The Atlantic Police Department reports the arrest Wednesday, of 19-year old Mathew Kern, of Atlantic. Kern was taken into custody on a charge of Driving While License Revoked. Kern was brought to the Cass County Jail and held pending an appearance before the magistrate.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will meet Friday morning, in Atlantic. During their 9-a.m. session at the courthouse, the Board will receive a report from Public Safety Committee Chair Steve Livengood, with regard to relocation of the Public Safety/Communications Center. Last October, the Supervisors gave permission for Livengood to begin a fact-finding mission in advance of a possible, future expansion and/or relocation of the County Communications Center.

Livengood said the reason the Commission wants to explore all the options, is because the Comm Center…located in the basement of the Courthouse, is beginning to run out of room, and future equipment needs are likely to press the space to the limit. In other business, the Cass County Board of Supervisors will discuss and possibly act on the temporary closure of roads near the Atlantic Municipal Airport, in preparation for the September 15th “Fly Iowa Heritage and Homecoming Show.”

The Board will also act on authoring Board Chair Duane McFadden to sign the final Iowa DOT contract construction voucher with Henningsen Construction, as it pertains to a resurfacing project on County road M-56, north of Marne. They’ll also act on a resolution for a public hearing on the vacating of a portion of 662nd Lane (Benton Township/Section 7), and, act on appointing a member and alternate to the Southwest Iowa Mental Health Planning Committee.

At 10:30-a.m., the Board will discuss an economic development project in the Amaizing Energy Urban Renewal Area, with guest Kathy Schowalter, from Planscape Partners.

w/ Ric Hanson

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A Council Bluffs man was injured and taken into custody early this (Thursday) morning, following a chase and crash. The Iowa State Patrol says 18-year old Jaramiah Michael Droescher, of Council Bluffs, lost control of the 2006 Kawasaki motorcycle he was driving at around 3:10-a.m., while he was being pursued for speeding. The bike crashed near the intersection of 23rd Avenue and south 35th Street in Council Bluffs. Droescher suffered minor injuries, and was transported to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs for treatment, before being booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail felony charges. The Patrol says the cycle he was driving, had been reported stolen.

The Atlantic Police Department, Wednesday afternoon, issued a warning to residents of the City to lock the doors on their homes and vehicles. The warning follows two recent residential burglaries which occurred in the City. Officials say the burglaries took place in broad daylight, when people were at work or school. The Atlantic P-D is also asking residents to be on the lookout for suspicious activity in the area, such as a person or persons who are not normally seen in your neighborhood, or who are acting in a suspicious manner.

Officials say if you should happen to come home and find it has been broken into, immediately exit the residence and call police. Entering the home and tampering with touched objects can result in possible lost evidence, and, there is a chance the suspect or suspects may still be in the residence.

Police in Council Bluffs report two men who robbed a store Wednesday evening, used a stun gun to carry out an attack on an employee of the store. The men got away with an undetermined amount of cash, and officials say the robbery is believed to be linked to another robbery at the same store on August 24th.

Authorities say Wednesday’s robbery at the Exotic Gift Store (1409 W. Broadway, in Council Bluffs), occurred at around 7:50-p.m, when two black male suspects entered the store acting at first as if they were patrons. When a male store employee asked to see their identification, one of the suspects pulled out a stun gun and began attacking the employee, while the other suspect went around the store grabbing cash. All the while, the first suspect continued to use the stun gun on the store employee.

The suspect using the stun gun is believed to be the same person involved in the August 24th robbery of the Exotic Gift Store, during which a similar attack was carried out. Both incidents remain under investigation.

(Updated for expanded Red Flag Warning)

The National Weather Service has issued a “Red Flag Warning“ for all counties along and north of Highway 30, from Onawa to Ames.  The warning is in effect until 8-p.m. A Red Flag Warning is issued for extreme fire conditions, in particular: hot, dry air; southwest winds of 15-25 miles per hour, with gusts of 30-to-35; along with very low humidity. Officials say the drying of grasses in the area as well as field crops is underway, and ahead of schedule, given the hot and dry conditions. Any fires that do start, will spread rapidly due to the dry conditions and strong southwesterly winds. The combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and very hot temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential.

Montgomery County Deputy Auditor Kevin Norris, Wednesday, released the final list of names of the candidates who have filed to run in the November 6th General Election. The deadline to file nomination papers was 5-p.m. Wednesday. One person whose name won’t appear on the ballot, is Montgomery County Auditor Ted Schoonover, who has accepted a City Administrator’s position in Caledonia, MN. Schoonover’s Chief Deputy, Stephanie Burke has filed a petition to have her name on the ballot. Schoonover is endorsing Burke for the position, saying she would serve the county well for many years to come.

