Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy reports two Kansas City men have been indicted in connection with a $1-million conspiracy to steal 1,400 cell phones in dozens of separate burglaries, including in Red Oak. On March 26, 2019 a forced-entry burglary occurred at Chat Mobility in Red Oak. The same individuals deemed responsible for the Red Oak break-in, also attempted to make entry or succeeded in doing so, at Chat Mobility Stores in Emerson and Clarinda. As the result of multi-jurisdictional investigation among several southwest Iowa and multiple other State and Federal Agencies, 29-year old Viktor Chernetskiy, a naturalized citizen of the Ukraine, and 29-year old Bryan C. Kirkendoll, II, were charged in a five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, MO., Wednesday, June 26th,

The indictment replaces a criminal complaint filed June 14th. Chernetskiy remains in federal custody without bond, while Kirkendoll was released on bond. The federal indictment alleges both men participated in a conspiracy to steal electronic devices – primarily cell phones – from stores in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois and Oklahoma. As the phones were transported across state lines, in order to sell them, both men were charged with transporting stolen property across state lines, with Chernetskiy facing four counts and Kirkendoll three counts.

The indictment says both men committed 48 burglaries from Nov. 21, 2018 to June 14, 2019, during which they stole about 1,401 electronic devices worth more about $1-million, 8,742. In each instance, the stores were hit after hours, and the conspirators wore clothing designed to conceal their identity and limit any trace evidence left behind. They also allegedly tried to unsuccessfully pry open a safe at one location.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota-based Sanford Health and Iowa’s UnityPoint Health have announced plans to merge in an agreement that would create a sprawling health system in the Upper Great Plains and Midwest. The two providers announced their plans Friday. The Argus Leader reports if the merger is approved by regulators, it could be finalized by year’s end.
The providers said the merger would place the company among the top 15 largest nonprofit health systems nationwide. The new organization would employ more than 83,000 staff, 2,600 physicians and have more than $11 billion in revenue.

UnityPoint operates 32 hospitals and has relationships with 280 physician clinics throughout Iowa, western Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Sanford Heath’s organization includes 44 hospitals, 1,400 physicians and more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations in 26 states and nine countries.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department report a collision between a car and a motorcycle resulted in the death of a man from Harlan, Thursday. Police and Rescue crews responded to the scene at around 6:20-p.m., at the intersection of 9th and Chatburn Avenue. When Officer’s arrived, they attempted to aid the motorcyclist until Medivac arrived and determined him deceased at the scene. 55-year old Scott Alan Petersen, of Harlan, was driving his motorcycle westbound on Chatburn Ave/Highway 44 when 24-year old Riley Jean Kay attempted to turn East on Chatburn from 9th Street.

Authorities said her view may have been obstructed by a vehicle in the northern most lane traveling West, slightly ahead of Petersen. An Iowa State Patrol Traffic Investigator was called in and is conducting an investigation. Chatburn Ave. between 8th St and 12th St was closed off for approximately two hours. Harlan Police were assisted at the scene by Medivac, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Harlan Fire Department.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Officials say air is leaking from the inflatable dam used by Waterloo to raise the Cedar River level for summer boaters. Waterloo city engineer Jamie Knutson says the leak was detected Thursday during normal maintenance, but it’s uncertain exactly where on the dam it is and how much air is rushing out. Knutson told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier that the city won’t know how soon the leak can be repaired and at what cost until a contractor can start working on it.

The city has inflated the bladder dam since 2009, raising the Cedar River level by about 4 feet. It’s usually inflated in June and deflated in October. Knutson says boaters would be wise to be extra cautious on the river this year, given the loss of the liquid safety margin.