(Updated 7/26 6:45-a.m.) — A congressman says a truck that carried dozens of immigrants, 10 of whom died, passed through a Border Patrol checkpoint around two hours before it was discovered in the parking lot of a San Antonio, Texas Walmart. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he had been informed by law enforcement that the truck driven by James Matthew Bradley Jr. cleared the Interstate 35 checkpoint north of Laredo around 10 p.m. Saturday. Police arrived at the Walmart parking lot at 12:23 a.m. Sunday. Cuellar said he didn’t know whether immigrants crossing into the United States illegally were loaded into the truck before or after it crossed the checkpoint. The station is 29 miles north of the border, along the interstate that links Laredo and San Antonio and is a primary north-south route in the United States. It’s equipped with license plate readers and dogs that sniff vehicles heading north.

Court records show James Bradley, Jr., had been cited repeatedly for violating federal motor carrier safety regulations in Iowa dating back to 1995. At least two of the tickets were for logging more hours than allowed.  His most recent infraction came in April 2013. He was ticketed for violating a rule that bars truckers from driving longer than 14 hours without a break. The citation shows that he was driving for Pyle Transportation. He was fined $127.50. The records show Bradley also received tickets for violations of federal safety rules following stops or inspections in 2011, 2010 and 1995. They included a “maximum hours of service violation” for driving too much without rest in 2010.

And, the state of Florida had suspended commercial driving privileges for a truck driver three months before he was arrested for driving a tractor-trailer so hot and so crammed with immigrants that 10 people died. Alexis Bakofsky, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, confirmed Tuesday that the agency disqualified James Matthew Bradley Jr.’s commercial driving privileges in April when he failed to file an updated medical card. Federal law requires commercial drivers supply the card to show they are physically fit for the road. Bradley’s driving record shows he was issued a commercial driver’s license in Florida in 2004. Bakofsky confirmed the Florida license was disqualified indefinitely. Bakofsky also says it would have been illegal for him to have held a second license from another state.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of a Red Oak man on Tuesday after responding to a 911 hang-up that was believed to be a possible domestic assault. At 11:50am officers responded to the call location at 1800 E Summit Street.  After investigation Officers arrested 23-year-old Zachary Nathan Gobert, of Red Oak, for Violation of a Protective Order. He was also charged with Obstruction of Emergency Communications.  Gobert was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on no bond. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office assisted Red Oak Police at the scene.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says two Nebraska hunters were charged by state park Rangers, after a tip was reported by a fisherman, of shots fired at Lake Manawa, in Pottawattamie County. Officials say 37-year old Sein Ram and 17-year old Gungsar Yungtang, both of Omaha, face numerous charges associated with the incident.

The men were initially cited for hunting by artificial light, hunting without a non-resident hunting license and illegal attempt to take game (Rabbits), after their vehicle was pulled over at around 12:52-a.m. July 22nd. The men admitted to hunting rabbits using a flash light. a 22-caliber rifle, ammunition and flash light were seized during the traffic stop.

Upon further investigation of the scene, a deceased female whitetail deer was found with multiple gunshot wounds. The DNR found a blood trail consistent with being shot from the roadway, and a .22 caliber bullet was recovered from the deer carcass.

Iowa DNR park rangers met with Ram later that day, and charged him with Failure to have a non-resident antlerless deer license, abandonment of dead or injured wildlife, illegal method of take, shooting a firearm over a roadway, and trespassing. Ram also received warnings for prohibited hunting near an occupied building, refusal to exhibit catch to an officer, shooting a deer out of season, use of a motor vehicle for deer hunting, and manner of conveyance for having a loaded weapon in a vehicle.

Yungtang was fined $450, and Ram was fined $3,808. The DNR encouraged the public to report any suspicious activity through the DNR Turn In Poachers (TIP) hotline, at 1-800-532-2020.

In a follow-up to our report on June 29th, Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson today (Tuesday), said 50-year old Rex McDermott, of Atlantic, was arrested July 17th, on charges of OWI/2nd offense, and Driving While License Denied or Revoked. The charges are the result of an investigation into a UTV accident that occurred June 29th. McDermott was seriously injured during the incident. He was later taken into custody by Sheriff’s Deputies and transported to the Cass County Jail. Also arrested July 17th, was 54-year old Larry Will, of Atlantic. Will was charged with OWI and Driving While License Denied or revoked. He was also booked into the Cass County Jail.

On July 20th, Atlantic Police arrested 37-year old Dicey Christensen, of Atlantic, on a Cass County warrant for Violation of Probation. And, 52-year old Randall Conry, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication/3rd or subsequent offense.

