Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports three recent arrests. Yesterday (Wednesday), 24-year old Jacob Craft, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Burglary in the 3rd Degree (Motor vehicle). Craft was being held in the Cass County Jail.

And, last Sunday, 33-year old Stephen Foote, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. That same day, 40-year old Ada Wilson, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. Foote and Wilson were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Crews with the City of Atlantic, civic groups and others will be out and about for three days next month, picking up junk you set by your curb and taking it to the landfill, at no charge. It’s all part of an effort spurred by comments made from Councilman Dana Halder in late April, with regard to the junk Halder saw in people’ yard and alleys. At that time, he urged citizens of the community to take some pride in their properties and the City, and take care of the junk.

In response, Mayor Dave Jones has coordinated with the Street and other Departments to pickup your junk, Wednesday through Friday, June 7^th, 8^th and 9^th. Items that will NOT be accepted include televisions and computer monitors, and tires. Home appliances and furniture are accepted, you just need to get them to your curb. Nick Harris, with the Young Professionals of Atlantic, is spearheading the effort, and looking for volunteers to help transfer items from the curb to the trucks.

Everyday trash needs to go with your contracted, curbside garbage service. Councilman Dana Halder said “If you don’t have an account with a trash man, you should have.” Mayor Jones warned of the consequences for those who violate the Ordinance with regard to junk on properties, once the 3-day cleanup period is over: He said they’re working on amending the Ordinance to reduce, after notice, the maximum clean-up time from 30-days to 10. After that, if the city has to clean up your property, there will be a $100 surcharge and $75 per hour for crews to take care of your trash.

Jones said that’s a lot more expensive that the typical sanitation contractor’s fee of about $22-24. He said the warning is meant to spur the “Habitual Offenders” into action. Jones reminded residents also to mow their lawns as soon as possible. Once the grass reaches 12 inches, the City will come out and mow it for you, but at a substantially higher rate than it would be if you hired a service or the neighbor kid to mow your lawn.

More information about the City Wide Clean-Up days will be made available, soon.

Here’s a reminder for veterans and anyone else seeking a job in the KJAN listening area: A Job Fair is being held today in Atlantic at Iowa Western Community College. It’s intended for employees affected by the loss of jobs announced late last month at Plastic Professionals in Atlantic, but anyone can attend. Officials with Iowa WorkForce Development say the Job Fair runs from Noon until 3-p.m. May 18th.  Veterans will be given preference and will be allowed in from 11-a.m. until Noon only, prior to any other job seekers.

Among the confirmed employers who will have representatives on-hand is: NSK/AKS; Menards; Conductix-Wampfler; Warren Distribution; Henningsen Construction; Mahle; Lisle Corp.; Atlantic Bottling Company and Avoca Specialty Care.

Tables will be available for you to complete applications, but if you have paper applications already in your hands, bring them with you. In addition to representatives from various companies on-hand to provide information and possibly conduct interviews, job seekers will have access to the IowaWORKS lab to complete online applications.

Two men from Montgomery County were arrested on separate charges Wednesday night. Red Oak Police arrested 29-year old Thomas James Delgado, of Red Oak, at around 11:30-p.m., for Domestic Assault. Delgado was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail, pending an initial court appearance.

And, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 24-year old Justin Lewis Marsden, of Red Oak, at around 10-p.m., for Violating a No Trespass Order. Marsden was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond. Deputies were assisted during the incident by Red Oak Police.

A crash in south-central Iowa Wednesday killed one teenager and injured two others.
The accident happened around 7:30 a.m. at a rural intersection in Decatur County. The State Patrol reports a truck driven by 16-year-old Logan Gilliland ran a stop sign and was struck by an SUV. Gilliland died in the crash — while his brother, a passenger in the truck — was badly injured. Fourteen-year-old Landon Gilliland was air-lifted to a Des Moines hospital. The driver of the SUV, 16-year-old Grace Martin, was injured and taken by ambulance to a hospital in Leon.

Logan Gilliland was a sophomore at Lamoni High School. His younger brother is an 8th grader and Martin is in 11th grade in the Lamoni School District.

(Radio Iowa)

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a man from Tennessee was sentenced Monday in Council Bluffs, to 10-years in prison on a meth-related charge. 42-year old Juan Beteme Amezquita, of Murfreesboro, TN, was sentenced to prison for possession with intent to distribute over 67 pounds of methamphetamine.

The charge resulted from an investigation stemming from a traffic stop that occurred in Council Bluffs. Methamphetamine was found in a trailer pulled by Beteme, and concealed in a newly purchased freezer and wrapped in plastic. Beteme admitted to picking up the methamphetamine in Los Angeles, California, and intended on delivering the methamphetamine to Minnesota.

