Republicans and Democrats in the Iowa House have forged what they believe is a compromise that will let nursing home residents and their families know when registered sex offenders move into the home. It would also keep the state’s most violent sex offenders who’ve been kept in a special prison unit after their sentences have been served from being transferred to nursing homes. Representative Bruce Hunter, a Democrat from Des Moines, says it’s a good approach. “This issue does require kind of a fine, tight-roping act to make sure that we take care of some of our most vulnerable citizens of our state,” he says, “but yet make sure that we don’t trample over the rights of innocent people here.” The compromise plan passed the House Monday afternoon on a 97 to zero vote. Last week Democrats and Republicans in the Senate had a severe disagreement over this issue last week and it’s unclear whether the Democratically-led Senate will accept this latest plan developed in the House.

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa said Monday that 38-year old Jerry Lee Dawson, of Carson, was sentenced Friday to 14-months in prison for possessing a firearm as a felon.  United States District Court Senior Judge Ronald Longstaff, also ordered Dawson to serve a three-year term of supervised release following his incarceration.

On February 22nd, Dawson entered a guilty plea to possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony offense. The federal charge
arose from a traffic stop conducted by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department on June 29, 2011. During the traffic stop, a 12 gauge shotgun and ammunition were recovered from the vehicle Dawson was driving.

The investigation was conducted by the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office, Pott. County Attorney’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education will hold a work session Tuesday evening at the High School. On the agenda for their 7-p.m. session, is approval of resignations, a closed session, an update on the Schuler and Washington Building Leadership Teams (BLT), a report from Technology Coordinator Roger Warne, on a Technology Purchasing Plan, and discussion with regard to additional Elementary Classroom space.

State officials are planning a parade in Des Moines on Saturday, June 30th to honor the state’s veterans and those who are currently serving in the military. Governor Branstad wore his own Army uniform to make the announcement. “The parade will be similar to what we did in 1991 to welcome home the soldiers after the first war in the Gulf and I wore this uniform at that time,” Branstad said. “It’s the same uniform that I wore when I was in the service from ’69 to ’71.” Retired Colonel Robert King is the parade’s chief organizer and he’s collecting private donations to finance the event.

“You know, I look back to my great-great-granddad that was in the Civil War, started as a private then ended as a company commander marching down Pennsylvania Avenue (in Washington, D.C.),” King said. “And then, you know, looking at all the friends that served in Korea and then that those from Vietnam and a lot of those who are really stepping up to the plate and really want to make this a really neat celebration for the community.”

According to Iowa National Guard Adjutant General Timothy Orr, there are nearly 230-thousand veterans in Iowa and more than 15-thousand Iowans who are current members of the military. Iowans have served in every major U.S. conflict since the Mexican War in 1846. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the 60th anniversary of the Korean War and the start of a three-year-old commemoration of the start of the Vietnam War. Organizers like Orr plan for this parade to be a long-delayed tribute to those Vietnam veterans who weren’t welcomed home as current soldiers have been.

“There’s a generation there from the Vietnam era that I think this parade is going to have a special meaning,” Orr said. “It’s an opportunity for us to say, ‘Welcome home,’ to that generation that didn’t receive the same type of acolades and, more important, respect that this generation has serving today.” The parade will start at 10 a.m. at the state capitol, go west on Grand Avenue, then turn north up 2nd Avenue. It will end at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Call the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs for more information, or to register a parade entry.

(O. Kay Henderson/Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Department said today (Monday), several people were arrested on separate charges over the course of the past week and a-half. On Saturday, 30-year old Teresa Ann Brown, of Atlantic, was taken into custody on Cass County warrants for Child Endangerment and Failure to Secure Child. Brown was brought to the Cass County Jail where she was released later that day on $2,325 bond.  That same day, 39-year old Wesley Thomas Yanna, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear for Child Support Hearing. Yanna was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $2,000 bond. 

On Friday, 44-year old Clinton Lea Ashburn, of Greenfield, was arrested on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear for Child Support Hearing. Ashburn was taken to the Cass County Jail where he is being held on $2,000 bond. 

Last Thursday, 71-year old David Max Reynolds, of Elliott, was arrested on a charge of OWI/ 1^st Offense. Reynolds was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance. Also arrested Thursday, was 65-year old Frank Ernest Kutz, of St Paul, MN, who turned himself in to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office on a district court warrant for a Probation Violation. Kutz was booked into the Cass County Jail, where he was being held on $5,000 bond. And, 19-year old Shannen Taylor Tedford, of Cumberland, turned herself in to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of OWI/1^st Offense. The charge stems from a traffic stop which took place on December 21st, 2011. Tedford was booked into the jail, and then released. 

On April 15th, 39-year old Billy Joe Perry, of Poteau, OK, turned himself in to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of Theft 2^nd Degree. The charge resulted from an investigation into the theft from Cass County of a 2007 Yamaha Sportbike. The cycle was later recovered from a ditch in Montgomery County. Perry was booked into the Cass County Jail where posted $5000 bond and was released later that day. 

And, on April 12^th, Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 37-year old Isidro Reynago Montoya Gonzalez, of Anita, on a charge of OWI 1^st Offense, with regard to an incident which took place on January 30th. Gonzalez appeared before the magistrate and was subsequently booked into the jail and then released. That same day, deputies arrested 46-year old Sue Ellen Shobe, of Carlisle, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear to Serve Jail Time. Shobe was brought to the Cass County Jail where she finished serving her time and was later released.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s office reports today, five people were arrested last week on separate charges. On Friday, 25-year old Christy Ann Ward, of Sidney, was taken into custody for Driving Under Suspension. Last Wednesday, 22-year old Melanie Kristen Jura, of Hamburg, was arrested on a charge of Simple Domestic Assault.  On Tuesday, 22-year old Dnae Christine McConahay, of Malvern, was arrested for a Violation of her Parole.

On Monday, April 16th, 22-year old Thomas Michael Cash, of Glenwood, was arrested for burglary in the 3rd degree, Criminal Mischief in the 2nd degree, theft in the 3rd degree, and Conspiracy. And, on Sunday, April 15th, 26-year old Antonia Jacinto Mendiola, of Omaha, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The Atlantic Police Department reports one person was injured during an accident Friday evening at 7th and Cherry Streets. Officials say a vehicle driven by Michael Anderson, of Atlantic, rear-ended a vehicle driven by Judy Masker, also of Atlantic, at around 5:15-p.m., Friday. Masker was transported by a private vehicle to the Cass County Memorial Hospital to be treated for possible injuries. Damage from the accident amounted to $7,000.