The National Weather Service says clouds will be on the increase this (Monday) evening, leading to scattered showers and thunderstorms tonight into Tuesday, with lesser chances lingering into Wednesday and Thursday. A few of the storms may be strong to severe by Tuesday with large hail the main threat. Some may also produce locally heavy rains, but likely not of sufficient duration to produce additional flooding. After a break late Thursday or Friday, additional chances for showers and storms return to the forecast over the weekend. There is a better potential for heavy rain which may lead to flooding by this time, but relegated to far southern Iowa and into Missouri.

The Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 135, has announced an Aviation Youth Rally will take place June 29th, from 8:30-a.m. until Noon, at the Atlantic Municipal Airport. The interesting, educational and fun FREE workshop is designed for youth ages 10 to 15, and will expose them to the exciting field of aviation. Sessions will be given in careers in aviation, airplanes and aerodynamics, along with information provided about airports and navigation.

Weather permitting, each child will also receive an FAA Young Eagle Program orientation flight, at no cost. A pizza luncheon will follow the workshop, and each child will receive a free t-shirt. Pre-registration is required. For more information, or to pre-register, call Brenda Neslon at 712-774-5499, or e-mail towring@hotmail.com, or call 712-249-0726 to request an application.

One person was arrest on drug charges and two others for assault over the weekend, in Cass County. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 39-year old Leonard Joseph Meyerhoff, of Atlantic, was arrested May 31st on an OWI/1st offense and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana charges. His arrest occurred after deputies investigated a report of a vehicle in a ditch off of 620th Street, at around 7:30-p.m. The investigation revealed Meyerhoff lost control of the 2000 Pontiac Grand Am he was driving on the gravel road, causing the vehicle to enter the north ditch. No injuries were reported, and the car was not damaged during the incident.

The Sheriff’s Department reports also the arrest on Saturday of 25-year old Jesse Cavin Meier, of Lewis. Meier was charged  with Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault. He was brought to the Cass County Jail, pled not guilty, and was released later that day. On Sunday, sheriff’s deputies arrested 28-year old Allen Michael Shampang, of Atlantic, on a charge of Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault. Shampang was taken to the Cass County Jail where was released the following day after pleading not guilty to the charge. And, on May 30th, 53-year old Barry Dean Schmidt, of Massena, was arrested on a charge of Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault. Schmidt was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released the following day after pleading not guilty before the magistrate.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also, the arrest on Saturday, of 30-year old Zachary Alan Frank, of Atlantic, on a charge of Driving While Suspended. Frank was taken to the Cass County Jail where was released later that day on $300 cash bond.

A Lenox woman was arrested Sunday afternoon following an altercation with police.

Holly Oliphant (Lenox P-D photo)

According to the Lenox Police Department, 39-year old Holly Oliphant was taken into custody at around 3-p.m., after officers were called to a residence on north Brooks Street, with regard to an out of control female. While Officers were trying to restore order, a person identified as Oliphant, allegedly pushed an officer. Oliphant was arrested for assault on a police officer. She was transported to the Adams County Jail and later posted bond before being released.

A man from southeast Iowa was sentenced Friday in Council Bluffs to 10-years in prison on methamphetamine conspiracy charges.31-year old Chandler Prather Robbins, IV, of Oskaloosa, received his sentence of 120 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence will be served consecutively with 60 months in prison for possession of a firearm in relation to the drug trafficking offense. Robbins is also required to serve a five-year term of supervised release following incarceration. The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa says Robbins pled guilty on February 8th, 2013, to the charges of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. 

Co-defendant Ray Allen Sutton, a 35 year-old resident ofCouncil Bluffs, was sentenced to 112 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Sutton is also required to serve a four-year term of supervised release following incarceration. Sutton pled guilty on January 10th, 2013, to the charges of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. 

The convictions were the result of a joint law enforcement investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine from Omaha into Council Bluffs, with final distribution in central Iowa. Robbins and Sutton were arrested on June 9th, 2012, for transporting over 10 ounces of pure methamphetamine to be distributed in central Iowa. 

The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Division of Narcotic Enforcement, SouthWest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Mid Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Three Council Bluffs men have been sentenced to prison on drug charges. The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa says 28-year old Dennis Smith, 26-year old Nicholas Barnes, and 29-year old Gene Smith, all of Council Bluffs, received their sentences Friday in Council Bluffs by U-S District Court Judge James E. Gritzner. Smith was sentenced to 84 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute marijuana and money laundering. He was also ordered to serve a five-year term of supervised release following incarceration. Smith pled guilty on February 13^th, 2013, to charges of conspiring to distribute marijuana and money laundering in the Omaha andCouncil Bluffs areas.

