AVOCA, Iowa (AP) — Prosecutors are expected to present their case Wednesday in the second trial against Robert Reynolds. Reynolds was convicted in November 2014 of killing 64-year-old Patricia Kinkade-Dorsey after a night of drinking at his and his wife’s Oakland home. Kinkade-Dorsey was a friend of his wife. The Iowa Appeals Court later ordered a new trial, ruling that the trial judge erroneously changed the trial location to the Pottawattamie County Courthouse in Council Bluffs from the East Pottawattamie County Courthouse in Avoca.

The Daily Nonpareil reports that prosecution and defense lawyers agreed to a nonjury trial in Avoca. Prosecutors also agreed to lower the charge against Reynolds to second-degree murder.
Defense attorney Bill McGinn says the prosecution will present its case Wednesday and the defense plans to have witnesses testify on Thursday.

Officials with the Creston Police Department report man was arrested Tuesday night on burglary, drug and weapon charges. 23-year old Jody Hill, of Creston, was arrested just before 9-p.m. at 601 New York Avenue, on charges that include Burglary in the 3rd degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st offense, Intimidation of a Dangerous Weapon and on two counts of Operate vehicle without owners consent. Hill was being held in the Union County Jail on $11,300 bond.

And, at around 12:37-a.m. today (Wednesday), 35-year old Shad Hanson, of Creston, was arrested in the 100 block of E. Irving, on charges of Public Intoxication and Interference with Official Acts. Hanson was being held in the Union County Jail on $600 bond.

The Atlantic City Council will meet in a regular session 5:30-p.m. today, at City Hall. During the meeting, the Council will hold the third and final reading of an Ordinance amending the current City Code, with regard to parking regulations. Police Chief Dave Erickson and Code Enforcement Officer Kris Kardell-Erickson proposed the change, due to ambiguity on where trailers can be parked, depending on the zone or use of a property.

During their last meeting, the Council requested certain changes be made to the amendment, especially with regard to the hours for loading and unloading a camper, from 24-to 48. In other business, Mayor Dave Jones is expected to make an announcement with regard to a Mediacom Fiber Community Presentation that will be held at City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 7^th, beginning at 6-p.m.

With Veterans Day approaching, new efforts are being made to encourage those who served — and their families — to pursue their dreams for opening or expanding small businesses. Darcella Craven is director the Veterans Business Outreach Center in St. Louis, which serves veteran entrepreneurs in Iowa and four other states. Craven explains the goals of this week’s National Veterans Small Business Week. “It’s helping to ensure that veterans and military families are educated on the number of resource partners that are out there and available for them to use, many times free of charge,” Craven says, “and that they are still moving down their road map of their business plan for their small business.”

More than 98-percent of the businesses in Iowa are small businesses. Craven says veteran-owned businesses are a critical pillar of the U-S economy as they contribute more than a trillion dollars to the nation’s annual total sales and receipts. “Many of those men and women and their families do come back after having served in the military,” Craven says, “they come back with so many valuable resources and experiences that they make really great small business owners because they can put the discipline and the dedication they had in the military into a small business.”

The outreach center is working with the Iowa District Office of the U-S Small Business Administration to offer veterans across Iowa both local and virtual events. “We do in-person seminars, and that could be something as simple as how do I choose the right marketing for my small business,” Craven says. “We also do webinars. We have a webinar series we conduct with the SBA every Wednesday at 11 AM. That covers a variety of topics from financing your small business to work-life balance.”

She notes veterans continue their service by contributing to the economy and by creating economic opportunities for other Americans.

(Radio Iowa)