The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports three men have been arrested in connection to vehicle burglaries and gun trafficking charges in Sidney. Authorities say that on May 10th, the sheriff’s office took several reports of items stolen from unlocked vehicles in Sidney.  One of the items reported stolen was a firearm.

Through an investigation, deputies requested warrants on three males. 22-year old Zachary Clark and 22-year old Tristen Braunschweig, both of Sidney, were arrested in Stanton County, Nebraska on May 17th. 33-year old Michael Harris, of Council Bluffs, was arrested May 29th, in Council Bluffs.

Clark and Braunschweig were charged with theft 3rd Degree, Burglary 3rd Degree, and Trafficking in Stolen Firearms. Harris was charged with Trafficking in Stolen Firearms. Clark was being held at the Fremont County Jail on $9,000 bond, Harris is being held at the Fremont County Jail on $5,000 bond, and Braunschweig is still being held in Nebraska on separate charges.

A Summer Food Drive sponsored by the Cass County Democratic Party, ended May 24th. Cass County Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle, said donated food items were delivered to four local food pantries and two school programs on May 30th.

Toelle said “We had a phenomenal turn-out; some businesses donated quite a lot of food. It was a joy to be able to deliver those goods to the pantries and schools. They were delighted with the donations. “I want to thank my Co-Vice-Chair Sandy Sothman for helping me deliver the donations across the county. And, of course, many thanks to all the businesses who allowed us to use their buildings as drop-off sites for donations. Without them, this food drive would not have been nearly as successful.” (All pics below submitted by Sherry Toelle)

Sherry Toelle, Ken Burkhardt, Sandy Sothman at the Atlantic Food Pantry. Ken is a volunteer at the Atlantic Food Pantry.

Natalie Ritter and Sandy Sothman at Schuler Elementary. Natalie is the Food Service Manager for the Atlantic School District.

Sherry Toelle and Pam Miller of the Anita Food Pantry

Sandy Sothman, Tami Williamson, Grace Kopp, and Sherry Toelle at the CAM High School. Tami is the Food Service Manager for CAM and Grace Kopp is an educational staff member.

Sandy Sothman, Becky Pelzer, Sherry Toelle, and Katie Greenwalt of Care & Share Pantry in Cumberland. Becky Pelzer and Katie Greenwalt are volunteers at the Care and Share.

Barb Schroeder and Sandy Sothman. Barb is a volunteer at the Lord’s Cupboard in Griswold.

Fremont County Deputies and the Tabor Police Department are looking for the identification of a male in connection to a possible attempted child abduction in Tabor. At around 7:40-p.m., Friday,  deputies were contacted by several juveniles about a suspicious white male that had approached them near the Tabor Library.

Witnesses advised the male approached one of the juveniles, advised that he knew their father and he was supposed to drive the juvenile home.  The juveniles fled the area and contacted law enforcement.

Surveillance image of suspect

Deputies are looking for the White Ford Dually pickup (pictured here).  The truck has a faded logo with the letters CBS on the driver’s door.  The vehicle is missing the front bumper. The male is described as being heavy-set, in his 40’s or 50’s with a beard and short cropped brown or gray hair.

The vehicle was also seen in the area of both the parks in Tabor and Sidney. Anyone with information about the subject or the vehicle should contact the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office at 712-374-2424.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa has filed a lawsuit challenging a new state law that prohibits the use of Medicaid funding for gender reassignment surgery. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill on May 3 that included language amending the state’s Civil Rights Act so that government officials are not required to pay for gender reassignment surgery. The ACLU has sued to block enforcement of the law which went into effect when Reynolds signed it.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court says a crude oil pipeline running across Iowa was legally permitted to be built dashing the hopes of a group of farmer landowners who wanted the pipeline moved off their land and an environmental group that wanted it shut down. The farmers and the environmental group Sierra Club of Iowa claim the Iowa Utilities Board illegally issued a permit for the Dakota Access pipeline which has been carrying oil since 2017.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Trump administration is following through on a plan to allow year-round sales of gasoline mixed with 15% ethanol. The Environmental Protection Agency announced the change Friday, ending a summertime ban imposed out of concerns for increased smog from the higher ethanol blend. The change also fulfills a pledge that President Donald Trump made to U.S. corn farmers to allow the higher ethanol sales year-round.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Rapids police say an arrest warrant has been issued for a connection with a shooting in a business parking lot that killed two people and injured two others. Police said Friday the warrant was issued for 26-year-old Andre Richardson on suspicion of murder in the killings of Matrell Michael Eu’gene Johnson and Royal Ceiz Abram on May 18. Both of the men killed were 18. Two others were injured in the early morning shooting. Those victims, both aged 19, remain hospitalized.

