Officials with the U-S Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa have announced a man from Crawford County, 37-year-old Ian Ward, of Denison, pled guilty July 2nd (2024), to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm, one count of possession of a short-barreled rifle, and one count of possession of silencers.

At the plea hearing, evidence showed that on August 21, 2023, a traffic stop in Pocahontas County found Ward, high on fentanyl (he admitted as much to the deputy who stopped him), with six traditional firearms, including an illegal, short-barreled rifle, plus several full silencer/suppressor type devices. Law enforcement also located and seized from Ward’s vehicle methamphetamine, THC wax, and drug user paraphernalia. Ward admitted to being a user of fentanyl, meth, and marijuana and to a previous conviction for a felony drug offense in Minnesota. Being a felon as well as illegal user of drugs prohibited Ward from possessing any firearm.

Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a pre-sentence report is prepared. Ward remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. On the prohibited possession of firearm conviction, Ward faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. On the two convictions of possession of illegal firearm/silencers, Ward faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following imprisonment.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office today (Wednesday), released a report on arrests that took place between June 4th and June 30th. Most recently:

On the 28th, 62-year-old Susan Yvonne King, of Harlan, was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail after a traffic stop on Willow St. King was charged with OWI-1st offense, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability, and Driving on Wrong Side of Two-Way Highway.  And, on the 27th, 37-year-old Lachelle Jean Petersen, of Atlantic, was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail on an active Shelby County warrant.

Other arrests included:

6/04/2024: Dallas Paul Steinkuehler, Age 28, Woodbine IA. Steinkuehler was arrested following a traffic stop on M16. Steinkuehler was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while Barred.

6/07/2024: Daniel Raymond Harris, Age 58, Harlan IA. Harris was arrested after a call for service on Hwy 44 and transported to the Shelby County Jail. Harris was charged with No Valid Driver’s License, Failure to maintain control, and OWI first offense.

6/08/2024: Kendra Kathleen Kyle, Age 30, Avoca IA. Kyle was arrested after a traffic stop on Chatburn Ave. Kyle was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; Gavin Patrick Burroughs, Age 19, Harlan IA. Burroughs was arrested after a traffic stop on Farnam St.  Burroughs was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI-1st offense.

6/09/2024: Brandon Hillgartner, Age 44, Harlan IA. Hillgartner was arrested after a traffic stop on Chatburn Ave. Hillgartner was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI- 1st Offense, and Speeding; Adam Richard Mardesen, Age 50, Elk Horn IA. Mardesen was arrested after a traffic stop on Yucca Rd. Mardesen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Failure to Use Safety Belt, Operating Non-Registered Vehicle, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability, and Possession of a controlled substance.

6/10/2024: Reid Jeffrey Hemminger, Age 39, Harlan IA. Hemminger was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail on an Active Shelby County Warrant.

6/16/2024: Anthony Schwery, Age 28, Defiance, IA. Schwery was arrested after a traffic stop. Schwery was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Failure to Maintain Control, and OWI – First offense; Emma Jo Rossell, Age 20, Harlan, IA. Rossell was arrested after a call for service and transported to the Shelby County Jail. Rossell was charged with Disorderly Conduct-Fighting/Violence.

6/18/2024: Rex Dean McDermott, Age 57, Elk Horn, IA. Mcdermott was arrested after a call for service and transported to the Shelby County Jail. Mcdermott was charged with Driving while Barred, driving while License Denied or Revoked, and Operating without Interlock.

6/20/2024: Orin Wesley Wright III, Age 31, Kirkman, IA. Wright was arrested after a call for service and transported to the Shelby County Jail. Wright was charged with OWI-1st offense.

6/21/2024: Steven Glenn Herrington, Age 60, Council Bluffs, IA. Herrington was arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail on an active Shelby County Warrant.

6/23/2024: Gage Michael Johnston, Age 27, Henderson, IA. Johnston was arrested after a call for service and transported to the Shelby County Jail. Johnston was charged with Theft 1st degree, Speeding (21 or over), No valid Driver’s license, and Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicle; Camryn Rose Casebeer, Age 19, Harlan IA. Casebeer was arrested after a traffic stop on 12th street and transported to the Shelby County Jail. Casebeer was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Improper registration plate lamp, Person under 21 using Tobacco/Vape products.

Note: All arrests reported on the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page are arrests made by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office with charges originating from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. If an arrest originated by another Agency (Iowa State Patrol, Division of Criminal Investigations, Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Department of Natural Resources, Ect.) but the individual was brought to the Shelby County Jail that arrest would not be reported on our page. Additionally, a person arrested on an arrest warrant from another County and brought to the Shelby County Jail to be held until picked up by a different County/Agency would not be reported on this page.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Board of Supervisors, during their meeting this (Wednesday) morning, approved renewal of the County’s ICAP (Iowa Communities Assurance Pool) Insurance. Auditor Mandy Berg said the increase wasn’t as big as she expected, as there was only one claim. Last year the rate went up $250. This year it was $256. That’s likely to change next year, she said.

