DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Chicken salad contaminated with salmonella bacteria made by an Iowa food processing company and distributed by Fareway Stores has sickened 265 people in eight states and caused one death in Iowa. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the outbreak which sickened people from early January through mid-March appears to have ended.

Food safety attorney Bill Marler of Seattle says he and Iowa lawyer Steve Wandro represent 48 people filing lawsuits against Triple T Specialty Meats of Ackley, Iowa, which made the chicken salad and Fareway, based in Boone, Iowa.

The CDC says 240 were sickened in Iowa and one person died. Illinois reported 10 cases. Other states included Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

A traffic stop conducted on a vehicle at around 4-a.m. Saturday, in Mills County, resulted in two men being arrested on drug charges. The incident happened on Interstate 29, near Bunge Road. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the driver of the vehicle, 47-year old Lonnie Kent Ritchison, Jr., of Minden, and his passenger, 45-year old Tommy Lee Pounds, Jr., of Omaha, were arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found inside the vehicle. Both men were transported to the Mills County Jail, where. Ritchison, Jr. also faces charges of Failure to Obey a Stop sign and Yield Right-of-way, as well as Driving Under Suspension. Pounds was being held in the  was being held in the Jail on a $1,300 bond.

In other news, Mills County Deputies arrested 18-year old Faith Leeann Clemmons, of Emerson, Friday morning, for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $1,300. 45-year old Matthew Theodore Paulsrud, of Sioux City, was arrested Saturday evening in Mills County, on a warrant out of Woodbury County, for Failure to Appear on a Driving While License Denied or Revoked charge, and Violation of Parole. His bond was set at $3,600.

40-year old Jose Placido Ledesma, of Omaha, was arrested Sunday afternoon, for being a Fugitive from Justice. He was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond. 42-year old Joshua Mitchell Arban, of Peru, NE., was arrested just before 3-a.m Sunday, in Mills County, for Carrying a weapon and Manner of Conveyance. His bond was $2,000. And, at around 1:50-a.m. Monday (today), 54-year old Jess Steven Pueke, of Mitchell, SD, was arrested in Mills County for speeding, and OWI/1st offense.

A Pottawattamie County man was arrested Monday morning in Fremont County, for allegedly stealing a semi. 49-year old John Andrew Pehanich, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Theft in the 1st Degree, and Driving Under Suspension, with additional charges pending.

John Pehanich

The incident leading up to his arrest began just before 9:30-a.m., when deputies with the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the area of Interstate 29 for a report of a semi, stolen out of Omaha, being driven south on the Interstate. Deputies observed the vehicle being driven eastbound on 155th Street from the Thurman exit.  They located the vehicle abandoned on Martha Street in Thurman and K9 “Roby” was deployed in the area.

Witnesses advised a male was seen walking from the area of the semi near the Thurman park.  Law enforcement along with a K9 Roby appended the suspect later identified as Pehanich, near a residence in that area. The Mills County K9 Unit, Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa Motor Vehicle Enforcement assisted the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office with the call.

Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office report, that at around 6:45-a.m today (Monday), Deputies were dispatched to 30907 Coldwater Avenue where a resident reporting an unknown male subject in their home.  The reporting party reported seeing a male with long hair, dressed in a black hoodie.

Deputies arrived in the area just before 7-a.m.  The area was checked with assistance from the Council Bluffs Police Department’s K9 unit.  Nothing was found as a result of the search, however.  Investigators were called to process the residence and area for evidence.

During the investigation, a separate incident was reported in a different jurisdiction.  A male subject was arrested as a result of that incident.  It is believed that male subject was responsible for the incident on Coldwater Avenue. At this time, officials believe that the incident was a random act, and that the male subject responsible has been taken into custody.  Since no criminal charges have been filed in Pottawattamie County, authorities have not released the male subjects’ name.  When/if charges are filed in Pottawattamie County, the man’s name will be made available to the media.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Council Bluffs Police Department, Iowa State Patrol and Pottawattamie County Conservation. The investigation is on-going.

In an update to our report over the weekend, Council Bluffs Police report 16-year old Sunni Sigmund- Johnson, who left home March 28th, and had not returned, was located at around 9:15-a.m. Today (Monday). Authorities say she was in good health, and returned to family members. No additional information was provided.

