(Radio Iowa) — Advocates of corn-based ethanol expect President Trump to make a major announcement about the fuel additive tomorrow (Tuesday). “This is something we’ve literally been working on for seven years. If all goes as we think it will, this is going to be a very good day.” That’s Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. Shaw and others expect Trump to announce the E-P-A is preparing a waiver that will allow the year-round sale of E-15 — that’s gasoline with a 15 percent ethanol blend.

“We do think that rule-making can be done in time for June which is when the restriction would come back into play,” Shaw says, “so by taking action tomorrow, President Trump is setting us up to have E15 available across the United States next summer.” Shaw predicts the oil industry will go to court to try to block the waiver for E-15, so legal wrangling may commence soon. In the meantime, Shaw says tomorrow’s (Tuesday’s) announcement should provide a psychological boost to the ag economy.

“And it’s a market boost,” Shaw says, “a little bit at first, but definitely growing over time, so we’ve very excited here.” A number of media outlets are reporting Trump will make the E-15 announcement in Washington before he departs for his rally tomorrow (Tuesday) night in Council Bluffs.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three separate arrests took place, Sunday. At around 7:25-p.m., 54-year old Pamela Jean Monthey, of Glenwood, was arrested for: Calling 9-1-1 for a non-emergency; Interference with Official Acts; Assault on a Peace Officers, and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. Her bond was set at $1,300.

At around 6:50-a.m. Sunday, 50-year old Darrin Patrick Healey, of Omaha, was arrested for being a Fugitive From Justice. His bond was set at $1,000.

And, at around 8:45-a.m. Sunday, 47-year old Martha Anngeline Oltmanns, of Grant, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. Her bond was set at $300.

A Council Bluffs man wanted for 1^st Degree murder turned himself-in to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office at around 11-a.m. Today (Monday). 69-year old Kenneth Still was processed and transported to the Pott. County Jail, where he was booked-in on the charge associated with the shooting death of 21-year old Devon M. Theisen, of Council Bluffs.

Kenneth Still

Authorities say officers were called just before 3-p.m. Sunday to 127 Park Avenue, for a shooting that had just occurred at that location.  When officers arrived, they found Theisen on the front porch, with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head.  Witnesses told officers at the scene that the victim was involved in a disturbance with the suspect, Kenneth Still.

They told police that at some point during the incident, Still grabbed a shot gun inside the residence and fired one round, striking Theisen in the head.  Still then left the area in the Nissan SUV.

Theisen was transported by ambulance to the Nebraska Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

ALVORD, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a South Dakota woman died after being struck by a train in northwest Iowa. Lyon County authorities say deputies and medics were sent to the accident site a little before 7:30 p.m. Friday in Alvord. The Sheriff’s Office says it appeared that 32-year-old Savannah Flynn, of Marion, South Dakota, may have thought a southbound train was on the east set of parallel tracks when she tried to cross the west tracks and was struck. Flynn died at the scene. Authorities suspect alcohol consumption played a role in her death.

The Cass County Emergency Management Agency reports periodic moderate to heavy rainfall is expected across the area today and persisting into early Wednesday. Conditions will become more and more prone to flooding with time as excessive amounts of rain continue to accumulate. The flood stage where action may be needed is 15-feet, with minor flooding occurring at 19-feet. As of 10-a.m. today (Monday), the East Nish was slightly under 5-feet. The river is expected to crest from 10-a.m. Tuesday to 10-a.m. Wednesday at around 17.4-feet before falling to below the action stage. The record crest for the river was 22.81-feet, in Sept., 1972. The river also crested above 22-feet in July, 1958 and June, 1998.

A southwest Iowa man convicted in the 2009 shooting death of his girlfriend, had his challenge for the conviction denied in court, Friday. According to reports, Judge James Heckerman refused to grant Post Conviction Relief (PCR) to 38-year old Brian Heath Davis, of Shenandoah who, along with his attorney claimed key elements of the investigation and prosecution were flawed.

In April 2015, Davis received a life sentence upon his conviction without the possibility of parole on a charge of 1^st degree Murder in the death of 29-year old Holly Rae Durbin. His conviction was appealed but upheld by the Iowa Court of Appeals in 2017.

Photo of Holly Rae Durben from Iowa Cold Case files website

On July 18^th, 2009, Davis had reported to authorities Durben shot herself in the head at the farmhouse they shared off Highway 59. Durben was found on her bed with a gunshot wound to the left side of her head, near her cheek. Her left hand was on the pistol grip of a 12-gauge shotgun, and her left thumb rested on the trigger. Durben was right-handed. Authorities said the only identifiable fingerprints on the gun belonged to Davis.

(Radio Iowa) — Dentists and other volunteers provided free dental care to around one-thousand people in the two-day annual Mission of Mercy clinic Friday and Saturday in Sioux City. More than 100 student dentists and dental hygienists from University of Iowa, Creighton, University of Nebraska, Morningside College, Iowa Western Community College, Kirkwood, and Western Iowa Tech were among those helping out. Western Iowa Tech Community College, dental assistant instructor Jonie Miller brought many of her students with her to help in the effort.  She says they bring students every year, not matter where the Mission of Mercy is held. Miller says her students do everything from fillings to oral surgery.

It’s the 10th year Miller has taken part and says it was more special with the event returning to Sioux City. “Since we’re in Sioux City, I get to see a lot of my past grads,” Miller explains. “So, it really makes me smile to know that they were impressed with it and come back to volunteer again and again.” Cori Van Sickler drove from Ft. Dodge to help in the effort. She says she came with her daughter, a pharmacist in Des Moines.

She helped out in the pharmacy with paperwork and guiding patients to where they needed to be. This was the 11th Iowa Mission of Mercy free dental clinic. The clinic is held in a new location each year.

(DES MOINES) – The Iowa Department of Corrections is reporting another Work Release escape. 40-year old Felix Gomez, convicted of Domestic Abuse Assault, 3rd or Subsequent Offense and other crimes in Polk County, failed to report back to the Fort Des Moines Residential Facility as required Sunday night.  Gomez is a white (Hispanic) male, 5-feet eight-inches tall, weighing 263 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on July 24, 2018.  Persons with information on Gomez’s whereabouts should contact local police. (See his picture under this same story on the kjan.com News page)

Felix Gomez

On Sunday, the Iowa DOC reported 22-year old Devin Kesean Dock also failed to return to the Ft. Des Moines Residential Facility.

The Sac County Sheriff’s Office is warning motorists to be cautious when approach the 4-lane Highway 20, especially on that stretch of road that just opened between Early and Holstein. Authorities say two crashes have occurred at M-43 and Highway 20 since it opened last Thursday morning. No serious injuries or fatalities have been reported. The problem, according to Sheriff’s officials, is that drivers are used to two-way traffic on the westbound lane, and crossing the eastbound lanes to get over to the other lanes.

Although the intersections are marked with rumble strips, stop ahead and stop signs, drivers using M-43 have pulled into the paths of eastbound semi-tractor trailers. Authorities have also received reports of eastbound traffic in the westbound lane between M-43 north and M-43 south, in Sac County. The Sheriff’s Office says it’s working with the Sac County Secondary Roads Department, in an effort to better warn traffic about the intersections.