Crime victims who want to know when a registered sex offender moves locations, or anyone who wants information on sex offenders moving into our out of designated areas, can now register for real-time notifications through a new addition to the state’s sex offender registry website.

Sample text message from “Offender Watch” (DPS provided image)

The new option, called “Offender Watch,” enables crime victims and others to receive a confidential automatic notification via phone or text message of a registered sex offender’s change in residence when the offender notifies the state of the change.

An email notification system has been available for several years. The addition of the mobile notifications gives users the ability to stay with information as they move. Offender Watch also notifies users when a convicted sex offender moves in or out of an area defined by the user.  Registered users can set up a “watch” using an address and a specified distance around that address.  Users will receive text, voice, or email notices each time a registered sex offender moves into or out of that area, or moves to a new location within that area.  Users may also create watches based on a city, county, zip code, or a specific registrant or group of registrants.

The Iowa Sex Offender Registry was established by law in 1995. Currently, more than 5,700 convicted sex offenders are registered on the Iowa Sex Offender Registry.  In fiscal year 2012, offenders registered more than 3,400 address changes. To sign up for Offender Watch or learn more about the Iowa Sex Offender registry go to www.IowaSexOffender.com.

The Cass County Chapter of the American Cancer Society is seeking decorators for it’s 26th Annual Festival of Trees to be held November 29 through December 2 at the Catholic Parish Center in Atlantic. Caryn Barbero-Just, Project Chair, says “It’s hard for some people to think about Christmas in October, but the registration deadline is November 17, which is only five weeks away!”

Festival of Trees is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Individuals, businesses, and organizations lend their time and talents to create seasonal displays of trees, wreaths, quilts, vignettes and/or collections for the public to enjoy.  Many decorators use Festival as an opportunity to honor a loved one, advertise a business, showcase an achievement, announce an event, do a service project, share a pastime/collection, or just get together. Organizers suggest looking through the pictures from the last four Festivals on their Facebook page, Festival of Trees! (Atlantic, IA), for ideas.

Set up times for the event will be Tuesday, November 27, from 10am-8pm and Wednesday, November 28, from 10am-2pm. No decorating is allowed after 2pm on Wednesday. There is no fee to participate and the displays are not sold. Anyone interested in participating can contact Barbero-Just at 254-0989 or casscofestivaloftrees@hotmail.com for more information.

Shelby County Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert today (Thursday) advised the Fire Danger Index in his County is currently rated as “High.” Seivert says he expects winds to be strong this afternoon, and if there are any active fires, they will monitor the weather components very closely, and advise the local Incident Commander of dangerous conditions. Seivert says there should be NO OPEN BURNING in Shelby County today. The next local Fire Danger notice will be on Monday, Oct. 15th, unless unexpected changes in conditions occur.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced today (Thursday), that four Louisiana men face 76 counts and nearly $86,000 in fines and civil damages for allegedly killing five deer illegally in southwest Iowa last November. The DNR says 41-year old James Keith Moore,  of Hammond, La., and 45-year old Michael D. Fralick,  of Ponchatoula, La., were charged with 32 counts each of deer related violations in four different counties in southwest Iowa. Moore and Fralick were each fined $6,123.90. The state is also seeking $25,000 in civil damages from each man for the deer they allegedly killed illegally. In addition, 46-year old Stanley B. Russell, of Roseland, La., and 39-year old William H. Chambliss,  of Kentwood, La., were charged with six counts each of deer related violations in Montgomery County. Russell and Chambliss were each fined $1,823.40.  The state is seeking $10,000 in civil damages from each man for their role in the alleged poaching activity. The state has also requested forfeiture of four rifles the individuals used to shoot the deer.

The investigation began in late November when the Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department received a TIP call from a concerned citizen about the activities of these men. The information led authorities to possible illegal activity in Iowa. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources received a TIP call about illegal deer activity around the same time that linked the two cases together. Deb Howe, state conservation officer for the Iowa DNR, said “These men came to Iowa specifically to road hunt trophy bucks during the rut. They did not have any licenses or tags to hunt in Iowa during the time they were here.”

A 10 month investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Louisiana Department of Game & Fish, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks culminated in the 76 wildlife-related counts being filed against four Louisiana men.  Fralick, Russell and Chambliss face similar charges in Kansas. An initial court date will be scheduled for November.

Information received through the TIP hotline in both Iowa and Kansas was critical in this investigation.  If you have information on wildlife crimes please call TIP of Iowa at 1-800-532-2020 you can remain anonymous.

In a follow-up to our earlier report, officials say a Villisca teen who was arrested Tuesday morning, faces a felony charge of Making Terrorist Threats. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 13-year old Cordell Straw was taken into custody at around 9-a.m., Tuesday. Formal charges were filed Wednesday. Authorities told the Omaha World-Herald the teen had allegedly threatened to burn down the home of a teacher. The threat was made in school, on October 2nd.

School officials say with other legal action in progress, the boy will not face disciplinary action at the school.  Straw is being held at the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs.

The Atlantic Police Department reports a collision between a pickup and a car Wednesday evening in the 200 block of West 7th Street resulted in an Atlantic woman being sent to the hospital. Officials say vehicles driven by Dennis Phillips and Marjorie Bell, both of Atlantic, were traveling west on 7th Street at around 5:10-p.m., when Bell slowed to turn right into an alley between Locust and Poplar Streets. As she slowed down, her car was hit from behind by Phillips’ pickup. The collision caused the car to travel west of the alley and into a tree. Bell, who was reportedly trapped in the vehicle for a short time after the crash, was transported to the Cass County Hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. No citations were issued. Damage to Bell’s vehicle amounted to $10,000, while Phillips’ truck sustained $1,500 damage.

Authorities in Red Oak report the arrest of a local man on drug charges. According to the Red Oak Police, 22-year old Shane Michael Murley, of Red Oak, faces a Drug Possession charge. Murley was taken into custody early this (Thursday) morning. He was being held in the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on $5,000 bond.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A woman was reportedly trapped in her car following a two-vehicle collision Wednesday evening in Atlantic. According to dispatches from the Cass County Communications Center, the accident happened in the 200 block of West 7th Street, at around 5:10-p.m.,  and involved a pickup and a car. The car came to rest against a tree. One person was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac Ambulance. Additional details concerning the crash are expected later this morning.

One person was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Red Oak, following an investigation into a reported incident of domestic abuse. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says 42-year old Amy L. Schmadeke was charged with Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault. She was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

And, Red Oak Police report the arrest Wednesday of 35-year old Erik Allan Appley, of Red Oak. Appley was picked-up on a Red Oak P-D warrant for Failure to Appear on a Drug Paraphernalia Possession charge. Appley was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $300 bond.