Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:55 a.m. CST

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A Feb. 11 trial start has been scheduled for a 19-year-old Muscatine man accused of stabbing to death his grandmother. Muscatine County court documents say Darian Lensgraf pleaded not guilty Friday to first-degree murder. He’s accused of killing 66-year-old Diana Lensgraf at her home early on Dec. 12.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A southeast Iowa couple convicted of locking their adopted 7-year-old son in their basement at night have filed appeals. Court records say Heidi Fiems, of Mediapolis, filed the appeal notice after her sentencing Friday. She and her husband, Justin, were sentenced to 180 days in jail but must serve only 60 days. Each was fined $625 and given two years of probation. The Hawk Eye reports that Heidi Fiems was tearful Friday as she described the “wrong choice” she and her husband made.

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say one person was hospitalized after a fire in the basement of home in the eastern Iowa city of Clinton. The two residents were outside by the time the firetrucks arrived Sunday morning, but firefighters rescued two dogs from inside, giving one of them oxygen to help it recover. The fire cause is being investigated. The name of the injured person was not released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines’ last single-screen movie theater has closed after 80 years. The Des Moines Register reports that the Varsity Theater was packed during its final screening on Sunday, just over eight decades after the theater opened on Christmas Day in 1938. Theater owner Denise Mahon says the turnout touched her heart. She’d announced the closure in November, citing plans to undergo knee replacement surgery.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office said today (Monday), three accidents that occurred Friday resulted in three people being transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment of mostly minor injuries. Weather and road conditions played a role in at least two of the accidents.

At around 8:30-a.m., Friday, a single-vehicle accident happened on westbound I-80 at the 55.7 mile marker. Officials say a 2005 Chevy Suburban owned and driven by 54-year old John K. Fuller, of Johnston, lost traction on the icy road, entered the center median and rolling onto the passenger side before coming to rest on its wheels. Medical care was refused. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $10,000.

Nearly three-hours later, another single-vehicle accident happened on 650th Street (Highway 71), near Troublesome Creek Road. Authorities say a 2002 Ford F150 driven by 41-year old Kimberly Joy Zimtbaum, of Phoenix, AZ, was traveling southbound on 650th when the driver hit an icy patch on the road. The vehicle exited the roadway, rolled twice, and came to rest in the east ditch. Zimtbaum and her passenger were transported by Midwest Transport to Cass County Memorial Hospital. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $6,000.

And, just after 7-p.m. Friday, a single-vehicle accident happened on on Olive Street in Cass County, near Echo Road. A 2009 Chevy Cobalt driven by 16-year old Dallas Joseph Drenth, of Woodbine, was traveling northbound on Olive Street when the vehicle hit the gravel shoulder, sending it into the east ditch. Drenth was transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,000.

Officials with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Monday, reported multiple arrests have occurred recently. On December 27th, Charles Albert Mace, Jr., turned himself in at the Cass County Jail. Mace was wanted on two Atlantic Police Department warrants for four counts of Felony Sex Abuse 3rd Degree; one count of Exhibiting Obscene Material to a Minor; and one count of Violation of a No Contact Order. He was booked at the Cass County Jail and remains held on $200,000 bond.

As mentioned earlier in the Atlantic Police Department’s report, on December 28th, Atlantic Police arrested 46-year old Robert Joseph Dambra, of Atlantic, on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for Tampering with a Witness and Harassment 3rd Degree. Dambra was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released on $2,300 bond. That same day Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 20-year old Dakota Lee Sandbothe, of Marne, on a charge of Eluding, and a citation for Reckless Driving. Sandbothe was also charged by the Atlantic Police Department with Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer.

On December 29th, deputies arrested 57-year old Cinthia Ann Ulveling, of Atlantic, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. She was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on her own recognizance. Also on Dec. 29th, deputies arrested 25-year old Dylan Zachary Russell, of Atlantic, on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Driving Under Suspension. Russell was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty the following day and was released from custody.

On December 30th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 52-year old Richard Harold Lewis, Sr., of Anita, on a charge of Simple Assault. Lewis was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty the following day and was released from custody. And, on December 31st, 38-year old Daniel Harvey Pash, of Harlan, was arrested in Cass County on a Shelby County warrant. Pash was taken to the Cass County Jail and was later released to Shelby County authorities.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met at 8:30-a.m. today (Monday), with all members present. During their session, the Board acted on allowing or disallowing family farm credits and to approve agricultural land credits as recommended by the Assessor and the Auditor in accordance with the Code of Iowa, for taxes collectible during Fiscal Year 2019-20.  The Board also took up discussion of employee information handbook, but after a brief discussion acted to table the mater until a future session.

The Board’s next meeting is 8:30-a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2nd in their Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse, in Atlantic. During their meeting Wednesday, the Supervisors will handle several, annual administrative matters. That includes: A Resolution approving the number of and appointment of, Administrative Assistants and deputies for each of the following…County Attorney, Recorder and Treasurer; Also the appointment of two township trustees for each of the 14 townships in Cass County, whose officers are appointed rather than elected; The Supervisors will also appoint members of the Board to serve on committees, and appointments to various county councils, commissions, and other governmental subdivisions. In other business, the Supervisors will set the 2019 (plus 2020 New Year’s Day) Holiday Schedule, and mileage reimbursement rate for employees and for sheriff’s civil processing.

