A brief pursuit following a reported, possible burglary, resulted in an arrest early this (Sunday) morning, in southwest Iowa. Shenandoah Police report 25-year-old Toby James Pritchett, of Shenandoah, was arrested for interference with official acts, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Officials say they received a call at around 12:30 a.m., about a possible burglary in progress in the 600 block of Church Street.

While searching, officers conducted an investigative stop on an individual later identified as Pritchett, in an area near the burglary scene. He was taken into custody following a brief pursuit. Pritchett was being held in the Page County Jail on $1,600 bond on the Shenandoah charges, as well as a $20,000 bond on a Fremont County warrant for probation violation.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will hold three virtual meetings later this month to hear from people who live and work along the Missouri River about flooding and potential solutions. Tim Hall, the D-N-R’s hydrology resources coordinator, says places that flood will continue to flood next time the river rises. So once federal funding becomes available to make improvements, the U-S Army Corps of Engineers needs to know what’s important to the people in order to prioritize “It’s just critical to know where the stakeholders, where the people on the river think that the biggest problems lie so that we can tackle (them) in order,” Hall says. “The Corps is never going to get money to fix all the issues on the river all at the same time.”

Last year’s near-historic runoff that entered the Upper Missouri River Basin combined with unusually high runoff in the Platte River caused the lower Missouri River to sit above flood stage for nearly nine months in some places. Hall says the agency already knows of some problem areas, like where the Platte River enters the Missouri and the river pinches down. “And all the water in the river is forced through a narrower spot, which tends to — in high flow events — back the water up upstream from that narrow point, from that pinch point,” Hall says.

The study is a partnership between Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and the Corps. Iowa’s three virtual meetings will be held July 28th through 30th over Zoom.

(By Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio)

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has issued a report on numerous recent arrests and/or incidents. Sunday night, 28-year old Abraham Ramos Dominguez, of Omaha, was arrested for OWI/3rd or subsequent offense, after he was pulled over on Joslin Road, north of Monument Road. Bond was set at $5,000. Sunday afternoon, Pott. County Deputies arrested a 13-year old female, after a “check location” in Oakland, broadcast was made. The teen faces a charge of Theft in the 2nd Degree – Motor vehicle related.

At around 3-a.m. Sunday, 32-year old Eric Michael Wiig, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Eluding, Open Container – Driver, Reckless Driving, and Theft in the 1st Degree – Motor vehicle. He was taken into custody following a traffic stop in Council Bluffs that escalated into a pursuit. Bond was set at $15,000. Early Saturday morning, 35-year old Mileka D. Scurlock was arrested for Willful Failure to Stop for Law Enforcement, after a Pott. County Deputy noticed a vehicle parked halfway in the roadway, on the Rosewood ramp to Interstate 29 south, near Missouri Valley.

Friday night, 45-year old Kathleen Marie Gerhardt, of Oakland, was arrested in Walnut, for Violation of a No Contract/Protective Order. She was taken into custody following a traffic stop for speeding. Late Friday morning, 37-year old Andrew Michael Hasbrouck, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Council Bluffs, for Harassment in the 3rd Degree after sending someone a message that was saved as a screenshot and sent to law enforcement. His bond was set at $300.

38-year old Erica Elaine Edie was arrested Friday morning in Council Bluffs, for Theft in the 1st Degree, for allegedly stealing mail for a Pott. County resident’s mailbox. Thursday afternoon, 30-year old Rodney Matthew Swanger, of Council Bluffs, was served with a warrant for Violation of Parole. The warrant was served at the Pott. County Jail. And, 58-year old Roderick Jerome Bequette, of Carter Lake, was arrested on a warrant for Nonsupport/Contempt of Court, for failure to pay child support.

The Atlantic City Council will meet 5:30-p.m. Wednesday in their chambers at City Hall. On their agenda is the third and final readings of amended ordinances pertaining to:

1. A curfew for persons under the age of 18 (a change in wording to 6-a.m. for the end of curfew instead of 6-p.m.)
2. The division of taxes levied on taxable property in the June, 2020 addition to the North Urban Renewal District (with regard to the Whitney Group’s Historic Hotel Whitney Building project).

