Officials with the Iowa National Guard, Wednesday, said Camp Dodge in Johnston, was placed in a lock-down status Wednesday afternoon, following a perceived threat at a supply warehouse (building W12). The incident unfolded at around 1:39-p.m.

Guard spokesman, Col. Michael Wunn, said Camp Dodge employees were notified of a lockdown after a 911 call was placed. Within five minutes, the first local law enforcement officers were on the scene. Iowa State Patrol, Polk County deputies and the Johnston Police Department responded to the call. The origin of and circumstances surrounding the perceived threat remained under investigation. Col. Wunn said there are no injuries or arrests to report. Law enforcement agencies have said there is no ongoing threat.

During the Camp Dodge lock-down, Johnston Public Schools were also locked-down, as part of the investigation process. Camp Dodge functions as the state headquarters for the Iowa National Guard with approximately 700 full-time employees. Col. Wunn said “Iowa National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and civilian employees are routinely trained in emergency action responses to events such as inclement weather, active shooters and bomb threats. Physical security, anti-terrorism and emergency action plans are continually reviewed, revised and implemented throughout the organization. While Camp Dodge employees are trained in the appropriate response to such events, an armed civilian security force is responsible for Camp Dodge security.”

The Atlantic City Council, Wednesday evening, recognized several individuals who are leaving their current posts in City government, and three people who will be stepping into their new positions, effective Jan. 1st.

Ashley Hayes

First up, the Council recognized former City Councilperson Ashley Hayes, who represented the 3rd Ward for seven-years. Mayor Dave Jones noted Hayes has served as a Council liaison to the Parks and Rec Department Board and Landfill Committee, along with the Community Protection Committee. She was recently elected to a seat on the Parks Board, as well. Hayes was 27 years old when she was first appointed to the Council.

The Council also recognized Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees, who has served on the fire department for 29 1/2-years, with the last 13 as Chief. He received a wall clock for his years of service. McNees will remain on the fire department as a volunteer.

Fire Chief Mark McNees

He will be succeeded by Tom Cappel II, who was voted-in by the department as fire chief earlier this month, pending Council approval, which he received during Wednesday’s meeting.

Cappel, who joined the Atlantic Fire Dept. in 1998, currently serves as a Captain on the Department, a position he’s held for the past 14-years. Atlantic Children’s Librarian Julie Tjepkes was recognized by the Council, Wednesday, for her 32-years of service to the Library.

Tom Cappel II

Julie has worked through five circulation systems, seven directors, and many co-workers. Like McNees, she received a wall clock for her many years of dedicated service.

Atlantic City Councilmen Chris Jimerson and Dana Halder were recognized for their elected service to the City. Jimerson represents the Atlantic 1st Ward, and serves on four commissions and/or committees. He thanked the Council and employees at City Hall and all the departments, adding that “I think we’ve got a great town.”

Halder has served as an At-Large Councilman for the past nine-years. He too has served on several committees and/or commissions. He ran down a long list of accomplishments he’s seen over the past nine-years, and said “I believe the City Council has nothing but interests in Atlantic for making decisions.

Julie Tjepkes

At times we are accused of not listening. This is usually brought up when we have made a decision on ordinances unpopular with a certain amount of people.” He said he feels the Council is sometimes not listened to, when they ask residents to clean-up their property. Halder got a bit choked-up when he said in closing, that “Atlantic to me is a fantastic place and I have enjoyed making it the best place we can in the last nine-years.” Halder didn’t leave out the possibility he might run for office again in two-years.

Jim Behrens

Grace Garrett

Grace Garrett will take the place of Halder on Jan. 1st. She narrowly won an election for the At-Large seat, in November, and was sworn-in Wednesday evening. Jim Behrens will take Jimerson’s seat as 1st Ward representative, after having run unopposed in November. He too, was sworn-in Wednesday evening.

Councilman Chris Jimerson

Councilman Dana Halder

Four people were injured Wednesday afternoon, during a rollover accident in Council Bluffs. Authorities say the accident happened a little after 1:30-p.m., on southbound I-29 near the Avenue G Exit.

When Council Bluffs Fire Department paramedics and law enforcement arrived on the scene, they found a Chevy Trailblazer that had rolled off of the interstate. Four passengers were inside the vehicle at the time of the accident and all were transported to Nebraska Medicine in critical condition. As of the latest report, three of the passengers were still in critical condition, including the driver of the vehicle, Conrado Munoz, who is from Nebraska. The fourth passenger was an infant and is in stable condition.

