Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker today (Thursday), issued a statement thanking the public, fellow law enforcement officers and many others, for the outpouring of support that followed the death of a Deputy and the wounding of another.

Sheriff Danker said in a Press Release, “On May 1, 2017 the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office became the victim of a tragic event that seriously wounded Deputy Pat Morgan and killed Deputy Mark Burbridge. Immediately following, the Sheriff’s Office family started receiving an overwhelming show of support from the citizens in the community, local businesses, surrounding city and county government, the law enforcement community both locally and nationally and the media.

“That evening, representatives of the group Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) arrived and remained with us throughout the funeral service lending their expertise and guidance to our staff. Representatives from the Omaha Police Department and Council Bluffs Police Department also came to our assistance helping with the event planning. The need for a large venue to hold the service became evident and the management team from the Mid America Center (MAC) was contacted.

“The management team dropped what they were doing to ensure the facility was prepared and the needs of the family were attended to. Going above and beyond the staff of the MAC even prepared a breakfast for all of the members of the Sheriff’s Office the morning of the funeral.

“As the week progressed the support continued to build and it became clear that we at the Sheriff’s Office are fortunate to have such a positive relationship with so many. During Deputy Burbridge’s funeral services, there were law enforcement representatives from all over the country paying their respects and offering support to Marks family and to the Sheriff’s Office. The public and dignitary attendance at the service was again another testimony to the wonderful support.

“As the funeral procession left the MAC being led by motor units from the metro area and being followed hundreds of patrol cars that fell into line, we were immediately met with men, women and children lining the sides of the road. Signs bearing words of support and thanking Deputy Burbridge for his service were everywhere. There were flags being waved and many businesses and their employees lined the procession route. Traffic control for the procession was handled by many different entities, both law enforcement, Council Bluffs Public Works and County Engineers.

“The Sheriff’s Office would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone that has visited the memorial, the visitations, brought food to the office and assisted in the planning of the funeral, giving Deputy Burbridge the services and respect he deserves.

“I would like to thank the Council Bluffs Department, Council Bluffs Fire Department, CHI Creighton University Medical Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha Police Department, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Iowa State Patrol, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Federal Bureau of Investigations, United States Attorney Generals Office, Mid America Center, Hoy Kilnoski Funeral home and all of the men and women of our law enforcement family that came to the services or sent words of encouragement and support.”

The Superintendent of the Treynor Community School District for the past 19-years has tendered his resignation, effective at the end of the current school year. A message posted on the District’s website today (Thursday) said “Superintendent Kevin Elwood submitted his letter of resignation to the Board of Education last evening in a special session. He stated in an email to staff that he had been informed last week that the Treynor BOE was interested in making a leadership change. For the last few days, they had been discussing paths for that opportunity. The Board approved the resignation and separation agreement effective at the end of his current contract, June 30, 2017.”

Treynor Superintendent Kevin Elwood. (District website photo)

In his email, Elwood said “The board-superintendent relationship is one which must be built on open-communication, trust and respect. Over the years I have enjoyed a very positive relationship with the board. However, that relationship has been eroding. Therefore, I’m Stepping aside to allow our outstanding students and staff the opportunity to continue to flourish.”

He ended his email by stating “I wish only the best for the students, staff and district moving forward. I’m grateful to have been part of the Treynor Community Schools for the past 19 years”.

The letter presented to the Board can be on the District’s website at www.treynorschools.org.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County say a man wanted on a Buchanan County, Missouri warrant for non-payment of child support, was arrested today (Thursday) at around 10:20-a.m. The bond for 34-year old William James Bartlett, of Red Oak, was set at $5,000.  Bartlett was also charged with being a Fugitive From Justice. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail while awaiting an extradition hearing.

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department today (Thursday) released additional details about an accident that occurred Tuesday evening. According to their report, 32-year old Narson Narios, of Atlantic, was leaving the Sundance Apartments southbound, and in an attempt to turn west onto 22nd Street, lost control of his 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The vehicle entered the south ditch and struck a utility pole, causing a total of $8,000 damage. Narios was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The accident, which took place at around 7:35-p.m. Tuesday, remains under investigation.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) released today (Thursday) its yearly HIV Disease Surveillance Report. The report shows in 2016, Iowa experienced the largest number of people diagnosed with HIV since reporting by name began in 1989. Additionally, there was a notable increase in black/African American Iowans diagnosed with HIV in 2016.

U.S.-born blacks/African Americans diagnosed with HIV increased by 75 percent from 2015; foreign-born blacks/African Americans diagnosed with HIV increased by 110 percent. Although black/African Americans represent just 3 percent of Iowa’s general population, they make up 32 percent of all HIV diagnoses.

In 2016, 136 Iowans were diagnosed with HIV. People aged 25 through 44 years continue to make up the largest proportion (54 percent) of those diagnosed with HIV. The number of youth and young adults aged 15 through 24 years diagnosed with HIV fell from an all-time high of 33 in 2015 to 28 (21 percent) last year.

IDPH Bureau of HIV, STD and Hepatitis Chief Randy Mayer said “There are many contributing factors to these increases. However, we see this as a sign that targeted outreach efforts are reaching those at most risk of HIV in Iowa. It’s likely also a sign of improved access to health care.”

The proportion of people diagnosed with AIDS within three months of their initial HIV diagnosis (known as “late testers”) continued to drop. In 2013, 46 percent of people diagnosed were considered to be late testers. In 2016, only 24 percent diagnosed were late. This confirms those at risk for HIV are getting timelier access to testing.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) remained the leading exposure category for HIV in Iowa; of the 136 people diagnosed with HIV, 79 (58 percent) were among MSM. To see the entire 2016 State of Iowa HIV Disease End-of-Year Surveillance Report, visit https://www.idph.iowa.gov/hivstdhep/hiv/data.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to attend a popular political event in Iowa hosted by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. Ernst announced Thursday that Pence will appear at her annual “Roast and Ride” event on June 3. Other confirmed guests include U.S. Sen Tim Scott of South Carolina and much of Iowa’s Republican congressional delegation.

The event will feature a motorcycle ride that starts at the Big Barn Harley-Davidson in Des Moines. It concludes at the Central Iowa Expo in nearby Boone, where a pork roast will be held.

Ernst’s event is now entering its third year, and it’s become a destination for Republicans. Presidential candidate Donald Trump attended the event last year. Several presidential hopefuls in the party showed up during its inaugural event in 2015.

A Pottawattamie County man was sentenced 73 months in prison, Wednesday, for one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The judge also ordered 33-year old  Rodney Lee Koehrsen, of Council Bluffs, to serve four years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa says Koehrsen entered a plea of guilty to the charge on January 4, 2017. His arrest followed a traffic stop that occurred on June 9, 2016, in Harlan, which led to the recovery of methamphetamine and other contraband items.

The Harlan Police Department and the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Division of Narcotics Enforcement conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports a Harrison County man was sentenced to prison, Wednesday, following his conviction on a single count of Wire Fraud. Senior United States District Court Judge James E. Gritzner sentenced 35-year old Rodney Lee Crosby, Jr, of Pisgah, to 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Crosby Jr, was also ordered to pay $45,084 in restitution to the victims of his fraud scheme.

On January 30, 2017, Crosby pleaded guilty to the charge, which resulted from an investigation by law enforcement into Crosby’s scheme to defraud classic vehicle buyers through his business, Hot Rod Classics, in Pisgah. The scheme involved Crosby accepting monetary down payments from classic car purchasers and then failing to deliver the vehicles to the buyers. The estimated loss to the victims was approximately $45,084, based on Crosby’s fraudulent conduct.

The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.