ADEL, Iowa (AP) — The last of several people charged in the starvation death of a 16-year-old Iowa girl has been sentenced to prison. Station KCCI reports that Josie Bousman was sentenced Friday to up to 14 years after she pleaded guilty to neglect and two child endangerment counts in the death of Sabrina Ray. Bousman lived in the home with the teen and was there when the teen died in May 2017. Sabrina weighed just 56 pounds at the time of her death.

Sabrina’s adoptive parents pleaded guilty to charges ranging from child endangerment to kidnapping in the case . The mother, Misty Jo Bousman Ray, was sentenced a life sentence without parole and her husband, Marc Ray, got 80 years in prison. An adoptive grandmother and brother also received prison sentences.

Officials with the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said Friday, that “It has been brought to our attention that there is a business sending invoices requesting payment for a community guide they are putting together. The business name is Media Print Solutions and this is a scam.”

The Chamber stresses “The only community guide being printed in the Atlantic area is the Atlantic Area Community Guide the Chamber puts together. If you have received an invoice or receive one in the future, please ignore it.”

An example of the invoice is shown under the link: Media Print Solutions SCAM

Officials with the Cass County Health System (CCHS) hosted U.S. Representative Cindy Axne on Friday, February 1st. Rep. Axne toured CCHS and saw a number of departments including Inpatient, Obstetrics, Behavioral Health, and Rehabilitation Services. The CCHS administrative team then met with Rep. Axne to talk about the challenges facing rural hospitals.

The CCHS Administrative team talks with Rep. Axne about the challenges faced by hospitals. (Photo submitted)

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman was arrested on assault and other charges Thursday evening. Deputies with the Fremont County K9 Unit responded to a residence in Bartlett at around 6:30-p.m., for a report of a domestic assault in progress.

McConahay

Upon arrival, deputies made contact with 28-year old Dnae McConahay, of Henderson. The woman attempted to flee on foot and began fighting with the responding deputy.  McConahay was taken into custody after a brief struggle without injury.

She was placed under arrest for Domestic Assault, Obstructing 911 Communications, and Interference with Official Acts, resulting in Bodily Injury. McConahay was also found to have an active nationwide felony warrant for her arrest out of Scott County, Iowa. She was being held at the Fremont County Jail on $11,600 bond.

The Iowa State Patrol, Friday afternoon, released the names of a person who died and another who was injured, during a multi-vehicle collision on a 100% ice and snow covered I-80 westbound Thursday afternoon, near Coralville. 72-year old William W. Hicks, of Coralville, died at the scene. 36-year old Reggie R. Gist, of Cedar Rapids, was injured and transported to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, in Iowa City. Both men were wearing their seat belts.

Authorities say the collision involved seven passenger vehicles and four semi tractor-trailers. Diminished or reduced visibility was also a factor in the crash. The accident, which happened at around 3:30-p.m. near the 242.5-mile marker, remains under investigation.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A state investigator has testified that a mother on trial for murder after her infant was found dead in a maggot-infested diaper, questioned her maternal care during an interview. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Agent Chris Callaway testified Friday that 21-year-old Cheyanne Harris told him she had changed 4-month-old Sterling Koehn, given him a bottle and put him in a baby swing the day before he was found dead Aug. 30, 2017.

The Courier says Callaway also testified that Harris told him, “I should have checked on him more.”
An autopsy showed the baby died of malnutrition, dehydration and an E. coli infection caused by being left in a maggot-infested diaper for up to two weeks. First responders found him lifeless in a sweltering bedroom in a baby swing.

Callaway’s testimony came in the third day of Harris’ first-degree murder trial. The infant’s father, Zachary Koehn, already has been sentenced to life in prison in the case.

Midwest Partnership Economic Development Corporation (EDC) recently recognized Dennis Flanery, of Guthrie Center, with the Guy Powell Award for his contributions to the community and organizations he supports. The award was presented at the organization’s annual dinner meeting on January 24th, in Panora.

