Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope said Tuesday (today), that Jamie Behrends (RN), Director of Home and Community Based Services for Southwest Iowa Home Health providers, have been instrumental in helping the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office provide public safety to the citizens of Fremont County. Jaime and her team work on Emergency Preparedness Grants for local law enforcement. Today (Tuesday) Behrends presented the Sheriff 10 Ballistic Response Kits, and 10 Tourniquets for his deputies.

Pictured is Sheriff Kevin Aistrope and Director of Home and Community Based Services Jamie Behrends (RN).

The kits contain valuable first aid items to combat major wounds such as gunshots and major lacerations that may occur in active threat situations. Behrends was able to get a kit for each deputy on the Sheriff’s Office. Jaime Behrends and Southwest Iowa Home Health are also the ones who provided the AEDs last year that have played a vital role in service to the citizens. The AEDs alone have been used numerous times in life saving situations.

Sheriff Kevin Aistrope wants to thank Jaime and her amazing team for all their hard work in helping provide these services!!!!!

Officials with the Pottawatamie County Sheriff’s Office say a man was found dead in a vehicle that crashed into a home in Treynor, this morning. Chief Deputy Sheriff John Reynolds said more details will be released later this afternoon with regard to the incident that happened at around 8:15-a.m., where a pickup crashed into the residence at 101 N. Eyberg Street. Authorities had said earlier, that when deputies arrived on the scene, the man was deceased. The cause of death was uncertain, but may have been related to a medical issue, according to officials.

Des Moines – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the public library at 707 Iowa Ave., in Onawa, as a location for the wildlife rules public meeting on February 21. The meeting provides a setting for the DNR to listen to the public’s thoughts on hunting and trapping regulations for this fall. The 19 meeting sites include Altoona, Atlantic, Boone, Burlington, Calmar, Chariton, Council Bluffs, Creston, DeWitt, Knoxville, Lake View, Onawa, Ottumwa, Peosta, Sheldon, Solon, Spencer, Tripoli and Ventura. Complete locations are available online at www.iowadnr.gov

These meetings are part of the process for making rules in state government. The meeting is from 6 to 9 p.m. “Any rule changes must be discussed with Iowa’s citizens who might be impacted by the changes before the rule changes are proposed. The process helps ensure that rule changes serve the public’s wishes and do not impact Iowa’s economy,” said Todd Bishop, chief of the wildlife bureau. At each meeting DNR staff will facilitate a discussion about what went well last fall, what didn’t, and what changes hunters and trappers would like to see for this fall.

These discussions along with the data that the wildlife bureau collects on harvest and population numbers will be used to develop recommendations for any rule changes. Any changes must be approved by the Natural Resource Commission and then go back to the public for further comment before taking effect next fall. Any person attending the public meeting and has special requirements such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments should contact the DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.

An Audubon County woman, Monday, plead guilty to two counts of Child Endangerment, one resulting in serious injury, and a single count of Neglect or Abandonment of a Dependent Person, and will be sentenced April 23rd, at 1:30-p.m.  50-year old Samantha Kay Bailey, of Gray, had faced felony charges that included two counts of child endangerment – serious injury and two counts of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person.

She was arrested April 14th, 2017, following an incident at her home in Gray, that resulted in two children being flown to the hospital.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — A proposed plan to remove two dams across the Des Moines River in central Iowa could cost more than $4 million and be completed next winter. The Messenger reports that the proposal presented to the Fort Dodge City Council Monday calls for the removal of the Hydroelectric Dam and the Little Dam during the winter of 2018-19.

Wade Greiman is a project manager with engineering firm Snyder & Associates. He says the Hydroelectric Dam removal will cost about $3.6 million and the Little Dam removal will cost about $750,000. The dams would be replaced with structures to direct water and reduce stream bed erosion. The funding will be included in a $9 million general obligation bond issue proposal, which the council will consider on March 12.

The Iowa DNR is seeking public comment on proposed rules that will create two new general permits. The permits cover a variety of wastewater discharges to Iowa soils and streams. The DNR will hold three public hearings across the state in March, including one in Harlan. The session will take place Thursday, March 8th, beginning at 4-p.m., in the Harlan Public Library. DNR staff will present the latest information about proposed new requirements and take comments orally or in writing.

