NEW HAMPTON, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa woman whose infant son’s lifeless body was found in a baby swing has been imprisoned for life without possibility of parole. Court records say 22-year-old Cheyanne Harris was sentenced Tuesday in New Hampton to the state-mandated penalty, and her request for a new trial was denied. A jury found her guilty Feb. 6 of first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death.

The charges stem from the death of 4-month-old Sterling Koehn, whose body was found Aug. 30, 2017, in a maggot-infested diaper at an apartment in Alta Vista. The swing was in a sweltering bedroom. An autopsy shows he died of malnutrition, dehydration and an E. coli infection. The baby’s father, Zachary Koehn, also has been sentenced to life in prison.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Officials have chosen a 22-year veteran of the Iowa State Patrol to lead the organization. The Department of Public Safety announced Tuesday that Capt. Nathan Fulk had been chosen as colonel to lead the state patrol. Fulk, of Ankeny, will be sworn into his new position Friday. Fulk grew up in southeast Iowa and served in the Marine Corps.

He began working for the Iowa State Patrol in 1997 as a trooper in Solon. He was promoted to sergeant in 2008 and lieutenant in 2013. Most recently, he worked as an area captain in central Iowa. Fulk will replace Colonel Jeff Ritzman, who retired from leading the state patrol after 36 years at the agency.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office investigated and released a report on, two recent accidents. Authorities say last Saturday, at 11:51 p.m., Deputies responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident on Highway 71 south of Memphis Road. A 2005 Jeep Liberty driven by 24-year Heather Dawn Dickerson, of Griswold, was southbound on Highway 71 when she lost control in blowing snow. A 2006 Mercury Milan driven by 56-year old Brent Charles Yarger, of Atlantic, which was behind the Jeep also lost control. After the car struck the rear end of the Jeep, both vehicles came to rest in the west ditch. No injuries were reported. No citations were issued. Damage to the Jeep is estimated at $500; damage to the Mercury is estimated at $2,500.

And, at around 9:30-a.m. February 2nd, a single-vehicle accident occurred on 550^th Street at Wichita Road. Authorities say a 2006 Dodge Durango driven by 31-year old Lacey Faye Dorris, of Elliott, was northbound on 550^th Street when Dorris lost control on slippery road. Her SUV left the road and rolled onto its top into the east ditch. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $3,500.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports that following a pursuit in and around Anita on February 15th, Deputies arrested 18-year old Nickolas Eli Tolhurst Jurovcik, of Fremont, OH. He faces charges that include: Felony Theft in the 2nd Degree; Possession Marijuana 1st Offense; Providing False ID to Law Enforcement, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. A 17-year-old male was also arrested on similar charges, plus felony Eluding; Interference with Official Acts, and Reckless Driving. Jurovcik was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $6,000 bond; the minor was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs. Also arrested February 15th, was 35-year old William Daniel Mendez, of Atlantic. Mendez was arrested by Atlantic Police, on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for Sex Offender Registry Violation 2nd Offense a Class-D Felony. He was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond.

On February 8th, Atlantic Police arrested 45-year old Eric Clifton Haley, of Atlantic, on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for two counts of Indecent Contact with a Child. Haley was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $10,000 bond. And, on February 6th, transport brought 26-year old Joshua George Chapalonis, of Atlantic, to the Cass County Jail on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for eight felony counts of Sex Abuse 2nd Degree. Chapalonis remains held at the Cass County Jail on $500,000 bond.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent arrests. On Monday, Page County Deputies arrested 21-year old Recto Tupuanai, of Clarinda. He was taken into custody at the Sheriff’s Office on a Page County Warrant for Probation Violation. Tupuanai was unable to post the $3,000 bond, and was booked into the Page County Jail awaiting further court proceedings.

A little after 3-a.m. Sunday, Page County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a Domestic situation at the Clarinda Regional Health Center. During the investigation, Deputies met with a rural Clarinda woman. Authorities determined that the Domestic incident had occurred between 2-a.m. and 3-a.m. in rural Clarinda. The Investigation showed that there was probable cause to reasonably believe and assault had occurred on the woman occurred during the altercation at her residence in rural Clarinda. Deputies were initially unable to locate the suspect, Wyatt Dale Williams, who was the woman’s husband.

A warrant was later issued for his arrest. On Monday, Wyatt Williams came to the Page County Sheriff’s Office, where he was arrested on a Page County Warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault causing bodily injury – serious misdemeanor. Wyatt Williams later posted $1,000 bond and was released pending further court proceedings.

The Danish Mill Corporation, today (Tuesday) announced that it has received notice the AP Møller and Chastine McKinney Møller Foundation for General Purposes of Copenhagen, Denmark, is donating approximately $75,000 toward rebuilding the 1848 smock mill’s cap frame. Danish Windmill Manager Lisa Steen Riggs said, “For our Windmill to be included in the Foundation’s efforts to preserve wind and water mills as part of the Danish cultural and industrial history is especially meaningful. We are extremely grateful.” The AP Møller Foundation is one of several charitable foundations established by the Danish shipping magnate, AP Møller and his heirs.