In addition to the 120 month prison sentence, Beteme will be required to serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment. The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports a traffic stop early this (Thursday) morning in Randolph resulted in a man arrested on drug charges. The Fremont County K9 was deployed and indicated at the presence of narcotics. A search was conducted that led to the arrest of 56-year old Michael Landon, of Sidney. Landon faces charges that include Felony Possession of Methamphetamine and Unlawful Possession of Prescription Medication. He was brought to the Fremont County Law Enforcement Center and held on $6,000 bond.

Michael Landon (Fremont County S/O photo)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CDT

GUTHRIE CENTER, Iowa (AP) — Investigators say arson was the cause of a house fire in central Iowa that killed two girls and severely injured their uncle. Law enforcement officials said Wednesday that the girls, who were cousins, have been identified as 16-year-old Shakiah Cockerham and 12-year-old Melanie “Paige” Exline, both of Guthrie Center. Their uncle, 54 year old William Long III, suffered severe burns to his upper body in the Monday afternoon fire and was flown to an Omaha, Nebraska, hospital.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s governor says he’ll issue a disaster proclamation for two northern counties. Gov. Terry Branstad said the proclamation will be signed Thursday for Kossuth and Webster counties in response severe weather Tuesday. The action allows state resources to be used to aid in recovery efforts.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Strong storms are sending heavy rain, strong winds and hail across Iowa as most of the state remains under a tornado watch and some parts have seen tornado warnings. The storms Wednesday came a day after powerful thunderstorms blew through much of the state, damaging homes and other buildings and knocking down trees, limbs and power poles, leaving thousands of people without power.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Missouri Valley woman has been sentenced to nearly 16 years in federal prison in a sex abuse case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for southern Iowa says Trudy Thomsen was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty last year to transporting a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity. Prosecutors say Thomsen and her co-defendant, John Thomsen, used social media to convince a 14-year-old girl and another teen to come live with them in Missouri Valley, where one of the girls was sexually abused.

The Atlantic City Council, which usually takes the recommended lower bid on projects from contractors, moved away from that practice during their meeting Wednesday evening, and approved a bid that was slightly higher than the low bid (By around $35). Snyder and Associates Engineer Dave Sturm explained the infrastructure improvement projects, and recommended McCarthy Trenching, LLC. out of Avoca for the job, after speaking with Street Superintendent Derald Anderson.

Two bids were received, with McCarthy Trenching coming in at $27,100 and Stamp Construction, of Atlantic, at $27,135. Councilperson Ashley Hayes asked if the City has dealt with McCarthy before, to which Sturm replied, “Yes, numerous times.” Hayes thought that because the difference in bids was so small, the job should be handled by a local company. Snyder and Associates usually always recommends the lower bid, and Sturm they are a very reputable contractor.

He said Stamp hasn’t done a lot of underground work for the City in the past, but he has no issues working with that company. Councilman Chris Jimerson said owner Rob Stamp is definitely an individual who gives back to the community, and Councilman Halder agreed. Councilperson Kathy Somers suggested experience tells her they should go with the low bid, but the Council voted 4-3 against McCarthy and upon a motion and second vote approved Stamp Construction by a vote of 6-1, with Somers voting against.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council voted 6-to 1 against amending a City Ordinance to allow for certain types of Poultry to be raised within the City limits. Councilperson Hayes was the only vote in favor of amendment. And, the Council unanimously voted against allowing resident Jillian Scarf to apply for an exemption to the Code that would permit her to have two hens and one cockerel on her property. Before their vote to amend, the some members of the Council expressed their views on the matter, including Dana Halder. Halder said “It opens up something else for us to monitor, and that the City has enough things to do.”

The Council also voted to allow the sale of fireworks, and set the hours of use from Noon until Midnight on July 2nd, 3rd and 4th (the rules for New Year’s Eve and early New Year’s Day were unchanged from previous discussion). That was based on a recommendation from Atlantic Fire Chief Mark McNees. Fireworks are not to be used within 300 feet of a school or assisted living/care facilities, as a public safety aspect.
Sales of fireworks from tent vendors are not allowed until June 8th.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A 32-year-old Missouri Valley woman has been sentenced to nearly 16 years in federal prison in a sex abuse case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, says Trudy Thomsen was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty last year to transporting a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity.

Prosecutors say Thomsen met a 14-year-old girl while working at a group home in Arkansas. After leaving the group home job, Thomsen and her co-defendant, John Thomsen, used social media to convince the teen and another girl to come live with them in Missouri Valley. Prosecutors say the Thomsens engaged in various sexual acts with one of the girls.

John Thomsen was sentenced in January to nearly 20 years in federal prison.