Atlantic Police report six arrests occurred over the past few days. On Sunday, 42-year old Amanda Bashor, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. On Friday, Atlantic Police arrested: 20-year old Allen Van Aernam, of Atlantic, for Eluding; 20-year old Dakota Sandbothe, of Atlantic, for Assault on Persons in certain occupations; and 46-year old Robert Dambra, of Atlantic, on a Cass County warrant for Tampering with a Witness or Juror.

On Dec. 22nd, 50-year Mark Winston, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. And, on Dec. 21st, 54-year old Michael Nielsen, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Theft in the 1st Degree, and Ongoing Criminal Conduct-Unlawful Activity. All of the suspects were booked-into the Cass County Jail.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A February trial has been scheduled for a 19-year-old Muscatine man accused of stabbing to death his grandmother. Muscatine County court documents say Darian Lensgraf pleaded not guilty Friday to first-degree murder. He’s accused of killing 66-year-old Diana Lensgraf at her home early on Dec. 12. Authorities say police found the young man at a convenience store after the store clerk called to report a man holding a bloody knife in the store.
Darian Lensgraf’s trial is set to begin Feb. 11.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A southeast Iowa couple convicted of locking their adopted 7-year-old son in their basement at night have filed appeals. Des Moines County court records say the attorney for 44-year-old Heidi Fiems, of Mediapolis, filed the appeal notice after her sentencing Friday. A jury found the woman and her husband, 45-year-old Justin Fiems, guilty in October of misdemeanor child endangerment. He filed his appeal after his sentencing Nov. 30. Both were sentenced to 180 days in jail but must serve only 60 days. Each was fined $625 and given two years of probation.

The Hawk Eye reports that Heidi Fiems was tearful Friday as she described the “wrong choice” she and her husband made. At trial Fiems said she told investigators the couple moved their son to the basement from his upstairs bedroom because he was urinating on the carpet and in his bed.

The Harlan Police Department reports two people were arrested last week. On Friday, 46-year old Larry Monroe Lange, of Harlan, was arrested following a disturbance in the 500 block of Durant Street. Lange was brought to the Shelby County Jail, where he was charged with Public Intoxication. And, on Thursday, 41-year old Brian Anthony Wood, of Harlan, was arrested following a complaint in the 1000 block of Chatburn Avenue. Wood was transported to the Shelby County Jail, and charged with Violation of a No Contact Order, Interference with Official Acts, Disorderly Conduct, and Public Intoxication.

When the Atlantic City Council holds its first meeting of the new year, Wednesday, among of the items on their agenda, is a presentation followed by discussion, with regard to a Water Source Protection Plan (WSPP) by DNR Source Water Community Facilitator for Southwest Iowa, Zachary Johannes.

According to City Administrator John Lund, Johannes would like to create an action plan for the City that can help to organize water supply protection. The idea is to draft an WSPP that meets the City’s needs, but in order to do so, Johannes needs a letter of commitment from City leaders. Lund say he will encourage the Council to allow the City Attorney and himself to review any documents, prior to making a commitment to another government agency. Anything the binds the City into making future expenditures or limiting revenue opportunities, Lund says, should be referred to the Personnel and Finance Committee.

In other business, the Council will take action on annual administrative matters, such as approving a bank for the City’s 2019 Checking Account, Approving the official City Newspaper for 2019 legal publications, and acting on a recommendation to change the duration of Parks and Recreation Board member terms from six-years, to four-years. The Parks & Rec Board has already approved the term-limit change, because they feel a longer term discourages people from running for the Board, and creates burn-out.

If the Council goes along with the plan, current Board Member terms would be adjusted as follows:

John Krogman & Jolene Smith, (whose old term expire 11/15/2023) – New term 11/15/2021

Charlene Beane & Vice-Chair Erin McFadden (whose current term expires 11/15/2019) – would be left at the same expiration date.

Stuart Dusenberry (Board Chair) – term would remain unchanged, with expiration date 11/15/2021.

The Atlantic City Council meeting begins 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors are set to hold their first, regularly scheduled meeting of 2019, this Wednesday morning (Jan. 2nd), in their Board Room at the Adair County Courthouse in Greenfield. During their session, which begins at 9-a.m., the Board will take care of their annual administrative matters, including (But not limited to): Administering the Oath of Office; Electing a Board Chairman and Vice-Chairman; Approving an Organizational Resolution; Approval of Deputy and/or Assistant Clerk appointments for the Recorder, Treasurer and County Attorney.

In other business, at around 9:30-a.m. Wednesday, the Board will hold a Public Hearing on a Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Amendment, followed by a Resolution to approve the amendment, and an Appropriations Resolution. At 10-a.m., the Adair County Supervisors will consider and set Compensation Board Recommendations for FY 2020 and set the FY2020 hourly wage increases for full- and part-time County employees. They’ll also act on a County Engineer Resolution, and other Secondary Roads Dept. matters.