DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI} — A woman authorities call a person of interest in a Minnesota homicide is in jail right now in Iowa.

Arlene Bell, 32, was taken into custody on unrelated charges in Dallas County following a traffic stop Monday, Feb 5th, on Interstate 80 near Van Meter. She faces several drug and alcohol charges, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm and theft.

The Faribault (Minnesota) Police Department posted a news release on its Facebook page that the traffic stop in Iowa occurred before Gary Lehmeyer, 70, was found dead. Bell, who authorities say was in a “domestic relationship” with Lehmeyer at the time of his death, was driving his car when she was stopped in Iowa.

“Faribault detectives have worked with the Iowa State Patrol to take custody of Lehmeyer’s vehicle and transported it to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) in St. Paul for forensic processing,” according to the post.

“Faribault detectives have worked with the Rice County Attorney’s Office to issue a warrant for Bell’s arrest and extradition on a charge of Motor Vehicle Theft once her Iowa case is resolved. This remains an open and active case as we await forensic testing results and further investigation.”

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Officials with the Red Oak Police Department report the arrest Friday afternoon, of 25-year-old Justin Leroy Newman, from Red Oak. Newman was arrested around 4 p.m. in the 400 block of North 2nd Street. He was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense, possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond at the Montgomery County Jail was set at $2,000.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission today (Friday) chose Deputy Director Tina Eick (eye-k) to become the new administrator of the organization. Eick has been the interim administrator since Brian Ohorilko (Oh-reel-koh) left the position for a job in the private sector. Commission member, Amy Burkhardt, led the search subcommittee and says they had nine candidates and held three interviews.

Eick has worked for Racing and Gaming for seven years, and was the director of operations before becoming the deputy director.

She says Eick has developed strong relationships with existing staff and others within our industry.

Eick spoke after being unanimously elected to the position.

Eick takes over immediately, and her first Commission meeting as the administrator will be in March.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Area Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Family Dental Center on Thursday, February 8th, 2024 to celebrate their recent expansion in the adjacent building, previously home to the Food Pantry.

The Ambassadors last visited the Family Dental Center in 2020, when Dr. Chet Meneely purchased the practice from Dr. Kreifels after his 30+ years of practice. Since 2020, Dr. Meneely and his team have been busy settling into the Atlantic location while acquiring locations in Avoca and Corning. In June of 2023, after the Food Pantry had moved to its new location, the practice began remodeling into the space next door to double the size of the Atlantic location. The new edition features 3 new chairs and an office for Dr. Meneely. With the multiple locations and expansion, the practice is actively recruiting an additional dentist to join the team.

Pictured Left to Right: Kelsey Beschorner, Aldean Harriman, Rick Mericle, Jennifer McaEntaffer, Anne Quist, Megan Sramek, Theresa Hoenberger, Dr.Keith Leonard, DeeDee Kalny, Lynette Miller, Kennedy Freund, Sue Liston, Chet Meneely, Alisha Wagner, Brandi Thompsen, Heidi Hinman, Rikki Jo Peck, Jeremy Butler, Colt Doherty, Elaine Otte, Jeff Christensen, Katelynn Burnett, Julie Waters, Lana Westphalen, Tim Marcsisak, Jim Kickland

Family Dental Center, in Atlantic, is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 7-4:30PM. The practice specializes in general preventive exams and cleanings along with restorative and cosmetic treatments. Dr. Meneely is particularly proud of their annual program honoring veterans with free dental cleanings, fillings, extractions, and acrylic partials that would not otherwise be covered by dental insurance.

To book an appointment at Family Dental Center, call 712-243-3275 or visit https://familydentalcenterswia.com/

(Radio Iowa) – A House subcommittee has approved the governor’s plan to create a statewide system that combines the regions in charge of mental health services with the regions in charge of providing substance use treatment.

Kelly Garcia, director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, says the proposal would streamline services that have a lot of overlap and make it easier for Iowans to get help. “As part of our assessment work over the last seven months, we have heard from thousands of providers and they have told us our system is cumbersome,” Garcia says. “…This bill really does take a huge step forward to cure that issue.”

Iowa Department of Health and Human Services director Kelly Garcia (official photo)

The proposed plan would go into effect July 1st of next year. Flora Schmidt is the executive director of the Iowa Behavioral Health Association. She says that timeline is a concern.  “Our members are – they’ve got a lot of angst right now they just don’t know what it’s going to mean to their workforce, to their funding, and ultimately, their ability to maintain a continuity of services over the next 18 months,” Schmidt says.

Iowa currently has 13 regions that provide state and federally funded services for Iowans with mental health issues and intellectual disabilities. There are 19 regions in charge of government funded care for substance abuse and gambling addiction. The governor’s plan creates seven districts that would each provide all those services.

(Atlantic, Iowa) –  Atlantic SplashPad project fundraising committee member Ali Pieken, Friday (today), said the Committee “Received almost $37,000 in donations within 48 hours following the city council meeting on Tuesday night.”  Pieken said one of the donations came in the form of “a $25,000 check from 1st Whitney Bank.”

