In an update to our earlier reports, the Iowa Department of Public Safety today (Monday) said the body of a female found late Sunday morning in Lee County, has been identified and a suspect arrested. The body of 20-year old Sadie Alverado, of Muscatine, was found on a gravel road located on 235th Avenue, south of West Point, in Lee County. Sunday evening, the Lee County Attorney’s office was briefed on the facts and circumstances of the investigation. Charges were subsequently filed on 28-year old Damian Hamann, of Morning Sun, Iowa.  Hamann was charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in a Death.  He turned himself into the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday.

An autopsy was set to take place Tuesday August 7th, 2018, at the University of Iowa’s Decedent Care Unit.  The case is still under investigation. This is a joint investigation by the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Criminal Investigation, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Attorney’s Office and the Lee County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office report 49-year old Victor Robin Thatcher, of Creston, was arrested late Saturday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. Thatcher was transported to the Union County Jail by Story County Deputies. He was wanted on a Union County warrant for domestic abuse assault. Thatcher was subsequently released after posting a $300 bond.

The Audubon Chamber of Commerce today (Monday), released the winners of this past weekend’s “Operation T-Bone” parade. In the category of “Antique Auto, 1959 or older,” Jo Beane was the winner. The “Milestone Auto, 1960 or newer” award went to Dirk Rasmussen.

Other Operation T-Bone parade winners include:

• Antique Machinery: Alvin Albertsen.
• Saddle award: Audubon County Saddle Club.
• Hitch award: Audubon State Bank.
• Jr. Division: Children’s Nest.
• Sr. Division (1st prize): Audubon Country Players. (2nd prize) – Audubon High School Class of 1968.
• Good Neighbor award: Exira Fire and Rescue.
• Grand Champion: The T-Bone Association.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A genealogy library in northern Iowa that has served residents for about four decades may need to find a new home by the end of September. The Globe Gazette reports that discussions of moving the North Central Iowa Genealogical Society’s files from the Mason City Public Library began earlier this year. Sandra Turner is the Mason City Library Board’s librarian. She has voiced concerns that the library could run out of room, and would “have to put the materials in storage.”

But the society’s president, Mark Suby, says he’s concerned about relocating more than 5,000 items in the collection. He says the group has “absolutely nowhere else to go.” The society was founded in 1927 and has 65-70 members.

WEST POINT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say the body of a young woman found in southeast Iowa is not that of a missing college student. The body was found early Sunday in rural Lee County near West Point. The eastern Iowa city is about 87 miles southeast of where 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts was last seen on July 18 in her hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa. Special Agent Rick Rahn of the Iowa Criminal Investigation Division tells The Des Moines Register that officials have confirmed the body is not Tibbetts.

Rahn says investigators have identified the body and are contacting next of kin. The woman’s name and the circumstances of her death haven’t been released. Tibbetts is a University of Iowa student. The reward for her safe return has risen to $260,000.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County are reporting four weekend arrests. 48-year old Rhonda Irene Watkins, of Omaha, was arrested at around 1:12-a.m. Sunday on Highway 34, for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and two counts of Possessing Contraband in a jail facility. Her bond was set at $12,000. Saturday afternoon, 28-year old Christopher Lee McDaniel, of Pacific Junction, was arrested in Mills County, for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $2,000. And, 49-year old Juan Luis Sedano-Medina, of Sioux City, was arrested Saturday afternoon, for Driving While Barred. Bond was set at $2,000.

At around 12:50-a.m. Saturday, 29-year old Jamara Lynn Mountain, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension. Bond was set at $300.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests. On Saturday, 52-year old Leslie Hamilton, of Glenwood, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Bond was set at $300. And, on Friday, 54-year old Kelly Wright, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. Her bond was set at $10,000.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County say a traffic stop Sunday at the intersection of Highway 92 and 275th Street, resulted in the arrest of 30-year old Daniel Ernest Delaware, of Carson. The man was taken into custody at around 8-p.m., on a warrant for OWI/1st offense. 35-year old Daniel Martin Wilson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Friday afternoon at the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office, after he turned himself-in. Wilson was wanted on two warrants, both for Violation of Probation. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail and turned over to Corrections staff.

37-year old Thomas Moon Benegas, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Saturday evening at the Pott. County Jail, after he slapped another inmate during an argument. Benegas was charged with Simple Assault and returned to the custody of Corrections Staff. A man from Tabor was arrested Sunday evening in Pott. County, following a traffic stop on southbound I-29. 51-year old Dale Clifford Greedy was arrested for OWI/3rd offense.

And, 47-year old Christina Deloris Welch, of Omaha, was arrested today (Monday) at 3:10-a.m., following a traffic stop in Pott. County. Welch was taken into custody under the authority of a Montgomery County warrant.

(Radio Iowa) — Severe thunderstorms rolled over parts of northern and central Iowa on Sunday, bringing much-needed rain to some areas and strong winds. Powerful gusts hit Webster City where resident Craig Ewing says clean-up is going to take some time. “Trees were going down and blocking the street and across the street, trees came down on top of houses,” Ewing says. “There’s quite a bit of wind damage throughout the whole town and we lost power.”

Webster City Storm Damage pics

Webster City Mayor John Hawkins toured some of the damaged areas of the community on Sunday. “There’s a few hundred trees torn about or down around the town. There’s still a few leaning against houses,” Mayor Hawkins says. “A few people got their cars out from under some. Quite a bit of damage in the center of town.”

Forecasters say there’s the possibility for more strong storms later today (Monday) and into tomorrow.

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

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