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Iowa early News Headlines: Tue., 4/10/18

News

April 10th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Ottumwa man in prison for robbery and burglary who once threatened to kill former President Barack Obama and a judge has now been indicted again on charges of mailing a death threat to a federal judge. Matthew James Howard, who is serving 13 years in prison, received an additional three years in September 2013 for writing letters threatening to kill Obama and a judge earlier that year.

PLEASANT HILL, Iowa (AP) — Teachers across the country are learning to pack wounds and apply tourniquets through a program started after the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in 2012. The aim of Stop the Bleed is to train educators in stopping blood loss so victims of school shootings can survive until help arrives. In five years, the program has trained some 125,000 people. Teachers say they can’t stop mass shootings, but they can be prepared to help their students if violence hits their school.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lawmakers signed off on a bill Monday that will prevent Iowa students from being treated unfairly by school officials if their parents owe lunch money. Under the bill, Iowa schools would be prohibited from so-called “lunch shaming” tactics, including publicly identifying students whose parents owe money or throwing away meals that were already served. Schools would be allowed to accept private donations to pay off individual students’ debts. The bill goes to Gov. Kim Reynolds.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A clerk for an Iowa Republican senator has been fired after a “sexual harassment” complaint was lodged against him. Secretary of the Senate Charlie Smithson confirmed Monday that Jake Dagel was terminated April 3 as Sen. Waylon Brown’s clerk after a “credible complaint of sexual harassment” was made against Dagel on the same day. Smithson says Dagel acknowledged “the conduct in question.” Smithson didn’t provide additional information, only noting the behavior was against chamber policy.

Iowa State cancels Spring Football Game

Sports

April 9th, 2018 by admin

AMES, Iowa – Due to poor weather conditions forecasted for the Ames area on Saturday, April 14, the 2018 Cyclone Gridiron Club Spring Football Game has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

“Coach Campbell and I mutually decided to cancel the Spring Game due to the anticipated weather for Saturday,” Iowa State Athletics Director Jamie Pollard said. “We know this will be disappointing for our fans and players. The football team will use Saturday as their final practice in a closed practice similar to this spring.”

Most of the other related activities surrounding the Spring Game are also cancelled (Cyclone Carnival, Jr. Cyclone Club Football Clinic, Cyclone Gridiron Club Tailgate).

Saturday night’s Cy’s House of Trivia will still take place. Doors open for the event in Hilton Coliseum at 5 p.m.

Iowa State opens its 2018 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 against South Dakota State in Jack Trice Stadium.

Iowa State has a seven-game home schedule in 2018, including five Big 12 contests: Oklahoma, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas State.

EDWIN KALKHOFF, 82, of Manning (Svcs. 04/13/2018)

Obituaries

April 9th, 2018 by admin

EDWIN KALKHOFF, 82, of Manning died Monday, April 9th at Manning Regional Healthcare Center in Manning. Mass of Christian Burial for EDWIN KALKHOFF will be held Friday, April 13th at 10:30am at the Sacred Heart Church in Manning. Ohde Funeral Home in Manning has the arrangements.

Friends may call on Thursday, April 12th after 4:00pm at the Sacred Heart Church in Manning with a rosary at 4:30pm and a prayer service at 5:00pm that evening. Visitation will resume on Friday morning at 9:30am at the church prior to services.

Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Manning.

EDWIN KALKHOFF is survived by:

Wife: Kathy Kalkhoff of Manning.

Children: Barb (Jim) Niehaus of Arcadia. Joe (Jackie) Kalkhoff of Manning. Laura (Alan) Fara of Manning. Danny (Margaret) Kalkhoff of Ansley, NE. Pat Vonnahme of Templeton.

Numerous Granchildren and Great-Grandchildren.

Iowa GOP senator’s clerk fired after harassment complaint

News

April 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A clerk for an Iowa Republican senator has been fired after a “sexual harassment” complaint was lodged against him. Secretary of the Senate Charlie Smithson confirmed Monday that Jake Dagel was fired April 3 as Sen. Waylon Brown’s clerk after a “credible complaint of sexual harassment” was made against Dagel on the same day. Smithson says Dagel acknowledged “the conduct in question.” Smithson didn’t provide additional information, only noting the behavior was against chamber policy.

The website Iowa Starting Line first reported about the firing on Friday. A former staffer for Senate Republicans was awarded $1.75 million last year after she said in a lawsuit she was fired in 2013 after reporting sexual misconduct in the office. The case drew attention to workplace misconduct at the statehouse. Last month, former Sen. Bill Dix resigned after video showed him kissing a Statehouse lobbyist.

Bill seeks to halt ‘lunch shaming’ in Iowa schools

News

April 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Lawmakers signed off on a bill Monday that will prevent Iowa students from being treated unfairly by school officials if their parents owe lunch money. Under the bill, Iowa schools would be prohibited from so-called “lunch shaming” tactics, including publicly identifying students whose parents owe money or throwing away meals that were already served. Schools would be allowed to accept private donations to pay off individual students’ debts.

