SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A house fire in Sioux City has left two people dead and one critically injured. Firefighters were called to the fire Thursday morning in the rental home and found residents of the main floor outside. The Sioux City Journal reports that while extinguishing the fire and searching the basement, firefighters found three people and rushed them to a hospital, where two died. Those killed were identified Friday as 57-year-old Andrew Godberson and 24-year-old Jessica Fischer, both of Sioux City. The injured man is 26-year-old Juan Galarza, of Sioux City. Fire Marshal Mark Aesoph said fire investigators didn’t find any working smoke alarms in the house.

A U-S District Court judge in Davenport, Tuesday, sentenced 57-year old Jeffrey Scott Walter, of Burlington, to 104 months (slightly more than  8 1/2 years) in prison, for receiving and
distributing child pornography. Walter was ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his imprisonment, pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund, and comply with the sex offender registry requirements upon release.

On September 24, 2019, Walter pleaded guilty. The investigation began between September 2016 and February 2018, when a Homeland Security Investigations agent identified an IP address
advertising child pornography files. On March 5, 2018, a search warrant was executed at Walters’ residence, which was tied to the IP address. A forensic examination of the electronic devices seized  revealed multiple images and videos containing child pornography. Walter admitted that he did  receive, distribute, and possess child pornography.

The matter was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). This case was prosecuted
by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

DAVENPORT, Iowa – A man from eastern Iowa was sentenced Wednesday to 12-years in prison for possession of child pornography. 55-year old Ricki Charles Hess, of North Liberty, was also ordered to serve five-years of supervised release, following the term of his imprisonment.  He was also ordered to pay $9,000 in restitution and $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund. Hess must also comply with the terms of the Iowa Sex Offender Registry requirements, upon his release from custody.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports that on August 19, 2019, Hess pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. The investigation began in August 2017 when the North Liberty Police Department received a cyber-tip from the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force relating to Hess. Agents searched Hess’s residence and seized several electronic devices. A forensic analysis was conducted on Hess’s HP computer, a hard drive, and a cellular phone and it revealed numerous images of child pornography. In excess of 160 video files and more than 30 images of child pornography were found in Hess’ possession.

The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and National Center  for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), with assistance from the North Liberty Police
Department and ICAC. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern  District of Iowa.
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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Staffers at a Cedar Rapids winter homeless shelter are working with police to reduce problems that have led to complaints from neighbors. The Fillmore Center opened in mid-November to offer a warm place to sleep. The Gazette reports that police since then have received 82 calls for service. Those calls include 41 for disturbances and 31 for medical needs, as well as others for theft, a warrant and other issues. Police said there have been 10 arrests, including seven for public intoxication. That led to neighborhood complaints and an effort by staff to take a firmer stance with rule breakers.

DES MOINES, IA (Feb. 7, 2020) — Officials with the Iowa “Healthiest State Initiative” have announced the winners of the 2020 Healthiest State Annual Awards. The winners were recognized for their efforts to improve the physical, social and emotional well-being of their students, employees and fellow Iowans. Among the winners in six categories, was the City of Manning, which was announced the winner of the 2020 Healthy Hometown -Powered by Wellmark – Community Award. The award was presented Thursday, Feb. 6th.

Pictured in front (from left), Lauren Subler, Dawn Meyer, Cory Arp and Harvey Dales. In back (from left), Healthiest State Initiative Executive Director Jami Haberl, Cindy Durhkopf, Julie Hodne, Jean Veoge and keynote speaker Lyndsey Fennelly. (Photo courtesy Healthiest State Initiative)

Jami Haberl, Healthiest State Initiative executive director, said “It is our honor to recognize our winners with these well-deserved awards. The work they have all done to create environments that support healthy choices in their respective sectors is innovative and impactful. Congratulations!”

Each winner was awarded a monetary prize to continue their work focused on improving the health and wellbeing of their employees, students or citizens. The Healthiest State Annual Awards were sponsored by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Hy-Vee, Inc., Nemours and HealthPartners UnityPoint Health. In addition to the awards reception, Healthiest State Initiative Board President Jeff Russell gave an update on the organization and highlighted key accomplishments from 2019:

• 900+ walks across all 99 counties were registered to participate in the Healthiest State Annual Walk
• Make It OK campaign launched in Iowa to reduce mental illness stigma across the state
• Double Up Food Bucks program doubled number of participating sites, including 14 Fareway locations, and saw 900% growth in sales over previous year
• 454 Healthy Choices Count! Registered Sites in the education, early care, after-school, workplace and health care sectors

Russell said “2019 was a year of incredible growth for the Healthiest State Initiative’s programs and events: We’ve helped expand access to healthy choices and inspired Iowans to live healthier lifestyles. As we approach the organization’s 10th anniversary, we look forward to engaging Iowans to become the healthiest state in the nation.”

