COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Another man charged with murder has taken a plea deal in the death of a Council Bluffs resident. The Daily Nonpareil reports that 18-year-old Caine Petersen pleaded guilty Tuesday to vehicular homicide. Prosecutors lowered the charge in exchange for Petersen’s plea. Petersen was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Authorities say Petersen, Sarael Duncan, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Christopher King, of Lincoln, Nebraska, robbed 20-year-old Jacob Combs of marijuana on Aug. 15 last year. Authorities say Combs jumped onto Petersen’s vehicle as the three men fled but then fell or was thrown, suffering head injuries. Combs died in a hospital later that day.

Prosecutor Jon Jacobmeier says King also has agreed to a deal and will plead guilty to a lesser charge and be sentenced on March 22.

Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Tuesday, announced appointments to fill Iowa’s various boards and commissions. Included among the appointees whose term begins May 1st, is:

• John Pauli, of Carroll, to the Alcoholic Beverages Commission
• Emily Forquer, of Afton, to the Architectural Examining Board.
• Lindsey Nielsen, of Missouri Valley, to the Board of Behavioral Science
• Michael Knedler, of Council Bluffs, to the State Board of Education
• Eric Green, of Creston, to the Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board
• Eugene Meiners, of Templeton, to the Mental Health Risk Pool Board
• Karol Dammann, of Manning, to the Board of Nursing Home Administrators
• Gina Primmer, of Council Bluffs, to the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC)

Their appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

Authorities in Montgomery County report two drug-related arrests. At around 1:20-a.m. today (Wednesday), Red Oak Police arrested 34-year old Paul Earl Lemburg, II, of Red Oak, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 3rd or subsequent offense. Lemburg was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 cash bond.

And, a traffic stop north of Red Oak Tuesday night resulted in the arrest of 24-year old Eric David Taylor, of Red Oak. Taylor was stopped by Sheriff’s Deputies for speeding at around 11-p.m. near the intersection of Highway 48 and 165th Street. He was subsequently charged with Possession of Marijuana and brought to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond. Deputies were assisted at the scene by the Iowa State Patrol.

And a little after 11-p.m. Tuesday, Red Oak Police arrested 30-year old Jason Paul Crouse, of Plattsmouth, NE., on a Trespass charge. Crouse was taken into custody in the 600 block of Sunset Avenue and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held on $300 cash bond.

The Red Oak Police Department reports a Clarinda man wanted on an active Montgomery County warrant for Probation Violation, was arrested Tuesday morning in the 100 block of Coolbaugh Street. 21-year old Christian Lane Clark Latham, of Clarinda, was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,500 bond.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two arrests took place, Tuesday. 36-year old Christopher Brown, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Mills County warrant for Harassment in the 2nd degree. His bond was set at $1,000. And, 25-year old Vincent Wells, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested in Glenwood, for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $1,300.

Two people were arrested Tuesday, in Mills County, The Sheriff’s Office says 46-
year old Steven Ray Gooch, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday morning in
Sarpy County, NE., on a warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault. Gooch was being
held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

And, 22-year old Benjamin Lee McGhee, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday night for
Driving Under Suspension. His bond was set at $300.

A Council Bluffs man was arrested Tuesday afternoon following a report of a person yelling profanities at passing vehicles in the 2400 block of 9th Avenue. Officers arriving on the scene at around 4-p.m. found 24-year old Colton Benson on the roof of the house. Benson was jumping on and off of the roof. When Officers began to negotiate with Benson, he reportedly jumped down to a porch area in the front of the house.

At that point, officers on scene decided that Benson was in a safe location, and they attempted to taser him while he was on the lower portion of the front porch. As the taser was being deployed, Benson was able to remove the probes, indicating the device had no effect. Benson had also torn off his shirt and coat and continued to be aggressive.

Officers continued to negotiate with the man, and he was finally convinced to come off of the roof at around 4:15-p.m. Benson was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released. He was then transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections and charged with Interference with official acts.

Deputies in Adams County arrested a man early this (Wednesday) morning, for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct. James Castillo was taken into custody at around 2:25-a.m. in Corning, after deputies were called to the area of Main and 11th Streets for a man who was standing in the street and shouting.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Influential Iowa business leaders are urging state legislators to pass a bill that would expand the state’s medical marijuana laws. The Des Moines Register reports that more than 90 business leaders sent lawmakers a letter, asking them to debate and pass comprehensive medical cannabis legislation.

The legislation would grant the state authority to establish two growing facilities and distribute medical cannabis oil to people who suffer from cancer, intractable epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. The signers span several industries, including banking, insurance, publishing and real estate.

It’s been legal for Iowa residents with epilepsy to use cannabis oil since 2014, but proponents argue that the change was useless in practice because of a separate state law that makes it illegal to manufacture or distribute

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state audit says the management of millions of dollars collected annually to run the state’s enhanced 911 system needs dramatic improvement after auditors found many counties either underreported or over reported costs by thousands of dollars.

Iowa Auditor Mary Mosiman doesn’t conclude money was misspent but she says the audit reveals weaknesses in the tracking of more than $120 million spent each year to run 114 emergency dispatch centers in 99 counties.

John Benson, a spokesman for the Iowa’s emergency management agency says the audit mandated by the Legislature will help counties improve reporting. About one-fourth of 911 costs are funded by a $1 surcharge on telephones and cell phones. The rest comes from counties, cities and other sources.