The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports six arrests took place over the past week. On Tuesday, Feb. 20th: 28-year old Anthony Gerome Moore, of Tampa, FL, was arrested on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Theft 2nd Degree. Moore was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond. And, 18-year old Timothy Dethlef Asmus, of Audubon, was arrested on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Theft 4th Degree. Asmus was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $1,000 bond.

Last Friday (February 16th), Deputies in Cass County arrested 20-year old Shelby Lynn Brusman, of Bagley, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Brusman was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $25,000 bond.

And, there were three arrests in Cass County on Feb. 15th: 23-year old Samantha Kim Jensen, of Atlantic, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Jensen was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $25,000 bond; 33-year old Ehren Michael Mardesen, of Anita, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Mardesen was taken to the Cass County Jail where he also remains held on $25,000 bond; and, 33-year old Miles Blake Cooley, of Anita, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation and an additional charge of Possession of Marijuana 3rd/Subsequent (Aggravated). Cooley was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released the following day on $2,000 bond.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa congressman has said in a sworn statement that a company he failed to disclose wasn’t “doing business” in 2016, despite evidence to the contrary. In an amended disclosure made public Thursday, Rep. Rod Blum lists himself as the majority shareholder and director of Tin Moon Corp. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Blum violated House rules by failing to list his ties to Tin Moon earlier.

Blum writes in the amendment that his failure to disclose was an oversight because Tin Moon was “basically worth less than $1,000 and not doing business in 2016.” Tin Moon was incorporated and registered its website in May 2016. In August 2016, YouTube user “rodblum” uploaded a customer testimonial claiming Tin Moon saved her company thousands of dollars. One of Blum’s congressional aides appeared in a similar testimonial weeks later.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa lawmakers have faced pressure to improve the state’s privatized Medicaid program amid reports of problems, but that hasn’t translated into a lot of related legislation so far this session. Just a handful of bills that would make selective changes to the health care program for the poor and disabled advanced beyond a legislative deadline last week. The proposals don’t address key issues surrounding reports of reduced services and delayed reimbursements to health care providers. It’s also unclear if the bills have enough support in the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Separately, a state agency that oversees the private insurance companies that run Medicaid has offered few details about how it’s addressing problems. The agency has highlighted upcoming private meetings that will include health care providers and the insurance companies.

The Atlantic Police Department reports 23-year old Bryce Baker, of Atlantic, was arrested Wednesday, on Cass County warrants for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense, and Domestic Abuse Assault by impeding air or blood flow, causing bodily injury. And, 36-year old Sharlene Killion, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Violation of Probation. Both subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports that Wednesday afternoon, the Fremont County Sheriffs Office received a call from Otoe County Sheriffs Office in Nebraska, that there was an active vehicle pursuit crossing over into Fremont County, Iowa. Deputies from Otoe County continued to pursue the vehicle that was driven by 36 year old Brandon Scott Neumeister, of Nebraska City, NE. Neumeister was wanted by Nebraska authorities for a Felony parole violation.

Neumeister led deputies on a chase from Nebraska through Fremont County to include the state park. The pursuit continued into Hamburg city limits where 27 year old Brittany Rose Alexander also of Nebraska City, jumped from the vehicle and fled on foot. Deputies continued to pursue Neumeister until he rolled his truck after driving through a citizens back yard, as the citizen was outside. Neumeister then tried to flee on foot before a Fremont County K9 apprehended him for not complying with commands.

Neumeister was transported to jail after refusing medical treatment on scene and later transferred to the hospital once at the jail, for injuries from the dog bite and the wreck of his vehicle. Brittany Alexander was apprehended a short time later by the Iowa State Patrol, in the area where she fled from the vehicle. Both parties are awaiting their initial appearance before a magistrate. The are facing multiple charges. Neumeister will also be held on his Nebraska parole warrant until his Iowa charges are concluded.

Sheriff Aistrope would also like to express his gratitude to citizens in Hamburg during the pursuit for their help directing deputies towards the suspects.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Republican-led Iowa Senate panel has given preliminary approval to a bill that would make sweeping changes to the state’s tax system.
Republicans in a five-member Senate subcommittee agreed Thursday morning to sign off on the legislation, which GOP lawmakers say would cut more than $1 billion annually in taxes. A tax writing committee is expected to approve the bill in the afternoon, a little over 24 hours after it was first made public.

A key Senate Republican says the bill could have a full vote in the chamber next week.

