A Des Moines man was sentenced Wednesday, September 6, 2023, to six years in prison following his guilty plea to receipt of child pornography.

According to court documents, over the course of several months in 2022, 55 year old Matthew John Marcalus used Instagram to communicate with a fifteen-year-old child. During these conversations, Marcalus engaged in sexually explicit chats, and solicited and received photos of the child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Marcalus also sent the child photos of Marcalus’s genitals. Eventually, law enforcement became involved and communicated with Marcalus while posing as the fifteen-year-old child. Officers arrested Marcalus when he arrived at a location to meet the child.

Following his prison term, Marcalus must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.

The Ankeny Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Leemkuil prosecuted the case.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Iowa is known as the king of corn but lately, there also appears to be a bumper crop of acorns. Anyone who’s taken a walk near oak trees has crunched across many hundreds of the dime-sized seeds with the cute caps. Mike Reinikainen (rain-ee-KY-nen) is a silviculturist (SILL-vah-culturalist), or an expert forester, and he says that abundance of acorns is called “oak masting” and it’s a cycle of nature.

Iowa’s been weathering a drought for several years and we’ve seen a slew of hundred-degree records set in recent weeks. Reinikainen says that’s all playing a role in the oak masting as fall approaches.

Iowa homeowners with oaks on their property don’t need to be concerned. Reinikainen says there is -no- evidence to suggest acorns damage your lawn by changing the p-H balance of the soil, but most people rake them up as a matter of comfort for bare feet or because they’re unsightly.

Red Oak Police report that on Friday, September 8th at about 9:00 am officer conducted a traffic stop in the 100 block of North 2nd Street.  After investigating, officers arrested 39 year old Ryan Nelson for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Driving under Suspension.  Nelson was held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond.

This Sunday is World Suicide Prevention Day and Iowa health officials are working to raise awareness about the free, confidential, round-the-clock help that’s available through the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Julie Maas (MOSS), Iowa’s 9-8-8 project director, says they’re focusing not just on the state’s larger cities, but also remote areas.

The Lifeline was launched in July of last year and has since had contacts with more than 40-thousand people across Iowa, most of them through phone calls but some via text or chat.

Suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in Iowa, but it’s number-two for those between the ages of ten and 35. Roughly one in five people who reach out to the Lifeline in Iowa are considering taking their own lives. The rest may be experiencing some sort of crisis, which can range from having a car that won’t start to being diagnosed with cancer.

A report released in May from Trust for America’s Health shows 549 Iowans died by suicide in 2021, which is a drop of three-percent from the year before.

Creston Police arrested Jaden Justus Loe Thursday afternoon on a Union County warrant for Going Armed with Intent, Reckless Use of a Firearm with Property Damage and Criminal Mischief on the second degree.  Police report the charges stem from an incident in Creston on June 14, 2023 where several rounds were fired at a residence in Creston.  Several spent shell casings were recovered from the scene and sent to the Division of Criminal Investigation lab to be analyzed.

Police say additional arrests are pending as a result of this incident.

Also, in an unrelated incident Thursday, police arrested 42 year old David Junior Richman of 305 North Elm Street in Creston at his residence.  Richman was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Richman was cited and released on a promise to appear.

If you travel on U.S. 30 near Woodbine in Harrison County you need to be aware of a bridge replacement project that may slow down your trip beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 3 through Tuesday, Oct. 24, weather permitting.

While construction crews work on this project, you will be detoured around the work zone using Iowa 37, Iowa 191, and Harrison County Road F-32.

Help keep everyone on the road safer. Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

Over the summer, the Atlantic FFA participated in several different livestock judging contests across the area; all of which at county fairs.  Livestock judging is all about analyzing animals, whether that be beef, swine, sheep, or goat, and how they compare with one another as well as how they compare to an ideal standard.  At most local events, teams up to four will just have to place four animals in the most optimal order, while at state events and above, contestants will have to give specific reasoning for their choices.

The first contest that members attended was at the Adams County Fair, which is where Team 1 placed 7th and Team 2 placed 15th.  The first team included Miraylie Stuart, Lily Johnson, and Lauren Comes, who placed 5th individually.  The 15th-place team was made up of Aly Dreager, Frank Freund, and Hayden Kleen.

Moving on to the Carroll County Fair with team 1 consisting of Lola Comes, Lily Johnson, and Mckenna Sonntag, placed 7th and Sonntag individually placed 7th. Team 2 consists of Aly Dreager, Frank Freund, and Hayden Kleen. I2 of which placed individually, Kleen, 8th, and Dreager, 10th.

Our next stop was Crawford County. Team 1 was made up of Lauren Comes, Lola Comes, Aly Dreager, and Mckenna Sonntag placed 2nd. Individuals were placed, Dreager, 7th, Lola Comes, 10th,

Hayden Kleen, Lily Johnson, Maddy Anderson, and Miraylie Stuart

and Sonntag 12th. Team 2 consisted of Hayden Kleen, Lily Johnson, Maddy Anderson, and Miraylie Stuart, they placed 7th. Our 3rd team was made up of Frank Freund, Parker Brock, Bailey Grieshaber, and Kaydence Sturm together placing 12th.

Next, we went to the Montgomery County Fair. Our first team made up of Aly Dreager, Colton Becker, Lauren Comes, and Mckenna Sonntag placed 2nd. Individually, Mckenna placed  4th, Aly 11th, and Lauren 18th. Team 2 consisting of Lily Johnson, Hayden Kleen, Parker Brock, and Miraylie Stuart placed 16th. The 3rd team was made up of Jaquie Freund, Natalie Smith, Kaydence Sturm, and Addalynn Sonntag placing 12th.

