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Iowa man accused of beating mother to death pleads guilty

News

February 29th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — An Akron man charged in the death of his mother has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and willful injury in a plea agreement with prosecutors. The Sioux City Journal reports 46-year-old Jonathan Neunaber entered his plea Monday in Plymouth County District Court. The plea deal calls for a 60-year prison sentence. Neunaber must serve at least 35 years before being eligible for parole.

He had previously been charged with first-degree murder in the beating death of his 80-year-old mother, Esther Neunaber. Her body and the body of her husband Donald Neunaber were found July 2014 in the home they shared with their son.

Donald Neunaber died of natural causes. Neunaber admitted in court Monday that he killed his mother with a steel pipe.

Iowa gets 32 percent of electricity from wind, leads nation

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 29th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa has become the first state in the nation to derive more than 30 percent of its electricity from wind energy. The American Wind Energy Association says more than 31 percent of the state’s electricity came from wind turbines last year. South Dakota was at 25.5 percent and Kansas at 23.9 percent.

Gov. Terry Branstad says Iowa has the potential to jump above 40 percent in the next five years. In a report released Monday the association said wind produced more than 190 million megawatt-hours of power in the U.S. last year, enough electricity for about 17.5 million typical homes. The goal is for the U.S. to derive 20 percent of its electricity by 2030. The nation was at 4.7 percent from wind last year.

 

Cass County Supervisors news (2/29/16)

News

February 29th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met Monday morning in Atlantic, during their regular, end-of-the month session, during which they conducted an annual review of the 28-E Juvenile Detention Center and Emergency Juvenile Services agreement, and authorized Supervisor Chuck Rieken to sign a statement on behalf of Cass County related to the agreement.

And, County Engineer Charles Marker reviewed current road projects. The Board subsequently approved a Federal-aid Agreement for project a bridge construction project [Bridge #17 on Yankton Road just west of Highway 148], the estimated cost of which is $500,000.

The Supervisors’ next meeting is March 9th.

Atlantic P-D arrest report, 2/29/16

News

February 29th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Atlantic Police Department say officers arrested a woman from Colorado on a drug-related warrant, Sunday. 43-year old Angela Gross, of Hotchkiss, CO., was arrested on a Cass County warrant for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, marijuana. The woman later released on bond.

20-year-old Jordan Bazer, of Atlantic, was arrested by officers with the Atlantic P-D today (Monday), for domestic abuse/simple assault. And, 20-year old Corey Sunderman, of Atlantic, was arrested Friday on a Cass County warrant for Driving While Suspended. Both men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

(Update) 2 injured during Mon. morning accident in Atlantic

News

February 29th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

(Update) — The Atlantic Police Department reports two people were injured in a two vehicle accident in Atlantic this (Monday) morning. Officials say a vehicle driven by Larry Shafer, of Atlantic, was traveling eastbound on 7th Street approaching Linn, at about the same time Debra Frazier, of Atlantic, was traveling west on 7th Street.

Shafer’s vehicle crossed the center line into the turning lane and continued eastbound across the turning lane into the westbound lane, where it hit the front driver’s side bumper of Frazier’s vehicle.

Authorities say Shafer refused treatment at first, but was later transported to the hospital to be checked out for what were considered to be non-life threatening injuries. Frazier was also transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Atlantic Police cited Shafer for failure to maintain control and not wearing a seat belt. Frazier was cited for driving while suspended and for having no proof of liability insurance.

Mills County Sheriff & Glenwood P-D report, 2/29/16

News

February 29th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Mills County Sheriff’s office said Monday (today), a Malvern man was arrested Friday for Driving While Revoked and Failure to hold SR-22 Insurance. 49-year old Michael Scott Holtz, was being held in the Mills County Jail on $2,000 bond. And, 22-year old Julius Bernard Davis, of Omaha, was arrested Sunday in Mills County, on a warrant out of Pottawattamie County for OWI 1st. His bond was set at $1,000.

The Glenwood Police Department reports 32-year old Brandy Hawkins, of Glenwood, was arrested Saturday, for OWI 1st Offense. Her bond was set at $1,000. And, 22-year old Shelby Conn, of Nebraska City, Nebraska, was arrested Saturday for Burglary in the 3rd Degree. Bond was set at $5,000.

MN man arrested for Bluffs auto dealership break-in

News

February 29th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

A Minnesota man was arrested following an investigation into a break-in that occurred Feb. 24th at a Council Bluffs car dealership. Bluffs Police say 60-year old Samuel Berry, of Brooklyn Park, MN, was being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail on a charge of Burglary in the 3rd degree. His bond was set at $5,000.

According to authorities, his arrest followed an investigation into a break-in at one of the buildings at the Rhoden Auto Center complex. While Rhoden employees were reviewing surveillance footage of the break in, one of them noticed that the suspect looked like a man who had been in the day before and asked a clerk to make change for a dollar.

After comparing video of the man with the burglary suspect, the employees were convinced that it was the same person. They also had video of the vehicle that the man had arrived in the previous day. They then called the police and showed the videos to Officer Shawn Landon. After speaking with the employees, Officer Landon began checking the area for a car matching the suspect vehicle’s description.

As Officer Landon was checking the parking lot of Motel 6 at 3032 South Expressway, he noticed a man placing something in the trunk of a bronze colored Cadillac. The man and the vehicle matched the descriptions of those in the video, so Officer Landon made contact with him. The man was identified as Berry.

After further examination of the videos, it was determined that Berry was the man seen breaking into Rhoden Auto Center on the night of the 24th. Berry’s vehicle was impounded and he was placed under arrest. On February 26th, a search warrant was obtained for Berry’s vehicle. Located in the trunk of the vehicle were specific clothing items worn by Berry during the commission of the burglary, a pry bar used in the burglary and property belonging to Rhoden Auto Center. Berry

Backyard & Beyond 2-29-2016

Backyard and Beyond, Podcasts

February 29th, 2016 by Jim Field

LaVon Eblen visits with Ann Pross, Director of Iowa Western Community College in Atlantic about the Jazz & Wine event.

Play

2 arrests reported in Cass County

News

February 29th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent arrests. On Sunday, 27-year old John Antonio Aparo, Jr., of Griswold, was arrested on charges of OWI 1st Offense and Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense (Marijuana). Aparo was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.

And on Friday, Cass County deputies arrested 33-year old Kevin Earl Pieper, Jr., of Cumberland, on a Shelby County warrant. Pieper was taken to the Cass County Jail and transferred later to Shelby County.

Clarinda man turns himself-in on harassment & other charges

News

February 29th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports a Clarinda man turned himself-in to authorities Saturday afternoon. 26-year old Nicholas Aaron Formaro, of Clarinda, was wanted on Page County Warrants for Contempt – Violation of a no contact order, and Harassment 1st Degree. Formaro posted the bond and was released pending further court proceedings.