BURLINGTON, Iowa (The Hawk Eye) — Another defendant in a southeast Iowa slaying has been acquitted of first-degree murder but convicted of assault causing serious injury and of conspiracy to commit murder. The Hawk Eye reported that the verdicts were handed up Thursday on Chicago resident Caesar Davison. He was one of five men charged with killing Demarcus “Peanut” Chew on Sept. 10, 2017, outside his mother’s apartment in Burlington.

Andre Harris and Derrick Parker have been sentenced to 15 years, and Antoine Spann was given 20 years. Emmanuel Spann was found guilty earlier this month of first-degree murder and conspiracy and is facing a life sentence.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education held a special meeting this (Friday) morning, in the Middle School Media Center. During the meeting, the Board entered into a closed session to discuss a personnel matter. Superintendent Steve Barber told KJAN News, that when the Board reconvened in an open session, they unanimously voted to approve a contract for Abby Becker to become the Head Boys Track Coach.  Becker, the Assistant Girls Track Coach, will succeed Jordan Mullen, whose resignation was approved by the Board on Feb. 12th.  Mullen resigned after accepting a coaching position with Briar Cliff University.

During their Feb 12th meeting, the Atlantic School Board tabled a decision on offering the Boys Track Coach position to Becker, so that it may be further discussed.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa could be joining the SWARM of 16 other states that have declared one of nature’s colonizers as an official state symbol. Some legislators say Iowa’s current standing is unbelievable. “Iowa is one of two states without an official state insect,” Senator Chris Cournoyer of Le Claire said. She is among the members of a Senate Committee who’ve voted to give that distinction to the honeybee. “This bill has certainly created a lot of buzz, so I appreciate your support,” she said. Cournoyer points to the impact honeybees have on the state. “Iowa has 45,000 or more honeybee hives that produce about four million pounds of honey, valued at over $8 million (each year),” Cournoyer said, “and honeybees provide an estimated $92 million of economic value to Iowa’s crops from their pollination.”

Senator Roby Smith of Davenport became the author of this honeybee recognition plan after attending two recent events that showcased the state’s bee industry. “Honeybees are very important to agriculture in Iowa,” Smith says. Smith’s resolution, which is ready for a vote in the senate now, says honeybees are critical to the survival of plants and humans. It’s unclear if the proposal will survive through all the steps of the legislative process.

Things could get sticky for the bee in the House. A lawmaker there has proposed naming a black and orange butterfly — called the regal fritillary — as the state insect. If you’re unfamiliar with Iowa’s official symbols, the state tree is the oak, the state flower is the wild rose, the state rock is the geode and the state bird is the goldfinch.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report 45-year old Eric M. Wheelock was arrested Thursday night, following a traffic stop for running a stop sign, near Crescent. Wheelock was found to be in possession of marijuana (1st offense), and drug paraphernalia and charged with those offenses.

Late Thursday morning, 33-year old Joseph Brian Samuelson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on two Pott. County warrants for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order – Contempt of Court, and Violation of Probation. In addition, Samuelson and 43-year old Tema Elaine Hill, were arrested on separate charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense, while Samuelson additionally charged with Driving While Barred. His bond on the latter charge was set at $2,000. Hill’s bond was on the Possession of Meth charge was set at $1,000. She was also being held in the Pott. County Jail on a “Hold” from another agency.

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

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(Radio Iowa) — A House committee has unanimously voted to jump-start the process of restoring felon voting rights for the 2020 election. In 2005, then-Governor Tom Vilsack issued an executive order that automatically restored voting rights when paroled felons complete their sentences. Governor Terry Branstad rescinded that policy in 2011. Last night, the House State Government Committee voted to add the language from Vilsack’s order to an election-related bill. Republican Representative Bobby Kaufmann, the chairman of the committee, says it’s a new pathway for Iowa to stop being the only state in the country that requires released felons to get approval from the governor before they may vote.

Last year, Governor Kim Reynolds called on the legislature to permanently resolve the matter and draft a constitutional amendment that would automatically restore felon voting rights. Her fellow Republicans in the House took steps last year to do so, but the Republican-led Senate has not. This week, a Senate committee voted to set up a system that would kick in IF a constitutional amendment is approved by Iowans. It would require felons to pay the full amount of court-ordered victim restitution before they may vote. It also would forever bar felons convicted of murder, manslaughter and certain sex crimes from voting.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Prosecutors have charged a woman who told authorities that she intended to shoot co-workers at the Omaha veterans hospital. U.S. District Court records say Tina Hardin has pleaded not guilty to a charge of influencing, impeding or retaliating against a federal official by threats. The records say Hardin had been working as a hospital shuttle bus driver. The records say Hardin, who is black, said she was a victim of racism at the hospital. She also said she wanted to hurt a manager who gave her a bad appraisal.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP via The Daily Nonpareil) — A trial has been delayed for a woman charged with the shooting deaths of two men and the attempted murders of two law officers in western Iowa. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the trial of April Montello-Roberts had been scheduled to begin earlier this week. The new starting date is May 5.

The 44-year-old Shenandoah resident has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder of an officer, one count of burglary and one of robbery. She was taken into custody on August 7th following two pursuits with law enforcement. Authorities allege Montello-Roberts and 28-year-old Troy Petersen of Essex murdered Jerrot Clark on August 4th, before killing Steve Carlson on August 7th. Petersen was killed by law enforcement following a stand-off.

Montello-Roberts remains in custody on $2.2 million bond.

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

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Atlantic, IA — Atlantic Medical Center, RHC (AMC) is launching a new Rapid Care service on Monday, February 24. AMC Rapid Care is walk-in care that is open seven days a week for patients of all ages. Tammy Bireline, Chief Clinic Administrator, says “We want to be here for our patients when they need care. This helps bridge that gap between when it’s not an emergency, but you need to be seen and your primary care provider is not available.”  Beginning Monday, February 24rh, AMC Rapid Care will be open Monday through Friday from 9-a.m. to 9-p.m. It will also be open on Saturday and Sunday from 10-a.m. to 6-p.m. AMC Rapid Care does not offer appointments; patients can just walk in, check in at Admissions, and then wait to be seen by the AMC Rapid Care provider. Patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bireline says “AMC Rapid Care isn’t a substitute for your regular provider, and it’s also not a substitute for the Emergency Department. This service is really for those minor health issues – ear infections, coughs, minor stitches – that can’t wait.” Similarly, AMC Rapid Care providers will not address chronic conditions or take care of prescription refills because those issues are most appropriate to be discussed during an appointment with a primary care provider. It is also important to note that AMC Rapid Care providers will not prescribe narcotics.

The medical team at AMC Rapid Care includes Rebecca McCann, ARNP, Emily Nadler, PA-C, and Dr. M.A. Johnson. Dr. Johnson will also continue to work in the Emergency Department. The cost of a visit to AMC Rapid Care is the same as office fees for Atlantic Medical Center appointments; regular co-payments still apply and should be paid during the check-in process. Due to the addition of AMC Rapid Care and the extended evening hours, the previous Evening Clinic entrance will no longer be used. All patients coming to Atlantic Medical Center, whether for a scheduled appointment or AMC Rapid Care, should use the Main Entrance.