Supervisor John Twombley commented some insurance companies are no longer renewing policies when they expire. That leaves policy holders holding the bag for finding coverage on their own. In other business, the Adair County Board of Supervisors set the hours the courthouse in Greenfield will be open during RAGBRAI®. Mandy Berg said the riders will be in Greenfield on July 23^rd.

Following brief discussion, the Board agreed to close the courthouse to the public during the event, and allow County Department Heads to make a decision on staff hours or vacation time as needed, similar to what was done during the pandemic.

And, the Board approved the appointment of John Twombly to both the Board of Adjustment and the Planning and Zoning Commission in the same motion (both are 5 year terms). The Board tabled action on a County Tax Abatement, to allow members to think it through and gather more information.

(Anita, Iowa) – The CAM School District’s Board of Education held a Workshop Tuesday evening in Anita, with regard to District Facilities. Superintendent Paul Croghan told KJAN News the Board received, and then discussed, a recommendation from the Facility Committee.

The Board weighed the options of maintaining two buildings and two different campuses, and the costs versus one campus and one building over-time.

Following the Committee’s presentation, Croghan said the CAM School Board asked questions and gave the Committee time to speak freely about anything they thought the Board might consider. During the Board’s next, regular meeting on July 15th, the Board and Committee representatives will mull over the financial projection numbers. A workshop will precede the regular meeting on the 15th.

Paul Croghan said the Committee’s recommendation to move forward with a one-building district, was based on a number of factors.

He says the process of finding answers to questions about the District’s needs was not taken lightly.

He said he appreciates everyone who has worked to compile the necessary information, and 560 District patrons who responded to an online survey that was unique to the CAM District, and those who want to be informed and involved in the decision making process.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – After a couple of days of wet weather, work at the Atlantic SplashPad site resumed this (Wednesday) morning. Workers with the Henley Group, LLC, began the process of installing a water supply pipe for the nearly 4,000 square-foot project. When it’s completed – sometime around the Labor Day weekend – the Splash Pad will feature numerous amenities, including a giant dump bucket, a small water table for toddlers, an over-spray zone, and a simple ground spray for kids

The project was initially expected to have cost over $600,000, but the low bid came in at just over $550,000. An official groundbreaking ceremony was held May 20th. The concept of having a SplashPad was batted around on-and-off, for nearly a decade. Community meetings held in 2022 eventually resulted in the formation of a fundraising committee and fundraising efforts beginning in earnest, last year (2023). The Fundraising Committee exceeded their goal, thanks to generous donations from the public, private individuals, businesses and grants.

Stamp Construction in Atlantic donated in-kind dirt work for the project in June, to get the pad prepped for additional work.

Henley Group, LCC workers install the splashpad water supply pipe July 2nd, 2024 (Photo courtesy Atlantic Parks & Rec Coordinator Jeff Christensen)

STORM LAKE, Iowa (KCAU) — The former secretary and treasurer of the Storm Lake Volunteer Firefighters Association has been sentenced for stealing from the association.
KCAU-TV reports 39-year-old Jesus Rojo, of Storm Lake, was sentenced to two-years of probation on July 1st, for stealing more than $10,000 from the association. Rojo plead guilty May 6th to second-degree theft, a class D felony.

In addition to probation, Rojo was ordered to pay back the funds he stole from the association. Rojo was the secretary and treasurer of the Storm Lake Volunteer Firefighters Association between January 3 and July 6 and was arrested in September.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – A reminder, the Atlantic City Council, during their meeting on June 5^th, set the dates for fireworks use inside the City Limits, as now through Saturday, July 6^th. You may use your fireworks from Noon until 11-p.m. each day. According to the City Ordinance:

• You are only allowed to discharge a fireworks device on property you own or on property where consent has been given. Exceptions are for the use of Snakes, sparklers, or caps, which can be discharged on public property so long as all trash, wrappers, and wires are properly disposed of.
• Sky lantern/open flame devices are not permitted to be released within the city limits, except if tethered by a retrievable rope so long as the person discharging has control over the sky lantern.
• And, No fireworks shall be discharged at any time, within 300 ft. of any Public school building, assisted living facility, or hospital.

Keep in mind also, some fireworks are extremely upsetting to animals and Veterans with PTSD. Please be considerate of your neighbors and celebrate responsibly. Any person who violates the provisions of the fireworks discharging ordinance, or who without reckless intent causes injury, property damage or a fire, may be fined up to $250 in addition to established court costs. Persons who violate the ordinance after having been found guilty of a previous municipal infraction involving fireworks, are subject to a $600 fine, plus associated court costs.