(Radio Iowa) – Iowa prison inmates have donated more than 11-thousand dollars to the families of the two prison staffers who were allegedly killed by two inmates at the Anamosa prison in March. The funds represent a significant amount for inmates who make between 27 and 87 cents an hour. Sue Hutchins, spokeswoman for the advocacy group Living Beyond the Bars, says it demonstrates the compassion of inmates. “My understanding is that because the stimulus checks have recently come in for people, a good number of the inmates are donating more than they normally would be able to given their salaries,” Hutchins says, “which shows to me that they really do have compassion and they really do care.”

Nurse Lorena Schulte and corrections officer Robert McFarland were murdered during the escape attempt on March 23rd. Hutchins says many inmates knew the victims personally. “Yes, there are people who belong in prison and yes, there are also people who are good people in prison who have made mistakes and who have just as much compassion and just as much empathy as a lot of us out here,” she says.

According to the Department of Corrections, inmates at all nine state prisons have donated to memorial funds for the victims. Inmates Michael Dutcher and Thomas Woodard are scheduled to go to trial June 22nd in Jones County. They’re each charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, and one count of second-degree kidnapping.

(reporting by Kate Payne, Iowa Public Radio)

Atlantic, IA, 2021 – The New Life Church is conducting a shoe drive fundraiser from May 1st to July 1st, to raise funds to send kids to camp that otherwise could not afford to go. New Life Church will earn funds based on the total weight of the pairs of gently worn, used and new shoes collected, as Funds2Orgs will issue a check for the collected shoes. Those dollars will benefit paying for kids to go to camp this summer. Anyone can help by donating gently worn, used and new shoes the drop box located on front porch of 1111 Plum street..

All donated shoes will then be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise (small business) partners. Funds2Orgs works with micro-entrepreneurs in helping them create, maintain and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited. Proceeds from the sales of the shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers are used to feed, clothe and house their families. One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned enough to send to her son to law school.

“We are excited about our shoe drive,” said Ali Pieken, NLC Outreach coordinator “We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets they would like to donate to us. By doing so, we raise money to send kids to camp and we have the chance to help families in developing nations who need economic opportunities. 100% of proceeds raised will go toward sending children to camp this summer. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

By donating gently worn, used and new shoes to the New Life Church’s shoe drive, the shoes will be given a second chance and make a difference in people’s lives around the world.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports six arrests over the past few weeks. Mostly recently, on April 28th, 31-year-old Paul Maxwell Ely, of Chicago IL was taken into custody by the Will County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois, on an active warrant out of Shelby County, and active warrants out of Pottawattamie County.   Ely was transferred to the Will County S/O after signing waiver of extradition to cross state lines.  Officials say Ely has an active warrant for two counts of burglary 3rd and is currently being held under a $5000 cash/surety bond.  He also has an active hold with no bond pending appearance in Pott County District Court, for theft 2nd and child endangerment charges.

On April 26th, 35-year-old Payton Thomas Watzke, of Audubon, was arrested on active warrant for Violation of Probation out of Shelby County.   Watzke was transported to the jail and held under bond pending court appearance and was released a few days later upon agreement between the courts, probation, and defendant. On the 25th, 30-year-old Cole Jacob Benton, of Hamlin, was arrested following a traffic stop in Shelby County along Highway 44 near Jacksonville.  Upon further investigation it was determined that Benton’s driving privileges are currently barred in the State of Iowa.  Benton was transported to the jail and charged with driving while barred and issued citations for speed and no insurance.  He was released a short time later after posting the surety bond.

On the 21st, 31-year-old Cody Emmett Lister of Omaha, NE was taken into custody for pending jail time, as ordered by 4th judicial drug court.   Lister, who was found to be in violation of rules regarding the program, will have an appearance with the courts coming up on May 5th, and currently being held in jail without bond. And, there were two arrests on April 18th in Shelby County: 28-year-old Jose Cruz Gutierrez Villanueva, from Denison, was taken into custody following a traffic stop along highway 37 in Shelby County. He was charged with driving while revoked.   Villanueva was transported to the jail without incident where he was held under bond; and, 46-year-old Michael Joseph Stessman, of Defiance, was arrested on an active warrant out of Shelby County following a traffic stop in Defiance. Stessman had been charged with Operating while Intoxicated from previous investigation pending test results.  He was transported to the Shelby County Jail and released under bond, a short time later.

The Creston Police Department reports six recent arrests. At around 3:40-a.m. Monday (May 3), 29-year-old Casey Welcher, of Afton, was arrested in Creston for Interference with Official Acts. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $300 bond. Sunday evening, 44-year-old Travis Wambold, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000. Sunday afternoon, 30-year-old Devon Keller, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, for simple Domestic Assault. He was being held pending a bond hearing.

At around Noon, Sunday, 25-year-old Jacob J. Davis, of Cromwell, was arrested in Creston on a Madison County warrant for Failure to Appear, on original charges of OWI/2nd offense, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense. He was turned over to Madison County Deputies. Early Sunday morning, 31-year-old William A. Bethke IV, of Creston, was arrested in Creston for Public Intoxication. He was later released on $300 bond.

And, Friday afternoon, 38-year-old Luke A. Mullen, of Des Moines, was arrested at the Union County LEC, on a Union County warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. He was being held on a $5,000 bond, plus an additional hold on a warrant issued out of Pueblo County, CO.