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Keep up-to-date with Fox News Radio, Radio Iowa, Brownfield & the Iowa Agribusiness Networks!
The Harlan Police Department, Friday, released a report on arrests dating back nearly three-weeks. The most recent arrests include 38-year old Ryan Schechinger, of Harlan, who was arrested Monday (12/1), when officers were called to a domestic disturbance in the 3000 block of 12th Street. Schechinger was taken to the Shelby County jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault for allegedly assaulting Shawn Schechinger, also of Harlan.
On Saturday, Nov. 29th: 31-year old Michael Gifford, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant. Gifford was transported to the Shelby County jail without incident; 23-year old Jordyn Timmerman, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. Timmerman was charged with driving under suspension, operating a non-registered vehicle, and failure to show proof of insurance. Timmerman was cited and released; and 29-year old Jason Ostrus, of Earling, was arrested when officers were called to a domestic disturbance in the 1300 block of Garfield Avenue. Ostrus was taken into custody and taken to the Shelby County jail where he was charged with domestic abuse assault for allegedly assaulting Makayla Hammel, Harlan.
And on Nov. 27th, 18-year old David Poole, of Turin, was arrested when officers were called to a residence on Cheyenne Avenue for a vehicle that pulled into a driveway and left leaving tire marks on the driveway. The home owner also allegedly received a phone call asking how he liked the marks. The vehicle was located in the same area. Poole was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and criminal mischief. Poole was also cited for careless driving and failure to maintain safety belt.
Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Spanish teacher at a Des Moines middle school has been named the 2015 Iowa Teacher of the Year. Governor Terry Branstad announced Friday that the award would go to Clemencia Spizzirri, who teaches at Merrill Middle School. In a statement, Branstad called her a “role model to students and colleagues.” The 38-year-old Spizzirri has taught at Merrill Middle School for five years.
BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A Fort Madison man facing a first-degree murder change in the death of a Burlington man has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. The Hawk Eye newspaper reports 42-year-old Lenard Polhans entered the guilty plea Friday to voluntary manslaughter in Des Moines County District Court. He remains jailed without bond as he awaits sentencing.
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Police in central Iowa have arrested and charged a mother and her teenage daughter with assault after they say the pair fought with other students. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports that the 38-year-old Fort Dodge woman and her 16-year-old daughter fought with two other students inside Fort Dodge Senior High School Thursday morning.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — University of Iowa officials have removed a public art work meant to denounce racism after students were angered by its image of a Ku Klux Klan robe. Artist Serhat Tanyolacar says he displayed the 7-foot-tall robe on campus Friday to join with protesters upset over the shooting of Michael Brown.
RALSTON, Iowa (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service is offering up to $5,000 for information related to an arson fire at a post office in the western Iowa community of Ralston. KCIM radio reports the fire began shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday. Firefighters from Ralston and Glidden put out the fire quickly, but it caused extensive damaged inside the building.
The U.S. Postal Inspector Service is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of those who set the fire. Ralston, a city of less than 100 people, is about 15 miles east of Carroll.
A search warrant executed Wednesday at a home in rural Pottawattamie County resulted in 117 marijuana plants being seized, a six-week old infant being taken into protective custody, and the arrest of four people. Chief Deputy Sheriff John Reynolds said Friday (Today), the drug bust went down at 21159 250th Street, near Underwood.
Taken into custody during the event on charges of Manufacturing Marijuana, a Tax Stamp Violation and Child Endangerment, was: 63-year old Bobby Wayne Berg; 58-year old Julie Maxine Berg; 32-year old Gustav Wayne Berg; and 29-year old Cassandra Jane Hoffman. Each of the subjects was booked into the Pott. County Jail.
The raid was carried out by Deputies from the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, and officers from Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force and State of Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Revenue at a new casino in Sioux City is down from when it opened last summer, but an official says the drop was expected and the center is doing well. The Sioux City Journal reports the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sioux City had revenue of $5.8 million in November. That’s down from $7.2 million in adjusted gross revenue in August, when the casino opened.
Revenue in September and October was about $6 million each month. The $128 million gambling and entertainment center replaced the former Argosy Sioux City riverboat.
Mark Monson, the president of a nonprofit group that holds the Hard Rock’s state gambling license, says the lower revenue was expected during the winter. He maintains the center is meeting expectations, saying “they’re going great guns down there.”
EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) – Two years after hunters found the remains of two missing cousins, investigators say they’re still receiving tips about the abduction of the girls. Ten-year-old Lyric Cook and her 8-year-old cousin Elizabeth Collins disappeared in Evansdale after they left for a bike ride in July 2012. Their bodies were found in December 2012 in a rural wildlife refuge in Bremer County. No arrests have been made in their deaths.
Police chief Kent Smock tells the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier they have received new information within the past month. He says it’s nothing that’s “super promising,” but it shows the case is still active.
A $150,000 reward has been set for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.
Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker has announced that on December 13th, at 6:30-AM, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with Target at Metro Crossing, will hold the 16th annual “Shop with the Sheriff.”
This year, 36 children will be shopping for outerwear, clothing and toys with employees and family members from the Sheriff’s Office. Each family of the participating children will also receive a food basket for the holiday season.
The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office “Shop with the Sheriff” event is made possible by the generous donations from citizens, organizations and businesses throughout the area.
A federal judge in Iowa ruled Wednesday two state laws that protect the American flag from desecration are unconstitutional. It’s a victory for the controversial Westboro Baptist Church in a court case filed on its behalf by the Iowa chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Iowa U-S Senator Tom Harkin was asked if the flag needs more protections at the federal level. Harkin’s short answer is, “no.”
“There’s always been an effort here, as long as I’ve been here, to have some kind of constitutional amendment to prevent desecration of the flag,” Harkin says. “I remember the first time that came up when I was in the Senate was in the late ’80s. I was opposed to it then and I still remain opposed to some kind of constitutional amendment.” Harkin, a Democrat, says he favors a different type of solution.
“The best way to protect the American flag is to stand strong for our Constitution and our Bill of Rights,” Harkin says. “When we stand strong for our Constitution and our Bill of Rights, that does more to protect our flag than any constitutional amendment or any law or anything else that can be done.”
U-S District Judge Robert Pratt said he based his decision on a 1989 U-S Supreme Court ruling that found burning the American flag during a protest is considered free speech. Protesters from the Kansas-based church held demonstrations at soldiers’ funerals last year in Council Bluffs and Red Oak. At the group’s protests, members reportedly stood on, spat on and dragged the Stars and Stripes. One of the Iowa laws that was declared unconstitutional specifies no one is to “trample on” or “mutilate” an American flag.
(Radio Iowa)
Health officials say this year’s flu vaccine isn’t fully protecting against the season’s most prevalent flu viruses. Doctor Patty Quinlisk, medical director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, says the vaccine was created for the expected three strains of flu virus, but one strain is showing signs of drifting into different characteristics.
“We have three strains of flu going around in Iowa,” Quinlisk says. “Against two of the strains, the vaccine is a good match, and against half of that third strain, the vaccine is a good match. It’s just against about half of that third strain, we don’t think the vaccine is going to be as effective as we would have hoped.” Quinlisk says high risk groups, including very young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with lowered immunities, should immediately consult a physician at first signs of flu.
“Because they can put you on anti-viral medications and the sooner you start those medications, the better you’re going to be,” she says. The best defense, Quinlisk adds, is getting vaccinated. The flu can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people. She says influenza and pneumonia are among the top ten causes of death in Iowa every year.
(Radio Iowa)