To learn more about the Healthiest State Initiative, visit IowaHealthiestState.com.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a Council Bluffs man was taken into custody Thursday morning at the Pott. County Courthouse, on a valid warrant through the State of Iowa. 35-year old Nolan Lee Al-Jaddou was wanted on the warrant for Harassment in the 1st Degree – Threatening Forcible Felony. Bond was set at $2,000.

And, a man being held in the Lincoln, NE., Diagnostic and Evaluation Center was transported to the Pott. County Jail, Thursday afternoon, on a Felony, State of Iowa warrant. The warrant charges 21-year old Marlon Elvidio Martinez-Lopez with six counts of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd Degree-Forcible Rape/1st offense, involving a victim 14 or 15 years of age. No other information is available. Pott. County Corrections staff took custody of Martinez-Lopez without incident, and booked him into the jail.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans who look around the workplace today (Friday) are likely to spot someone sporting a crimson sweater, dress or tie as part of National Wear Red Day. Jolene Bopp, spokeswoman for the Iowa chapter of the American Heart Association, says this day means more than just tossing on an Iowa State sweatshirt. Bopp says, “It’s an opportunity for all of us to spread awareness and support those that we love and honor those that we have lost and unite together in a fight against the nation’s #1 killer, heart disease.”

She says it’s easy for Iowans to get involved in helping the worthy cause. “If you’re working with a company and you want to rally everyone together, you can organize an event at work,” Bopp says. “You can have a Jeans Day or sell extended lunch hours for $5 each, or host a healthy bake sale and compete against departments and see which one can show the best red pride.” Nearly seven-thousand Iowans die of heart disease every year, the leading cause of death in Iowa since 1920. Also, stroke is the 4th leading cause of death in Iowa with another 14-hundred deaths per year.

“Eighty percent of cardiac events can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes such as moving more, eating smart and managing blood pressure,” Bopp says. “These are simple things we can do in our day to day life. It’s all important and it all effects the heart.” Learn more at www.heart.org.

The Lenox and Griswold School District Boards of Education held a Special Joint Board Meeting Wednesday evening, to discuss and act on a continuation of the shared Superintendent Agreement, and for Lenox, an individual contract. Shared Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN News both Boards unanimously approved having Henrichs as their shared Superintendent for a fifth year, with no changes.

The Lenox Board then addressed Henrichs’ individual contract. The only change was with regard to an increase in the health insurance premium package. Since the district has not received the renewal rates yet, it’s not clear what that the amount of increase will be. Griswold did not vote on the matter, because the individual contract only pertains to the Lenox District. Henrichs said the Griswold Board, fully supported the contract renewal, and provided that input to the Lenox School Board.

Henrichs said the biggest thing for him, with regard to the shared superintendent agreement, is the quality of people who make up the administrative team. He says “I have great people in both districts that support me greatly. Without that, I couldn’t do it…I’m very fortunate to have people that I have at both schools.”

Henrichs said it’s important for people to understand why the districts are sharing a superintendent. He says both districts benefit financially. The agreement qualifies for Operation Sharing dollars, which means both districts get an additional eight students worth of funding, or about $56,000 each, per year. Salary and benefits cost are split between the districts. The cost savings for each district each year, amounts to about $110,000, or one-half million dollars altogether, by the end of year number five.

(Radio Iowa) — The new director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources appears to be on track be confirmed for the job by the Iowa Senate. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds appointed Kayla Lyon as D-N-R director last summer. Some criticized the appointment because Lyon has worked as a lobbyist for farmers and agribusiness. Lyon discussed that with lawmakers this week. “Yes, my background is in agriculture,” she said. “I’m proud of my agriculture roots. Iowa has a strong culture and heritage in agriculture, but that does not mean agriculture and natural resources cannot coexist and they should, in order for agriculture in Iowa as a whole to be successful in the future.”

Senator Rob Hogg, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says while some have raised concerns about Lyon’s previous work, he predicts she’ll be confirmed.  “It’s not necessarily the worst thing to have people from outside perspectives come in,” Hogg says. Lyon had served as the governor’s lobbyist at the legislature before she became the first female to lead the Department of Natural Resources in June. State agency directors must win the votes of at least 34 senators to be confirmed to their jobs.

More State and area news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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