The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 25-year old Jacob David Jones, of Corning, was arrested Monday on a Page County Warrant for Failure to appear on an original charge of Driving while Barred. Jones was arrested at the Adams County Jail and transported to the Page County Jail, where he was being held on $2,000 cash only bond.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Tuesday of 29-year-old Logan Matthew Hughes of Red Oak on charges of Domestic Abuse Assault 1st Offense and Interference with Official Acts. Hughes was arrested at 12:21pm at 1409 N 5th Street in Red Oak. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on no bond.

Associated Press – Billionaire former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was granted an extension that will allow him to avoid filing a mandatory financial disclosure until after Iowa’s presidential contest. Presidential candidates are required to reveal their investments, businesses and streams of income. Only Bloomberg, fellow billionaire Tom Steyer and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick have yet to do so. Bloomberg sits atop a sprawling business empire and is worth north of $50 billion, making him the wealthiest candidate in the contest. His attorneys say his finances are too complicated and they need more time to file the report.

Members of the Exira-EHK School Board met Monday evening in Elk Horn. Superintendent Trevor Miller told KJAN News the Board’s Negotiations Committee elected two representatives for negotiations, as they do every year.

(Tamie Fahn and Kevin Petersen were chosen to represent the Board.)

Miller said also, the Board passed the second and final reading of a policy pertaining to seat belts on school buses, since the District now has at least one bus equipped with lap/shoulder belts.

And, the Board approved Early Retiree Applications for those 55 years of age and have served the District for at least 15-years. That includes: Lisa Dreier – Elementary PE/Tag & Works Leadership; Geralyn Christensen – Title Reading; Connie Burns – Academic Intervention; Tami Jacobsen – School Board Secretary/Superintendent Secretary; Char Bintner – Elementary Special Education Para; and Patty Mortensen – Head Cook.

The Board also approved those same individuals’ resignations, effective the end of the school year. The next step is for the Board to come back in January to determine what staff positions they need to fill for the coming school year, as well as adjustments to the schedule, and post those positions in an effort early enough, to get the best qualified persons.

There’s yet another update to the visit this Sunday in Atlantic, of Former Vice President Joe Biden. We recently announced Biden would hold a Town Hall meeting in Atlantic, this Sunday (Dec. 22nd), at the Venue, on Walnut Street. However, Cass County Democrat Party Chair Sherry Toelle said she had just learned that the location of the Biden Town Hall has changed to the Cass County Community Center. 

The rest of the information remains the same. Doors open at 1:30-p.m. Sunday, with the Town Hall starting at 2-p.m.  Biden will be joined in Atlantic by former Governor Tom Vilsack and former 1st lady Christie Vilsack. Tom Vilsack served as Iowa’s 40th Governor, from 1999 to 2007. He also served as United States Secretary of Agriculture from January 2009 until January 2017.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County report a 15-year old female faces charges of Theft in the 4th Degree, for possession of stolen property. The unidentified teen was arrested Monday night, following an incident in the Treynor area, whereby clothing was stolen from a residence.

Authorities say 28-year old Shialea Kay Cozad was arrested late Monday morning, after being transported from the Mills County Jail to Pott. County.  Cozad was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. Saturday night,  43-year old Matthew Michael Handsaker was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following a call about a disturbance in rural Honey Creek. Also arrested at the same scene, was 35-year old Ronnie Milburn Pyland. He was taken into custody on two-counts of Child Endangerment with substantial risk, Domestic abuse assault and OWI/1st offense.

Friday night, 22-year old Blake Barnum was arrested following an investigation into an unknown injury accident in Underwood. Barnum was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance – Marijuana/1st offense.  Friday evening, 62-year old Mark Robert Richardson was arrested for OWI/1st offense, after his vehicle was found in a ditch southeast of Council Bluffs, near Pioneer Trail and Wabash Avenue.

Friday afternoon, 42-year old Robert William Brokman was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse, on a State of Iowa warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense.  None of the persons mentioned remained in the Pott. County Jail, as of this (Tuesday) morning.

The Griswold School Board met Monday evening in a regular session. Ryan Askeland, who was a new addition to the Board, after having won the election in November, was sworn-in. There were no changes in officers from last year, with Aaron Houser re-elected as President and Don Smith was re-elected Vice President. The Board did not act on the appointment of a Board Secretary. Superintendent Dave Henrichs told KJAN the Board will vote on that at a later time. He added that long-time Board Secretary Nancy Taylor has submitted her resignation, effective the end of June, 2020, when she will retire. Taylor has served the District for about 38-years. Henrichs said her departure is “Bitter sweet,” because of the guidance she has provided him, and because soon she can enjoy time for herself.

Henrichs said the reorganized Board accepted two other resignations and approved one new hire. He said Head Football Coach Andy Everett and Assistant High School Football Coach Jeff Schoening submitted their resignations. And, the Board hired Marlia Mundorf as a High School Special Education Teacher, 2^nd Semester, due to an resignation the District received earlier in the year.

And, the Board agreed to hold a joint meeting with the Lenox School Board 6-p.m. Feb. 5^th, in Lenox. Henrichs said there are multi-purpose reasons for the meeting. One part is for the two boards to collectively complete his evaluation. Anothe part is to determine whether or not the districts want to continue the Superintendent sharing agreement, and if so, to discuss Henrichs’ contract. Both the sharing agreement and contract expire at the end of June, 2020.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A new trial date has been scheduled for two men accused of stabbing to death a man in Cedar Rapids. Drew Blahnik, 32, and Drew Wagner, 34, have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other crimes in the slaying of 31-year-old Christopher Bagley. He went missing from his home in Walker in December 2018. Investigators found his body buried in the backyard of a Cedar Rapids home in March.

Investigators have said Blahnik has confessed to stabbing Bagley in retaliation for his robbery of a large-scale marijuana trafficker. The trial had been set to begin Feb. 3, court records say. The new date is July 6.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Sheriff Darby McLaren, and Chief Deputy Jon Westering, paid tribute today (Tuesday), to long-time Cass County physician, Dr. Keith Swanson, and his wife Berniece, for Swanson’s many years of service.

Berniece Swanson (left), and Dr. Keith Swanson; (in the back: Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren & Chief Deputy Jon Westering) – Ric Hanson photo

Board Chair Steve Baier read a Resolution recognizing Swanson’s care for so many people, and to inmates at the Cass County Jail. The Resolution said Dr. Swanson retired from professional practice, has provided valuable and innovative care for residents of Cass County and the surrounding area…50-years [in Cass Co.], 60-years total. For the past 15-years, he’s provided medical care for persons being held in the Cass County, at little or no expense to the tax payers in Cass County, and furthermore, Dr. Swanson rendered such service with no expectation of reward or personal gain of any kind.”

Baier went on to say “We, the Board of Supervisors, the Sheriff and Jail Administrator of Cass County, publicly recognize Keith Swanson, M.D. For his donation of professional service, and on behalf of the citizens of Cass County, we offer our heartfelt thanks for his civic-minded actions benefiting not only his patients, but the entire community.” Chief Deputy Westering also acknowledged Berniece Swanson for the time she’s sacrificed, and others. He said Dr. Swanson provided a counseling service to the inmates, as well, and that was deeply appreciated. He thanked Swanson’s family, too, for all they have done.

Dr. Swanson accepted a framed certificate of appreciation from Steve Baier, and thanked the Board, Sheriff and Chief Deputy. He said “It’s been my privilege to serve the people of the County and I hope some of those prisoners out with what I had to say to ’em.” In other business, the Supervisors tabled the appointment of a Town Clerk for Brighton Township, as no person was available to accept the post.

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

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