VAN METER, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa community has changed its plan to raise money by offering a chance to shock a city official with a stun gun. The Des Moines Register reports that Van Meter city officials will let the winner of a raffle shoot a stun gun at a target, rather than shock the city administrator or a City Council member.

The idea of selling $5 raffle tickets for the right to shock an official was intended to raise money to help the police department buy a second squad car, add speed radar and potentially expand its six-member part-time and reserve force. Officials changed their plan after facing criticism from the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and others. Some business agreed to donate money if officials changed their plans.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department report two arrests last Saturday. 25-year old Jeremy Bias, of Harlan, was arrested after officers were called to Myrtue Memorial Center’s E-R, for a male subject seen for injuries allegedly caused by Bias. Bias was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with assault. That same day, 25-year old Cody Lister, of Harlan, was taken into custody following a traffic stop. Lister was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with driving while revoked.

On July 8th, 29-year old Zachary Scheffler, of Harlan, was taken into custody when police were called to the 1000 block of Tarkington for a possible domestic assault. As a result of an investigation, Scheffler was arrested and taken to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of prescription drugs, and simple possession of a controlled substance.

And on July 10th, Harlan Police were called to the Peter Jones residence in the 700 block of 7th Street, where it was reported that someone had broken into the residence. Taken from the residence were a large amount of coins and other currency, firearms, and jewelry. The value of the stolen items is estimated to be over $10,000.00. The incident remains under investigation.

Authorities remind the public that there is CrimeStoppers reward money for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators of such crimes.

Patrons of the Atlantic Community School District will have to vote for three, new School Board members in September. Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein reports two long-time Board Members, Dennis Davis and Phil Hascall, along with Rod Hartwig, have decided not to run for re-election. Nomination papers for offices to be filled in 2015 can be filed with your school board secretary through July 30th, 2015. All offices are for four-year terms. Amstein says following the September 8th School Board elections, those persons who win the vacant seats will be provided with the necessary training to get them started.

Hartwig is the newest member of the Board, having served for nearly four-years. Davis has served for 29-years, while Hascall has been on the Board for about 12-years. Amstein said all three Board members have expressed various reasons for not running for re-election. For Hartwig, Amstein says it was because of his job commitments and changes in the Ag economy. Amstein says Davis probably thought that after 29-years it was time for new leadership to step-in, and Hascall thought along the same line.

In other business, Mike Amstein said the Board, after some lengthy discussion, approved the District’s Affirmative Action Plan that has to be updated every two-years. They also awarded bids for: Concrete work on the High School parking lot; New bleachers at Schuler Elementary, and fuel contracts for the coming school year. The Board budgeted $20,000 for the parking lot repair, and around $25,000 for the bleachers (which he expects to come in at under $20,000).

The Board also approved a Cooperative Sharing Agreement with the Clarinda Community School District for Girls, and possibly Boys Swimming.

The Atlantic Police Department reports three, recent arrests. On Monday, 23-year old Tiffany Lillard, of Cumberland, was arrested for Felony Theft in the 2nd Degree. Authorities say the woman was arrested following an investigation into an alleged theft by an employee of the Atlantic Hy-Vee Store. Upon further investigation, it was learned Lillard had also allegedly been stealing money from nursing home patient’s accounts in the form of gift cards since September 2014. The loss amounted to just over $9,840.

Last Wednesday (July 8th), officers with the Atlantic P-D arrested 42-year old Jeremy Jameson, of Atlantic, on a warrant out of Pottawattamie County, for Violation of Probation. That same day, 28-year old Jacky Walters, of Walnut, was arrested on a Pott. County warrant for Domestic Abuse Assault.

All subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The makers of Templeton Rye have agreed to settle three lawsuits stemming from claims the company made about the production of its whiskey. The Des Moines Register reports that documents field in Polk County District Court show that the settlement agreement requires the company to change labeling on its bottles and language on its website.

Specific details about the settlement aren’t yet public since the document hasn’t been filed in an Illinois court where two of the three lawsuits are filed. The company’s co-founder says he can’t comment because a judge hasn’t approved the agreement.
The lawsuits claimed that the company marketed its whiskey as being made in Iowa, when its recipe actually was based on a stock spirit made in an Indiana distillery.