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Man arrested in IA for his role in a NE man’s death

News

July 23rd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A fourth person has been arrested in the July 7 shooting death of an Omaha man. Omaha police say 37-year-old Jason Rankin was arrested Friday in Iowa on unrelated charges and is being held on a Nebraska warrant charging him with first-degree murder in the death of 40-year-old Billy Allen Walker.

The arrest came two days after another man, 35-year-old Mark Gonzales, was arrested on warrant charging him with accessory to a felony in Walker’s death. On July 13, a couple was arrested in Texas in the case. Twenty-nine-year-old Adrian Ixta is charged with first-degree murder and weapons counts and 26-year-old Milea Ixta is charged as an accessory.

Iowa early News Headlines: Sunday, 7/23/2017

News

July 23rd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 4:45 a.m. CDT

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) — Officials are searching for the missing driver of a delivery truck that crashed into the Wapsipinicon River near Independence in eastern Iowa. The Courier reports that the mostly-submerged truck was found Friday morning by kayakers on the river. There was no sign of the driver. Authorities searched the area Friday, and the truck was removed from the river.

SUMNER, Iowa (AP) — Sumner city officials are working to deal with flooding that left some streets impassable and the post office flooded. And they’re doing it in the dark. The Courier reports the city of about 2,000 located some 35 miles northeast of Waterloo was without power most of Saturday following reports of as much as 10 inches of rain falling in 24 hours. The city’s main electrical carrier was down Saturday, and the municipal light plant that acts is a backup is flooded.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An employee of a Sioux City steel business has died after being pinned by a truck at his workplace. The Sioux City Journal reports that the man was pushed between storage racks inside TriView Steel and Supply on Friday when another person accidentally backed a vehicle into him. The man, who has not yet been identified, was taken to a Sioux City hospital, where he later died.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A parolee accused of shooting and killing an Iowa City taxi driver last month is being held on $1 million bond. The Press-Citizen report that the cash-only bond was set for 41-year-old Curtis Cortez Jones on Friday. . Jones has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 46-year-old cab driver Ricky Ray Lillie, who was found dead June 28 in his cab.

Bryant gallops home, Cubs rally in 8th, edge Cardinals 3-2

Sports

July 22nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

CHICAGO (AP) — Kris Bryant galloped home from first base on Anthony Rizzo’s bloop double, capping a three-run rally in the eighth inning that sent the Chicago Cubs over the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 Saturday in the ever-tightening NL Central race.

A classic pitchers’ duel between Jon Lester and Adam Wainwright kept it scoreless into the eighth. The Cubs began the day one game behind shaky Milwaukee for the division lead, with the Cardinals 3 1/2 back of the Brewers.

After Paul DeJong and Randal Grichuk hit two-out homers off Lester for a 2-0 lead, the Cubs came back. Ben Zobrist’s RBI double with two outs made it 2-1 and chased Wainwright. Bryant greeted reliever Matt Bowman (2-4) with a broken-bat single that tied it. Brett Cecil then relieved and on a 3-2 pitch, Rizzo followed a looper toward left-center. Bryant ran hard the whole way and slid home as catcher Yadier Molina couldn’t control center fielder Dexter Fowler’s one-hop throw.

Lester (7-6), who had a perfect game until Wainwright singled with two outs in the sixth, struck out 10. Wade Davis walked a pair with two outs before striking out Molina for his 19th saves in 19 chances.

EVELYN LOU SHELER, 88, formerly of Bridgewater (Svcs. 7/29/17)

Obituaries

July 22nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

EVELYN LOU SHELER, 88, of Sedalia, MO. (& formerly of Bridgewater) died Friday, July 21st, in Sedalia. Graveside services for EVELYN SHELER will be held 3-p.m. Saturday, July 29th, at the Garner Cemetery, in rural Bridgewater. Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield has the arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the Evelyn Sheler Memorial Fund to be established by the family at a later date.

EVELYN SHELER is survived by:

Her daughter – Colleen (Eldon) Fox.

Her son – Dennis (Evelyn) Sheler.

Her brother – Mark (Cindy) Mallory.

5 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great grandchildren, many other relatives, and friends.

