(Radio Iowa) — A nonprofit group that rehabilitates homes plans to repair one-hundred houses that were devastated in the Marshalltown tornado last summer. Habitat for Humanity of Iowa will work to replace roofs, siding and front porches on homes in the Marshall County town that were devastated in the July 19th twister. Habitat’s Cassie Nemmers says they want to help the city get back to what it used to be. “I think Marshalltown won’t truly be the same for the next 20 to 30 years,” Nemmers says, “but our goal is to keep chugging along, doing as many homes as we can, helping as many families as we can.”

The city estimates the tornado damaged or destroyed close to 330 homes. A federal program helped them make temporary emergency repairs. Michelle Spohnheimer, with the city of Marshalltown, says from what she’s heard from other cities, it could take five years to recover. “It’s not an overnight effort and we fully expect that, especially due to the scale that we were looking at of damage,” Spohnheimer says. “We’ve seen a lot of housing repairs. We have a lot of wonderful organizations and agencies already operating in the community.”

Spohnheimer says Habitat for Humanity’s effort will play a huge role in helping the community rebuild. Habitat plans to make repairs on up to 40 homes during the latter part of April and repair 100 houses by the end of the year. The blitz build is planned for April 23rd through 27th.

(Thanks to Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio)

(Radio Iowa) — A Sioux City man is jailed on charges he tried to abduct a teenage girl. Twenty-two-year-old Michael Marshall-Limoges is charged with third-degree kidnapping and felon in possession of a firearm. Sioux City police were called just after 8 PM Friday to investigate a report of an attempted kidnapping. Police say Marshall-Limoges allegedly was driving in his vehicle following two juveniles who were walking home. They say Marshall-Limoges exited his vehicle and grabbed the 14-year-old female and put her into his car. The girl physically resisted and was able to escape. The suspect then hastily fled the area in the vehicle.

A witness provided a partial license plate number and description of the vehicle which led police to determine the identity of the suspect. Marshall-Limoges was arrested early Saturday at a Morningside residence and taken in for questioning.He is also facing possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia charges. Marshall-Limoges is being held in the Woodbury County jail on $50,000 bond.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a Norwalk man has claimed a Can-Am 4 Wheeler that was located on an old railroad right of way on March 23rd. He also reported several items were taken from his property on Wolf Creek Drive, including: A Bostitch air nailer; Mr. Buddy heaters; Bostitch air compressor; Husqvarna chainsaw; Honda 3000 generator; a hunting chair, and Porter cable air nailers. The estimated value of the items taken is $4,900.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and the National Weather Service have designated March 25 through March 29 as Severe Weather Awareness Week. Every year in the United States, hundreds of people are killed and thousands injured because of the weather. Dangerous weather can take many forms, ranging from violent tornadoes to crippling winter storms.

The ‘Big Event’ of Severe Weather Awareness Week is the annual statewide tornado drill which will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2019, according to Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator. Outdoor sirens and Emergency Alert Notifications will be activated throughout Cass County at or near 10:15am. This drill will be an excellent opportunity for Cass County residents, businesses and schools to practice their own procedures in the event of severe weather.

To register for the Cass County Emergency Notification System, go to links located on the Cass County homepage (http://www.casscountyiowa.us/) or the Cass County EMA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CassCoEMA). If you need assistance, please contact Mike Kennon, Cass County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator at 712-243-1500.
While there is nothing we can do to stop dangerous weather from affecting us, there are things we can do to stay safe when the weather turns nasty.

Kennon states that residents should know the weather hazards they may face. Heavy snow, blizzards, flash flooding, fog, lightning, high winds and tornadoes are all possible threats here in Iowa. Monitor weather forecasts, pay attention to watches and warnings, be aware of what is going on around you and have a plan to stay safe.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports several arrests over the past weekend. On Saturday, March 23rd:

• 33-year old Miranda Ann Frieze (address unknown) was arrested at a residence in the 600 block of N. Walnut Street, in Avoca, after deputies were dispatched to a reported armed disturbance. Frieze was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Bodily Injury/1st offense.
• 34-year old Kyle Lyndon Phillips (address unknown) was arrested at a convenience store just south of I-80 in Neola, early Saturday morning, after authorities received a “check welfare” report on a subject. Phillips was subsequently arrested for OWI/2nd offense.

