable air compressor, 60V grinder, fast charger, 20V batteries, 20V to 18V converter, 20V impacts, circular saw, 20V compact blower, 20V grease gun and battery in a case, 20V drills, 16-piece drill bit set, 20V MAX LED flashlight, and a hand held buffer.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The historically close race for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District seat could be approaching a tie. Democrat Rita Hart has cut Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ lead to 35 votes out of more than 394,400 cast, with all but three of the district’s 24 counties reporting the results of their recounts. The race is the closest in the nation, and both sides expect it to tighten further as Scott, Jasper and Clinton counties finish their recounts in the coming days.

A single-digit victory for either candidate is a possibility, as is a tie, which would result in a winner’s name being drawn from a receptacle such as a hat or bowl.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday (Today) provided information about an injury accident that took place Saturday, Nov. 14th. Authorities say at around 7:38-a.m., a Guthrie County Deputy responded to a head-on collision at the intersection of Highway 4 and 141, east of Bagley. An investigation determined a 2014 Ford Explorer driven by 43-year old Sara Marie Anderson, of Templeton, was traveling east on Highway 141, while a 2000 Ford Windstar van driven by 34-year old Codey Allen Savage, of Jefferson, was traveling westbound.

Anderson, and her 13-year old passenger, Haley Nelson, told authorities they saw the van in their lane of travel. Anderson tried to avoid hitting the van by going into the westbound lane, but Savage swerved into the west lane at the same time before the vehicles collided head-on. Savage told authorities afterward, he could not accurately recall how the accident happened. A witness to the collision corroborated Anderson’s account of the story.

Sara Anderson suffered suspected minor injuries. Haley Nelson complained of pain and possible injury. A third passenger in the SUV, 43-year old Sara Ferneding, was trapped in the vehicle and suffered suspected minor injuries. She was extricated by mechanical means. Ferneding and Anderson were transported by Panora EMS to Mercy Hospital in downtown Des Moines, while Nelson went to the Dallas County Hospital by Dallas County EMS. Savage was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to Mercy downtown, for treatment of suspected serious injuries.

The vehicles were totaled in the crash, with an estimated $40,000 damage altogether. An Iowa DOT highway sign sustained $1,500 damage.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday (today), reported the arrest at around 6:45-a.m., of 24-year old Cheyenne Rose Lopez, of Underwood.  Lopez was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Burglary in the 3rd Degree. Her bond was set at $2,000.

And, a nine-year old girl was injured during a rollover accident late Tuesday morning, in Mills County. Authorities say a 2002 Jeep driven by 30-year old Alexsandra Sturm, of Henderson, was traveling north on Highway 59 near Devore Avenue, when, due to the snowy road conditions, the SUV left the road and entered the west ditch, where it rolled over. The child was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled. She suffered minor injuries and was transported by Henderson Rescue to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital. No other injuries occurred.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman from Stuart was arrested on eight Union County warrants Tuesday evening, at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Authorities say 22-year old Brianna May Lawson was arrested on: 1 warrant for violation of probation; 6 warrants for failure to appear, and 1 warrant for violation of no contact/protective order.

Lawson was being held without bail for Union County, in the Adams County Jail, until seen by a judge.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office says no serious injuries were reported following a rollover accident Tuesday afternoon. Deputies responded at around 3:15-p.m. to the scene of the accident in the 2100 block of Maple Avenue. An investigation determined 57-year old Corey A. Cloyed of Omaha, NE., was driving a 2019 Isuzu box truck owned by Keystone Automotive Industries, north bound on Maple Avenue in the 2200 block.

Cloyed started down a hill, and was slowing to enter the curve at the intersection of Maple Avenue and 220th Street (Maple curves west just north of the intersection), when the vehicle went out of control on the wet surface. The truck struck a road sign and then entered the north ditch ½ way into the curve, before rolling onto its side coming to rest in the ditch.

Corey Cloyed was unable to exit the vehicle. A passerby used a piece of metal to break out the windshield so Cloyed could escape. He refused medical treatment at the scene. Damage from the accident amounted to $15,500. No citations were issued. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Clarinda Ambulance service and the Clarinda Fire Department.

(Radio Iowa) – One-hundred-70 state hospital leaders are urging Iowans to follow public health recommendations to slow the spread of COVID-19. A joint statement released by the Iowa Hospital Association’s physician leadership group and the Organization for Nursing Leadership asks Iowans to avoid crowds, stay home when sick and wear a mask. Dr. Michael McCoy, chief medical officer with Great River Health in West Burlington, says his hospital’s biggest challenge has been finding enough staff to take care of COVID patients. McCoy says, “We’ve already stopped doing a lot of our elective surgeries, almost all of them, not because of beds, but because of — we needed to pull staff from that area.”

McCoy says 97 hospital employees were out Monday because they were either sick with the virus or needed to quarantine. Rates of new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations have more than doubled in the past month. Dr. Tammy Chance, at the Boone County Hospital, says her goal this past summer was to get people to follow precautions so they could spend the holidays with family. Chance says, “I know this sounds morbid, but now my goal is to get people to take this seriously, so they don’t have an extra grave to visit of a close friend or loved one come next Memorial Day.”

Chance says there were a few days last week when her region nearly ran out of ICU beds, and her hospital has faced critical staffing shortages related to the virus. As of today (Wednesday), more than 1,300 Iowans were hospitalized with the virus, with nearly 270 in ICUs. Some 200 patients were hospitalized for the virus statewide in the past 24 hours.

(By Natalie Krebs, Iowa Public Radio)