COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man charged with killing his mother and grandmother in Council Bluffs will be sent to a mental health facility after being found mentally incompetent to stand trial. The Des Moines Register reports District Judge Susan Christensen signed an order Friday that will send Michael Dieckmann to treatment at a state prison mental health facility in Oakdale.

The order followed the determination that the 31-year-old Dieckmann wasn’t mentally competent. Staff at the Oakdale facility will try to restore Dieckmann’s mental health to the point where he can understand the charges against him and participate in his defense.

He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the March deaths of his mother, 63-year-old Jacqueline Dieckmann, and his grandmother, 91-year-old Illa Pfeiffer.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce will host its Annual Dinner Saturday, January 14th, 2017 at the Cass County Community Center. Chamber Executive Director Ouida Hargens says she “Always look forward to the Annual Dinner. It’s a great opportunity for us to reflect on what we’ve accomplished, look forward to what we will accomplish and most of all, highlight all of our volunteers and Chamber Members that have invested their time and money back into our organization and our community.”

The Chamber will recognize businesses, organizations and individual leaders in the community. Two people will be recognized and given awards including: ATHENA Award and Distinguished Service Award. The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce is currently seeking nominations for the Distinguished Service Award.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual, business or organization who has made the community a better place to live. They have rendered special services for the benefit of the community and have demonstrated an active leadership role for the betterment of the community through their involvement in business, civic and social service organizations.

Last year, the Distinguished Service Award was given to Geis Perry Jewelry for over 40 years of commitment, generosity and support of local businesses and events.
Please contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce to nominate someone for the Distinguished Service Award. The deadline for nominations is January 6th, 2017.

Governor Terry Branstad says with lower-than-expected state tax revenue, the current state budget must be reduced by nearly 100 million dollars. “This year we’re going to have to do some ‘deappropriation’ in order to meet the fiscal challenge we’re facing,” Branstad says. “We have a requirement that the budget be balanced.” A state panel met last week and lowered the “official” estimate of state tax collections for the current budgeting year. Branstad hopes to shield a few major budget items from cuts.

“I’m going to work with the legislature and make recommendations,” Branstad says. “I want to protect K-12 school aid from reductions and property tax credits. I don’t want to see those reduced.” With those spending areas OFF the cutting table, state agencies are likely targets for cuts, but Branstad says he does not anticipate state employee layoffs.

During the depths of the farm crisis when he was governor in the 1980s, Branstad ordered mandatory, unpaid furloughts for state workers, as well as an across-the-board cut in state government. When he ran for governor again in 2010, Branstad was a critic of then-Governor Chet Culver’s decision to cut the state budget across the board rather than make targeted cuts. Today (Monday), Branstad again indicated strategic reductions are his goal for dealing with this latest budget dilemma.

The governor and his staff are in the process of crafting a state budget plan for NEXT year that will be submitted to legislators in January. “We’re going to have to make some difficult decisions on the budget,” Branstad says. Branstad has met publicly with state agency directors over the past few weeks to discuss budget priorities. At some point next year, Branstad will resign as governor to become President-elect Trump’s ambassador to China, but Branstad intends to deliver the annual “Condition of the State” speech to legislators on January 10th and make a formal budget recommendation as well.

Branstad’s not commenting on the latest diplomatic skirmish between China and the U.S. — about that drone Chinese military seized and will now return. “First of all, I have not been confirmed yet and I’ve been advised it’s not wise for me to comment on foreign policy at this point in time,” Branstad said. “So I’m focusing on my responsibility as governor.” Branstad made his comments during his weekly news conference at the capitol in Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa)

he state Department of Public Health reports a woman who is 81 years old or older from central Iowa has died from the flu. Department Medical Director Patricia Quinlisk says its the first death in this flu season and an important reminder to get vaccinated. “We just felt like we wanted to remind people in Iowa that flu is a serious disease — and at times it can kill you,” Quinlisk says. Doctor Quinlisk says the number of flu cases thus far has been pretty low, which she says is typical of the season.

“It’s not uncommon that we don’t see much activity until the holidays when people really are around each other and travel,” Quinlisk says, “and then we see it really starting to climb in January, and then by the end of January we are starting to peak.” She says the shot will provide you protection fairly quickly.

“If you’ve not already gotten your flu shot, it’s a really good time to go in and get it and you will have protection over the holidays,” Quinlisk says. Quinlisk says the flu vaccine prepared for this year appears to be dialed in to handle the strains that are out there. “So far the primary strain seems to be what we call the typical seasonal flu strain — which is the A-H-3-N-2. We’ve seen a little bit of the 2009 pandemic strain which hits kids pretty hard. It’s called A-H-1-N-1…,” Quinlisk says. “The good news is that so far the vaccine is matching up really, really well with the strains that we are seeing in Iowa and across the United States, which means that the vaccine this year should give you protection against any flu strain that you come across.”

Doctor Quinlisk says the flu vaccine is readily available this year. She says getting a flu shot is important and you should also remember the three Cs: Cover your coughs and sneezes; Clean your hands frequently; and Contain germs by staying home when ill. Quinlisk says besides a flu shot, handwashing is the single best way to prevent the spread of illness.

(Radio Iowa)

The Union County Sheriff’s Office say a man from Lorimor reported Friday afternoon, that his black, 2006 Hyundai Sonata had been stolen from 307 Kansas Avenue, in Lorimor. The theft happened at around 11:55-a.m.  The estimated value of the vehicle is $9,500.