Two arrests in Red Oak Friday night

News

July 22nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Two men were arrested on separate charges late Friday night, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, 27-year old Michael Todd Archer, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 10:56-p.m. in the 1900 block of E. Summit Street, for making false reports to Communications with Public Entities. Archer was being held Saturday in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

And, 20-year old Robert Michael Daugherty, of Elliott, was arrested at around 10:20-p.m. in the 2400 block of N. Broadway Street in Red Oak, for Public Intoxication. Daughtery was also being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

Deadline is month’s end for Iowa’s Job Honor Awards

News

July 22nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Nominees are being accepted through the end of the month for the fourth annual Iowa Job Honor Awards. Kyle Horn is the founder and director of the Des Moines-based America’s Job Honor Awards. Horn says they’re looking for people who have overcome workforce barriers to find success. The winners get cash prizes and more.

“We create biographical videos for all of our honorees,” Horn says. “The centerpiece of what we do is capturing their story on video. We’ve had some enormously moving stories in prior years of individuals who’ve overcome several challenges to employment.” Past winners have gotten past a host of difficulties that initially kept them from finding gainful employment.

“It may be some form of physical or mental disability, prior criminal convictions, perhaps it’s their status as a refugee or immigrants with limited English proficiency,” Horn says. “It’s really amazing to see how individuals have overcome employment barriers to find success in the workforce.” The top honorees will receive checks for 500 dollars and their employers will also be recognized. The deadline to enter is July 31st.

“We really look forward to receiving nominations from across the state,” Horn says. “We always like to see a diversity of employment barriers that have been overcome as well as a geographic diversity across the state of Iowa.” The winners will be recognized this fall at a ceremony scheduled for October 11th at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

Learn more about the program and how to nominate someone at jobhonor.org.

(Radio Iowa)

Woman threatens man w/a knife in Council Bluffs, robs him of a backpack

News

July 22nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

Police in Council Bluffs Saturday morning, arrested a woman in connection with the robbery at knife point, of a Council Bluffs man. 48-year old Laurall Miller was taken into custody for 1st degree robbery.

Authorities say at around 6-a.m., officers were called 3624 9th Avenue, in reference to a robbery. Upon arrival, officers made contact with 47-year old Timothy Lindeman, who told police Miller had approached him, displayed a folding knife and demanded he hand over his backpack or she would stab him.

Miller took the backpack and left the area on foot. Officers located Miller in the 3600 block of 7th Ave still in possession of the folding knife. She was taken into custody and booked into Pottawattamie County Jail.

Crash closed Vets Memorial Highway in the Council Bluffs/Omaha area Saturday morning

News

July 22nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

The operator of a motorcycle was transported to a hospital following a collision early Saturday morning with a car, in Council Bluffs. Bluffs Police say the accident happened at around 1:55-a.m. in the 4200 block of Veteran’s Memorial Highway.

According to the report, upon arrival officers located the motorcycle rider laying on the highway and the driver of the car was being held by witnesses. The rider of the motorcycle was conscious and responding to questions, he was transported to University of Nebraska Medical Center by the Council Bluffs Fire Department for treatment. The driver of the vehicle was transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections for processing for possibly driving while intoxicated.

The names had not been released as of 11-a.m. Saturday, and were being withheld pending notification of family members and further investigation. The motorcycle rider is in stable condition and his injuries do not appear to be life threatening.

Veteran’s Memorial Bridge was closed for a few hours, so officers can complete their investigation.

Iowa Arts Council awards 152 grants totaling $1.3 million

News

July 22nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Arts Council has awarded 152 grants totaling $1.3 million to artists and organizations in 66 Iowa communities. Among the awards is $3,000 to the Southwest Iowa Arts Council to present the Southwest Iowa Art Tour. The project connects people from rural communities to artists through a self-guided tour in an eight-county region.

The Poste Print Festival in Perry received a $1,895 grant for its one-day festival on Oct. 17 in a newly renovated 1913 post office. The festival celebrates original prints and the artists who created them. Public Space One received a $6,100 grant to bring three different artists to Iowa City for artist residencies that trace connections between the environment and people of color.

To view a list of grantees, visit www.iowaculture.gov .

Historic Iowa hotel to be converted into Marriot

News

July 22nd, 2017 by Ric Hanson

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A developer plans to spend $56 million to convert two historic buildings in downtown Sioux City into a nearly 150-room hotel that also includes luxury apartments, bars and restaurants.

The Sioux City Journal reports that St. Louis-based developer Restoration St. Louis plans to turn the former Warrior Hotel and Davidson building into a Marriot brand hotel. Sioux City developer Lew Weinberg’s investment company owns the two structures. Weinberg spokesman Roger Caudron says construction is expected to begin in early 2018 and should be completed for the summer of 2019.

Caudron says building officials are still negotiating with city leaders and a final-plan redevelopment is anticipated within the next few weeks. The two buildings are featured on the National Register of Historic Places.