DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has appointed a former lawmaker and state Republican Party chairman to run the Iowa Department of Administrative Services. Reynolds announced today (Thursday), that Jim Kurtenbach will begin work July 1 as director of the agency, which handles human resources, maintains the Capitol grounds and buildings, buys state vehicles and manages state payroll. The department has been without a director since last month when Janet Phipps Burkhead left after failing to win Senate confirmation to continue in the job.

Kurtenbach served two terms in in the Iowa House, losing in the 2006 general election. He was Republican Party of Iowa chairman from 2009 to 2011. He resigned as chief information officer of Iowa State University in November 2017 after some questioned his appointment to the $250,000 a year job without a typical hiring search.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports several arrests were made over the past few days. Early this (Thursday) morning, 23-year old Jody Thomas Taylor, of Council Bluffs, was arrested in Glenwood, for Driving Under Suspension. At the same time and place, 27-year old Tyler Ryan Doty, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Early Wednesday morning, 25-year old Treyton Curt Sunderman, of Shenandoah, was arrested in Mills County for Possession of drug paraphernalia. 28-year old Patrick Joseph Hauswirth, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Wed. morning for Possession of a Controlled Substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. And, 39-year old Helen Elaine Tuper, of Malvern, was arrested late Wednesday night, on a warrant charging her with three counts of Child Endangerment.

At around 12:30-a.m. Tuesday, 28-year old Katherine Paige Canaday, of St. Joseph, MO., was arrested in Mills County following a traffic stop on I-29. She was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, and speeding. Tuesday afternoon, 30-year old Robert James Hooks, of Omaha, was arrested in Glenwood for Domestic Abuse Assault. Hooks was being held without bond in the Mills County Jail.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa City Council has added bow hunting to its plan for reducing the city’s rapidly rising deer population. The Iowa Natural Resources Commission for years approved city plans to contract sharpshooters to trim back the herd. But the city’s request for a new hunt by sharpshooters has twice been rejected. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the commission is concerned that the city plans rely too heavily on sharpshooters and that bow hunting would be more effective.

The council members agreed Tuesday that the commission was unlikely to approve a plan that didn’t include bow hunting, so several dropped their previous opposition. Mayor Jim Throgmorton signed a plan that in addition to the bow hunts scheduled sharpshooters during the 2019-2020 winter and nonlethal activities that included fencing, driver awareness and an annual deer count.

(Radio Iowa/KJAN) — One of the most successful fundraisers for the American Cancer Society is now underway in Iowa. The Relay for Life is being held in nearly 80 Iowa communities this year. Tina Coleman, spokeswoman for the American Cancer Society in Iowa, says the premise is simple as teammates take turns walking or running on a track or path to symbolize the ongoing fight against cancer.  “We’re seeing the attendance at these relays going up this year and the giving is even more this year than it has been in the past,” Coleman says. “I think people really understand what Relay for Life is, where the money goes and how it helps people.”

Launched in 1985, Coleman says statewide support is definitely there for this annual cause.”Relay is the biggest fundraiser in the world for cancer,” she says. Last (Wednesday) night, a Relay for Life was held in Stanhope in Hamilton County that raised $23,000. Multiple relays are planned this weekend, including Friday in Atlantic, Guthrie Center, Johnston and Spencer, and Saturday in Carroll and Independence. The Cass County Relay for Life will be held tomorrow (Friday, June 21st), at the Atlantic High School and track. Area survivors and a caregiver are invited to enjoy a free meal at the Atlantic High School Commons provided by the Atlantic HyVee. Registration is at 4:30-p.m., with a meal to follow. Teams and Sponsors are then invited to come out for the Survivor’s Ceremony at the High School at 6:00pm. Everyone will then head out to the track and the public is welcomed in for the Pennant Ceremony and Survivor’s Lap at approximately 6:30pm. A tailgate meal will follow for Teams, Sponsors, and Walkers at approximately 7:00pm. Come out to Celebrate Survivors, Remember those we’ve lost, and Fight Back against Cancer.

The Cass County Relay for Life Tractor Ride will hold registration at 8-a.m. Friday, at the Cass County Fairgrounds in Atlantic with tractors departing at 8:30. A $25 donation to Cass County Relay for Life is requested. Pastries and drinks at registration. Ride will travel to Elk Horn then Walnut. Lunch at rider’s expense at Emma Jean’s in Walnut. After lunch a scenic ride back to Atlantic to enjoy root beer floats at the end of the ride.

To find a relay in your community, go to secure.acsevents.org

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — One of two hotel workers accused of a Sioux City scam using guests’ credit cards has been given three years of probation. The Sioux City Journal reports that 19-year-old Ethan Ehlers pleaded guilty Wednesday to theft. A charge of credit card fraud was dismissed in return. He also was given a suspended prison sentence of 10 years and ordered to pay restitution.

