Council Bluffs Police Chief Tim Carmody, Friday afternoon, issued a statement with regard to the shooting of Police Officers Thursday night, in Dallas, TX. The Chief said “The tragedy last night in Dallas is heart wrenching in every way. This is especially true every time we lose a law enforcement brother or sister in the line of duty it impacts each of us in very personal ways. Those losses are occurring far too frequently in recent history.”

“Members of our department – officers and civilians – go out every shift to stand the thin blue line. In my mind and heart that blue line represents two distinct values. It represents our first mission – to protect the innocent from the evil that lurks in the shadows. Secondly, it also stands for the professional and exceptional service that our staff provides every day.”

“As sworn law enforcement we wear a mourning band on our badge to honor the fallen heroes and their families, those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Traditionally, we don’t wear the mourning band when the slain officer is from an agency outside of our local community. This incident in Dallas is an extreme and hopefully rare incident that cries out for our support. Effective today and through July 31, 2016 all of our sworn staff will wear the mourning band on their badges. We will also provide blue ribbons with thin blue lines to all our civilian staff to wear on their left chest while on duty during the same time frame.”

“The purpose of this effort is to demonstrate our solidarity as law enforcement to stand the thin blue line, to honor the fallen in Dallas and around the country and to remind the families of the slain that they are not alone. Our hope is that this effort, although small, will be a reminder for our staff just how much we appreciate their valiant efforts under difficult conditions and that our community does believe in and support us.”

Chief Carmody said “We have extended this opportunity to partners in the Omaha Metro. Several agencies have agreed to allow their staff to wear the mourning bands and ribbons as described above. They include: the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department, the Omaha Police Department, the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, the LaVista Police Department, the Papillion Police Department and the Bellevue Police Department. In that vein, the Iowa Police Chief’s Association and the Iowa State Sheriff’s and Deputies Association have pushed out this opportunity to all their members as well. It would be incredible to see this spread nationwide – to let everyone in Dallas know that they are not alone and to show the nation how much we support our law enforcement agencies.”

In closing, he said “I would ask that each of you keep the officers and their families of the Dallas Police Department and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), as well as the civilians who were injured in your thoughts and prayers. The days and weeks ahead will be just as hard as the initial incident was last night. My hope is that this will mark the thin blue line where we all work to unite our communities and support our law enforcement agencies instead of pitting one against another.”

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has ordered all flags in Iowa be flown at half-staff beginning immediately and until sunset, Tuesday, July 12th. The order is meant to honor police officers in Dallas, Texas, who were killed in the line of duty on Thursday, July 7th.

His directive follows a presidential proclamation that was released by the White House earlier today (Friday). The governor’s directive applies to all U.S. and state flags under the control of the state. Flags will be at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

An altercation between two men Friday morning in Council Bluffs led to shots being fired and one person being injured. Bluffs Police said Officers were called to 1022 5th Avenue at around 9:30-a.m. After speaking with neighbors, officers determined that a fight between two males escalated to the point that and one male retrieved a handgun from a vehicle parked on the property and chased the other male party Southbound across 5th Avenue.

In the alley between 5th and 6th Avenue the neighbors reported hearing at least two shots fired. One male party then fled the area in a vehicle and the other male subject returned to the residence at 1022 5th Avenue. Eventually, Officers entered the residence when two male parties refused to come out. 42-year old Kimberly Trotter, who lives at the residence, told officers that a male subject forced entry to the residence by kicking in the back door and that once he was in the residence he assaulted her by striking several times.

Trotter indicated that a male subject in the residence intervened and began fighting with the other male and that the fight continued outside. Trotter was treated for minor facial lacerations at Jennie Edmundson Hospital. No other known injuries occurred as a result of the incident. The names of both men allegedly involved in the incident have not yet been released, as authorities were considering whether or not to press criminal charges. The case remains under Investigation by the Council Bluffs Police Department Criminal Investigation Division.

Firefighters in Harlan responded this (Friday) afternoon to a reported structure fire at 508 Baldwin Street, in Harlan. Our sister station KNOD says the call went out at around 1:30-p.m., and that once fire crews arrived on scene, they able to make quick knock down of the flames.

The home’s interior sustained smoke and water damage, as well as damage to the roof. Sixth and Baldwin Streets in Harlan were blocked off to traffic while firemen were on scene. Harlan Fire received assistance by crews from the Westphalia and Avoca Fire Departments, Harlan Police, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Medivac Ambulance and Harlan Municipal Utilities.

No word on what caused the blaze. No injuries were reported.

Iowa Republican Governor Terry Branstad paid a visit to Atlantic this (Friday) afternoon. His first stop was at Rex Pharmacy, which was awarded McKesson Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year, on June 27th. Branstad spoke with store owner Josh Borer, and asked him to make a presentation to state leaders, and speak during a Governor’s Weekly Press Conference, with regard to managed health care for Medicaid on a state-level, and how Borer’s approach of “Better patient healthcare equals better business success,” can be applied on a statewide basis.

Rex Pharmacy owner Josh Borer (Left) W/Gov. Branstad

Branstad said “I think the pro-active approach and the focus on helping the patients improve their medical outcome, is exactly where we want to go, as a State.” He says the approach “Fits right in with our whole goal of being the healthiest State.”

Afterward, the Governor went down the street to stop in at the Old Whitney Hotel, which is in the process of being renovated into apartments catered toward “Mature adults.” Mark Smith, along with a group of investor’s purchased the three-story Victorian-era Boss Hotel that was built in 1890, and is on the list of the National Register of Historic Places.

Smith said plans for the structure includes commercial space and a restaurant on the first floor, along with a community room. The top two floors will be remodeled into eight apartment units on each floor for “mature adults.” Smith said they’ve received approval from the State for Historical Tax Credits to renovate the building, but are awaiting word from the Federal Government on a similar tax credit.

Old Whitney Hotel owner/investor Mark Smith (Left), & Gov. Branstad

Construction on the $4 million project is scheduled to begin late this fall, most likely in November, and be completed by mid-to-late summer, 2017.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The president of Iowa’s largest state employees’ union says some health providers are not being properly paid under Iowa’s privately managed Medicaid program, and state officials say they’re unable to provide data on any reported issues.

Danny Homan, president of AFSCME Iowa Council 61, told reporters Friday his office has received multiple phone calls over several weeks from health providers who help Medicaid patients with services in their homes. He says providers claim they have not been paid or payments are delayed, though he was unable to estimate the scope of the problem.

Iowa’s Department of Human Services switched its Medicaid program to three private companies in April. Spokeswoman Amy Lorentzen McCoy says she’s received anecdotal information from the companies about payment issues, but more specific data is not collected.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) – Officials in northwestern Iowa say a Sheldon man has been sentenced to two years in prison for inappropriately touching a 16-year-old boy in 2014. Sioux County Attorney Thomas Kunstle says 34-year-old Cody Christian Foster was sentenced Thursday after being convicted of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.

Foster also received a special sentence that commits him to the custody of the state prison system for 10 years following his release, as though he were on parole. Foster will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

A man from Mills County was arrested Wednesday in Cass County, on an Iowa Department of Corrections warrant, for Parole Violation. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says 35-year old Joshua Edward Mastin, of Hastings, was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held without bond.