United Group Insurance

Council Bluffs man sentenced to 200 months for Drug and Firearm Charges

News

April 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced April 16th to 200 months in prison on federal drug charges and a concurrent 180 months for a firearms crime.  According to public court documents, 39-year-old Jake Michael Flynn pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. From October 2022 through April 2023, Flynn was a member of a conspiracy which distributed more than 50 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Council Bluffs area. A stolen vehicle was also recovered that was involved in prior burglaries in the Council Bluffs area. Additionally, a Sig Sauer Model P365 9×19 millimeter handgun was found in the vehicle with Flynn’s DNA. Flynn was previously convicted of a felony and therefore prohibited from legally possessing a firearm.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Flynn will be required to serve five years 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 Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, the Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Council Bluffs Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

2 arrested on drug charges in Glenwood

News

April 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Glenwood Police Department reports four recent arrests. On Sunday:

20-year-old Lillian Doeppers, of Omaha, NE, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her total bond set at $1,300. Doeppers was Released on her Own Recognize (ROR) by a magistrate; and, 20-year-old Clayton Gorham, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. His bond set was at $1,000. He too was released on his own recognize by the magistrate.

On Saturday, Glenwood Police arrested:

43-year-old Barbara Riley, of Glenwood, for driving while barred, bond set at $2,000. Riley was ROR’d by the magistrate; and, 19-year-old Jaxx Weis, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, with bond set at $1,000. Weis posted bond and was released.

And, last Friday, Glenwood Police arrested 41-year-old Kyle Zeigler, of Red Oak, for driving while barred, with bond set at $2,000. (ROR by the magistrate)

Iowa’s tornado tally from Friday reaches 17, may go even higher

News, Weather

April 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Weather experts say at least 17 tornadoes touched down in Iowa Friday afternoon and evening, including perhaps a half-dozen that are classified as E-F-2s, with winds up to 135 miles an hour. Meteorologist Craig Cogil, at the National Weather Service, says it may be several days before they have a complete tornado tally. Multiple teams are evaluating the damage, which Cogil says includes in-person surveys, as well as reviewing the radar data, satellite imagery, and videos. “These bigger outbreaks do take time to go through and find out all the tracks across the state,” Cogil says. “It’s likely we’ll see a few more added on here before we have the final total for the system. We may get up towards 20 across the state, but right now, we can confirm about 17 across the state.”

The Omaha office issued 42 tornado warnings on Friday for its region of Nebraska and Iowa, while Cogil says the Johnston office issued perhaps another two dozen for western and central Iowa. He says they’re trained to handle such tense situations where seconds can mean a tremendous difference to anyone who may be in harm’s way. “These are the ones that are the most life-threatening and can potentially do the most harm,” Cogil says. “They do stress us quite a bit when we have to go through an event like that, but overall, the thing is, we’re just really trying to get the word out so people can take the appropriate action, and potentially life-saving action.”

There have been situations in recent years where National Weather Service staffers in Iowa had to leave their posts because tornadoes were heading directly for them. “In instances like that in particular, you don’t really want to stop or quit doing what you’re doing but at the same time, you need to take shelter if there’s something that is heading towards the office,” Cogil says. “Fortunately, we have several offices around that can back us up and continue to issue warnings if we do have to take cover. It’s part of the job.”

Friday’s severe weather marks the second tornado outbreak in Iowa this month. On April 16th, there were 13 tornadoes that touched down in the state, so we’ve had roughly 30 twisters so far. Cogil says there’s no way to know what’s coming in the rest of the tornado season ahead. “We do have some years that start out really quickly, and then eventually, it tapers off as you head into May and June,” Cogil says, “but there’s other ones where it starts hot and heavy and it just stays that way through June or July. Every year is a little bit different and we just have to be prepared for what Mother Nature throws at us.”

He cautions, tornadoes can strike any time of the day or night and during any month of the year.

RODNEY COOK, 73, of rural Atlantic (Svcs. 5/3/24)

Obituaries

April 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

RODNEY COOK, 73, of rural Atlantic, died Monday, April 29, 2024, at his home. Funeral services for RODNEY COOK will be held 10-a.m. Friday, May 3rd, 2024, at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Visitation, with the family present, will be held from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 2nd at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic.