The Guy Powell Award was established in honor of the late Guy Powell of Greenfield, who served as president of the Midwest Partnership EDC board of directors and was an active volunteer in several other community organizations.  It is intended to recognize excellence in leadership and passion for economic development in the Midwest Partnership EDC region, taking into account vision, leadership, courage, and impact.

Dennis Flanery was nominated for his leadership as President of the Guthrie Center Area Economic Development Corporation, as well as for his vision for the Guthrie Activity Center.  The organization said “Dennis is very active in pursuing potential leads, as well as discussing business retention opportunities with Guthrie Center’s existing businesses.  His work has provided a nearly-full downtown business area.  He has also aided in the retention of a couple of businesses who had opportunities to leave the area.”

It was also noted that, “A couple of years ago, Dennis had the vision of restoring the exterior Guthrie Activity Center to look similar to that of 50+ years ago, providing a consistent downtown façade, as well as remodeling the interior of the building to maximize space for social utilization in an effort to draw consumers and businesses to Guthrie Center.  He stepped forward to lead the project and established a team with a similar shared vision and passion for this goal.  The capital campaign Dennis and his team spear-headed is proving to be very successful and nearing its full goal. ”

Other highlights from MP-EDC’s annual dinner included recognizing outgoing board members Brett Irlmeier of Audubon, John Rutledge of Panora, and Warren Varley of Stuart for their dedication and service to the organization over the years.  Irlmeier served on the Midwest Partnership Board for 8 years, Rutledge 10 years, and Varley served for 12 years.  Scott Tonderum of Greenfield was elected President of the organization for 2019.  Sarah Gomez, Executive Director, provided a recap of the year, and those in attendance had the opportunity to hear from the evening’s guest speaker, Hernan Etcheto, CEO and Owner of Nutriom, in Panora.

Midwest Partnership EDC is the non-profit, collaborative economic development organization formed to strengthen the economic vitality of the communities of Adair, Audubon, Greene, and Guthrie counties in west central Iowa.

The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, today (Friday), posted a report on activity that took place over the past week. Authorities said on Feb. 1st (Today): Mark Doyle, of De Soto, turned himself into the sheriff’s office to serve a portion of a six-day mittimus for Operating While Intoxicated 2nd Offense; Bryan Bartley, of Guthrie Center, turned himself into the sheriff’s office to serve a four-day mittimus for Operating While Intoxicated 1st Offense; and, Barbara Svoboda, of Ogden, was transferred to a residential correctional facility in Mason City, IA following her service of a 60-day sentence in the Guthrie County Jail.

January 31st – Richard Kaster, of Adel, was arrested at the Dallas County Jail on Guthrie County arrest warrants for failure to appear on charges of Driving While Barred and Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana 1st Offense.  Kaster was held on a $200 cash bond after his appearance before the magistrate.

January 30th – Shane Sheehy, of Perry, was stopped for a traffic violation in Bayard. Sheehy was subsequently arrested for Driving While Revoked. He posted cash bond prior to an appearance before the magistrate.

January 28th – Patrick Beardsley, of Guthrie Center, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of a No-Contact Order. He was released following an appearance before the magistrate.

January 27th – Andrew Rosenbeck, of Guthrie Center, was arrested on a warrant for probation violation. He was still in custody at the Guthrie County Jail, as of Friday.

January 26th – Elaine Norgart, of Perry, turned herself in the sheriff’s office to serve a two-day mittimus on an original charge of Operating While Intoxicated;  Chad Hein, of Yale, was arrested in Guthrie Center for multiple violations for which he had arrest warrants: Hein had an active arrest warrant out of Marshall County for failure to appear on a No-Contact Order Violation….he had a two-day mittimus to serve at the Guthrie County Jail….he also had failure to appear warrants out of Guthrie County for probation violation and multiple traffic violations. After serving the two-day mittimus, Hein posted $2,000 cash bond to be released. The Iowa State Patrol assisted the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office in the arrest.