Authorities in southwest Iowa are investigating the circumstances surrounding a death in Taylor County. The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) says on Wednesday (April 23rd), the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call indicating a shooting had occurred. Authorities arrived on scene and identified the body of an adult male who had suffered an apparent gunshot wound. The individual was transported to Heartland Medical Hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri where he died.

An investigation into the shooting death is ongoing by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Identification of the individual is being withheld pending family notification. An autopsy is pending at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny.

The communities of Guthrie Center, Missouri Valley and Villisca have received a portion of $80,000 in grants from “Keep Iowa Beautiful,” (KIB) as part of its 2014 Community Beautification Program. This is the fourth year of the grant program that provides a major boost for community beautification and enhancement in communities of 5,000 and under.

Gerry Schnepf, Executive Director of KIB says “In the four year history of the Beautification Grant Program $320,000 has been awarded to over 70 communities in Iowa.” Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Chuck Gipp said the DNR is “Pleased that Governor Branstad has designated April as Keep Iowa Beautiful Month,” and that “The DNR is committed to helping Iowans build vibrant and beautiful communities.”

In the KJAN listening area, the Dora Taylor Community Trust in Guthrie Center received a grant amounting to $3,500 for a sign project. The City of Guthrie Center received $3,893 from KIB for trash receptacles. The City of Missouri Valley received a Keep Iowa Beautiful grant for $5,000 for the Second Street Pocket Park, and the City of Villisca received a grant amounting to $1,858, for the Lover’s Lane Trail Extension.

Funding and reimbursement is available for expenses incurred only after July 1, 2014 and the project must be completed by June 30, 2015. Funding is authorized by the Iowa Legislature from the Solid Waste Alternative Program (SWAP).

Recent vandalism at an eastern Iowa cemetery has drawn attention both for the ages of the headstones and the ages of the culprits. The vandalism at Oak Hill Cemetery in Central City happened on April 12th. Around 60 headstones were knocked over or torn out of the ground. Many of the headstones are so weather-worn that the engravings can no longer be read. Other have death dates from the mid 1800’s. Linn County Sheriff’s Deputies say three children, ages 6 and 7, have confessed to the crime. The damage is estimated at $3,000. The sheriff’s office reports the board of trustees for the cemetery is working with the parents of the children and no charges will be filed.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says one person was arrested and two accidents were investigated, Tuesday. 41-year old Larry Steven Hutchings, of Emerson, was arrested at around 5-p.m. Tuesday for Disorderly Conduct. His bond was set at $300.

And no injuries were reported following accidents that happened early Tuesday morning and late Tuesday afternoon, in Mills County. Officials say a 2003 Jeep driven by Samantha Shatava, of Glenwood, was traveling south on 240th Street at around 1-a.m, when she swerved to miss a deer about one-half mile northeast of Glenwood. Her vehicle went into the ditch and hit an embankment.

Authorities said also, a 1998 Buick driven by Aaron Heard, of Glenwood, was traveling east on Elrod Avenue at around 3:45-p.m. , when the car went out of control on a curve. The vehicle rolled into the east ditch and came to rest on a small, portable fence. Heard was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office also investigated an incident of burglary and theft, Tuesday. Officials say the incident at Loess Hills Harley Davidson in Pacific Junction, was reported at around 9:15-a.m.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors today (Wednesday), approved a recommendation from the County Zoning Commission, for a change in classification for a parcel of land near Lyman from General Agricultural to Light Industrial. Zoning Administrator Rich Hansen explained the request to have the 1.3-acres rezoned came from Corey Sindt, for the expansion of his business. Sindt already has an auto repair business, and wants to expand his growing family business to include used car sales.

Supervisor Chuck Rieken recommended the Board approve the request because the family has been a long-time contributor to the Cass County economy. Rieken said Sindt has more, long-term plans for his property and business as well, which will make for additional economic assets to the County.

In other business, the Cass County Supervisors approved a construction contract with Carlson–West-Povandra Architects in Omaha, for the renovation of a building the County purchased across the street from the courthouse. The facility will be used as a new 9-1-1 Center. With the Board’s approval, C-W-P can begin to solicit bids for the project. The bid date was tentatively set for May 22nd.

The Board also received a Quarterly report from Cass County Veterans Affairs Director Mitch Holmes. Holmes reported V-A Commissioner Terry Rutherford, who has served two six-year terms on the Commission, is stepping down, effective June 30th. Holmes requested and approved the Board’s permission to place advertisements in the local paper asking for Veterans to apply for a position on the Commission. In order to be considered for an appointment to the V-A Commission, the applicant must have been honorably discharged from the military and be a war-time veteran.

There are currently two men and one woman on the Commission, which meets during the third Monday of the each month. In making a selection for appointment to the position, the County must keep in mind the need to maintain a gender balance.

In his report, Holmes said there were 15 claims for General Assistance through his office during the past Quarter. The claims amounted to $2,365, the bulk of which was in the form of utility assistance. There were also 125 forms completed and filed for Federal V-A Benefits, the majority of which were for Disability Compensation. The claims ranged from $129 to as much as $1,500. And, Holmes’ office made 1,862 contacts during the past Quarter, including e-mails, phone calls and visits in and out of the office, or a little more than 30 contacts per day. His efforts drew the praise of Supervisor Chuck Rieken, who said Holmes is doing a “Good job.”

The Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse is launching a one-of-a-kind Facebook page. The new Facebook page will be used to publicize high-profile missing person cases, child safety education and prevention information, frequently asked questions, missing person related news and statistics. This new page will serve as another way for law enforcement and the general public to report tips and submit questions to the Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse. To “like” the page, simply search for “Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse,” on Facebook.

The Missing Person Information Clearinghouse was established July 1, 1985, within the Department of Public Safety, providing a program for compiling, coordinating and disseminating information in relation to missing and unidentified persons. Housed within the Division of Criminal Investigation, the clearinghouse assists in helping to locate missing persons through public awareness and cooperation as well as in educating law enforcement officers and the general public about the missing persons.

Anyone with information about a missing person or persons can call the 24 hour, toll-free hotline at 1-800-346-5507 or email at mpicinfo@dps.state.ia.us.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A landmark in Stanton that has stood the test of time for about 100 years, is coming down later this year. The Omaha World-Herald reports a tower fashioned to look like a Swedish coffee pot will be removed by a crane and placed on the grounds of the nearby Swedish Heritage and Cultural Center. The water tower is being removed because repairs would be too costly.

Instead, it will be refurbished and put on display at the cultural center. It will sit on the south side of the Cultural Center, about a half-block from the childhood home of Victoria Christine, an actress and Stanton native who appeared on American televisions as “Mrs. Olson” in Folgers Coffee commercials, teaching newlyweds how to brew a good cup of coffee. It is not known when the coffee pot will be fully restored.

The City of Stanton will pay $30,000 to remove the coffee pot, move it, and dismantling the legs that hold it about 125 feet above the ground. The Stanton Historical Society, which operates the center, will need to raise $73,000 to repaint and refurbish the coffee pot, which was built to function as a water tower, while also serving as  a tribute to the city’s Swedish heritage and a nod to Virginia Christine.