On Friday, March 22nd:

• 36-year old Anthony Sackett, of LaPlant, SD., was arrested at the Pott. County Courthouse on outstanding warrants for Conspiracy/Intent to Manufacture and Deliver less than 5 grams of Meth. He was also wanted for Possession of Drug paraphernalia. Sackett’s bond was set at $50,300.
• An investigation into a hit-and-run property damage accident in at Old Lincoln Highway and Colt Road in Pott. County, Friday morning, resulted in the arrest of 61-year old Daniel Bruce Liston, for OWI/2nd offense. Liston was allegedly behind the wheel when his vehicle crashed into a Pott. County Secondary Roads electronic sign. A witness said Liston’s Pontiac left the scene and turned eastbound onto School Hill Avenue.
• And, a Deputy was dispatched Friday night to a location in the 13,700 block of Overland Trail, for a reported burglary. Dispatch advised two or three vehicles with juveniles were on the scene and the house was supposed to be vacant. A 16-year old male was arrested for OWI/1st Offense. Several other’s including three 17-year old’s, two 16-year old’s, a 15-year old male and two 18-year old females were cited.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say they’ve arrested the second of three people suspected in the slaying of a man outside a Burlington apartment complex. Police say 26-year-old Majestic Malone was taken into custody Friday on a warrant for first-degree murder. Forty-nine-year-old Stanley Baldwin has been arrested as well and charged with willful injury. Police say both were involved in the March 17 beating death of Edward “Eddie” Breuer.

A third man being sought also is charged in a murder warrant: 25-year-old Markell “Kellz” Price.

The Creston Police Department reports three arrests took place over the past few days, along with incidents of theft and vandalism. Authorities say at around 2:19-a.m. today (Monday), 29-year old Terry Ray Hankins-Lund, Jr., of Creston, was arrested for OWI/3rd offense and Driving While Suspended. Hankins-Lund was later released on a $5,300 bond. At around 10:15-p.m. Sunday, 31-year old Kevin James Jungers, of Lenox, was arrested in Creston after the K9 “Jax” was deployed and alerted to the odor of narcotics. Jungers faces charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense, and Driving While Suspended. His bond was set at $2,300. And, at around Noon on Friday, 38-year old Durrell Bernett Haynes, of Creston, was arrested on an Adams County warrant. He was transported to Adams County and booked into their jail.

Last Friday, a woman residing in the 500 block of N. Chestnut Street, in Creston, reported to Police that her vehicle had been entered while it was parked in the alley at her residence. A wallett, checkbook and credit cards were reported as stolen. The loss was estimated at $50. Also on Friday, AgriVision Equipment in Creston reported a seed tender had been vandalized while it was parked on the companies’ lot. The damage was estimated at $3,000. And, a man residing in the 1100th Block of W. Adair, said Friday that someone broke out the passenger side window and damaged the windshield of his SUV, while the vehicle was parked outside his home. The loss was estimated at $1,200.

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque man has been given 50 years in prison for killing a 59-year-old man at the victim’s home in Bellevue. Jackson County District Court records say 24-year-old Drew Mangler was sentenced Friday. He’d been convicted last month of second-degree murder. Prosecutors say he stabbed to death Richard Remakel during a break-in.

Officers found Remakel’s body after being called to a house in Bellevue on Dec. 25, 2016. An autopsy showed Remakel had been stabbed at least 32 times in his upper body, neck and head. He was believed to be dead for several days before police found him.

Court documents say Mangler was developed as a suspect following witness accounts to police. Investigators say they found a shoe with Remakel’s blood on it during a search of Mangler’s house.