Dive Team members from southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa conducted a search Tuesday for a Council Bluffs man missing since he jumped out of a boat into Hanson Lake Sunday morning. They recovered the man’s body Tuesday evening, not far from where he jumped in. The body of 34-year old Michael Hartsook, was discovered at around 7:30-p.m.  An autopsy has been scheduled. Officials say the lake will be open today (Wednesday). 

Dive teams from Red Oak, Clarinda, Adams, Cass and Ringgold Counties, participated in the search, scouring more than 12,000 square feet of the lake, which is located in Sarpy County, NE.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty to bludgeoning two people in their sleep with a crowbar.  The Sioux City Journal reports that 23-year-old James Kroll entered the plea Monday in Woodbury County District Court. Kroll is charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and first-degree burglary. Police say Kroll beat 54-year-old Jeffrey Moravek to death and seriously injured 54-year-old Mary Tope after breaking into Tope’s home on June 13. Tope remained hospitalized at Mercy Medical Center-Sioux City last week. An updated report on her condition is not available.
 
Police say Tope’s daughter, Emily Tope, was in the house at the time and identified Kroll, her former boyfriend. Court papers say Kroll was distraught that his relationship with Emily Tope had ended.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A federal grand jury has indicted a northwest Iowa couple on bank robbery, conspiracy and firearm charges.  The Sioux City Journal says 47-year-old Jeffrey Schoon and 40-year-old Roxena Schoon are accused of robbing four banks.  Jeffrey Schoon pleaded not guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City. Roxena Schoon is scheduled to be arraigned July 12.
 
The indictment alleges that the Wall Lake, Iowa couple robbed Iowa State Bank in Odebolt on Dec. 29, Citizens First National Bank in Early on Jan. 11, Westside State Bank in Vail on Jan. 28 and Heritage Bank in Lytton on March 23. A total of nearly $33,000 was stolen.
 
 The indictment says Jeffrey Schoon robbed the bank, and his wife drove the getaway car.

There’s no shortage of activities taking place on this Independence Day, 2012. Several area communities are celebrating, with parades this morning, and fireworks tonight. Among them, is Atlantic, where the Jaycees are once again sponsoring the fireworks show out at the Atlantic Municipal Airport. Tom Welchens says the same people that put on the display last year, will be in town again this year. The show begins at dusk, there will be a d-j providing patriotic music before and during the show, there will be “bounce houses” for the kids, and the Kiwanis will have a food stand. 

They’ll begin parking cars at 7-p.m. Parking is not allowed along the airport road.  The cost to attend is your free-will donation, which will be accepted at the airport. Welchens says donations from the community throughout the year help to pay for the show, as well. Welchens says the fireworks package costs about $6,000.

The day begins with the annual Flight breakfast, from 7-11am. It costs six-dollars per plate, and is a great time for the family to meet with pilots from all over the Midwest who come to Atlantic for the event. Pancakes will be served by “The Pancake Man,” along with all the fixings and sides. The Jaycees say they are expecting a big crowd this year, because the 4^th of July falls in the middle of the week, and many families will likely stay close to home.

Fourth of July Celebrations that began last Saturday in Exira, and continued into early this week, culminate today with many more activities, including foot races in front of the elementary school, at 9-a.m., and the big, annual parade at Legion Park, starting at 10:30. The theme for this year’s parade is “Hometown Traditions.” Judy Bintner, with the Exira Community Club, says the Grand Marshall is a City Employee with many years of service to the community.” The honor goes to recently retired City Clerk Jean Peterson, and newly appointed City Clerk Jane Jessen.”

The route for this year’s parade is unchanged from last year. Bintner says it’s always a good idea to find a spot to enjoy the parade before it begins, and there are plenty of areas for you to stake out your viewing point. Following the parade there are lots of activities throughout the day, including entertainment in the City Park from one- until five-p.m. There’s also the Grand River Rodeo, which gets underway at Kickapoo Park, beginning at 2-p.m. They’ve had a rodeo before in Exira, but it’s the first time it’s been held on the 4^th of July. 