Court documents say that from May 14 through Sept. 8 last year, Sandra Lalumendre and Ehlers fraudulently overcharged guests’ credit cards at the Howard Johnson hotel in downtown Sioux City. They’d then force refunds and split the money. The documents say the total was more than $32,700. The 36-year-old Lalumendre has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

Three people have been arrested on drug and other charges, following separate traffic stops in Pottawattamie County. Sheriff’s officials reports at around 1:05-a.m. today (Thursday), a traffic stop was conducted on a pickup. Two passengers from Avoca were taken into custody: 24-year old Anthony Michael McCoy was arrested for Conspiracy/Intent to manufacture and/or deliver methamphetamine more than 5 grams but less than 5 kilograms, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bond on the paraphernalia charge was set at $300. And, 31-year old James Dwight Mills was arrested on numerous charges, including felony charges of Forgery, Distributing drugs near a school and Theft in the 2nd degree. Mills was additionally charged with Child Endangerment/substantial risk, possession of a controlled substance/marijuana – 1st offense, and Harboring a runaway child/allow to remain at large. Bonds for those offenses total $40,000.

And, at around 1:20-a.m., 21-year old Tristyn Leigh Carl, of Council Bluffs, was arrested following a traffic stop on a Kia SUV with an expired registration. Carl was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/marijuana – 1st offense, and Possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond amounted to $1,300.

The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office reports also, a deputy investigating a vehicle burglary Wednesday afternoon in the 300 block of N. Central Street in Carson, arrested 28-year old Jerad Michael Gappa, for Vehicle Burglary in the 3rd Degree, and Theft in the 5th Degree. The 81-year old property owner said a folder containing credit cards and drivers license was stolen out of the vehicle. The incident remains under investigation.

A woman wanted for Unlawful possession of a prescription drug, turned herself-in to the Pott. County Jail, Wednesday afternoon. After the warrants on the drug and a Theft in the 3rd degree charge were confirmed, 33-year old Rebecca Lynne Sonnier, was turned over to Corrections staff.  And, an inmate at the jail, 25-year old Tylor Scott Davis, of Council Bluffs, was presented with a warrant for Credit card fraud – under $1,000. Davis remains held in the jail on the new charge, plus drug and burglary charges. His bond amounts to $3,000.

Officials with the AHSTW Community School District report the District will be selling some of its 2013 MacBooks. Each laptop will come with a charger. The district will provide NO warranty or guarantee of the device. The devices will be purchased, as is, for $100.00 each and may not be returned for refunds or exchanges.

On Monday, July 15th, students at the AHSTW Community School District will have the first opportunity to make a request to purchase a laptop by going to the district website at www.ahstwschools.org and submitting a laptop purchase request form. Each student may only request one laptop to purchase. An AHSTW student name and parent/guardian contact must be provided with the request or the request will be deleted.

On Thursday, July 18th, the public may request to purchase a laptop by submitting a request form to purchase found on the same district website. The request form will be closed on the morning of July 22nd. Each person submitting a request may only submit one request for one laptop.

As soon as the laptops are ready to be sold we will notify those that have made a request to stop by the school at a designated date and time to make the final purchase of the laptops. If the number of requests exceeds the number of laptops, priority will be given in the order of which purchase requests were made.

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

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Police in Red Oak are investigating a non-injury, hit-and-run incident that took place at around 11:15-a.m., Wednesday. Officers were called to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital’s parking lot, for a report a vehicle struck a parked vehicle in the southwest lot. A witness told officers he saw a maroon, 2014-15 model Ford four-door F-150 pickup backing out of a parking stall. The pickup hit a 2001 Chevy Silverado K2500 pickup, causing about $1,600 (minor) damage. The suspect vehicle then drove-off. The struck vehicle was registered to a man from Shenandoah.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An October sentencing is scheduled for a Shelby County man who authorities say was driving drunk when he crossed a highway center line in north Omaha and rammed into a sports car, fatally injuring two other Iowa men. Douglas County District Court records say 29-year-old Tony Kenkel, of Earling,  entered written pleas of no contest Monday to two counts of manslaughter. Prosecutors dropped two related counts in exchange. His sentencing is set for Oct. 7.

Police say the collision occurred Oct. 13 on Nebraska Highway 36 near Glenn Cunningham Lake when Kenkel’s eastbound pickup truck crossed the center line and struck the oncoming car. Authorities say 21-year-old Joseph Daniels and 21-year-old Thomas Greise were fatally injured. They lived in Council Bluffs.