(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department said Friday afternoon (2/10/23), that a man reported missing Thursday afternoon, was found deceased, during a search of Lake Manawa. A search of the lake early this morning resulted in the recovery of an ATV and helmet believed to belong to 33-year-old Nicholas James Erisman, of Council Bluffs. They were found in open water. The Midwest Dive Team responded to Lake Manawa and recovered Erisman’s body. Authorities say at this time, no foul play is suspected. The incident is being treated and an accident.

Nicholas Erisman

(Previous post/story):

The Council Bluffs Police Department and the family of a missing man are requesting your help in locating 33-year-old Nicholas James Erisman, of Council Bluffs. Erisman was last seen around noon on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. He was wearing a red, white and black ice fishing jacket. Nicholas was also wearing a red and white helmet, brown overalls and boots.

Nicholas left his residence riding his red ATV. He was believed to be heading to the area of Lake Manawa.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Shelby County Sheriff Neil Gross has issued a report on numerous arrests that took place between January 18, 2023 and Jan. 30, 2023. Beginning with the most recent arrests:

• On January 30th, 48-year-old Lester Eugene Rhodes Jr, of Woodbine, was arrested following a traffic stop on Linden Rd. Rhodes was transported to the Shelby County Jail and Charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Keeping Vehicle or Premises for Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving while License Denied, Suspended, Canceled or Revoked. At the same time and place, 38-year Sara Ann Wilson, also of Woodbine, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
• There were two separate arrests on January 27th in Shelby County: 25-year-old Kaylee Renae Roach, of Lewis, was arrested on a Shelby County Warrant for Violation of Probation; And, 42-year-old Justin John Seigner, of Wall Lake, was arrested on a Shelby County Warrant for Failure to Serve Time.
• Two people were arrested January 21st, also on separate charges: 64-year-old Phalen Lloyd Green, of Omaha, NE was arrested following a traffic stop on Hwy 191. Green was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Contraband in a Correctional Facility, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Failure to Maintain Control, and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability; And, 37-year-old Zachary Thomas Scheffler, of Harlan, was arrested on several active Shelby County Warrants for Violation of Probation and Failure to Appear.
• 35-year-old Richard Dean Pierce III, of Red Oak, was arrested January 20th, on an active Shelby County Warrant. Pierce was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Theft 2nd.
• And, on January 18th, Shelby County Deputies arrested 37-year-old Tiffanie Ann Newcomb, of Kirkman, for Driving while Barred, Eluding, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Interference with Official Acts, Open Container, 2 counts Fail to Obey Stop Sign or Signal, and Failure to Use Seat Belt.

Note: Criminal charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – A man convicted by a jury in December on charges that include two felony counts of Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree, was sentenced today (Friday), to 25-years in prison on each count, to be served concurrently. 59-year-old Allan Sievers, of Walnut, will be eligible for parole in 17 1/2-years.

Sievers was ordered to register with the State’s Sex Offender Registry upon release from his sentence for parole, probation or work release. He must also submit a DNA sample, and ordered not to have contact with the victim(s) for a period of five-years.

Online court records show Sievers’s jury trial on a Count 3 felony charge of Lascivious Acts with a Child will take place April 4, 2023, at 9:30-a.m. Two other charges of Sexual Abuse in the 2nd Degree were dismissed by the Court, in Dec. 2022.

Sievers had been arrested on the four charges in Sept., 2020.

(Sidney, Iowa) – Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports two men were arrested in connection with a 2020 arson fire in Anderson, Iowa. On Friday (Today), Deputies arrested 56-year-old old Charles Ray Welch, of Anderson, and 32-year-old Tyler Ward, of Riverton, as part of an ongoing investigation. Both were arrested at their residences without incident.

Welch three Felony faces charges, including:

• Solicitation to Commit a Felony, A Class D Felony
• Arson 1st Degree, a Class B Felony
• Arson 2nd Degree, a Class C Felony
  

  Welch

He was being held at the Fremont County Jail on $55,000 cash only bond.

Ward was charged with:

• Arson 1st Degree, a Class B Felony, and
• Arson 2nd Degree, a Class C Felony

Ward is being held at the Fremont County Jail on $50,000 cash only bond.

Ward

The investigation resulting in their arrests began on June 22, 2020, when fire departments and investigators were called to 306th Avenue in Anderson for a report of two separate buildings on fire. The investigation determined that two separate structures were independently set on fire, and one of the structures was occupied at the time the fire was set. The occupant was able to escape the fire without injury.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Iowa Fire Marshall’s Office with the investigation at the scene.

(Radio Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by the staff of First Interstate Bank on Thursday, February 9th, 2022 to celebrate new ownership and new staff. Great Western Bank in Atlantic merged with First Interstate Bank in May of 2022 with the intent to offer more services. First Interstate Bank is based out of Billings Montana, with more than 300 branches across 14 states. First Interstate prides themselves on helping residents and businesses meet their financial goals with practical solutions, while supporting their communities through business development and philanthropy.