DNR plans to issue two new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permits known as General Permit #8 (GP8) and General Permit #9 (GP9). GP8 allows for discharges of hydrostatic test water (water used to test the integrity of a pipe or tank), underground storage tank ballast water (water used to weight a tank to facilitate underground installation), and water associated with installation, repair, and replacement of potable water lines. GP9 allows for discharges from dewatering associated with construction and small residential geothermal heating and cooling systems.

The DNR is proposing to include eligibility criteria and Best Management Practices. These will ensure that discharges will comply with water quality standards. Most permittees will be automatically authorized to discharge. Only a few higher-risk dischargers will need to submit a Notice of Intent. There is no fee for GP8 or GP9.

People may also file written comments on the proposed rulemaking on or before midnight on March 19th. Written comments or questions regarding the proposed rulemaking should be directed to Wendy Hieb, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, NPDES Section, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, Iowa 50309-0034; via fax at 515-725-8202; or via email at wendy.hieb@dnr.iowa.gov.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa City man accused of sexually assaulting numerous students and employees on the University of Iowa campus has been sent to prison. Court records say 35-year-old Adam Weinstein was sentenced Monday to seven years. He’d entered an Alford plea to assault with intent to commit injury and assault with intent to commit sexual abuse. In an Alford plea, a person doesn’t admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a likely conviction. Prosecutors dropped several other charges in exchange for Weinstein’s pleas.

Police say Weinstein sexually assaulted, groped and harassed at least eight women on the campus during a 15-hour period on Nov. 10, 2015. Police say the incidents took place at the university hospital, near residence halls and the law school.

A District Court Judge, Monday, threw out a Voluntary Manslaughter charge against a Red Oak man arrested in connection with a fatal shooting that took place last year. 39-year old Kevin Duane Staley, of Red Oak, whose trial was to have begun Monday, had earlier pleaded not guilty to shooting 27-year old Devin Alexander Davis, of Villisca, during the early morning hours of Oct. 11th, in Red Oak.

Red Oak Police Davis say suffered from a single gunshot wound to the chest.  Investigators determined that Staley and Davis “had been in a confrontation” earlier that morning, which resulted in Staley shooting Davis.

According to online court records, Judge James Heckerman granted Staley immunity under the “stand your ground” law approved by lawmakers in the 2017 Legislative Session. The judge also ordered prosecutors to cease prosecuting the case, and for Staley to be set free. Staley remained in the Page County Jail, however, on pending traffic charges.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A jury has ordered a prominent Iowa City landlord to pay $5.6 million to the widow of a maintenance worker who fell to his death. The Johnson County jury returned the verdict late Monday against Jeffrey Clark, the manager of Apartments Downtown, Inc. The case stems from the 2014 death of 40-year-old husband and father Bronson Ganka, a handyman for the apartments company.

Ganka fell from a ladder while trying to drill a hole above an awning to a downtown Iowa City business. He suffered serious injuries after landing on the sidewalk, went into a coma and died 11 days later. Ganka’s widow, Kara, alleged that Clark was grossly negligent because he told Ganka he couldn’t use an available boom truck that had safety guardrails to perform the work.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests have taken place. Arrested last Friday, were the following individuals: 41-year old A-J Miller, of Mount Ayr, who was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC), on a warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree. Miller was later released on $300 bond; 44-year old Patrick Albert Baker, of Lorimor, was also arrested Feb 9th at the Union County LEC, for two counts neglect of child, possession of controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, and failure to affix drug tax stamp. Baker was released from the Union County Jail on $10,000 bond.

And, arrested Feb. 8th in Union County, was: 26-year old Tyler Lee Brammer, of Thayer. Brammer was arrested at the Union County LEC on a Palo Alto County warrant for 2 counts sex offender-area/activity violation. Brammer was transferred to the Palo Alto County Jail where he is being held on $15,000 bond; and 22-year old Calli Marie Brumbaugh, of Thayer, was also arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Palo Alto County warrant for 2 counts child endangerment. Brumbaugh was transferred to the Palo Alto County Jail where she is being held on $6,500 bond.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also, an Adair County woman complained of pain and was transported by Law Enforcement to the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, following an accident Saturday night. 19-year old Jenna Marie Vanderpluym, of Greenfield, who was wearing her seat belt, was driving a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am southbound on Highway 25 at about 9:50-p.m., when she lost control of the car on the snow covered road. The vehicle crossed over into the northbound lane and entered a ditch. Damage to the car was estimated at $3,000. No citations were issued.