OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) — Charges against a former police officer accused of attacking her girlfriend in southern Iowa have been dismissed. Mahaska County court records say 26-year-old Janay Pritchett had pleaded not guilty harassment, domestic abuse assault while displaying or using a weapon and domestic abuse assault, second offense. The records say the alleged victim had told prosecutors she’d left Iowa, wouldn’t return to testify and wanted the charges dropped.

Court records say Pritchett’s girlfriend told officers that she and Pritchett were arguing May 3 last year when Pritchett kicked her in the chest, pulled a pocketknife and cut her on the left side of her neck. The girlfriend said Pritchett then threatened to shoot her with a shotgun. Pritchett says in the records that she didn’t pull a knife or cut the woman.

(Radio Iowa) — Authorities say a body found in a farm field near Marshalltown could be that of a Mason City woman. Thirty-two-year-old Michelle Grommet was reported missing on March 22nd to the Marshalltown Police Department. Police say a body was found at about 9 o’clock Monday morning in a farm field just east of the Walmart store. Authorities say the identity of the body could not be immediately confirmed but preliminary indications are it could be the missing woman. Marshalltown police say there’s no evidence of foul play but the investigation into the death continues.

DAWSON, Iowa (AP) — A jury has convicted an Oskaloosa man of stabbing to death a college basketball player. Mahaska County District Court records say 24-year-old Luke VanHemert was found guilty Monday of second-degree murder. His sentencing is scheduled for June 27. VanHemert’s lawyers had argued that he was defending himself when he killed 22-year-old William Penn player Marquis Todd during a fight after a car crash in March 2018. They said VanHemert should have been exempt from prosecution because of Iowa’s “stand your ground” law.

The law enacted in 2017 says a person doesn’t have to retreat before using deadly force if he or she reasonably thinks his or her life is being threatened. But the judge said that law didn’t apply in VanHemert’s case and ordered him to go on trial.

Last night (Monday night) was the last ride for Cass County K9 “Mufasa,” who has retired from service. Mufasa had several large narcotic seizures and criminal apprehensions. His handler/partner, Deputy Tyler Shiels says  Mufasa was an “Amazing young dog when we got him. Full of energy and still is.” Shiels said also “This dog is tough as nails yet social as could be.” Deputy Shiels and his family have kept him as part of their family and will continue. His job now is to relax, run the farm, and keep watch over the ones he loves.

Cass County Sheriff’s Deputy Tyler Shiels & his K9 partner “Mufasa.” (Cass Co. S/O photo)

The City of Stanton will hold its annual Spring Clean Up on Saturday, April 27th, from 8:00am-4:00pm. Containers will be located at the City Maintenance Building. You may drop off junk, old furniture, wood, appliances, metal and other such items. They will also accept batteries. You’re asked to please separate metal from other junk as metal will go in a separate trailer.

Seniors and disabled citizens who are unable to transport their items can call 829-2613 to arrange for pickup on Friday the 26th from 8:00am-3:00pm. The City will NOT accept brush, limbs, trees, or leaves at the Maintenance Building. Those items are accepted at the City Dump. Please note: No hazardous waste, explosives, tires, TVs, computers, liquids, paint, railroad ties or raw garbage is allowed.

The Stanton Greenbelt Trail Cleanup will also be on April 27th starting at 8:30am at Anderson Park. Items needed include loppers, chain saws, ATV’s and trailers. Cleanup will be from Anderson Park to the Old Gas Station Bridge.

Kids in the area have the opportunity to meet an inspiring author this Thursday, April 18th, at Washington Elementary School, in Atlantic. Eric Ode is a national award-winning children’s singer/songwriter, a widely published author and poet, and a thoroughly engaging entertainer. His upbeat, high-participation programs are bubbling over with fun, interactive music and include stories, skits, poetry, props and puppets. He will present at 9 am to junior kindergarten through first grade and at 10:15 am to second and third grade. There will be books available for purchase at each performance and an opportunity for the author to autograph each book.

Ohde says “Whenever I’m working with students, I want them to understand that they are creative individuals with their own unique and wonderful ideas. I want them to be excited about putting that creativity to work, expressing themselves creatively, persevering, and bringing something new into the world.”  A former elementary teacher of 12 years with a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology, Eric has been invited to share his music and poetry programs with schools, community festivals, libraries, and churches throughout the United States, in Germany, Japan, and in Guam.

To learn more about the author, visit www.ericode.com.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines union official has pleaded guilty to mail fraud and embezzlement from his union. Prosecutors said in a news release that 54-year-old Theodore Watson entered the pleas Monday in U.S. District Court in Des Moines. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 23. He was employed as business manager for Local 74 of the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers.

Prosecutors say Watson defrauded United Way of Central Iowa by sending fraudulent requests for grant funds to train adults. In one instance, he received a $19,000 check from United Way that he used for himself. Prosecutors also say Watson took cash advances and made unauthorized purchases on a union credit card and then submitted altered credit card statements and false monthly reports to the union.