DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A criminal complaint says a Rockwell City police officer killed during a standoff was shot once in the neck with a high-powered rifle. The Des Moines Register reports Jamie Buenting was shot early Friday as he and other law enforcement officers attempted to go inside a house to arrest 32-year-old Corey Trott on an outstanding warrant.

The complaint says Buenting was within a few feet of the house when Trott fired a single shot from a .233 caliber rifle. Trott surrendered to authorities a few hours later. The complaint says Trott told authorities he knowingly fired the rifle at a police officer. Trott is currently at the Sac County Jail on a first-degree murder charge.

AMES, Iowa (AP) – Nine Iowa football players and coaches were robbed of cellphones and cash from their locker room during Saturday night’s victory at Iowa State. The Hawkeyes noticed the missing items when they returned to their locker room following a 27-21 win over the rival Cyclones on Saturday night.

The Iowa State University police department said Monday the locker room was staffed by private security. Only those with credentials were supposed to be allowed in.  Campus police are urging anyone with information about the break-in to contact them.

The National Weather Service in Johnston is hosting an open house for the public this Saturday (Sept. 21st). The event will be held at the NWS office (9607 Beaver Ave.), from 10-a.m. until 3-p.m.  Parking is available at the Acorn Valley Campground, just north of the office. The theme of the event is “Weather Enterprise.” The event is free, but a food drive is being held at the same time to benefit the local food pantries of Central Iowa. You’re welcome to bring a non-perishable food item to donate.

Among the local partner booths available during the open house, are those associated with: The U-S Geological Survey (USGS); U-S Army Corps of Engineers; Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management; Polk County Emergency Mgmt.; Iowa Environmental Mesonet; Mid-Iowa Skywarn; Safeguard Iowa; Central Iowa television stations KCCI, WOI and WHO; and the local chapters of the National Weather Association and American Meteorological Society.

Officials say you will not be allowed to bring bags, backpacks, or purses into the building for security reasons. Cameras are allowed, however. For more information: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/dmx/dmxsocialmedia/OpenHouse2013.pdf

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report four arrests over the weekend. On Friday (9/13), 34-year old Adam Michael Michaelsen, of Pacific Junction, was arrested on a warrant for Theft in the 3rd degree. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 40-year old Jason Shane Hoffman, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. His bond was set at $1,000, also.

On Saturday, deputies in Mills County arrested 34-year old Charles Conrad Campsey II, of Nebraska City, NE, for being a Fugitive from Justice. He was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond.

And on Sunday, 56-year old Robert Steve Bass, of Omaha, was arrested on a charge of OWI/2nd offense. Bond was established at $2,000.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad today (Monday) ordered flags to fly at half-staff on Tuesday, September 17, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to honor Rockwell City Police Officer Jamie Buenting, who was killed in the line of duty last Friday morning. Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will represent the administration at tomorrow’s funeral services.

Flags will be at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – American Red Cross units from Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Sioux City, and Waterloo are preparing to leave for Colorado to assist with flood relief.  Leadership in Colorado has asked for all five regional emergency response vehicles from Iowa to respond as soon as possible.  Units from Cedar Rapids and Waterloo are leaving Monday and a team from Des Moines expects to depart Tuesday. Departure times for the others are not yet determined.

Red Cross volunteers are staffing shelters or evacuation centers throughout Colorado. The Red Cross says about 1,250 people stayed in 26 shelters Saturday night. Of those 10 were operated by or with the support of the Red Cross. The organization also is helping other organizations plan for recovery which includes assessing damage and providing cleanup supplies.

Residents of Massena will be heading to the polls Tuesday during a special election, to cast their ballots for Mayor. The position of Mayor was left open by the death on May 27th of Don McCunn. Since then, Linda Reineke has served as Mayor Pro-Tem.

Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman said absentee ballots may be cast in the Auditor’s Office at the Cass County Courthouse until 5-p.m. today (Monday), and again on Tuesday from 8-a.m. until 11. The polls will be open Tuesday from Noon until 8-p.m.  The only polling site is at the Massena Public Library.

Sunderman said since no one has filed nomination papers to run for the office of Mayor in Massena, the person having the most write-in votes will be elected. The elected individual will serve until the end of December. The office of Mayor will appear again on the ballot during the November 5th, 2013 General Election. The person who is nominated at that time will serve a full, two-year term, beginning on January 1st, 2014.

AMES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Department of Transportation is selling sponsorships of the state’s rest areas as a way to raise money. The DOT officially began soliciting bids for rest area sponsors this month. Bids must be received by Oct. 9.  The minimum bid accepted for sponsorship of a rest area is $7,500 for a three-year contract.   Businesses may sponsor one or more of the state’s 37 interstate rest areas.

In exchange for the money a sponsor gets a business name or logo placed on a sign with a blue background. A signs will be posted at a highway entrance to the rest area and inside the facility.  The DOT says the money will help maintain rest areas, modernize outdated facilities and for other state highway purposes.

An Adair County man was injured during an accident this (Monday) morning on Interstate 80, about 2-miles east of Adair. The Iowa State Patrol reports 25-year old Nicholas Standley, of Greenfield, was transported by Adair Fire and Rescue to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, following the crash on I-80 near the 78-mile marker westbound, at around 6:35-a.m.

Officials say a 2003 Chevy Impala driven by 25-year old Tyler Davis, of Des Moines, was traveling west in the right lane of I-80, while a 2003 Chevy Cavalier driven by Standley was also in the right lane. After Davis’ car ran into the rear of Standley’s car, both drivers pulled their vehicles onto the right shoulder. Standley suffered minor neck and back injuries during the collision. Officials say he was wearing a seat belt.

w/ Ric Hanson

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