Many students receive free meals through the federal school lunch program. However, Iowa schools aren’t required to serve meals to other students whose parents don’t qualify for free meals. School policies vary on whether those students still receive meals.

The bill passed both chambers of the Legislature unanimously and now goes to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her signature.

Cass County accident report (4/9)

News

April 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released information about two recent accidents. On April 3rd, at approximately 7:54-a.m., Deputies in Cass County responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on 690th Street. A 2004 Chevy Trailblazer driven by 23-year old Ashley Michele Parr, of Des Moines, was traveling southbound on 690th when she lost control of the SUV on the icy surface. The vehicle entered the west ditch and hit a sign before rolling onto its top. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $5,000.

On April 6th, 2018, at around 11:45-p.m., the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a one-vehicle accident on Jasper Road, approximately ½ mile east of 585th Street. A 2007 Ford Focus driven by 18-year old Chloe Kaitlyn Newbury, of Atlantic, was southbound on Jasper Road attempting to make a right turn on a 90 degree turn, when the vehicle rolled into the south ditch onto its roof. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $6,000.

Cass County Sheriff’s arrest report (4/9)

News

April 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports, that as the result of a traffic stop on March 28th, Deputies arrested 46-year old Jason Edward Pierce, of Council Bluffs, on felony charges that include Theft 1st Degree (C Felony), Theft 2nd Degree (D Felony); and Possession Methamphetamine 3rd/Subsequent (D Felony). He was also charged with Possession of Marijuana 3rd/Subsequent,Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Pierce was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $18,000 bond.

On March 29th, Cass County Deputies arrested 37-year old Michael Shayne Miller, of Clive, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Miller was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $2,000 bond.

On March 31st, Deputies arrested 33-year old Stephanos Samuel Ono, of Omaha, on charges of OWI 3rd Offense (a class D Felony) and Driving While Barred. Ono was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $8,000 bond.

On April 1st, 42-year old Russell William Craig Lower, of Atlantic, was arrested in Cass County on a District Court warrant from Polk County. Lower was taken to the Cass County Jail and later transferred to Polk County authorities.

On April 5th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 33-year old William Joseph Kyle, of Lafayette, LA, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Kyle was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on $1,000 bond.

Company says 2 Omaha Younkers stores to close

News

April 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The owner of Younkers department stores has told the Nebraska Labor Department that it intends to close both Omaha stores. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the closings are expected to be permanent and affect nearly 360 employees.

Younkers parent company, Bon-Ton Stores Inc., has filed for bankruptcy protection as it struggles with debt and declining mall traffic. Bon-Ton’s notification of its intention to close the Omaha stores didn’t mention its other Iowa and Nebraska properties.

They are Younkers stores in Lincoln and Grand Island and one in Sioux City, Iowa. Bon-Ton also operates Herberger’s stores in Hastings, Kearney, Norfolk, North Platte and Scottsbluff.

Salmonella in chicken salad kills 1, sickens 265 in 8 states

News

April 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Chicken salad contaminated with salmonella bacteria made by an Iowa food processing company and distributed by Fareway Stores has sickened 265 people in eight states and caused one death in Iowa. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the outbreak which sickened people from early January through mid-March appears to have ended.

Food safety attorney Bill Marler of Seattle says he and Iowa lawyer Steve Wandro represent 48 people filing lawsuits against Triple T Specialty Meats of Ackley, Iowa, which made the chicken salad and Fareway, based in Boone, Iowa.

The CDC says 240 were sickened in Iowa and one person died. Illinois reported 10 cases. Other states included Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

2 men arrested on drug charges in Mills County

News

April 9th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

A traffic stop conducted on a vehicle at around 4-a.m. Saturday, in Mills County, resulted in two men being arrested on drug charges. The incident happened on Interstate 29, near Bunge Road. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the driver of the vehicle, 47-year old Lonnie Kent Ritchison, Jr., of Minden, and his passenger, 45-year old Tommy Lee Pounds, Jr., of Omaha, were arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found inside the vehicle. Both men were transported to the Mills County Jail, where. Ritchison, Jr. also faces charges of Failure to Obey a Stop sign and Yield Right-of-way, as well as Driving Under Suspension. Pounds was being held in the  was being held in the Jail on a $1,300 bond.

In other news, Mills County Deputies arrested 18-year old Faith Leeann Clemmons, of Emerson, Friday morning, for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $1,300. 45-year old Matthew Theodore Paulsrud, of Sioux City, was arrested Saturday evening in Mills County, on a warrant out of Woodbury County, for Failure to Appear on a Driving While License Denied or Revoked charge, and Violation of Parole. His bond was set at $3,600.

40-year old Jose Placido Ledesma, of Omaha, was arrested Sunday afternoon, for being a Fugitive from Justice. He was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond. 42-year old Joshua Mitchell Arban, of Peru, NE., was arrested just before 3-a.m Sunday, in Mills County, for Carrying a weapon and Manner of Conveyance. His bond was $2,000. And, at around 1:50-a.m. Monday (today), 54-year old Jess Steven Pueke, of Mitchell, SD, was arrested in Mills County for speeding, and OWI/1st offense.