Sunni

OKOBOJI, Iowa (AP) — A city councilman in northwest Iowa says he’s contemplating leaving his post because he’s been charged with driving while under the influence. Court records say 59-year-old Bill Huse also is charged with possession of a dangerous weapon while under the influence. Okoboji police arrested Huse around 2 a.m. Sunday.

Huse said today (Monday), that he’s “very distraught about the whole situation” and is thinking about resigning from the Milford City Council. He called the situation “an embarrassment to the city.”
Huse also said he didn’t know yet how he’ll plead to the charges. Court records don’t list a date for his next hearing.

A woman from Nebraska was arrested a little before 2-a.m. Sunday, on drug and alcohol charges. 28-year old Malina Elizabeth King, of Omaha, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and Possession of Drug paraphernalia (A glass meth pipe), after a Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to 22840 Jasmine Lane, to investigate a car that was on private property with its lights on and running. King was booked into the Pott. County Jail. And, 26-year old Anthony David Dean Nelson, of Crescent, was arrested today (Monday), at around 12:45-a.m., for Assault with Injury.  The victim, a 40-year old male from Crescent, suffered apparent, minor injuries during the incident, which took place at the Aeroplane Inn, located at 28935 Old Lincoln Highway.

Spring is in the air, and plans are under way for gardening projects in Cass County. Local groups planning beautification, community gardening or education programs will again be eligible for assistance from the Cass County Master Gardeners. The group is offering grant money to be used in the 2018 growing season, to encourage gardening to grow food for education or donation, and/or improve local communities. The money may also be used for gardening education purposes. The Cass County Master Gardener Memorial Grants are offered in remembrance of the many years of service to the community provided by long-time Master Gardener volunteers who have passed.

Any Cass County not-for-profit group may apply. Schools, churches, libraries, 4-H clubs, Scouts, or other organizations/individuals working to improving their communities can apply for money to begin or improve gardens or landscaping for community benefit, or to provide education for their members or the public. To ensure the money is helping a wide variety of community organizations, those who were funded by 2017 grants will not be eligible to apply in 2018. Each grant has a maximum value of $300. Applications must include plans for teamwork and sustainability. Consideration for the environment is also an important factor in selection.

Applications must be received by Tuesday, April 24 for consideration. They may be submitted by mail or email. Grant recipients will be informed of their selection by May 1. For more information, or with questions, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132, email keolson@iastate.edu, or stop by the Extension Office at 805 W. 10th St in Atlantic. You may also contact Master Gardener Donna Reimers. Application forms can be picked up at the Extension Office, or printed from the Cass County Extension website- www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.

The Master Gardener program trains volunteers to develop their knowledge and skills in horticulture. These volunteers then give back to their communities through gardening service and education. The program is available in all 50 states and Canada through land grant university Extension programs such as Iowa State University Extension. Education courses are available throughout Iowa on a regular basis. For more information on the program, contact Cass County Extension Program Coordinator Kate Olson, at 712-243-1132 or keolson@iastate.edu.

The Cass County, Iowa Master Gardeners (CCMG) are offering a $1,000 scholarship, with applications due April 27. This scholarship is available to students who are graduating seniors or graduates of any of the following Iowa school districts, in which currently reside members of CCMG: Atlantic, Audubon, AHSTW, Clarinda, CAM, Exira-EHK, Griswold, Harlan, Red Oak or Riverside. The goal of the Master Gardener program is to support horticulture education and community service. CCMG members provide many hours of volunteer service in their communities. Accordingly, this scholarship is intended to provide post-secondary funds to individuals who are studying, or intend to pursue a career in, a horticulture-related field. The scholarship winner will be selected based upon academic success, history of community service, and career goals. Demonstration of interest and experience in horticulture will be very helpful.

The application form is available through the high school guidance departments, or on the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass/. Applications should be submitted to the Cass County Extension Office, 805 W 10th St, Atlantic, Iowa 50022, or emailed to keolson@iastate.edu.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials say the Omaha veterans hospital was rated in the top 10 percent nationwide after a surprise inspection. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the Department of Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System achieved a top five-star rating. That’s up from a three-star rating in 2015. A newly released report says the system was among the 10 best in two categories: speedy access to specialty care and low rate of readmission for the same problem within 30 days. It trailed other VA hospitals and systems in the turnover rate of registered nurses and mental health coverage in rural areas.
The audit didn’t cover unauthorized waiting lists for psychotherapy treatments at the Omaha hospital or for certain eye exams, which were discovered by Nebraska-Western Iowa VA officials last year.