Burial, with military honors by the Atlantic Color Guard will be held in the Atlantic Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the family for designation at a later date.

RODNEY COOK is survived by:

His wife – Donna Cook, of Atlantic.

His sons – Michael (fiancé, Russell Neal) Cook; Brian (Lisa) Cook, and Jason (Trisha) Cook.

His brother – Garry Cook, of Atlantic.

His sister – Donna (Bob) Skow, of Atlantic

and 4 grandchildren.

Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com

Heartbeat Today 4-29-2024

Heartbeat Today, Podcasts

April 29th, 2024 by Jim Field

Jim Field visits with class of 2024 CAM High School seniors Jenna Platt, Natalie Behnken and Kiera Nichols.

Play

Creston man arrested on burglary, assault & other charges

News

April 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports four weekend arrests. At around 4:18-a.m., Saturday, 24-year-old Joseph Lee James Eblen, of Creston, was arrested on charges that include Driving while Barred, 2 counts of Violation of No Contact Order, Burglary 1st Degree-Bodily Injury, and Assault while Participating in Felony. Eblen was being held in the Union County Jail on a $32,600 cash or surety bond.

Saturday night, Creston Police arrested 38-year-old Douglas Edward Woodward III, of Clearfield, on a Polk County Warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree-FTA (Failure to Appear) for Arraignment. Woodward was being held in the Union County Jail on a $1,000 cash-only bond, while awaiting extradition to Polk County.

Sunday evening, 71-year-old Oliver Stephen Davis, of Creston, was arrested at his residence for Reckless Use of Firearm. Davis was cited and released from the scene on Promise to Appear (in court). And, Sunday night, 46-year-old Dennis Gerald Tyler, of Creston, was arrested at the intersection of Mills and Lincoln. Tyler was charged on Public Intoxication and Interference with Official Acts. He was taken to the Union County Jail and later released on a $600 cash or surety bond.

Local 24-Hour Rainfall Totals Reported at 7:00 am on Monday, April 29, 2024

Ag/Outdoor, Weather

April 29th, 2024 by Jim Field

  • KJAN, Atlantic  .29″
  • 7 miles NNE of Atlantic  .42″
  • Massena  .23″
  • Elk Horn  .36″
  • Carroll  .33″
  • Clarinda  .22″

Opiod overdose drug available for free, in Atlantic

News

April 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Representatives with “Steps of Hope,” Iowa, were in Atlantic over the weekend, to install a Naloxone distribution box outside the Atlantic Public Library, on the southwest side. The event took place Saturday. The box with free Naloxone, was made possible by funds donated by the citizens of Cass County and Steps of Hope. Officials say their goal is to have Naloxone boxes placed in Adair, Guthrie, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties. The ultimate goal is to get a box placed in every Iowa county.

Naloxone is a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, targeting the central and respiratory systems. It works by binding to opioid receptors, blocking effects of opioids like heroin and morphine. Commonly administered via injection or nasal spray, naloxone acts quickly, essential in emergencies.

A Naloxone distribution box similar to this, is now located outside of the Atlantic Public Library.

Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition will be supplying doses to the box on a monthly basis. More information on the Naloxone boxes can be found at stepsofhopeiowa.org.

 

Iowa writer’s book focuses on growing up Mexican-American in the heartland

News

April 29th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A Latino author from Iowa City is publishing a book of short stories about a boy who’s coming of age in a blue-collar, predominately white Midwestern town in the late 1960s. Mario Duarte, a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, says the main character’s experiences are largely based on his own life, and the book is an effort to show how we’re all simultaneously different — and the same. “There’s just not enough focus on who people are in this country, for example, Mexican-Americans or other groups,” Duarte says. “One of the reasons I wrote this book is so people have an understanding of my people, the generations of who we are. I think the more they understand us, the less there’s going to be hate and prejudice.”

