The last person accused of participating in the murder of a Council Bluffs woman earlier this year, was sentenced Thursday to 20-years in prison. 47-year old Clarence Woolsoncroft plead guilty to five charges in connection with the January 14^th murder of 39-year old Tammy Rocha. Wilsoncroft was charged with willful injury causing serious injury with a dangerous weapon, willful injury causing bodily injury, and three misdemeanors. He had faced charges of 1^st degree murder, 1^st degree kidnapping, 1^st degree robbery and conspiracy. He’ll have to serve at least five-years in jail, before he’s eligible for parole.

Last May, a jury found Woolsoncroft guilty of 2^nd degree murder, false imprisonment and willful injury causing serious injury, but that decision was vacated and the judge granted a new trial, in July, after agreeing with the defense attorney’s position that there had been an error in jury instructions, and that prosecutors failed to provide evidence Woolsoncroft knew a knife was used in the crime, or that he knew there was an intent to murder the woman.

Three other people involved in the stabbing of Rocha near a residence in Council Bluffs were sentenced to a total of 82-years in prison. Lisa Reeves plead guilty to 2^nd degree murder, and was sentenced to 50-years in jail. Reeves stabbed Rocha seven times with a knife in front of Reeves’ residence in Council Bluffs, after Rocha stole four rings and a cellphone from her the night before.

Reeves’ father, Bryan Reeves, pleaded guilty to three lesser charges and was sentenced to 30-years in prison. And, Eric Long — Reeves’ boyfriend — was sentenced to two-years in prison, after pleading guilty to being an accessory after the fact.

Governor Branstad is asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reconsider its denial of individual disaster assistance to Iowans impacted by Missouri River flooding this summer. FEMA, in early August, rejected Branstad’s request to activate the Individual Assistance program. Pat Hall, with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division, notes the latest request includes an update on the amount of damage to homes. “We’re still disappointed that we did not get the declaration back in July, but we’re optimistic that we’ll be getting positive news from FEMA,” Hall said. In early July, state officials assessed 361 homes in western Iowa and labeled 41 as destroyed, 86 with major damage and 132 with minor damage. Hall said an assessment in late September increased those numbers.

The update sent to FEMA shows 189 homes were destroyed, 161 with major damage and 416 with minor damage. The floodwaters just recently receded after surrounding many homes since June. Hall hoped the first property damage assessment in July would bring FEMA dollars to flood victims sooner. “A lot of homes were isolated and we were concerned about the individuals who were out of their homes…they were paying their mortgage and paying rent (on temporary housing). So, we though it was the right thing to do,” Hall said. The FEMA Individual Assistance program — for homeowners, renters and businesses — can include grants and low-interest loans to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance or other aid programs. Halls said FEMA’s decision on the Governor’s request could come in a matter of a few days or possibly up to three weeks.

(Radio Iowa – on the web at www.radioiowa.com.)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa State Patrol says the driver of a car that crashed into a semitrailer on Interstate 80 in Adair County fell asleep at the wheel. A passenger, 17-year-old Stephanie Pathammavong, of Des Moines, was killed in the Sept. 26 accident. The patrol says the driver, 21-year-old Boby Vangkham, of South Sioux City, Neb., told investigators he was “daydreaming and fell asleep.” Vangkham lost control of the eastbound car, which ended up in the westbound lane and collided with the semi. The accident, which happened shortly before 3 p.m., closed the westbound lanes for several hours.

One person died after they were ejected from a truck that rolled over sometime late Wednesday night or early this morning, southeast of Sidney, in Fremont County. Sheriff’s officials say 56-year old Kim Hatten Polk, of Sidney died at the scene of the crash, which was discovered just after 6-a.m.

An investigation determined Polk was traveling south on 300^th Avenue when the GMC truck he was driving went out of control just south of 215^th Street, entered the east ditch and rolled once before coming to rest.

The Walnut City Council is scheduled to meet this evening. On their agenda is discussion with regard to: the possible installation of a stop light near the Walnut Community School, on Antique City Drive; the possible purchase of commercial property; increased landfill fees at the Pottawattamie County Transfer Station; and, the possible installation of speed bumps.

The Walnut Council will also review and possible act on approving a revised Citizen Complaint form, an annual update of the Walnut Municipal Utility Identity Theft Prevention Program, and various ordinances. Among the ordinances, are those which would amend provisions pertaining to compensation for City Council members and the Mayor, and, no parking zones.

The meeting begins at 5-p.m.

A field fire in eastern part of Harrison County destroyed approximately 25 to 30 acres of land yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon. The call came from just off of Aspen Road in the hills around Dunlap at around 2:30pm. Tom Henry, Earling Fire Chief, says at least 4 fire departments were called to the scene. Henry says he believes the fire started because of a hot bearing from a combine. He says with the help of the other departments, the fire was put out before any buildings were damaged. It’s thought the land is owned by Robert Mitchell, of rural Dunlap.

(Joel McCall/KNOD-Harlan)

Authorities in western Iowa continue to investigate the shooting of a person whose body was found in a ditch along Interstate 29, in Harrison County.  Harrison County Sheriff Patrick Sears told KJAN News a Trooper was investigating a car on the side of the road on I-29 soutbound at the 76-mile marker, when  he noticed the body of  a man in the ditch.  The unidentified victim  had suffered a gunshot wound, but the sheriff would not comment on where the man was shot.  

The victim , who Sears said was from Nebraska, was transported to Alegent Health Hospital in Missouri Valley, before being flown to  Creighton University Hospital in Omaha.  While saying an investigation into the incident remains on-going, Sears said foulplay is NOT suspected.

w/Ric Hanson

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GIBBON, Neb. (AP) – Officials say a crash on an interstate in south-central Nebraska has injured more than 30 people on a Denver-bound bus. Communications supervisor Craig Schoneberg of the Nebraska State Patrol office says the bus rammed into an overturned semitrailer that was blocking westbound lanes of Interstate 80. He says the accident occurred around 2 a.m. Thursday, two miles east of the Gibbon exit. Schoneberg says another semitrailer clipped the overturned trailer and ended up in a ditch. The bus ran into the median. He says no fatalities were reported. Dan Ronan of the American Bus Association, speaking for the bus company, Burlington Trailways, says 33 people on the bus were hurt. He says two of them, including the driver, were critically injured.