Police in Council Bluffs responded to an armed robbery this (Wednesday) morning. At about 11:45-a.m., officers were dispatched to Bomgaars at 2803 East Kanesville. A preliminary investigation indicates that a white male with reddish facial hair, and white female, both in their late 20’s or early 30’s, entered the store and at some point, the male was observed concealing merchandise on his person.

After the couple had paid for some items, but before they exited the business, a loss prevention employee approached the male and asked him about the merchandise that he still had concealed, but had not paid for. The male then pulled a handgun out of his pocket and told the store employee to leave him alone. The couple then exited the store and left the area in an older, black SUV, with a stolen Iowa license plate ARE008 on it.

If you see the suspects (in the photo’s below), do not approach them. Call 9-1-1, as they are to be considered armed and dangerous. If anyone recognizes the suspect or vehicle, please contact Council Bluffs detectives at 712-328-4728 or you can remain anonymous by calling 712-328-STOP (7867).

Suspect vehicle

Bomgaars suspects

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has rejected a request to commute the life sentence of a 74-year-old grandmother serving a life sentence for her role in a 1979 murder-for-hire. The Gazette in Cedar Rapids reports that Judy White has served 41 years in prison since her conviction in 1979 of conspiring to murder 39-year-old Ady Jensen at his parents’ home in West Branch.

Authorities said the plot also involved White’s husband, Robert Kern, an insurance agent who sold a life insurance policy to the victim’s wife, Jeanne Jensen, without her husband’s knowledge. The plot involved a hitman to kill Ady Jensen so that Jeanne Jensen could collect $50,000 in life insurance and split it with her co-conspirators.

Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns reports that Curt Rush has filed the nomination paperwork necessary to be put on the ballot for Ag Extension Council.

There are 4 positions available and currently 5 candidates: Darrin Petty, Marcy Jo Dorsey, Jody Steffen, Alice C Williams, and Curt Rush.

Candidates have until 5:00 p.m. today to file their paperwork with the Cass County Auditor’s Office to get on the ballot.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of 40-year-old Kimberly Marie Becerra of Elliott at 10:29 a.m. on Wednesday. Becerra was arrested in the 400 block of 5th Street on a warrant out of Nebraska for Possession of Controlled Substance. She was charged with being a Fugitive from Justice and held in the Montgomery County Jail awaiting extradition to Nebraska.

Nathaniel Gene Teeters

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Tuesday night of a Bedford man. At 9:21 p.m. Deputies arrested 44-year-old Nathaniel Gene Teeters of Bedford at the Page County Sheriff’s Office on two Page County Warrants, both for Failure to Appear for initial appearances on Driving While License Suspended, Denied, or Revoked charges. Teeters posted $300 bond per warrant and was released pending future court proceedings.

Atlantic, IA — Cass County Health System (CCHS) announced today that they are teaming up with Montgomery County Memorial Hospital (MCMH) to provide labor and delivery services for MCMH patients in southwest Iowa. MCMH is redesigning their obstetric services to a new model; expecting mothers will receive all prenatal and postnatal care at their current clinics and will travel to CCHS for labor and delivery.

“We know it was a tough decision to cease labor and delivery services at MCMH, and I can imagine that many expectant moms may be surprised by this news. We wanted to immediately announce this partnership so that those moms can rest easy knowing that we’re here and ready to provide care for them,” said CCHS CEO Brett Altman.

Dr. Marcela Pineda, OB/GYN will continue to provide prenatal care and appointments in Red Oak and Corning, and she will deliver at CCHS. All upcoming deliveries will begin transitioning to Atlantic between now and October 1, 2020.

“We have been looking very closely at the future needs of our communities. We believe that we are creating a more sustainable obstetrics service by regionalizing labor and delivery services in Atlantic,” said MCMH CEO David Abercrombie. “We’re very fortunate to have a great relationship with the team at CCHS, and we know it’s an outstanding facility staffed with caring, professional people.”

“Neighbors caring for neighbors is more than a slogan. It’s how we treat our patients, families, and communities, as well as our fellow healthcare colleagues,” said Altman. “We look forward to caring for the families of southwest Iowa during one of the most important days of their lives.”

Atlantic, IA – Cass County Health System will begin construction on their main entrance parking lot, Lot A, on Monday, August 31st.

The parking lot renovation will be completed in two phases, which allows half of the parking lot to remain open to patients and visitors only. The project is expected to last through November.

The parking lot construction kicks off the first phase of CCHS’s master facility plan initiative that includes parking lot renovations, electrical upgrades, remodel of the Atlantic Medical Center clinic, as well as several other updates.

w/ Chris Parks

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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Police say a 45-year-old man has been arrested after he allegedly intentionally drove a vehicle through a crowd of protesters in Iowa City. Michael Stepanek was charged Tuesday with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and willful injury. The protesters were struck Friday night in an intersection of an Iowa City street. No one was seriously hurt and police initially did not receive a report about the incident. Iowa City police say one of the people who was struck by the vehicle later provided a statement, leading to Stepanek’s arrest. A criminal complaint says Stepanek told police the protesters needed “an attitude adjustment.”