(Radio Iowa) — City and state road crews are working to re-open an Interstate 29 exit into downtown Sioux City that’s been closed by Missouri River flooding. Mark Aesoph is the fire marshal in Sioux City. “They plugged a couple more drains, They’re starting to remove some of the water.” The area is still closed to traffic, but there’s been significant progress over the past few hours.

The National Weather Service has SLIGHTLY lowered its predicted crest for the Missouri River this weekend in Sioux City.  “Which is a good thing,” Aesoph says. The reduced crest prediction comes DESPITE the increased release of water into the river from the Gavins Point Dam in Yankton.

(Radio Iowa) — Ten members of Sioux City’s Urban Search and Rescue team were deployed to southwest Iowa early this (Friday) morning. The crew took its rescue equipment and an amphibious vehicle. Captain Ryan Collins of Sioux City Fire Rescue says the team will help FEMA make damage assessments in the Sidney area.

“It is not a rescue operation,” he says. “It’s just a support function.” The unit was activated by Iowa Homeland Security. The National Weather Service warns flooding will continue in southwest Iowa along the Missouri River for several more weeks.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation today for seven counties in response to severe weather beginning May 17 and continuing. The governor’s proclamation allows state resources to be utilized to respond to and recover from the effects of this severe weather and activates the Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program for qualifying residents, along with the Disaster Case Management Program, for: Appanoose, Cedar, Davis, Johnson, Lucas, Monroe, and Pottawattamie counties.

The Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 for households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level or a maximum annual income of $41,560 for a family of three. Grants are available for home or car repairs, replacement of clothing or food and temporary housing expenses. Original receipts are required for those seeking reimbursement for actual expenses related to storm recovery. The grant application and instructions are available on the Iowa Department of Human Services website. Potential applicants have 45 days from the date of the proclamation to submit a claim.

Disaster Case Management is a program to address serious needs to overcome a disaster-related hardship, injury or adverse condition. Disaster case managers work with clients to create a disaster recovery plan and provide guidance, advice and referral to obtain a service or resource. There are no income eligibility requirements for this program; it closes 180 days from the date of the governor’s proclamation. For information on the Disaster Case Management Program, contact your local community action association or visit www.iowacommunityaction.org.

Iowa residents of counties impacted by the recent severe weather are asked to report damage to help local and state officials better understand the damage sustained. Damage to property, roads, utilities and other storm-related information may be reported. This information will be collected by the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and shared with local emergency management agencies.

For more information on Iowa flooding, visit floods2019.iowa.gov or contact 2-1-1.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa has filed a lawsuit challenging a new state law that prohibits the use of Medicaid funding for gender reassignment surgery.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill on May 3 that included language amending the state’s Civil Rights Act so that government officials are not required to pay for gender reassignment surgery.

The ACLU has sued in state court to block enforcement of the law on behalf of One Iowa, a group that advocates for transgender rights, and two transgender Iowans who qualify for Medicaid and whose doctors say they need the surgery.

ACLU of Iowa Legal Director Rita Bettis Austen says the measure is discriminatory and “has no basis in medicine or science.” Conservative Republicans passed the measure after the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in March that the state cannot block Medicaid from paying for gender reassignment surgery for two transgender women.

A man from Adair County and a woman from Union County were injured during a collision this (Friday) morning, in Madison County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2019 Nissan driven by 27-year old Amber Dawn Clements, of Lorimor, was traveling north on Highway 169 at around 6:45-a.m., when a 2005 Chevy Tahoe driven by 50-year old Neena Marie Honnold, of Lorimor, pulled out of her residential driveway. As the SUV was getting up to highway speed, Clements’ vehicle struck the rear bumper of the Tahoe, causing the SUV to veer into the southbound lanes of Highway 169. The Tahoe ending up on the east shoulder of the road.

A 2017 Ford Explorer, driven by 41-year old Ryan Michael Devault, of Greenfield, was traveling south on 169. Devault tried to avoid the Tahoe when it swerved into his lane by driving onto the west shoulder and ditch, but his SUV collided head-on with the Nissan. Clements and Devault, who wear wearing their seat belts, were injured and transported by Madison County Ambulance to the Madison County Hospital in Winterset. Authorities say Honnold was not injured during the collision.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a Sioux City man was sentenced Wednesday in Council Bluffs U-S District Court, to nearly 16 years in prison on drug charges. 35-year old Jose Valentin Carrillo was sentenced to prison terms of 190 months each on counts of Conspiracy, and Possession with Intent to Distribute, Methamphetamine. The  twp sentences will run concurrently. The prison term will be followed by a term of supervised release of five years on each count, also to run concurrently.

According to court documents, Valentin Carrillo organized and arranged the transportation of approximately eight kilograms of methamphetamine from Kansas City, Missouri to Nebraska City, Nebraska. On August 13, 2017, the vehicle transporting the methamphetamine was stopped by law enforcement in Fremont County, Iowa. The case was investigated by Fremont County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.