And, last Saturday, 26-year old Mark Fredericksen, of Atlantic, was arrested by Atlantic Police, on a Cass County warrant for Gathering where controlled substances are used. Each of the subjects mentioned were booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports a Pottawattamie County man was arrested Sunday night. 48-year old Randy Rex Foster, of Oakland, was taken into custody at around 7:30-p.m. for OWI/2nd offense. He was also cited for speeding, and Failure to provide proof of registration. Foster was brought to the Shelby County Jail without incident, and posted bond later that morning with a pending court date setup for July 25th 2017.

(Atlantic) Healthy Cass County is a community-focused network to promote the health and well-being of Cass County residents. Along with our larger coalition meeting, we have five steering committees that meet in smaller teams to accomplish goals aligned with our Community Health Improvement Plan. Our “Promoting Healthy Lifestyles” steering committee addresses a broad range of topics related to health.  One of the plans of the Healthy Lifestyles committee is to implement three of the “Blue Zones Power 9 Strategies.”

These strategies have been researched throughout the world and have been shown to lead to longer, healthier, happier lives. That’s exactly what Healthy Cass County wants to see in our communities as well! Three of the strategies we are currently focused on are Move Naturally, Eat Wisely and Family First.  With Atlantic Parks and Recreation represented on the Healthy Lifestyles committee, we are reminded of the endless opportunities we have to “Move Naturally” and put our “Family First” as we enjoy our beautiful outdoor spaces in Cass County, especially surrounding Atlantic.    

·         Beat the heat by swimming at Sunnyside Pool

·         Take a walk with your family at Schildberg’s Recreation Area

·         Go for a weekend bike ride on the T-Bone trail

·         Let your dog run loose at the Buck Creek Dog Park

·         Play a round of disc golf at Sunnyside, it’s one of the best courses in Iowa

·         Enjoy the beautiful native prairie that surrounds you along the AMU Well Field Trails

·         Cast a line at one of our many county lakes or Schildberg’s Recreation Area.

Don’t forget to join for these fun-filled activities brought to us by Atlantic Parks and Recreation:

·         Sunnyside Pool Party on July 27th and August 2nd; Back to School Party date TBD in August

·         Movie in the Park on August 11th at Kiddie Corral. Activities starting at 7:00pm with the movie beginning at 8:15pm

These are just a few ideas to help you “Move Naturally” and put your “Family First.” Watch for future articles promoting health and well-being from Healthy Cass County. As always, if you’d like to be part of Healthy Cass County, call 712-243-7552, for monthly meeting locations. All are welcome to attend!

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a man convicted of robbery has walked away from the state work release center in Des Moines. The Iowa Corrections Department said in a news release Tuesday that 67-year-old Clarence Willis left the Fort Des Moines Residential Facility at 5:15 p.m. Monday. The department says Willis was transferred to the facility on Feb. 28.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A national report has found that Iowa is lagging behind much of the U.S. in foreign language instruction for K-12 students. The Des Moines Register reports the study was conducted by the American Councils for International Education and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. It says slightly more than 15 percent of Iowa’s K-12 students were enrolled in a foreign language course for the 2014-15 academic year. Iowa ranked 35th out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia for foreign language instruction.

Jason Noble is president of the Iowa World Language Association. He says larger school districts can typically offer more foreign language options, which creates a rural-urban divide. In Iowa, teacher shortages and budget issues have forced some districts to cut programs in recent years.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections said today (Tuesday), at at approximately 6:28-p.m. Wednesday, July 19th,  a staff member at the Clarinda Correctional Facility was assaulted by Kelby Klicker, an inmate at the facility. The staff member was assessed at the local community hospital, received treatment, and was then released.

Authorities say Klicker is serving time for burglary, assault on peace officer & others, eluding, and OWI out of Wapello County.  His sentence began on May 15th, 2017.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety, which includes the Division of Administrative Services, Investigative Operations Division and Division of the Iowa State Patrol, is scheduled for an on-site assessment as part of a voluntary program to achieve accreditation by verifying it meets internationally recognized professional law enforcement standards.

Administered by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (C.A.L.E.A.), the accreditation program requires agencies to comply with state-of-the art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations, and support services.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the public are invited to offer comments through a public information call-in session Monday, July 31, 2017, between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM.  Interested parties should call (515) 314-9898 to participate.  Telephone comments are limited to ten minutes, and must address the agency’s ability to comply with C.A.L.E.A.’s standards.  To obtain more information about C.A.L.E.A. you may visit their website at www.calea.org.

After the call-in session there will be a Public Hearing Session beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the Public Meeting room located at the Oran Pape State Office Building, located at 215 East 7th Street Des Moines, 50319. If you wish Information about C.A.L.E.A.’s standards, you may contact Department of Public Safety Accreditation Managers Director Charis Paulson, 515-725-6277 or Major Todd Misel, 515-725-6286.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s ability to meet standards for accreditation may send them to:  Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (C.A.L.E.A.), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155 or www.calea.org.