2 arrests were reported on Thursday by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.  At 1:45pm Thursday Sheriff’s Officials arrested 34-year-old Paul Earl Lemburg II of Red Oak on a valid warrant for Violation of Probation on an original charge of 3rd Degree Theft.  Lemburg was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $5,000 bond.

Also on Thursday Sheriff’s Officials arrested 45-year-old Thomas Shawn Johnson of Council Bluffs on a valid warrant for Probation Violation on an original charge of 3rd Degree Burglary.  Johnson was held in the Montgomery County Jail on $10,000 bond.

The Atlantic Police Department reports five people were arrested over nearly the past two weeks. On Tuesday, 28-year old Jeffrey Knight, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct, and 37-year old Daisha Rasmussen, of Atlantic, was arrested on three counts of Child Endangerment.

On Monday, officers arrested 28-year old Jeffrey Knight, of Atlantic, for Public Intoxication/3rd offense.

On Dec. 7th, 21-year old Bryce Baker, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault. And, 24-year old Heri Pena, of Waukesha, WI., was arrested for Probation Violation. All subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. On Wednesday, deputies arrested 22-year old Rocky James Runyon, of Hastings, for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $5,000. That same day 29-year old Brandon Scot Feller, of Hastings, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts. Bond was set at $300. And, on Tuesday, Mills County deputies arrested 34-year old William Randel Cody, of Malvern, for Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at $2,000.

And, a Glenwood man was injured during an accident early Wednesday afternoon. Officials say Donald Hall was transported to a hospital in Council Bluffs, after his 2000 Dodge was struck from behind by a 1999 semi. Officials say Hall was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 12:25-p.m, and had begun to slow down when a grain hauler truck entered the highway from a farm drive.

Another vehicle in front of Hall also began to slow for the grain hauler truck. The semi, driven by Clifton Kopischke, of Mankato, MN,  was behind Hall and saw the vehicles in front of him begin to slow. Kopischke said he reached down, but could not get semi slowed because the trailer he was hauling was empty. Following the collision, both vehicles pulled off onto the shoulder of Highway 34.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has charged three men with multiple hunting violations for events that took place on January 10, 2015 in Cass and Audubon Counties.

The DNR says 27-year old Dustin Hansen,  of Adair, was charged with shooting a pistol over a public roadway, reckless use of a firearm, two counts of illegal attempt to take – use of motor vehicle, illegal attempt to take – use two-way communications, two counts of illegal take – use of motor vehicle and two counts illegal take – use of two way communication. He was also charged with violating one-way traffic designation and stopping, standing, parking on interstate right of way all in Cass County. Hansen was also charged with no migratory bird fee from a separate incident.

41-year old Donald Kinzie, of Stuart, was charged with two counts illegal take of deer – use of motor vehicle, two counts illegal take of deer – use of two-way communications, three counts trespassing while deer hunting, illegal attempt to take deer – use of motor vehicle, illegal attempt to take deer – use of two way communications and reckless use of a firearm causing property damage all in Cass County.

And 39-year old Bradley Wendt, of Denison, was charged with two counts illegal take of deer – use of motor vehicle, two counts illegal take of deer – use of two-way communications, three counts trespass while deer hunting, illegal attempt to take deer – use of motor vehicle, illegal attempt to take deer – use of two-way communications and reckless use of a firearm causing property damage all in Cass County.

One of the trespassing charges for Kinzie and Wendt occurred in Audubon County. Officials began the investigation after receiving calls from the public. The alleged activity resulted in the individuals killing two buck deer.

Charges were filed December 9, 2015. Their initial court appearance date is set for January 7, 2016 in both Cass and Audubon counties.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Bankers expect economic activity to remain slow in rural parts of 10 Western and Plains states over the next few months. The region’s economic index declined again in December to 41.5 from November’s 43.7. Any score below 50 on one of the survey’s indexes suggests that factor will decline.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the monthly survey of rural bankers released Thursday. He says the current low energy and crop prices are slowing the economy. The strong U.S. dollar and a slower pace of manufacturing are also factors. The bankers aren’t very optimistic. The confidence index remained in negative territory even though it improved slightly to 39.8 in December from November’s 38.9.

Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

Police in Council Bluffs are warning area residents about a new scam that’s going around. The scam begins with motorists finding notes left on their vehicles that are in parking lots. The note says a guy named “Dave” saw the vehicle hit and damage his vehicle. “Dave” then instructs the person to contact him within the hour or he will notify police. The note also states “Dave” took photos of the person’s vehicle and license plates.

When drivers call “Dave,” he asks them to pay a certain amount of money to “keep insurance out of it”.  Police say in no instance was damage found on the potential victim’s vehicle, and no proof of an accident was ever given by “Dave.” Authorities say  this is a scam.

If you ARE in an accident in Council Bluffs, call the non-emergency dispatch number at (712)-328-5737, and file a report with police.

December 25th is a week from tomorrow and for many Iowans, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without a blanket of white covering everything outside. Meteorologist Rod Donavon, at the National Weather Service, says if you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, you -may- be in luck, but there will be a lot of ups and downs over the coming week.  Donavon says, “In general, we’re going to be warming back up after this little cool-down that we’re going to have for the next several days until at least Saturday.”

The first day of winter is December 22nd, that’s next Tuesday, and seasonally-appropriate weather may be arriving almost immediately. “Really, the thing we’re watching for next week is a big storm system that will be coming out of the southwest and likely will impact at least portions of the Central Plains either on the 23rd or 24th,” he says. Many tens of thousands of Iowans have travel plans for next week’s holidays and rain versus ice versus snow will make a big difference for them.

“Exact timing and how much cold air we get wrapped into this, we’ll see if we can produce some snow across Iowa but right now, it’s really uncertain.” While much of Iowa will see high temperatures only in the 20s and 30s today, some areas may see highs near 50 by Sunday, with the shift back to very cold weather and potential snow arriving by the middle of next week.

(Radio Iowa)

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Two people were arrested this week on drug charges, in Creston. Authorities say early this (Thursday) morning, 18-year old Tyler Lee Ray, of Afton, was arrested at 806 Laurel Street, in Creston. He was charged with Driving While Suspended, Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of a Concealed Weapon, Possession of Marijunana, and Illegal Possession of Prescription Pills. Ray was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

Wednesday evening, Creston Police arrested 40-year old Amber Skeen, of Creston, on a Union County warrant for three counts of Prohibited Acts – Schedule 1, 2 or 3 Controlled Substance, and Tampering with Records. Skeen was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $50,000 bond.

Also arrested Wednesday in Creston, was 20-year old Kami Hilton, of Creston, who was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. Hilton was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on $300 bond.

Creston Police report also, a theft and incident of vandalism. Officials say a resident reported Wednesday someone stole a red 8-inch notebook tablet from either her vehicle or residence in the 900 block of W. Mills Street. The incident happened sometime between 7-am and 10-pm Monday. The loss was estimated at $80.

And, a Davenport man reported to police Wednesday, that sometime between 11:30-p.m. Tuesday and 9-a.m. Wednesday, someone vandalized his vehicle parked at 124 N. Elm Street, in Creston. The loss was estimated at $250.

A 2001 graduate of the Villisca High School has been named as the next Chief of Police in Red Oak. 33-year old Justin Rhamy, a native of Villisca, will take over in February for Chief Drue Powers, who is retiring. The Daily NonPareil reports Rhamy’s career in law enforcement began in school, when he job shadowed a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputy.

Law enforcement runs in the family. Rhamy’s brother, Josh, is currently a sergeant with the Des Moines Police Department, and his uncle, Russ Gray, is an Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Justin Rhamy joined Villisca Rescue in 2000 and eventually became the emergency medical service chief.

Rhamy spent four years with Red Oak police before a four-year stint with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. He rejoined the Red Oak force in February of 2013. As Chief, Rhamy said he’ll work to ensure officers build relationships with the community – including the general public, businesses and schools.

He lives in Red Oak with his wife of five years, Sydney, and their 4-year-old son, Owen. Rhamy will take over as acting chief on Feb. 6, while Powers uses his remaining vacation. The new chief will take over formally on Feb. 25th.