Moving on to Union County with team 1 containing Aly Dreager, Miraylie Stuart, and Lauren Comes. Together they placed 3rd and individually Lauren placed 8th and Aly placed 10th. Team 2 had members Maddy Anderson, Lily Johnson, and Chloe Sonntag placing 6th. Individually Maddy placed 9th. Our 3rd team consisted of Kaydence Sturm, Jaquie Freund, and Bailey Grieshaber. As a team, they placed 8th.

Parker Brock, Addie Freund, Bailey Grieshaber, and Frank Freund

During the Cass County Fair, we had several members judge in the FFA and 4-H districts category. FFA team 1 placed 8th, made up of Colton Becker, Lauren Comes, Miraylie Stuart, and Aly Dreager. Team 2 consisted of Kaydence Sturm, Maddy Anderson, Lola Comes, and Hayden Kleen, as a team they placed 12th. Our 3rd team placed 13th, containing members Parker Brock, Addie Freund, Bailey Grieshaber, and Frank Freund.

For state livestock judging, we had 3 members participate, those of which were Aly Dreager, Lauren Comes, and Mckenna Sonntag. They earned a silver medal and both Mckenna and Lauren placed in the top 25.

Aly Dreager, Lola Comes, Lauren Comes, and Mckenna Sonntag

The Guthrie County Fair livestock judging contest was held on August 31st. Atlantic FFA team 1 consisted of Aly Dreager, Lola Comes, Lauren Comes, and Mckenna Sonntag, they placed 3rd.  Team 2 members Frank Freund, Hayden Kleen, Lily Johnson, and Miraylie Stuart, placed 6th. Team 3 was made up of Rylee Harlan, Addylynn Sonntag, Maddy Anderson, and Addie Freund, they placed 9th. Individually, Mckenna placed 4th, and Lola placed 10th.

As a reflection, Lauren Comes said ”Atlantic had a really good turnout for livestock judging this year. Earlier in the summer we took a trip over to Cedar Rapids, which was something new that we tried and we had never done before but I definitely enjoyed that not only for the judging aspect but being able to just compete against new individuals and new teams that we aren’t used to and having a new environment that we don’t typically see often. Then we went around to about 10 counties around Iowa this summer and overall we did pretty well. We usually had a team or two and a couple of individuals placed in the top 10 in every county. We ended off our year by taking three individuals, including myself, up to the state livestock judging contest in Ames. This contest had a really big turnout. There were a lot of individuals and schools from all over Iowa. There was a lot of competition but overall we did really well. Mckenna Sonntag and I placed in the top 25 out of 150 individuals which is really cool to experience and really good to see for Atlantic to get up in the top 25. Our team placed 16th out of 45 teams and earned a silver rating. I think next year with this new group of young kids coming in, we have a lot of potential. I see a lot of growth within the Atlantic chapter, and I am really excited to see what the future holds for us not only within livestock judging but just overall as a chapter.”

We will have one more contest in October at Northwest Missouri State University with members participating in several different events including livestock judging

Atlantic FFA Reporter – Lily Johnson

Seven members of the Davenport City Council voted last (Thursday) night to remove another council member accused of misconduct. Derek Cornette was accused of showing up drunk for council meetings and harassing city staff. Brian Heyer is an Assistant City Attorney.

The human resources director for the City of Davenport says Cornette would have been fired for his conduct if he’d been a city employee. Cornette says he’ll run for reelection and his attorney says Cornette will go to court to challenge his removal from Davenport’s city council. It’s rare for local government councils and boards to remove fellow members. The Des Moines City Council was preparing to take that step, but a councilwoman who hadn’t attended council meetings for six months submitted her resignation this week. Three years ago, a Woodbury County supervisor resigned rather than sue to keep his seat on the county board after officials determined he had moved out of the district he represented.

The Iowa State Patrol reports that a Clarinda school bus hit the rear of a tow truck in Mills County Thursday night.

The accident happened on Highway 275 near the 29 mile marker around 8:45 p.m.  Troopers say 65-year-old Richard Owens of Clarinda was driving the school bus south on Highway 275 and hit the left rear corner of the tow truck’s flatbed with its front right tire, crossed the center line and went into the ditch.

Troopers said the school bus was returning from a sporting event with 14 students on board and no one was injured.

The tow truck was performing a towing operation at the time and had its amber warning lights on.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office assisted the patrol at the scene.

It could cost the State of Iowa millions of dollars if it leaves a Midwest organization that negotiates contracts for education-related expenses. A committee reviewing state boards and commissions has the Midwestern Higher Education Compact on its list for elimination. Emily Shields, executive director of Community Colleges for Iowa, says leaving the compact would have a significant fiscal impact.

A separate distance learning agreement is only available through Iowa’s membership in the Midwest Higher Education Council, too.

Iowa colleges saved about three-and-a-half million dollars last year on the online classes taken by out-of-state students. Rob Trembath (TREHM-bath) is chief operating officer of the Midwest Higher Education Compact, which he calls MHEC (MECK).

Twelve Midwestern states are part of the compact.

Every state that borders Iowa, along with Kansas, North Dakota and Ohio, are part of the compact. The organization’s contract negotiations saved Iowa and the other 11 states nearly 128 million dollars last year. The Iowa Boards and Commissions Review Committee will issue its final report at the end of the month, but it will be up to legislators and the governor to decide whether any of its recommendations become law. The committee’s initial report would get rid of about a third of the state boards, commissions and advisory groups in state government.