Since 1962, more than sixty wind and water mill projects in Denmark, including the test center for wind energy, have benefited from the Møller Foundation’s commitment to restoration and conservation and now there will be one more; only this 1848 Danish Windmill is in Iowa. In 2016, the Mill launched a major restoration project to replace its 67’ long sails, which were installed when the Mill arrived in Elk Horn, as well as the wind shaft, repairing the brake wheel and fan tail that date back to when the Mill was in Denmark. The major overhaul will help to insure its future well-being for many years to come.

As reconstruction began In May 2018, significant deterioration was discovered in the principal structural members of the cap frame that was undetected during the initial assessment. Because they carry the entire weight of the sails, fantail and roof structure, it required removing and rebuilding the cap frame before other work could continue. Riggs said “We received outstanding financial and in-kind support from individuals in the local and Danish-American communities, grants, organizations plus the Mike and Lou Howard Foundation in raising the $150,000 for the initial restoration project, but since some grants require a waiting period (1-2 years) before an applicant is eligible to apply for funds again, the Windmill reached out to the AP Møller Foundation because of their commitment to historic mill preservation in Denmark with the hope that the Foundation would embrace the ex-patriot Windmill and they did.”

To complete the reconstruction prior to the arrival of winter weather because the new 67’ sails and the fan tail were on the ground, work proceeded and in October the millwright and timber carpenters rebuilt the cap frame, installed the new components and restored the windmill so it turns in the wind again. Riggs said “The financial support from the AP Møller Foundation was a much needed and appreciated donation. We still need to raise funds and welcome gifts of any amount.”

The Mill is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Riggs said “We look forward to welcoming visitors, children and families into this historic mill where they will learn about wind energy and green technology, agriculture and of course, our Danish cultural heritage and sense of place.” The Danish Windmill’s attendance in 2018 was 49,786 including individuals, travel parties and group tours from the US and abroad. It has been named “Attraction of the Year” three times by the Iowa Tourism industry and is open daily.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A man already serving a 25-year federal sentence for weapons crimes has pleaded not guilty to an Iowa charge of first-degree murder. Floyd County District Court records say 27-year-old Armando Adame III also entered a written plea Monday of not guilty to a state weapons charge. His trial is scheduled to begin April 30. He’s accused of shooting to death 28-year-old Michael Johns. Johns was reported missing Oct. 26, 2017, from Grundy Center. His body was found Dec. 1 that year at a rural intersection about 10 miles south of Charles City. Adame was sentenced in October last year for the federal weapons crimes.

The winter storm for tonight hasn’t even started and yet the National Weather Service wants to bring your attention to the NEXT potent winter weather maker this coming weekend! Officials say a very potent system is slated to move through the region Saturday into Sunday with the potential for heavy snowfall (in northwest Iowa), a wintry mix (in central Iowa), and rain/wintry mix (in southeast Iowa) along, with strong winds (blowing snow). Keep your shovels and snow blowers handy and/or fueled-up for this weekend’s attack from Mother Nature.

(Radio Iowa) — Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate have again drafted a resolution to give gun rights the highest level of protection possible under the Iowa Constitution. Secretary of State Paul Pate’s staff missed a deadline for publishing the proposal last fall, so Republicans who’ve championed the amendment had to re-start the process. Richard Rogers, a lobbyist for the Iowa Firearms Coalition, says Iowa is one of six states that doesn’t specifically include gun rights in its constitution.  “This simple amendment will ensure that these basic rights are protected for future generations and will not be affected by shifting and transitory political whims,” Rogers said. “Our grandchildren’s grandchildren will be guaranteed the right to keep and bear arms for all legitimate purposes.”

Opponents of the proposal goes further than the second amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Reverend Wendy Abrahamson, an Episcopal pastor from Grinnell, points to the inclusion of “strict scrutiny” language in the proposal. “Strict scrutiny would really make it, we think anyway, almost next to impossible to enact any kind of gun safety regulations,” she said.

Others say it makes current gun laws vulnerable to legal challenges. Supporters say it’ll keep lawmakers and courts from infringing on the right to keep and bear arms. The resolution triggering a statewide vote on the plan has cleared subcommittees in the House and Senate. 2022 is the earliest the proposed amendment could be presented to Iowa voters.

City officials in Corning and Glenwood have declared Snow Emergencies for the impending snow storm. In Corning, the 24-hour Snow Emergency begins 8-p.m. today (Tuesday). No parking will be allowed on marked snow route streets during the first 12 hours of the snow emergency. Except for the business district, parking during the first 12 hours on all other streets will be on the south and west sides only. For the remainder of the snow emergency, parking will be allowed on the north and east side of the street in Corning, if not prohibited by signs. All No Parking and direction of travel parking signs will be enforced.

In Glenwood, the Snow Emergency begins 10-p.m. today (Tuesday) and states “No person shall park, abandon or leave unattended vehicle(s) on any public street or City-owned parking lot, other than designated overnight parking areas. The snow emergency ban shall continue…until the snow ceases and the roads are plowed.”