The legislation would reduce corporate and individual income taxes and phase out some tax credits. There are multiple other provisions in the roughly 130-page bill.
GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds has introduced her own tax plan that she says would cut $1.7 billion in taxes over several years. Her plan doesn’t cut corporate tax rates.

A wide section of Iowa was glazed in a thick coating of ice on Tuesday and today’s (Thursday) forecast calls for more of the same — with an extra helping of snow. Meteorologist Alex Krull, at the National Weather Service office in metro Des Moines, says the temperature is hovering right around 32 degrees so some areas of the state are seeing rain while others have freezing rain, sleet or snow. “Up near the Iowa-Minnesota border is where we’re expecting probably two to two-and-a-half inches of snow,” Krull says. “We did have one band that moved through the Fort Dodge area this morning where we had reports of up to three-and-a-half inches of snow. That caught us off-guard just a little bit.”

Central and southern Iowa will see less snow and more rain, then freezing rain as the temperatures fluctuate. Much like on Tuesday, Krull says the ice could cause serious problems ranging from dangerously-slick roads to tree damage that leads to power outages. “We’re expecting the most ice accumulation to be along a line from Atlantic up to Ames to just west of Waterloo,” Krull says. “That’s where we’re expecting anywhere from about five-hundreds of an inch to a tenth of an inch.”

It’s been a little warmer in eastern Iowa but all of the rain and melting snow in recent days has led to flooding in some areas. Krull says it appears most of the precipitation falling in the eastern third of the state today will be in the frozen form, not rain. “They might see a little bit, so it doesn’t look like they’re going to get as heavy a rain showers as they had towards the beginning of the week,” Krull says. “The National Weather Service in Davenport has been really busy with flooding, with their coverage area in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. The rain doesn’t help out the situation but it doesn’t look like it’s going to greatly augment it.”

The heaviest flooding at the moment is along the Maquoketa River near DeWitt in Clinton County. Keep up to date with the ever-changing forecast on kjan, our social media outlets and apps.

(Radio Iowa)

The Audubon School Board met Wednesday evening at the High School. During their session, they received the Audubon Education Association’s initial bargaining proposal, which, Superintendent Brett Gibbs said most people are probably wondering what the teachers were asking for, as far as a salary increase is concerned. He said they’re asking for a 3.58% total package increase. That would include any increase in insurance and an aging of the schedule. Some of the increase would be absorbed however, by IPERS increased costs. They also asked for a couple of contract language changes having to do with accumulation of personal days and sick leave days for immediate family.

A second public meeting will be held in the next couple of weeks, for the Board’s opening offer. The Audubon School Board also held a Public Hearing with regard to the FY 2019 School Calendar. The Board approved the Calendar, as proposed. Gibbs said it’s nearly identical to the calendar they’re using this year. 1^st semester will end after Christmas, and if there are no snow days, they should be done by May 21, 2019. The calendar will be on the District’s website within a couple of weeks.

And, the Board approved the resignation of 5^th Grade Teacher Lacey Degener. Degener and her husband have job opportunities in eastern Iowa, which will require her family to move. Gibbs said they hate to see her go after 5-years, but wishes them the “Best of Luck,” none-the-less. The Board also discussed, but took no action on an Early Retirement Policy for school administrators.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputies and Council Bluffs Police coordinated their efforts and arrested a man wanted on a warrant for Domestic Abuse. Narong Saysanavong, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody at around 6:25-p.m. Wednesday. The was wanted on the warrant and a court ordered committal. Deputies and Bluffs Police staged their vehicles near the man’s home and planned to take him into custody as he was entering his vehicle outside of his residence.

Soon after he left in his car, Saysanavong was pulled over and taken into custody. Inside his vehicle, authorities found in the glove box, an unloaded .40-caliber Glock handgun, and two magazines for the gun. One magazine held 10 rounds, the other 12.  The weapon and ammunition were seized into evidence.

DEWITT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an eastern Iowa river has topped flood stage, possibly sending water into nearby homes and businesses. The National Weather Service said Thursday morning that the Wapsipinicon River near DeWitt is experiencing moderate flooding, with water reaching more than a foot above flood stage.

Weather service meteorologist Mike McClure told The Des Moines Register that the heavy rain the area received over the past 48 hours combined with melting snow to run into creeks and streams feeding the river. That runoff is increased because ground remains frozen in some spots. McClure says flooding in the area is common and says many of the residents there have raised their homes.

The river is expected to return below flood stage sometime Saturday.