A man from Urbandale was sentenced today (Thursday) to prison in connection with a bank robbery in Madison County. 36-year old Hassam Fayiz Abusharkh, appeared in federal court before Senior United States District Judge Robert W. Pratt and was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison, according to United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt.

Abusharkh previously pleaded guilty to the offense, admitting that he robbed the Farmers and Merchants State Bank in St. Charles, Iowa, on March 25, 2015. Abusharkh will be required to serve a five-year period of supervised release after his release from prison and also was ordered to pay restitution.

The case was investigated by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The Harlan Police Department today (Thursday) released a report on recent arrests and activity. On Tuesday, 27-year old Ashley Vandervort, of Harlan, was arrested after officers were called to a domestic disturbance in the 1000 block of Cyclone Avenue. Vandervort was taken to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with domestic abuse assault.

Sunday, Harlan Police Officers were called to the high school, when a student was thought to be distributing unauthorized prescription medications on school grounds. 17-year old Cameron Jacobsen, of Harlan, was cited into juvenile court where he will face charges of prescription drug violation/ to minors.

On Oct. 20th, 21-year old Kayley Cooper was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant for violation of probation, and transported to the Shelby County Jail. On Oct. 19th, 22-year old Adam Scheffler, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. Scheffler was cited for driving while suspended, given a mandatory court date, and released.

That same day (Oct. 19th), Harlan Police were called to investigate a possible disturbance at 1801 Lincoln Avenue. As a result of the ensuing investigation, it was discovered that 18-year old’s Joshua Hytrek and Christopher Buttry, both of Harlan, got into an altercation, damage one of the apartments at that location, and that they had allegedly also destroyed mailboxes in the area. Both Hytrek and Buttry were transported to the Shelby County Jail where they were both charged with two counts of criminal mischief 5th degree, one count of criminal mischief 4th degree, and disorderly conduct. Buttry was also charged with minor in possession of alcohol. Additional charges filed on Hytrek were assault displaying a deadly weapon, and intoxication in public.

On Oct. 17th, four people were either cited or arrested when officers were called to a noise complaint, also at 1801 Lincoln Avenue. As a result of the investigation, 18-year old Christopher Buttry, of Harlan, was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of alcohol under age 18-20, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. 18-year old’s Majesta Musich, of Earling, and Joshua Hytrek, of Harlan, were both cited for possession of alcohol age 18 to 20, and released. 48-year old Patsy Nuzum, of Harlan, was taken to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with supplying alcohol to persons under legal age. Randi Hess, age 14, also of Harlan, was cited into juvenile court for minor in possession of alcohol and was released to her parent.

And, on Oct. 16th, Harlan Police were notified of Girl Scout monies that were missing. As a result, 49-year old Derrick Kaldenberg, of Harlan, was later arrested and transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with theft in the 4th degree.

Sheriff’s Officials in Union County say an Audubon man reported Tuesday that sometime over the past week, someone took his green, 2011 Yamaha 4-wheeler. The ATV was taken from a farm on Clover Avenue, in Union County. The machine was valued at $6,000.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office said also, no injuries were reported after pickup hit a pot hole, blew a tire and went out of control on Cherry Street Road, Wednesday night. The 1994 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup driven by 18-year old Hunter Miller, of Creston, hit the side of a bridge railing and entered the east ditch before it clipped part of a corn field and finally came to rest on the edge of the roadway, still in the east ditch.

Miller was cited for Failure to have a valid driver’s license. Damage from the mishap amounted $4,000.

A majority of Iowans use natural gas to heat their homes and for those folks, there’s good news and even better news from the American Gas Association. Spokesman Bruce McDowell says supplies are up, prices are down and the winter ahead in Iowa may not be as bitter cold as some fear.  “There’s more than enough gas to satisfy demand this winter, even if it gets very cold, but we don’t expect it to get very cold,” McDowell says. “We think it’s going to be warmer than normal so that’s going to drop the bills a little bit, and with the prices being so low because supply is so prevalent, we’ve got an abundance of natural gas ready to be brought to market.”

The latest long-range forecasts point to a strong El Nino weather pattern which typically means a warmer-than-normal winter for Iowa and the Midwest. He predicts customers may see lower utility bills throughout the winter, in fact, they may be the lowest bills in a decade.  “We think there’s going to be a drop in the gas prices mainly because there’s so much gas out there and we produce more gas than we need so we’re putting it into storage,” McDowell says. “Without a weather event, we don’t think there’s going to be any drastic change in the supply situation.”

Iowans will be gratified to hear their utility bills could be dropping by a significant amount in the typically-expensive heating months ahead. “We think there’s going to be a 5-to-7% decline ourselves,” he says. “Other government agencies are predicting even more, up to 9 and 10% discounts.” McDowell says homeowners also need to do their part in conserving natural gas and in insulating and weather-proofing their homes.

A report from the U.S. Census Bureau estimates 67-percent of Iowans use natural gas to heat their homes, 15-percent use electricity, 14-percent use propane, and the rest use wood or fuel oil.

(Radio Iowa)

A fire early this morning in Hancock destroyed a home, but no injuries were reported. Fire officials say the blaze at 212 E. Duncan Street was reported at around 1-a.m. A blown, nearby electrical transformer and power lines connected to the home are suspected as the cause of the fire. The home’s owner was gone when the fire broke out and discovered the blaze when she got home.

Firefighters from Oakland and Avoca provided mutual aid to Hancock Fire. Crews were on the scene still, late this morning, trying to douse the smoldering remains of the home.