Barnes was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. The judge also ordered Barnes to serve a three-year term of supervised release following incarceration. Barnes pled guilty on February 8th, 2013, to a charge of conspiring to distribute marijuana in the Omaha and Council Bluffs areas. Gene Smith was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment for maintaining a drug involved premises. He was also ordered to serve a two-year term of supervised release following incarceration. Gene Smith pled guilty on February 8th, 2013, to a charge of maintaining a drug-involved premise in  Council Bluffs.

Co-defendant David L. Lopez, Jr., a 40 year-old resident of Omaha, was sentenced April 18th, 2013, to 48 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Lopez must also serve a three-year term of supervised release following incarceration. Lopez pled guilty on February 8, 2013, to a charge of conspiring to distribute marijuana in Omaha and Council Bluffs. Co-defendant Christopher Brandt, a 30 year-old resident of Council Bluffs, was sentenced March 8, 2013, to 36 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Brandt is also required to serve a four-year term of supervised release following incarceration. Brandt pled guilty on August 6, 2012, to a charge of conspiring to distribute marijuana in Omaha and Council Bluffs.

The convictions were the result of an investigation conducted by several law enforcement agencies into the importation and distribution of marijuana by a known drug trafficking group operating in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area from May of 2009, through March of 2012. The investigation was conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Department, the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Omaha Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotic Enforcement, the Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The IRS’ Criminal Investigation Division also contributed to the money laundering part of the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

One person was seriously injured following a collision between a semi and a sprayer vehicle this (Monday) morning, in Shelby County. Sheriff’s officials say the accident occurred at the intersection of County Roads F-32 and M-16, about two-miles west of Westphalia, at around 8:40-a.m.

The accident happened when a Case 3330 Patriot sprayer owned by Farm Service Co-op in Defiance, and driven by 48-year old Mark Schmitz, of Westphalia, and  a 2001 Peterbilt semi owned by Two Pair Trucking in Westphalia, and driven by 39-year old Thomas Muenchrath, of Earling, collided. 

Officials say the sprayer was stopped at the intersection of F-32 and M-15 facing south, while the semi was traveling west on F-32. After the sprayer pulled into the path of the semi, the vehicles collided and came to rest on the southwest corner of the intersection. Schmitz was not injured, and was able to remove himself from the sprayer. Muenchrath was pinned in the tractor portion of the semi, and had to be extricated by rescue personnel.

He was flown from the scene by LifeNet helicopter to a hospital in Omaha. A report on his condition is not available. Medivac Ambulance, along with personnel from the Westphalia and Panama Fire Departments and Earling Rescue, assisted Shelby County authorities at the scene of the crash.

(12:40-p.m. News)

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports that his department has made an arrest in connection with the recent string of residential garage burglaries and theft of property from motor vehicles in Clarinda. Brothers said 31-year old Joshua Jay Martin, of Clarinda, was arrested Friday on a complaint alleging Martin was exercising control over stolen property, in an amount in excess of $1,000.00, but less than $10,000.00.

Martin was found to be in possession of a large amount of property stolen in recent reported garage and vehicle break-ins. A search was also executed at Martin’s apartment located at 901 W. Tarkio, where a significant amount of stolen property was found. Brother’s said two officers suffered minor injuries, when Martin allegedly resisted arrest. Both officers were able to immediately return to duty.

Martin was being held in the Page County Jail on a $5,000 cash only bond. Brothers says an investigation into the burglaries and thefts continues, and he anticipates additional charges will be filed against Martin, once the Page County Attorney’s Office reviews all reports.

The Clarinda Police Department was assisted in the arrest of Mr. Martin and the search of Mr. Martin’s apartment by deputies with the Page County Sheriff’s Department.

(12-p.m. News)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following a rollover accident Sunday morning, about 8-miles northwest of Malvern. Authorities say Chad Hancock, of Council Bluffs, was traveling north on 302nd Street sometime before 5-a.m., when his 2005 Ford truck went out of control. The vehicle ended up in the north ditch just south of Gaston Avenue. After it entered the ditch, the truck hit an embankment and rolled onto its top. The sheriff’s report did not indicate if any citations were issued.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Department reports three people were arrested over the past few days. On Sunday, 47-year old Christina Elizabeth Jennings, of Glenwood, was arrested for Possession of Prescription drugs without a valid prescription. She was booked into the Mills County Jail and held on $1,000 bond. And, on Friday, deputies in Mills County arrested 42-year old George Leroy Holmes, of Council Bluffs, on a Possession of a Controlled Suubstance/Marijuana, charge. Also arrested Friday, on a charge of OWI/1st offense, was 46-year old Jeffrey Gerald Neppl, of Glenwood. Bond for both men was set at $1,000 each.