The Council will also act on approving the second reading of amended ordinances that include:

1. Licensing of Tree Trimmers (to include proof of Worker’s Comp Insurance [if applicable])
2. Peddlers, Solicitors and Transient Merchants (to include mobile food vendors & insurance requirements)
3. Truck and Large Vehicle parking (to allow boats, boat trailers, campers, RV’s or travel trailers to be parked on the front yard of a property, but behind a sidewalk on private property, and not projecting into the right-of-way).
4. and, an amended Ordinance requiring specific types of insurance and a dollar amount of coverage, for individuals and businesses who wish to perform work for the City.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on an Order to close 9th Street between Plum and Cherry Streets on July 18th, for a Neighborhood Block Party. The street would be closed-off to vehicle traffic from 5-until 9-p.m. on that date.  The Council is also expected to set the date of a Public Hearing with regard to the sale of a vacated Linda Drive right-of-way to an adjacent property owner.  And, they will act on the Mayor Dave Jones’ nomination Neal Webb to the Board of Adjustment. If approved, Webb would replace Dave Knudsen, who has resigned from the Board. Webb would hold the position until at least February, 2023. His appointment also would preserve the gender balance on the Board.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – Des Moines Black Lives Matter activists are proposing their own language for an executive order to restore felon voting rights as they continue to pressure Governor Kim Reynolds to act. Organizer Ellie Odole spoke at a rally this weekend. “After giving Reynolds nearly a month to produce an executive order, which she promised to sign, BLM is taking action,” Odole said. “We will not accept such a lack of urgency and disregard for disenfranchised Iowans.”

The group’s proposal would restore voting rights to all Iowans with felony convictions after they get out of prison. In January of last year, Reynolds proposed restoring voting rights to those who complete their sentence and last month she promised to issue an executive order on felon voting rights before the November election. Reynolds has supported a legislative plan requiring payment of all victim restitution, but she hasn’t publicly revealed what she’ll include in her executive order. Representative Ras Smith, a Democrat from Waterloo, worked on the language the Black Lives Matter protesters have proposed. It would go further than the last time a governor restored voting rights in Iowa — and restore voting rights to Iowans after they get out of prison, instead of also requiring completion of probation and parole.

“It gives the largest number of people restoration of their rights to utilize their voice,” Smith said after this weekend’s rally. “That’s what we believe in.”  Every day Smith tweets the number of days since Reynolds promised to issue the executive order — and the number of days until the November 3rd election.

(Reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Katarina Sostaric)

Atlantic, IA – SHIFT ATL, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is hosting their second SHIFT Network gathering/opportunity for the community, this Wednesday, July 15th, 2020 from 5:30 – until 6:30-p.m.  The event will be held in the Camblin addition at Sunnyside Park. SHIFT ATL will give an update on where the organization is both financially, and with their projects. They’ll also make two big announcements.

All current SHIFT Network members are encouraged to attend, as well as non-members. The organization hopes to grow it’s SHIFT Network membership before the end of the year, and get more community-minded people involved in the economic development of Atlantic. The Wednesday evening event will kick off with SHIFT ATL giving an update on their “State of the Union,” and answering any questions related to the information presented. Those that would like to stick around from 6 – 6:30-p.m., are more than welcome to do so, while the group facilitates conversation and brainstorming. Please plan to practice appropriate social distancing.

If you would like to attend, but want to stay in your vehicle, a SHIFT ATL member can come to your car and deliver the update. Or, if you’re unable to attend but would like to join SHIFT Network or get the updates, please email shiftatlantic@gmail.com. For more information about SHIFT ATL or the fundraiser, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/shiftatl, their website at shiftatl.org or by email at shiftatlantic@gmail.com.

The Creston Police Department reports three recent arrests, including the arrest Friday evening of a man on drug charges. Authorities say 34-year old Michael Matherly, of Creston, was arrested for Violation of a Protection Order, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine. Matherly was being held in the Union County Jail on $1,600 bond. Late Friday morning, 51-year old Misti Brown, of Clearfield, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC), for Failure to Appear on an original charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. Brown was released from custody on a $300 bond. And, Sunday afternoon, 46-year old Christine Selvy, of Creston, was arrested at her home for Public Intoxication, Interference with Official Acts, Harassment in the 3rd Degree, and three counts of Simple Assault. Selvy was being held in the Adams County Jail on $1,800 bond.

Creston Police said also, on Friday evening, a man residing in the 800 block of N. Sycamore Street reported that sometime between 10-p.m. Thursday and 7-a.m. Friday, someone stole a youth bicycle from his yard. The silver, Tony Hawk BMX-style bike was valued at $150.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – A young inventor from southeast Iowa finished first in his grade at the National Invention Convention.  Charles Smith, a student at Eisenhower Elementary in Ottuwma, topped the first grade division for his invention that he calls H.E.R.B., which stands for Home Emergency Responder Beacon. Smith’s creation is an exterior light that can be placed on a house or mailbox that creates a beacon for emergency workers. It can be activated by a wireless signal from a smoke detector, dispatcher, or Life Line.

This is the second time Smith finished first nationally in his division. Last year, the youngster finished first in the kindergarten category. Smith also made a 2019 appearance on Good Morning America to showcase an invention he titled the “Benge Beacon”