The Traffic Unit is currently investigating the incident and do not believe alcohol was involved. They are working to determine if speed was a factor in the crash. I-29 southbound was closed for about two hours.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Court of Appeals has affirmed the murder and attempted murder convictions of a Coralville woman who in 2008 slashed the throats of her two young sons. Michelle Kehoe’s 2-year-old died but the 7-year-old survived and testified at her trial. Kehoe’s appeal alleges her attorney was ineffective in part because he didn’t claim she was mentally incompetent to stand trial.

She says he also didn’t try to suppress incriminating statements made to investigators while she was hospitalized. The court ruled Wednesday she failed to prove her lawyer was ineffective. She’s serving a life sentence at the women’s prison in Mitchellville.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, today (Wednesday) announced U.S. Service Academy nominations for 40 young Iowans.

“As a combat veteran, and mother of a West Point cadet, it’s truly an honor to nominate these qualified Iowa students for admittance to our U.S. Service Academies. Each of these students has exemplified strong leadership, dedication to academics and commitment to community service. This nomination is an important step in the admissions process, and I’m proud to assist these students in reaching their goal of serving our nation in uniform,” said Senator Ernst.

Each year, Senator Ernst nominates Iowa students to the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. To learn more about the service academy nomination process, click here.

Below is a list of AREA students nominated by Senator Ernst for the Class of 2024.

U.S. Air Force Academy

• Anthony Cordes – Avoca
• Jacob Hrasky – Treynor

U.S. Military Academy at West Point

• Wynn Yeager – Winterset

*The admissions process to the service academies is highly competitive, and Senator Ernst encourages students to apply for more than one academy. This denotes students who are being nominated for both their first and second choice of service academy.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) – A $1 million Mega Millions lottery ticket has been sold in central Iowa. The Iowa Lottery said Wednesday the ticket for Tuesday’s drawing was bought at a Casey’s store in Eldora. It matched the first five numbers drawn but missed on the jackpot. The $372 million jackpot was won by someone who purchased a ticket in Ohio. Prizes of $1 million or more must be claimed at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 18-year old Rosella Raeann Weaver, of Glenwood, was arrested today (Wednesday), at around 12:36-a.m..  She was taken into custody near the intersection of Highway 34 and I-29, for Theft in the 5th Degree, Driving Under Suspension, and Failure to Provide Proof of financial Liability. Weaver’s bond in the Mills County Jail, was set at $600.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested Tuesday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, in Creston. 20-year old Logan Daniel Houg, of Winterset, was arrested on a Union County warrant for 3rd degree burglary. Houg was being held in the Union County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

And, 32-year old Ashley Nicole Foster, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for failure to appear, on an original charge of possession of controlled substance. Foster was being held for Union County in the Adams County Jail, on a $1,000 bond.

Members of the Washington G.E.M. 4H Group volunteered to work a shift Saturday, during the Annual Christmas Walk at the Heritage House, in Atlantic. According to spokesperson Melanie Petty, they served popcorn, cookies, snow cones, hot cocoa and hot apple cider to everyone attending.  Petty says “If you’ve never taken the time to attend the Christmas Walk make sure you attend next year.  The staff does an amazing job of decorating – it will definitely get you into the holiday spirit!”

Photo courtesy Melanie Petty

(Radio Iowa) — Forecasters say Iowa’s weather will warm up and stay dry headed into the year-end holidays, making for easier travel by road and air. Rose White, at Triple-A-Iowa, says between this Saturday and New Year’s Day, a record of 115-million people will take to the highways and skies, the eighth straight year of new record highs for travel volume. White says, “Some 104.8-million, or 91-percent of all travelers, will reach their destination by car, another 6.9-million will fly and the remaining 3.8-million will use other modes of transportation, such as bus, rail and ship.”

White says air travel volume will be the highest since 2003, an increase of nearly five-percent from last year, rising by 320-thousand passengers. People love to travel to see friends and family during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, White says, especially when times are good. White says, “With unemployment at a historically low level of 3.6%, and both disposable income and household net worth set to improve this year, Americans are well positioned to travel this holiday season.”

Gasoline prices have fallen during December, with demand at its lowest point since February. White says the national average gas price is two-55, down five cents a gallon in the past month.   “In Iowa, however, the price average is 21-cents lower than the national average, currently at $2.34 a gallon. That’s a drop of about seven cents during the last month alone,” White says. “Compared to last Christmas holiday, prices are currently about 24-cents higher.”

The motor club is offering its “Tow to Go” program to both members and non-members in Iowa between December 20th and January 2nd. The program provides a safe ride and tow home, within ten miles, for impaired drivers and their vehicles. For details, visit www.AAA.com/Towtogo or call (855) 286-9246.