The Ambassadors welcomed Tori Gibson into her new role as Retail Manager. Tori shared that her previous experience in marketing and healthcare lead her to this new position. First Interstate Bank was a “good fit” because even though the bank is a larger company, they still hold a mission of giving back to the community and maintaining the “smalltown bank feel.” The Ambassadors were also introduced to Bank Tellers, Reagan Watson and June Blaine along with Laurie West, Financial Services Representative.

Photo/story courtesy of the Atlantic Chamber.

To learn more about Frist Interstate Bank and the services they provide, please contact 712-243-6229 or visit their website at https://www.firstinterstatebank.com/

First Interstate Bank is located at 1407 E. 7th Street in Atlantic.

(Radio Iowa) – Sports betting is now legal in 36 states, including Iowa and experts are predicting the betting on the Superbowl is going to double what it was last year. Iowa Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says the regular season and playoffs are key for sports books.

He says sports betting has been strong again this football season, but could be leveling off from a record year.

Those promotions came as new companies were trying to find their market in Iowa. The rush to get up and running for sports books has turned into some consolidation.

With everything settling in, Ohorilko says this year is likely to be a good benchmark for the future of the industry.

He says the next two months wrap up the heaviest betting seasons.

Sportsbooks began operating in Iowa in August 2019.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with Cass Health say they are pleased to welcome Kristin Babb, PA-C (Physician Assistant – Certified), to the team of emergency providers. Babb will provide care in the Emergency Department and AMC Rapid Care. Babb has worked as a PA since 2006, with an extensive background in cardiology. Babb said “I chose Cass Health because the leadership and organization provide a fantastic environment for advanced practice providers to continuously grow clinically.”

Cass Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Elaine Berry said, “Kristin’s background in cardiology and in management make her a wonderful addition to our team. She is a great fit to the culture at Cass Health, and we’ve already received excellent patient feedback about her.”

Babb graduated with her Master’s of Science from A.T. Still University/Arizona School of Health Sciences, and she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology & Pre-Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Originally from Carroll, Babb recently moved back to western Iowa after living in Arizona. “I moved back to Iowa after 18 years in Arizona to be closer to family and to raise my daughter in a small community. After all, home is where your mom is,” said Babb.

Kristen Babb, PA-C (Photo/story submitted by CCHS)

She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, American College of Cardiology, and the Heart Rhythm Society.

(Omaha, NE) – This Valentine’s Day is shaping up to be big, according to projections by the National Retail Federation, which suggests that consumer spending will reach nearly $26 billion. The Better Business Bureau’s Omaha office says as you prepare to celebrate, there are few common scams that you need to be aware of. Whether you’re hoping to spark a new relationship or buying gifts for loved ones, beware of these four scams regularly reported to BBB:

Impostor websites

From fake jewelry sellers to online dating sites, consumers should always be on the alert for impostor websites. Scammers can easily lift official photos, sale promotions and logos directly from the website for a popular jewelry brand. With professional graphics and unbeatable prices, scammers build an attractive website that looks eerily like the real thing. Similar methods may be used to build fake online dating platforms, which are often used to steal personal data and credit card information. For more tips to spot fake websites, read our guide to smart shopping online.

Red flags:

·         Products are available at extreme discounts.

·         The seller requests customers pay with cash transfer apps or cryptocurrency.

·         Customer service is unreachable.

Romance scams

Romance scammers often target vulnerable people who have experienced a recent breakup or other hardship. They take advantage of that heartbreak to establish a connection and gain sympathy. Once they’ve gotten their victim on the hook with a sad story, they begin pursuing their true goal–money.

Falling victim to a romance scam can be particularly devastating. Victims can lose thousands of dollars, and they’re often left feeling heartbroken and betrayed because they really believed they’d found a good partner. Read more about romance scams for safe online dating advice.

Red flags:

·         The relationship moves very fast.

·         You never meet in person.

·         They ask for money.

Wrong number scam

Responding to a text message from someone who messaged the wrong number might seem harmless. In fact, it might even seem like the polite thing to do, if they say they’re looking to reconnect with a potential match. The text message, however, is bait to lure you into a conversation. If you keep chatting, they eventually try to get your personal information by directing you to sign up for an adult site. Learn more about wrong number texts and scam bots.

Red flags:

·         The messages don’t stop.

·         The sender directs you to sign up for a website.

·         They try to get your personal information.

Fake florist scam

Ordering flowers for Valentine’s Day? Don’t procrastinate or you may end up falling for a scam. BBB has received many reports of shoppers who thought they were ordering flowers from an online florist… but either got nothing at all, or a disappointing arrangement. Don’t let phony florists ruin Valentine’s Day.

Red flags:

·         The business has no reviews or bad reviews (always check BBB.org!)

·         You can’t find a return policy or satisfaction guarantee.

·         The deal is “too good to be true.”

What to do if you encounter a scam

If you encounter a suspected romance scam, cut off all contact with the perpetrator by blocking their accounts and phone number. Then, report your experience to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Dating site users should also report suspicious activity to the platform, so they can act against the scammers account.

For more information about romance scams, visit BBB.org/romance.