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Board overturns order to release records from Iowa shooting

News

August 18th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Public Information Board has voted to keep private a detailed log of records compiled by law enforcement about a fatal police shooting. The Hawk Eye reports that the board’s 7-1 decision on Thursday overturns an administrative law judge’s ruling that said the records from the Burlington Police Department and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation should be released.

The vote addresses a narrow part of the case involving Burlington officer Jesse Hill, who accidentally shot 34-year-old Autumn Steele in January 2015 while responding to a fight between Steele and her husband. At issue is whether the agencies should release the police officer’s body camera footage in its entirety.

A 12-second video of the incident has been made public, prompting law enforcement agencies to argue they’ve complied with Iowa law.

Delayed accident report: Creston woman injured in Cass County rollover

News

August 18th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Friday), released information about an accident that took place one week ago. Authorities say on Friday, August 11th at approximately 6-p.m., Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident on 680th Street in Cass County. Officials say a 2008 Chevy Malibu owned and driven by 56-year old Susan Davenport Fineout, of Creston, was northbound on 680th when she lost control of the car on the loose gravel. The vehicle rolled over once into the east ditch before coming to rest back on its wheels. Finehout was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Cumberland Rescue. Damage to the car was estimated at $10,000.

The Sheriff’s Office said also, deputies arrested 22-year old Thomas Williamson Bruning, of Griswold. Bruning was taken into custody this (Friday) morning, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. He was being held in the Cass County Jail on $2,000 bond.

Iowa resort inn going up for sale again

News

August 18th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

WEST LAKE OKOBOJI, Iowa (AP) – A historic resort in northwest Iowa is up for sale, marking another turn for a property that has been owned by six financial institutions since 2013. The Sioux City Journal reports that The Inn at Okoboji Resort & Conference Center at West Lake Okoboji is being sold in an online private auction in September.

Jon Hjelm is a broker for The ACRE Co. and will oversee the auction. He says the current owners are happy with recent improvements but that they feel like it’s a good time to sell. It’s unclear how much the property could sell for. The Dickinson County Assessor’s Office values the resort at more than $4.2 million for tax purposes.

The resort has more than 150 rooms, 400 feet of lakefront area and a golf course.

Police: Iowa man tried to sell stolen fridge back to owner

News

August 18th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa man accused of trying to sell a stolen refrigeration unit back to its owner has pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 38-year-old Roger Otts of Council Bluffs pleaded guilty to the theft charge and probation violation on Thursday.

Authorities say Otts stole a refrigeration unit worth $12,000 from a trucking company and tried to sell it back to the owner for $8,000. Authorities say Otts was unaware that the owner was disguised as a buyer. Otts was arrested that day.

As a habitual offender, Otts must serve at least three years behind bars if he violates his two-year probation term. He was ordered to serve 90 days for previous parole violations.

Backyard & Beyond 8-18-2017

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

August 18th, 2017 by Jim Field

LaVon Eblen visits with Carole Schuler, Volunteer Coordinator for the Cass County Health System and Public Health, about the reserve medical corps program.

Play

Iowa’s July unemployment rate remains 3.2 percent

News

August 18th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s unemployment rate remained at 3.2 percent in July. The state’s Workforce Development agency reported Friday the rate remained steady amid a drop in the number of Iowa residents with jobs and an unemployment increase to 54,400 in July.

The agency noted increases in manufacturing jobs as well as in hospitality and trade and transportation. There was a drop in construction jobs. Iowa’s 3.2 percent July unemployment rate compares to a 3.7 percent rate a year ago. The national unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in July.

SD man arrested for theft in Pott. County; Adams Co. woman arrested on Pott. County warrant

News

August 18th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 12:50-a.m. today (Friday), of 41-year old Dustin Hoffman Stevens, of Grand Forks, SD. Stevens was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree, after a Deputy saw a 2006 Nissan Sentra on 430th Street, just south of Highway 92. The vehicle had its hazard lights on. A check of the license plate revealed the plate had been reported stolen from Council Bluffs.

The Sheriff’s Office reports also, 33-year old Mescha Jackson, of Prescott (IA), was arrested at around 12:45-a.m. today (Friday), for Contempt of Court. Authorities say at around 11:30-p.m. Thursday, Pott. County Dispatch advised a deputy that Taylor County had a woman in their custody on a warrant out of Pott. County, and that the woman was the breast feeding mother of an infant.

Taylor County officials had tried to get bond for the woman taken care of, but the judge ruled she needed to be transported to Pott. County. A Contempt of Court warrant does not have a bond associated with it until the defendant is seen by a magistrate. A Deputy from Taylor County and a Pott. County Deputy arranged to meet each other in Red Oak, so the woman could be further transported to the Pott. County Jail. Jackson was read the warrant and turned over to jail staff.

Suspicious activity leads to an arrest in Pott. County

News

August 18th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

An observant Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s deputy arrested a man Thursday morning, after he learned the man had a warrant for domestic abuse assault. Deputy Stewart was on patrol at around 8-a.m. Thursday in the rural, southeast side of Council Bluffs, when he noticed two men standing in front of a residence in the 1200 block of N. Larchmont Drive. His report said there were no vehicles in the area, and the men appeared to be watching for someone or something.

Knowing that multiple theft reports had been received from the area, the Deputy made contact with the two men, who said they were construction workers, waiting for their boss to arrive. Deputy Stewart noticed the men were not dressed for construction work. Instead, they wore athletic clothing, and one of the men was wearing sandals.

An identity check determined the men to be 26-year old Joel Main and James Urso. When a records check was conducted, the deputy learned Main was wanted on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault by impeding airflow. The man was taken into custody and transported to the Pott. County Jail where he was booked-in.

2 incidents of theft in Creston

News

August 18th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The Creston Police Department says two residents have reported incidents of theft, Thursday. A 1987 camouflage-style Ford F-150 pickup was stolen from a residence off of High and Dry Road within the past few days. The vehicle was valued at $1,000.

And a woman from Creston said that sometime on Aug. 12th, someone got into her purse while it was on a table in the basement of the 3 Mile Lake lodge. The thief took cash, and prescription medication. The loss was estimated at $800.

LOU ETTA MADELINE SMITH, 92, of Elk Horn (8-26-2017)

Obituaries

August 18th, 2017 by Jim Field

LOU ETTA MADELINE SMITH, 92, of Elk Horn died Tuesday, August 15th at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn.  Memorial Services for LOU ETTA MADELINE SMITH will be held on Saturday, August 26th at 10:30 am at the Stuart-Mt.Vernon United Methodist Church.

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Visitation will be held on Saturday prior to the services from 9:00-10:30.

Interment will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery north of Menlo, Iowa

LOU ETTA MADELINE SMITH is survived by:

Daughter: Cindra (Jim) Heilesen of Kimballton

Son: Monty (Cindy) Smith of Earlham.

Sister: Willa (Kenneth) Thompson of Klammath Falls, OR

7 Grandchildren

11 Great –Grandchildren

9 Great-Great-Grandchildren

And many nieces and nephews.