SplashPad Fundraising Committee Co-Chair Jeremy Butler receives a check from the daughter of Pete & Ellie Smith. (All photo’s courtesy of Ali Pieken)

The Council meeting raised the ire of some residents, when it was alleged some at City Hall had blocked efforts by the Committee to obtain grants for the project.

The following day, Committee Co-Chair Jeremy Butler said the comments made during the meeting were not placed “In the proper context.”

He said also, the bottom line is that “The committee has never wavered from their primary focus which was getting the Splash Pad completed. It has been one of the things at the top of the community’s wish list for several years.”

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Police say two people were arrested and released from the scene on citations, for littering. 32-year-old Jessica Lynn Hardman, of Red Oak, was cited at around 10:15-a.m. Friday (today), in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street. 32-year-old Jamie Gene Neville, of Red Oak, was cited at around 10:30-a.m. Friday, in the 400 block of E. Grimes Street. Both were ordered to appear in court on the simple misdemeanor offenses.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – State Representative Thomas Moore, a Republican from Griswold, Friday, released his weekly report on activities in the Iowa Legislature. Moore said it “was a busy week as we prepare for funnel week.” He says the Health and Human Services Committee met and passed six bills that will now move to the House floor. Among them:

The HHS Committee also passed bill that requires the DHHS to create a website with information on perinatal hospice services available in Iowa and nationally. Moore says HF2070 requires DHHS to establish an indoor mold public information and awareness program. House Study Bill (HSB) 596 comes from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, it allows regulatory violations by licensees to be reported to other regulatory agencies, and makes technical corrects to the dependent adult abuse code chapter.

Moore said also, the Education Committee passed several bills, including the previously reported-on Governor’s Women’s Bill, which defines the terms sex, female, male, woman, girl, man, boy, mother, father, and that equal does not mean the same or identical.

HF2197 provides for education on the holocaust for students and teachers in school districts. HF2081 modifies provisions related to the curriculum provided to students enrolled in grades nine through twelve by allowing instruction related to agriculture to meet a portion of the unit requirements related to science. HSB568 relates to mandatory reporting to the BOEE of licensed school employees who engage in grooming behavior toward students or the abuse of students.

And, Representative Moore says the Labor and Workforce Committee passed SF319 which is the Private Sector Employee Drug Testing bill. It allows the employer to designate what a “safety-sensitive” position is and allows the employer to offer and the employee to choose to receive electronic communication. It also changes the burden of proof from the employer to the employee to prove by a preponderance of evidence that the employer acted improperly.

Constituents with questions or comments can contact Representative Moore, at tom.moore@legis.iowa.gov and (712) 789-9954.

At the end of his report, Moore extended his congratulations to area students whose names were on the college Dean’s and other academic achievement Lists at the end of the Fall, 2023:

Central College Dean’s List

• Angelica Anderson of Marne
• Jenna Stephens of Stanton

Simpson College Dean’s List

• Caroline Pellett of Atlantic
• Grant Sturm of Atlantic
• Joe Weaver of Griswold
• Makenna Askeland of Griswold
• Landon Couse of Red Oak

Simpson College President’s List

• Haley Rasmussen of Atlantic

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Dean’s List

• Say Wah of Atlantic
• Ty Lantz of Shenandoah
• Elijah Schuster of Shenandoah
• Aubrey Herzberg of Villisca
• Sam Fields of Red Oak
• Colton Leece of Shenandoah

University of Delaware Dean’s List

• Taylor Wagoner of Clarinda

Moore says “Congratulations to all of these students on their hard earned academic success!”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The School Board in Atlantic, this week, heard a presentation from iJAG instructor Guy Somers. IJAG stands for “Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates.” The Atlantic School Board approved participation in iJAG in April, 2021. The program for High School Juniors and Seniors connects businesses and education, to provide the most cost-effective dropout prevention and school career solutions.

Somers introduced Brianna “Bree” Atkins to the School Board. He said she’s the district’s longest-tenured iJAG student. She spoke from a student’s perspective about the program. Somers said he didn’t have to ask her to talk about iJAG, she volunteered. Bree said the program has helped her to become a better person and taken her out of her “comfort zone,” with regard to public speaking and in other areas. She credited Somers with taking her through that phase of her personal development, in the iJAG program.

She said Mr. Somers helped her to get a job following an apprenticeship. She spoke also about an iJAG community service project to reorganize the Clothing Closet, which provides students in school with appropriate clothing if what they are wearing is deemed inappropriate for the classroom environment.

She said also, she attended a leadership conference last year.

She said iJAG is a really fun class, and had high praise for Guy Somers.

Guy Somers said he had 19 students in iJAG last semester, which he said, is low compared to the previously registered number. The program helped to increase most student’s grades in other classes, but not all. He says he’s working to turn those numbers around.

He said 12.5-percent of iJAG graduates went-on to further their education at college.