Check out the complete list of activities on the KJAN.com website under the “Daily Diary” tab. The Grand Fireworks display the Exira Football Field, begins at 9:45-p.m.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report one person was taken into custody early this (Wednesday) morning, on an assault charge. 38-year old Becky Lynn Oglesbee, of Corning, was arrested just before 1-a.m. on a charge of simple assault. Authorities say Oglesbee was arrested for an alleged incident of assault which occurred at the Villisca American Legion hall. She was brought to the Montgomery County Jail, booked-in and later released on a $300 cash bond.

While some parts of the state have been without rain for more than a week, there are currently no burn bans are in place in Iowa. Dubuque County will be under a burn ban starting Thursday morning. The head of the state fire marshal’s arson and explosives bureau says it’s important with the dry conditions to be especially careful celebrating the Fourth of July. Ron Humphrey says things could be worse. “It’s not quite as bad as it is in the spring or fall, when everything is all dried out, at least the grass and the crops are still green but keep in mind a small fire could spread quickly with the right conditions, and the right material,” Humphrey says.

“Use good safety precaution when using the fireworks we want to make sure that with the dry conditions that when you use sparklers or shooting off fireworks by permit the area is safe for both people and the surrounding environment,” according to Humphrey. The Dubuque County burn ban goes into effect at eight a-m Thursday. More counties could be added in the next few days without significant rain to improve the dry conditions.

(For a current chart of all counties included in a burn ban, go to: http://www.dps.state.ia.us/fm/main/burnbans/index.shtml)

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

Officials with Ziegler announced on Tuesday, that as an approved National FFA scholarship sponsor it has, in cooperation with AGCO, awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Katelyn Blake, a high school graduate from Walnut, for the 2012–13 school year.

Katelyn Blake

With support from local FFA chapters, the scholarship program was offered through more than 55 Massey Ferguson, Challenger, and Gleaner dealers across the United States. Ziegler awarded a total of five scholarships this year.

Dick Emmerich, general sales manager, Ziegler Ag Division, said, “We are very excited to be a part of this great new program and assist Katelyn in reaching her long-term educational goals. Agriculture is constantly changing and providing new opportunities. There’s no question in my mind that our support of scholarships through the FFA will strengthen the agricultural interests of young people in our communities.”

Scholarship selection takes into consideration FFA involvement, work experience, community service, leadership skills, and academics, and is based on academic records, FFA achievements, leadership, and other school and community activities. Supervised agricultural experience (SAE) programs and future goals are all considered in the scholarship award.

Founded in 1914, Ziegler is a family-owned company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., employing more than 1,450 people in 23 communities in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri.

(Ziegler Press Release)

The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) reminds motorists that an Iowa Administrative Rule which takes effect July 4th will eliminate the provision that allowed the DOT to grant a medical exemption from the minimum standard of window transparency provision set forth in a subrule, and permit dark window tinting of a vehicle registered in Iowa. In the past, a driver with a medical condition could request a physician’s exemption from the minimum standard of transparency for vehicle windows.

While new exemptions will not be granted, those who have a previously approved exemption will continue to be exempt from the minimum transparency rule. The exemption form must be carried at all times in the vehicle to which it applies. At such time that a vehicle is no longer used to transport the passenger or operator that is the subject of a previously granted exemption, the exemption expires. The exemption cannot transfer to any replacement vehicle purchased after July 3rd, 2012.

Once no longer used for these transportation purposes, the owner of the vehicle to which the exemption applied must return the vehicle to conformance with the minimum standard of transparency within 60 days of expiration of the exemption. Pursuant to Iowa Code, a person shall not operate on the highway a motor vehicle equipped with a front windshield, front side window or front side wing that is excessively dark or reflective. “Excessively dark or reflective” means that the glass does not meet a minimum standard of transparency of 70 percent light transmittance.