Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports his office, in conjunction with the U-S Drug Enforcement Administration, is taking back unwanted prescription drugs on April 27th, at the Sheriff’s located at 2814 200th Street, in Sidney. The hours are from 10-a.m. until 2-p.m.  It’s the 17th time in nine years the program is being offered to prevent pill abuse, misuse and theft, by ridding homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Simply bring your pills for disposal to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. The drop-off site will not accept liquids, needles or sharps. Only only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Other (area) sponsored collections sites on April 27th include:

• In Atlantic: The Atlantic Police Department (In the lobby), and the drop-off site at Walmart.
• The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
• Council Bluffs Police Department – Walgreens drop-off site.
• Harrison County Sheriff’s Office (in the lobby).
• Glenwood Police Department – Hy-Vee Pharmacy in Glenwood.
• Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office – at the Sheriff’s Office in Mt. Ayr.

Last fall, Americans turned in nearly 460 tons of prescription drugs at more than 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and almost 4,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 16 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in almost 11 million pounds of pills. For more information, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) — A southeastern Iowa woman accused of driving drunk has been imprisoned for a crash that killed her husband. Lee County court records say 27-year-old Noelle Cosby, of Donnellson, was sentenced last week to five years in prison. She’d pleaded guilty.

Investigators say she was drunk and behind the wheel when she and her husband were heading home from a party on Dec. 10, 2017. Officials say she lost control of their sport utility vehicle, which ended up on its side in a driveway along Iowa Highway 2 near Donnellson. Police say 35-year-old Todd Cosby was thrown from the SUV and died at the scene.

Police in Creston conducted two arrests, Monday. At around 3:30-p.m., 29-year old Scott Draman, of Creston, was arrested 1700 W. Townline, on two Union County Warrants for two counts Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Offense and Theft 5th. Draman was later released from the Union County Jail on a $2,300 bond. And at around 3-p.m. Monday, Creston Police arrested 71-year old Michael Ray Christensen, of Council Bluffs, in the 600 block of E. Taylor, for Driving While Barred. Christensen was later released on a $2,000 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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(Radio Iowa) — Iowa D-O-T officials are asking legislators to help ensure their dwindling stockpile of road salt is properly replenished. Lee Wilkinson is a top administrator for the Iowa D-O-T. “This was actually our most severe winter that I can recall. We have a winter severity index,” he says. “On a winter severity standpoint, this was the highest-rated winter we’ve had — at least since the early 2000s.”

The D-O-T has “salt sheds” placed around the state, so road crews can deal with hazardous highway conditions. It’s time to start buying salt now that prices are low and fill those sheds rather than buy salt in late fall when it’s more expensive. Wilkerson says the D-O-T needs about nine million dollars extra now to jump start that process, as the agency fell behind in buying salt last summer. “This winter was sort of a perfect storm, if you will, given the severity of the winter that we faced, plus the fact that we had to actually use a part of our normal salt budget to refill our salt sheds at the beginning of this year because of the previous winter that lasted through the end of April,” he says.

The proposal is included in a bill that has cleared the Senate and a House committee — and is eligible for debate in the full House.

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with the slaying of a young woman found lying in a West Des Moines road. According to KCCI, Police have charged Eliazar Montoya Gama with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery in connection with the death of Sakira Bonner.the boy with robbery and first-degree murder. Police were sent late Friday night to an area west of Interstate 35 near a busy retail district for reports of a woman lying in the road. Police say other calls about gunshots were received as officers headed to the area.

The officers found the woman in the road. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. She’s been identified as 18-year-old Sakira Bonner. Authorities say she was from Chicago but attended high school in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa) — Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver says based on his own experience, he has no concerns about Iowa college athletes being influenced to change a game’s outcome if sports betting is legalized in Iowa. Whitver, a Republican from Ankeny, was a wide receiver for the Iowa State Cyclones from 1999 through 2003.

“I remember we sat down with compliance (staff in the athletic department) and they would show us videos of what happens to you if you try to shave points or try to throw a game and you get sent to prison,” Whitver says. “They really scared us into saying: ‘This isn’t even something that you should consider.'”

