DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A new report released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says an April flood barrier breach in downtown Davenport was caused by pressure from the swollen Mississippi River shifting a barrier with slick plastic sheeting under it.

The report, released Tuesday to Davenport city officials, says the sheeting became slick in the wet conditions, and a segment of the barrier overturned.

City officials say the public works department will make changes to its flood plan based on the report, including making changes to plastic sheeting installation and double-stacking flood barriers when the river height is forecast to reach 20 feet or higher.

Officials in the eastern Iowa city had already announced plans to build a bigger flood barrier in the wake of the April breach that sent floodwaters rushing into downtown streets.

Several arrests have taken place in Mills County over a little more than the past week. Sheriff’s officials said today (Tuesday), four people were arrested on Theft and or Burglary charges. 32-year old Shaw Aaron Peterson and 36-year old Misty Bea Petterson, both of Glenwood, were arrested July 9th at the Mills County Jail, for Theft in the 3rd Degree. Their bonds were set at $2,000 each.

Daniel Lee Walling II, was arrested at the Mills County Jail the following day, for Theft in the 2nd and 4th degrees, and Burglary in the 3rd. His bond was set at $11,000. And, on July 12th, 33-year old Eugene Edgar Stillmock, of LaVista, NE., was arrested in Mills County for Burglary in the 3rd, Theft in the 2nd & Felon in Possession of a Firearm. His bond was set at $15,000.

Four people were also arrested on warrants: On July 8th, 24-year old Kenneth Wayne Gerner, of Bellevue, NE, and 39-year old Matthew Jospeh Tyson, of Pacific Junction, were arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. Gerner was wanted for OWI/1st offense. Tyson was wanted for Violation of Parole; On July 9th, 51-year old John Merrill Meyers, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Probation Violation warrant; On July 11th, 28-year old Cody Keen Blystone, of Red Oak, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail on Mills County warrants for two counts of Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $20,000.

The sheriff’s office reports also, 58-year old Steven Craig Needham, and 40-year old Christina Mae Robbins, both of Glenwood, were arrested July 12th on charges of Interference with Official Acts. That same day, 28-year old Chelsey Kay Bridges, of Elmwood, NE., was arrested for Aiding and Abetting, and for being a Fugitive from Justice.

There were also several OWI-related arrests in Mills County: 21-year old Michaela Cheyenne Goodman, of Malvern, was arrested July 8th for OWI/1st offense; On July 9th, 22-year old Mason Lewis Boucher, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/1st and Operating a non-registered vehicle; On July 12th, 19-year old Kaylee Marie Ruiz, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for OWI/1st…25-year old Lindsey Sue Rhodes, of Red Oak, was arrested at the Sheriff’s Office for OWI/1st offense; On the 13th, 29-year old Vincente Velasquez-Hernandez, of Fremont, NE, was arrested for OWI/1st, no valid driver’s license & Failure to maintain control;.

And, on July 14th, 41-year old Jeremy Lynn Martin, of Omaha, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension, Speeding and Failure to provide (proof of insurance).

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 21-year old Emily Darrow, of Omaha, was arrested at around 2:30-p.m. Tuesday (today), on a Montgomery County warrant. Darrow was arrested for Probation Violation, and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on July 16, 2019, Swann Michelle Thomas, age 37, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Thomas was sentenced to 100 months in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release of four years.

On September 5, 2018, a Council Bluffs police officer on patrol saw Thomas in a vehicle and knew she had an active warrant for a parole violation. The officer approached the car and observed a Crown Royal bag on the driver’s side of the vehicle that contained a pipe and approximately 21.5 grams of methamphetamine.

The case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – United States Attorney Marc Krickbaum announced on July 16, 2019, Devin Lee Graham, age 25, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. Graham was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release of three years.

On September 13, 2018, Devin Graham was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for traffic violations. The officer smelled marijuana and performed a search of the vehicle. Officers located a backpack containing a small amount of controlled substances, drug paraphernalia and a loaded firearm. Graham admitted the backpack belonged to him. Graham is prohibited from possessing firearms as he has two prior felony convictions for possession with intent to deliver marijuana in Pottawattamie County, Iowa District Court.

The case was investigated by the Council Bluffs Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Atlantic, IA – The July session of Healthy U will be held Tuesday, July 23, 2019, at Cass County Health System. The program, Fad Diet Dilemma will be presented by Beth Olsen, MS, RD, LD, Director of Public Health. Olsen will cover popular fad diets and tips to develop a healthy lifestyle.

Beth Olsen, MS, RD, LD, Director of Public Health

Healthy U will be offered at noon on Tuesday, July 23. Healthy U is a free educational series at Cass County Health System held monthly in Conference Room 2. The public is invited and welcome to attend, but reservations are required as a meal is provided for all attendees. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Emails show that the director of the Iowa Department of Human Services had an obsession with the late rapper Tupac Shakur during a 2-year tenure before the governor requested his resignation last month. Jerry Foxhoven hosted weekly “Tupac Fridays” to listen to music in his office. He sent Tupac lyrics about love and change to inspire employees and he marked his own 65th birthday with Tupac-themed cookies.

While some employees praised his Tupac fixation, one complained to lawmakers last year. Reynolds surprised Foxhoven by telling him to resign one day after Foxhoven had emailed his employees asking them to celebrate Tupac’s birthday.

A Reynolds spokesman says “a lot of factors” went into the decision to seek Foxhoven’s resignation.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A July 30 trial starting date has been scheduled for two men accused of beating to death a man at a Burlington apartment complex. Des Moines County District Court records say Majestic Malone and Markell Price have pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping. They’re accused of killing Edward Breuer on March 17.
A trial date has not yet been set for a third defendant, Stanley Baldwin, who’s charged with willful injury.

Court documents say Malone and Price forced Breuer inside an apartment after Baldwin accused Breuer of breaking into it. Neighbors in the same complex said Breuer had been visiting them earlier that evening. The documents say Malone and Price carried Breuer back out of the apartment several minutes later and laid him face down in the dirt before Price poured a can of soda over Breuer’s head.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A group of nurses working at Iowa prisons and other state-run facilities who have not been paid overtime for two years have sued the state and Gov. Kim Reynolds.
The five women filing suit say the state is violating federal and state laws. They are seeking class-action status on behalf of as many as 700 registered nurses working for state agencies.
The state court lawsuit filed June 28 seeks an order requiring the state to pay overtime going forward, past unpaid compensation and other damages and costs.

The women said Monday the state refuses to pay registered nurses for overtime even though their jobs require them to work beyond 40 hours a week and other nurses working with them are paid overtime. A spokesman says the governor declines to comment.