The Adair County Sheriff’s Department reports four arrests over the past week. Last Friday, 22-year old Ty Ron Sears, of Decatur, NE., was arrested in Stuart by the Iowa State Patrol, for OWI/1st offense. Sears was released the following day on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

On Dec. 11th, 19-year old Hamadi Osman Makoma, of Erie, PA., was arrested by Adair Police at the Casey’s Store in Adair, for Theft in the 1st Degree, with regard to the theft of a vehicle from Boise, ID, and a gun that was stolen from another vehicle. Makoma’s bond was set at $10,000.

On Dec. 8th, 33-year old Rachel Anne Johnson, of Stuart, was arrested in Stuart by Stuart Police, for Domestic Assault/Bodily Injury, after the vehicle she was in struck her boyfriend, following an argument at a restaurant. Johnson was released from custody later that same day, on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

And, 18-year old Jesse Slade Brees, of Greenfield, was arrested by Greenfield Police on Dec. 8th, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (a small scale and baggies), and Possession of a small bag of marijuana with the intent to deliver, a Class D felony. Brees was released later that same day on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:50 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Few details are being released about a federal investigation into allegations that sexual arousal experiments were done on residents of a state-run Iowa institution for developmentally disabled residents. The U.S. Department of Justice notified Gov. Kim Reynolds in November that investigators will see if there are law violations at Glenwood Resource Center, an investigation first reported by the Des Moines Register. The investigation is focusing on whether residents were subjected to harmful and uncontrolled human experiments and whether they had inadequate medical and nursing care. Investigators also will look at whether there have been harmful restraint practices and needless injuries.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The state auditor on Monday criticized $40,000 in relocation benefits that helped a veteran Iowa State Patrol supervisor relocate his family home farther away from his new assignment in western Iowa. State Auditor Rob Sand concluded that there was no “public benefit” for taxpayers to cover closing costs and other expenses on the sale of Lt. Joel Ehler’s home in Adel. Sand’s office investigated the matter after The Associated Press reported on the benefits in May. An internal investigation by the Iowa Department of Public Safety found that the benefits were appropriate and that Ehler did nothing wrong.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Vandals have defaced the artwork and property of an Iowa man who displayed paintings of Confederate flags and swastikas in his front yard. The Des Moines Register says the vandal or vandals scrawled the words “Nazi scum” on a trailer and the pickup parked at William Stark’s house in Des Moines and spray-painted over several of the wooden pallets in his yard on which he had painted the Confederate battle flag. The vandalism was discovered Wednesday. Stark told the newspaper for a story earlier last week that he isn’t a racist or white supremacist and would paint any flag, if asked.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Deputies have arrested a Carroll man on charges that he used a stick to kill a rabbit at a Des Moines animal shelter. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday night charged 64-year-old Bobby Carothers with animal torture after the death of the rabbit at the Animal Rescue League of Central Iowa shelter. According to a criminal complaint, Carothers admitted he killed the rabbit, named Petunia. The Des Moines Register reports staff identified Carothers as being the last person in the shelter Sunday night. He was asked to leave and a short time later employees found the dead rabbit. Carothers was held at the Polk County jail.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest Monday of 33-year-old Sara Sue Batten of Red Oak on a charge of Driving While Barred. Batten was arrested at 3:53pm at the intersection of 2nd Street and East Coolbaugh Street in Red Oak. Batten was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Few details are being released about a federal investigation into allegations that sexual arousal experiments were done on residents of a state-run Iowa institution for developmentally disabled residents. The U.S. Department of Justice notified Gov. Kim Reynolds in November that investigators will see if there are law violations at Glenwood Resource Center, an investigation first reported by the Des Moines Register.

The investigation is focusing on whether residents were subjected to harmful and uncontrolled human experiments and whether they had inadequate medical and nursing care. Investigators also will look at whether there have been harmful restraint practices and needless injuries.

Police in Glenwood said Monday (12/16), that there were two arrests last Saturday. 22-year old Marcus Baumstarck, of Custer, SD., was arrested for Driving Under Suspension, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $600. And, Christopher Carbis, of Glenwood, was arrested Saturday, for OWI/1st Offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 62-year old Jim Dean Avis, Neola, was arrested Saturday afternoon, for Driving While Barred, and Operating a vehicle without the Ignition Interlock Device. Avis was also cited for Failure to Provide Proof of Insurance, and Failure to maintain or use seat belts. His bond was set at $2,300. On Sunday, 40-year old Christina Mae Robbins, of Glenwood, was arrested for Criminal Mischief. Her bond was set at $300.

The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Department has received a donation of hockey gear from a youth hockey organization in Illinois. Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen told the Parks Board, Monday, that the Chicago Jets Hockey Club donated the gear, including pucks, sticks, skates and other items. The Club will donate additional hockey sticks this coming Spring. The Board signed a card/letter of Thanks for the generous donations.