Other positions and candidates’ names for those positions that will appear on the ballot in Montgomery County in November, include:  (the number in parentheses indicated the number of seats available for that position)

Montgomery County Ag Extension (5)

1. Karen Klocke
2. Michael J Olson
3. Sabrina Johnson
4. Carroll Freeman
5. Timothy L. Kammerer
6. William Drey

Montgomery County Auditor (1)

1. Stephanie Burke (NP)

Montgomery County Sheriff (1)

1. Joseph Sampson (REP)

Montgomery County Supervisor District #3

1. Bryant Amos  (REP)

Montgomery County Supervisor District #5

1.  Donna Robinson (REP)

Montgomery County Hospital Trustees (2) 6 year term

1. Kathy J Carlson
2. Kevin Cabbage
   

Montgomery County Soil & Water 3 (4) year term & 1 (2 year term to fill vacancy)

1. Kirk Baird
2. Rick Carlson
3. Rodney Hart
4. Gary Querry

Douglas Township Trustee (3) (1 to fill a vacancy) – No candidates have filed

East Township Trustee (2)

1. Patricia A Victor

Frankfort Township Trustee (2) – No candidates have filed

Garfield Township Trustee (2) – No candidates have filed

Grant Township Trustee (3) (1 to fill a vacancy)

1. Dennis Carlson
2. John Sunberg
3. Dwayne Vennergerg
   

Lincoln Township Trustee (3) (1 to fill a vacancy) – No candidates have filed

Pilot Grove Township Trustee (2) – No candidates have filed

Red Oak Township Trustee (2)

1. Howard O Olson
2. Michael J Olson

Scott Township Trustee (2) – No candidates have filed

Sherman Township Trustee (3) (1 to fill a vacancy) – No candidates have filed

Sherman Township Clerk (1) 2 year term – No candidates have filed

Washington Township Trustee (2)

1. Lorin Petersen

West Township Trustee (3) (1 to fill a vacancy)

1. David Gohlinghorst
2. Larry Heuer
3.  
   

Villisca City Council (1) to fill a vacancy

1. 1.      Rex Galloway

The jury in the Roger Ericksen sex abuse trial went home late Wednesday evening, after hearing testimony and closing arguments that morning and afternoon.

Roger Ericksen testifies at his trial, Wednesday afternoon.

Fourth District Court Judge Kathleen Kilnoski read them their instructions prior to the State’s closing arguments by Cass County Attorney Dan Feistner, which lasted just over 45-minutes, and Defense Attorney Theodore Wonio, whose close lasted for just under 10-minutes. Feistner then offered a 10-minute rebuttal before the jurors were sequestered, at around 6-p.m. It didn’t them long to decide that they would resume deliberations at 9-a.m. Thursday, and possibly render a verdict that same day.

During the afternoon session, jurors heard from witnesses for the defense, most of whom basically characterized the 52-year old Lewis man who served as a foster parent to the alleged victim, as being low-key, with a good sense of humor, yet strict in a parental fashion, as he would be with his own children. Those same witnesses portrayed the 14-year old alleged female victim as someone who had a tendency to tell what amounted to “white lies,” with regard to her homework and other issues. One witness even described the girl as a “drama queen,” who makes up stories just to get attention.

The witnesses also claimed they never saw anything improper going on in the Ericksen home, and were shocked to learn of the allegations. A couple of those who testified for the defense, were even incredulous to the fact Ericksen had sex toys in his bedroom, which he claimed were for the pleasure of himself and his wife. Some of those same sex toys were allegedly used as part of the sexual assault of the teenaged girl.

Late Wednesday morning, jurors heard from Lisa Johnson, with Project Harmony, a child advocacy and protection group, in Omaha. Johnson said she performed medical tests on the alleged victim four days after she was removed from the Ericksen home in July of 2011. Johnson testified that there was no evidence of vaginal tearing, scaring or injury that might occur with a rape or sexual assault, but she added that any lack of evidence may be because of the timing of the tests. A fact reiterated during closing arguments by Prosecutor Dan Feistner.

Ericksen, an Elk Horn-Kimballton High School grad and veteran of the U-S Army, took to the stand Wednesday afternoon, and vehemently denied anything to do the allegations brought against him. During cross-examination by Feistner, Ericksen was asked if there was any reason the alleged victim in the case would make claims he sexually assaulted her. He said it’s his belief his foster child was looking for a way to get back home to her biological mother. Ericksen and his wife Deb, who had been licensed foster care providers since 2005, voluntarily surrendered their license once the allegations became known.