An investigation into an incident at a residence in Brayton, late Tuesday night, resulted in two arrests. 47-year old Jeffrey Allen White, Sr. and 53-year old Virginia Katherine Raysbrook, both of Brayton, were taken into custody at around 11:30-p.m., after a 9-1-1 call was received whereby a woman said she was being attacked in her home located in the 700 block of County T, in Brayton.

White was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, while Raysbrook was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both were transported to the Audubon County Jail and later released, after making an appearance before a magistrate. The incident remains under investigation.

Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department said today (Thursday), that Detectives with the Council Bluffs Police Department have completed the investigation into a carjacking incident that allegedly occurred on March 7th, 2017.

Investigators have determined the alleged victim, 26-year old Brittnie Holz, of Council Bluffs, provided several false statements to police during interviews after the incident. The investigation further revealed that Holz knew the identity of the male party involved and that no robbery had taken place.

On Tuesday, March 14th, Holz voluntarily came to the Police Station and was issued a criminal citation for reporting false information to police. The investigation into this incident is now closed as an unfounded report.

Brittnie Holz

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club is appealing to the Iowa Supreme Court its lawsuit challenging the Dakota Access Pipeline. In documents filed Thursday, the environmental group says the Iowa Utilities Board refused to consider whether the crude oil pipeline will promote public convenience and necessity, a requirement in Iowa law.

Sierra Club attorney Wallace Taylor says the utilities board did not discuss the need for, or benefits from, the service alleged to be provided Iowans by the oil pipeline which originates in the Bakken oil fields in northwest North Dakota and carries oil underground through South Dakota, Iowa and into southern Illinois.

The Supreme Court will be asked to review the public benefits of the pipeline to Iowans. A district court judge rejected the argument in February.

The Trevor Frederickson Foundation reports 2003 Atlantic High School graduate, Shawn O’Brien, is coming back to help the Atlantic Baseball program. O’Brien, who was an assistant baseball coach at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge for many years, is bringing his knowledge to Atlantic for a 5 week pitching clinic.

He’s set up programs with the Atlantic Little League and the Atlantic High School team to help youth from 4th grade up to the Trojans Varsity pitchers. O’Brien will stress the mechanics of pitching, pick off plays, arm strengthening drills, wind ups, stretch, and pitch placement.

Funds for the Foundation’s scholarships and other activities are raised at the annual T-Fred Memorial Golf Tournament. The 9th Annual T-Fred Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, August12th, 2017.

Pictured below: Grant Petty, of the Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund, presented a $500 check to Shawn O’Brien.

The Mills County Assessor escaped injury Monday, when the vehicle she was driving went out of control on an icy road. The Sheriff’s Office says 53-year old Christina Govig, of Red Oak, was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 7:25-a.m., and had started to cross the Highway 34 bridge just west of 295th Street, when her 1997 Chevy went out of control on the iced-over bridge surface. The car struck the bridge, causing property damage. There was no report on the dollar amount of damage to the vehicle or bridge structure.

Seven people have been arrested over the past couple of days, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 18-year old Shali Dawn and 24-year old William Ryan Corns, both of Glenwood, were arrested late Tuesday morning on warrants for Child Endangerment. Both were being held in the Mills County Jail on $5,000 bond, each.

Also arrested Tuesday, was 39-year old Janet Lynn Hernandez, of Malvern, for Driving Under Suspension, and 37-year old Jeffrey Wayne Greene, of Pacific Junction, who was arrested on a warrant for Probation Violation. Their bonds were set at $300 and $2,000, respectively.

26-year old Amanda Elizabeth, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Wednesday morning at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Probation Violation. Wednesday night, 39-year old Clinton Clark White, of Lenox, and 47-year old Tony Dean Fizer, of Creston, were arrested in Mills County. White was charged with Criminal Trespass and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, while Fizer faces charges that include Trespass and Possession of Contraband. Bond for White was set at $600. Fizer’s bond was set at $5,300.

A family altercation at a residence in Villisca Wednesday afternoon, resulted in the arrest of 18-year old Wyatt Deam Baldwin, of Villisca. Baldwin was taken into custody at around 3:10-p.m., for Domestic Assault. He was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held without bond, pending a court appearance.

This is national “Sunshine Week,” and it has nothing to do with Spring Break. Iowa Freedom of Information Council executive director, Randy Evans, says the week celebrates the important role open and accessible government has in our democracy. “The week is intended to sort of highlight the importance of transparency in our dealings the government. And it’s a time each year when we can kind of step back from the day-to-day routine and sort of take not of the importance that transparency represents,” Evans says.

He says there seems to be a change in politicians once they get elected. “Every government official goes into office speaking highly of the importance of transparency in the government’s dealings with people. And it’s not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue,” Evans says. “We find that once people get in there then they start seeing reasons why they ought not to let people in on what’s going on. Government actually belongs to the people. It doesn’t belong to the government officials.”

New forms of communication have had an impact on government transparency. He says the speed of information now makes it harder for the public to know what is accurate and what is rumor. “But it also makes it harder for the government to sort of manage the news — because there are lots of sources of information,” Evans says.

Evans says it seems cases of government trying to shut out the public come before the Freedom of Information Council weekly. He cites the recent decision by the West Des Moines City Council on supporting a bill dealing with the Des Moines Waterworks as an example. “The decision on whether West Des Moines was going to support or oppose that was made without having a public meeting. The city manager polled the council members by phone, cutting the public out on the whole chance for the public to express their opinions,” Evans says. “And there are examples of that routinely.”

Evans says Iowa is fortunate that a minority of public officials try to get around the sunshine rules. “By and large there are lots of citizens around the state who are serving on boards and councils and commissions whose hearts are in the right place. They are trying to find out what is required of them, what is expected,” according to Evans.

Evans says the Iowa Freedom of Information Council is a resource for the public to find out about open records and open meetings. He says you can find a lot of information on their website.

(Radio Iowa)

More insurance plans would be required to cover some of the specialized treatment available for children with autism if a bill that cleared the House Wednesday becomes law. The coverage would be required in family insurance policies for ALL government workers in Iowa as well as for those who work in Iowa businesses with at least 50 employees. Representative Andy McKean, a Republican from Anamosa, delivered an emotional thank you to those who worked on the legislation. “Our oldest daughter is autistic,” McKean said. “…I can simply say that my wife and I would have very much wished this legislation was in effect back many years ago.”

Representative Chris Hall, a Democrat from Sioux City, says STATE GOVERNMENT employees have had this kind of coverage for their children for years. “It has been the parents that have not been able to access that form of treatment that have really been left out,” Hall says.

Experts say “applied behavior analysis” can help youngsters who’ve been diagnosed with autism modify their behavior and improve their communication skills. Representative Kirsten Running-Marquardt, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says in a year of conflict, this bill is a bipartisan highlight. “It is not perfect, but gives hope for middle class families who face autism and will now have an opportunity to have health care coverage for this critical treatment,” she said.

Representative Dave Heaton, a Republican from Mount Pleasant, has been trying for years to find consensus with the insurance industry on this bill. “It’s been a long haul,” Heaton says. “There’s been a tremendous amount of anxiety out there.” The bill passed the House unanimously. It now goes to the Iowa Senate for consideration.

(Radio Iowa)

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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