Another donation for the Parks & Rec Department, this one in the form of cash, came from Brad Rasmussen. The funds were a combination of monies collected for his wife, who is a member of a local Birthday Club, and a woman whose tree was decorated by Bryant Rasmussen and his dad, Brad. Other proceeds came from the sale of a book Brad Rasmussen has written.

In other business, the Atlantic Parks and Rec Board approved the purchase of a snow plow blade for the Department’s 1/2-ton pickup. The basic blade with inside controls, will allow employees to stay warm in their truck while at the same time clearing the Bull Creek Pathway and the Schildberg Rec Area (SRA).

Speaking of the SRA, Rasmussen said the porta-potties have been removed. A waterless restroom is still open, and the bath house will re-open during warmer weather. Rasmussen said also, Parks Foreman Kyler Welter has been busy creating 10 raised garden beds for installation this Spring at the Mollett Park, on East 3rd Street Place. One of the beds will be maintained by the Parks and Rec Department, the others will be on a first-come first-served basis. The beds are wood with metal sheeting on the sides. They will eventually be filled with mulch and top soil in preparation for planting.

And, Rasmussen said they’re finalizing a New Year’s Resolution “Park Challenge.” He said “There’s so many things that we offer within our parks system,” (such as the SRA). The challenge will incorporate 25 things people can do, with one item coming from every park, almost like a Savenger Hunt. When all the elements are collected or recorded, Parks users would be eligible for $25 in Chamber Bucks. Additional details are forthcoming on the Challenge.

In an update to our earlier reports, Cass County Democratic Party Chair Sherry Toelle reports former Vice President Joe Biden will make a campaign appearance in Atlantic this Sunday, Dec. 22nd, for a Town Hall meeting.

The event will take place at The Venue, on Walnut Street. Doors open at 1:30-p.m., with the event starting at 2-p.m.

Officials with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office say no injuries were reported following three recent, separate accidents. A little before 4-p.m. Friday, Deputies responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident at 1st Street and Lewis Roads. Authorities say a 1998 Chevy Malibu owned and driven by 75-year old Sandra Mae Easter, of Lewis, was westbound on 1st Street when the  vehicle went out of control and struck two signs before coming to rest facing south. Damage to the vehicle is estimated at $2,000. Easter was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

On Dec. 11th, Deputies in Cass County responded at around 2:40-p.m., to a single-vehicle accident on 610th Street. Officials say a 2006 Ford Five Hundred driven by 17-year old Zane Xavier Christensen, of Atlantic, was southbound on 610th Street, when it went out of control while the teen was attempting to negotiate a curve in the road. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $1,500.

And, on December 9th, a single-vehicle accident took place just before 10-a.m., on Main Street in Anita. The Sheriff’s Department says a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 owned and driven by 54-year old Troy Christensen, of Casey, was eastbound on Main Street, when Christensen lost control on the icy roadway, and struck a pole. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,000.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports eight arrests have taken place since Dec. 3rd.  Today (Monday, Dec. 16), Cass County Deputies arrested 41-year old Tobin Lee Jensen, of Atlantic, on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Jensen was taken to the Cass County Jail where remains held on $1,000 bond. Three arrests took place Dec 13th:

• 33-year old Tony Lee Mack, of Atlantic, was arrested on a warrant for Failure to Appear. Mack was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day upon serving time.
• 57-year old Donald Gene Venteicher, of Glidden, was arrested on charges of Possession of Meth 3rd Offense (A Class-D Felony), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Venteicher was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,300 bond.
• And, 53-year old Nicole Elaine Wuebker, of Cumberland, was arrested Dec. 13th,  on charges of Possession of Meth 2nd Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Wuebker was taken to the Cass County Jail where she remains held on $2,300 bond.

On Dec. 10th, 25-year old Bryant Kenney Mitchell, of Wiota, was arrested on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrants for two charges of Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana (D Felonies). Mitchell was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on $10,000 bond. On December 5th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 61-year old Dwight Anthony Reed, of Des Moines, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Reed was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

There were two arrests in Cass County, on December 3rd: 40-year old Travis Lee Demey, of Carroll, was arrested on two District Court warrants for Probation Violation. Demey was booked at the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $20,000 bond. And, 46-year old Dan Douglas Christensen, of Atlantic, was arrested on charges of Violation of No Contact Order and Public Intoxication. Christensen was taken to the Cass County Jail and later released on his own recognizance.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The state auditor on Monday criticized $40,000 in relocation benefits that helped a veteran Iowa State Patrol supervisor relocate his family home farther away from his new assignment in western Iowa. State Auditor Rob Sand concluded that there was no “public benefit” for taxpayers to cover closing costs and other expenses on the sale of Lt. Joel Ehler’s home in Adel. Sand’s office investigated the matter after The Associated Press reported on the benefits in May. An internal investigation by the Iowa Department of Public Safety found that the benefits were appropriate and that Ehler did nothing wrong.