Duarte says his book, “My Father Called Us Monkeys: Growing Up Mexican-American in the Heartland,” is designed to be read by people of all colors and of all ages. “I think of this as a group of stories that’s written for anyone who’s preadolescent to the elderly, because it covers all of the characters in that range,” Duarte says, “but anybody faces the same circumstances of growing up. In its essence, I think the most important part of the book is about the sorrows and the joys of growing up.” In the book, Marco is an inquisitive boy who grapples to understand the adult world, telling his tales of friendships, living with white neighbors, as well as interactions and conflicts with extended family.

“This happens to be a Mexican-American family but it’s true of any family,” Duarte says. “The things you go through, the town you live in, where you live, who you meet as you go along in life, your interactions with your parents, your friends, the impact that has on who you are as a person, the lessons you learn. That’s true of anybody.” Duarte, an academic advisor at the University of Iowa, grew up in western Illinois and has lived in Iowa City for some 30 years. He says just a few years ago, he would have said Americans’ attitudes about immigrants were good, but there’s been a change.

“I don’t think I can say that with any kind of honesty. I think these are challenging times for people who are immigrants and who are perceived as immigrants,” Duarte says. “Even people like my own family might be perceived as just fresh to this country, whereas we have a very long history. I can trace my family history back to 1911 in Iowa.” He hopes the book will be something of an antidote to those misconceptions.

Duarte will be appearing at Beaverdale Books in Des Moines on Sunday. The book is being published by North Liberty-based Ice Cube Press.

WEEK OF APRIL 29, 2024

Trading Post

April 29th, 2024 by Jim Field

FOR SALE:  4 filing cabinets with locks, $10 each. 2 office chairs, $10 each. Motorized treadmill looking for best offer and trying to get rid of ASAP. 712-243-4308.

WANTED: A small pickup to buy or trade for a 2002 Ford Explorer. Also looking for a driver side seat for 2002 Ford Explorer. Looking for a owner’s manual/fix it book for a Deluxe scooter. Also looking for a cheap riding lawn mower. Call Fred at 712-243-4016

FOR SALE: Black swivel office chair for $5. Also, a pair of brand-new size 12D HH brand cowboy boots for $20. 712-304-4550.

GARAGE SALE:  510 Pacific Ave. in Audubon. Friday, May 3 from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm and Saturday, May 4 from 8:00 am – 11:00 am.

FOR SALE:  Homelite weed eater, works great.  Asking $40 cash.  In Atlantic.  Phone calls only to 712-249-6835. SOLD!

WANTED: Looking for someone to bring 12 sheep to my place to graze off 4 to 5 acres of pastureland. Fences are great. There is a barn to go into and it has water. Located in the Harlin area. Call 712-571-0245

FOR SALE:  8 foot white Formica counter top with double sink with faucets.  Sink measures 31 1/2″ x 20 1/2″.  Several other pieces of Formica: 42″, 16″, 15″ and 24 1/2″.  Great for basement or shop.  Also, 1 Pella window in casing 25″ x 41″.  Call in Anita, 712-249-5352.

GARAGE SALE: 804 E. Mahogony in Atlantic on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4 from 8am-5pm. Clothing including Big & Tall Men’s, furniture, plants, books, craft items, baby blankets and lots of misc.

WANTED:  Looking for last several months Atlantic News-Telegraph.  Call 712-789-9483.

FOR SALE: Three large rain barrels. Blue in color. FOR SALE: Sixteen Cookbooks. FOR SALE: New in the box. Never used Keurig Coffee maker. Make an offer on all items. Call 712-243-4308

FOR SALE:  Snapper HI-VAC 21 inch walk behind variable speed self propelled rear wheel drive mower with grass bagger kit, owners manual, and extra de-thatching blade, serviced and ready for the mowing season,  $135.00. Phone 641-745-5461SOLD!

WANTED:  A working or to be fixed electric dehydrator.  Am able to pick up in Atlantic or surrounding areas.  Please call 712-769-2426 or 605-651-3135.

FREE:  Jenny Lind baby crib. Good condition. Has side that raises up and down if you want it to. Good for a grandma’s house!!! Please leave message at 712-268-2340.