Bills eligible for debate in the Iowa House AND in the Senate where Whitver is a leader would let the 19 state-licensed casinos collect bets on professional and collegiate sporting events through a smart phone app. The casinos “sports betting” operations then would be subject to a state tax of less than seven percent.

“If you go to an Iowa State or an Iowa game on a Saturday, there are bookies literally in the parking lot taking bets on their text or taking bets from the people at a tailgate on these games,” Whitver says. “And so the question is should we just ignore it and pretend that it doesn’t happen or should we legalize it and regulate it, so that if there are concerns and there is corruption happening, we have a better chance to find that and make sure that it doesn’t happen.”

The bills that have emerged at the statehouse would prevent bets on individual performances in college games happening IN IOWA. That means you wouldn’t be able to bet on how many touchdowns a quarterback might throw or how many free throws a basketball player might miss. Whitver says he has no problem banning those kind of wagers — called “prop bets” — if it helps get the 26 votes he needs in the senate to make sports betting legal in Iowa.

“Illegal sports betting is happening every single day in the state of Iowa,” Whitver says. “All you have to do is pop on the radio this afternoon and listen to talk radio and they’re talking about point spreads and betting lines and all that.”

Whitver made his comments during a weekend appearance on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” program.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an 82-year-old Dubuque man was fatally struck by a vehicle being driven by his wife. Dubuque police say 84-year-old Mary Bockenstedt was backing out of a private driveway around 11:40 a.m. Saturday when the vehicle hit 82-year-old Walter Bockenstedt, pinning him underneath. Police say he was pronounced dead at the scene.

CLIVE, Iowa (AP) — Time runs out this week for the winner of a $1 million Powerball prize to claim the money. Iowa Lottery officials say the winning ticket was bought April 11, 2018, at a Casey’s convenience store in the Des Moines suburb of Nevada. The ticket matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball. The winner has a year to claim the prize. Lottery officials say that means the purchaser will need to get to lottery headquarters in Clive by 4 p.m. Thursday.

CLARKSVILLE, Mo. (AP) — Small towns on some of the nation’s most flood-prone rivers are struggling to afford flood-protection systems. Most communities along America’s rivers have a concrete floodwall or an earthen levee. But a few places can’t afford those barriers, such as Clarksville, Missouri; Watertown, South Dakota; and Hamburg, Iowa. Even when Congress authorizes money, the local share of a major flood project is often more than a small town can pay for.

A traffic stop at around 8:25-p.m. March 31st in Greenfield, resulted in the arrest of a man on drug and other charges. 37-year old Marco Antonio Gonzalez-Bautista, of Omaha, was pulled over for speeding 44 in a 25 mph zone. Authorities say he pulled his Ford Edge SUV vehicle partially off the road and stopped momentarily, near SW Mills Extension and Highway 92.

As the Greenfield Police Officer was about to approach the vehicle, Gonzalez-Bautista pulled away and was pursued for about 15 miles before he stopped the SUV again. During the course of the pursuit, Gonzalez-Bautista drove in excess of 90 mph in a 55 zone, could not maintain his lane, and passed several pedestrian vehicles. He was finally apprehended in Massena.

Gonzalez-Bautista admitted to having methamphetamine in the vehicle, hidden under the stereo. The substance also tested positive for meth. The man was charged with Eluding (25 mph over the limit), Possession of Meth, Reckless Driving and speeding 20+ mph in a 55 zone. He was also cited for Failure to have a valid license. Gonzalez-Bautista was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $2,000 cash or surety bond, and on a detainer from ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports also, that on April 5th, 48-year old Scotty Lee Coe, of Stuart, was arrested by Greenfield Police, for Driving While Barred and a citation for Operating a Non-registered vehicle. His cash or surety bond was also set at $2,000.

Atlantic Firefighters were called to the scene of a structure fire southeast of town, at around 7:11-p.m., Monday. A passing motorist saw what appeared to be a large shed on fire at 64651 Jackson Road, and reported it. Firefighter/inspector Wayne Brosam said late Monday evening, it wasn’t clear what caused the fire, which began to spread to an adjacent field and grassy area, and necessitated the call for additional grass units.

Ric Hanson (Photos)

It appeared the property, which included the foundation of a former house, or an earth earth berm-style home, was vacant. Crews were still on the scene for a little more than an hour. No other information is available at this time.