(Radio Iowa) – The Commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Roxann Ryan, says she has heard from a lot of local and county law enforcement agencies that are having a hard time filling open positions. “I think every law enforcement agency is struggling with recruitment. And not just law enforcement — I think most employers are struggling to find the kind of people that they really are looking for,” Ryan says.  She says the state organization has not seen the same issue. “I have to say in the last basic academy that we had, we had hundreds of people who applied and we were not able to hire everybody who was qualified to work,” Ryan says, “I am going to knock on wood — we have not had trouble getting people to come and work at the Department of Public Safety.”

Ryan says the search for qualified people seems to lead to a lot of turnover in other state departments. “We’re seeing that more and more in agencies, that people are moving from one agency to another agency during their careers,” according to Ryan. “We don’t see that as often in our department. Usually we have people who start at a fairly young age and then stay until retirement.”  Ryan says they do see officers looking to move to the Iowa State Patrol or other positions in the Department of Public Safety. “In the last basic academy we had 24 and I think we had six that had previously worked as law enforcement officers. And in the academy before that we had 22 and I think that we had four that previously worked at another agency,” Ryan says.

She says those officers make a decision soon after entering law enforcement that they want to work for the state. “Usually they will transfer relatively early in their careers — so they are usually under 30 when they come to the Department of Public Safety,” she says. Ryan is retiring after working in the department for more than ten years. She joined the Department of Public Safety in 2006 as a lawyer and was appointed Public Safety Commissioner in 2015 by then Governor Terry Branstad.

Police in Council Bluffs are investigating a hit-and-run accident that took place early this (Tuesday) morning. Officers were dispatched to 2759 West Broadway Street, at the Taco Bell, in reference to the accident. When officers arrived they were informed that a blue Ford Mustang was westbound on Broadway, when the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the bench for the bus stop. The vehicle then rolled over a light pole and came to rest against Taco Bell’s building.

The unknown driver got out of the vehicle and left the area on foot. Officers checked the area and were unable to locate the driver.

A single-vehicle accident in Pottawattamie County Monday night claimed the life of one person and resulted in injuries to another. The Iowa State Patrol reports the driver of a 2013 Hyundai Elantra, 46-year old Melanie Thompson, of Avoca, who was not wearing a seat belt, died from her injuries after being transported by Council Bluffs Fire and Rescue, to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. A passenger in the car, 9-year old Brianna Milledge, of Avoca, was injured and transported by CB Fire to Children’s Hospital, in Omaha. She was buckled-up according to the Patrol.

The accident happened at around 6:25-p.m. on westbound Interstate 80, near mile marker nine. Authorities say the car went out of control to the right, for reasons unknown, went down an embankment and rolled over before coming to rest on its wheels in a field to the west of I-80.

In an update to our previous reports, the Iowa State Patrol has identified the victims of a crash that happened Saturday night on Des Moines’ northeast side. Authorities say a passenger in a 2016 Ford Focus, 24-year old Joshua Lamont Cox, of Prairie City, died from injuries he suffered, when the car was struck from behind by a 2018 GMC pickup – driven by 27-year old Travis Gonzales, of Bondurant – that was traveling at a high rate of speed. The driver of the car, 22-year old Austin Paul Gainuss, of Des Moines, was injured and flown by helicopter to Methodist Hospital, in Des Moines. Both men were wearing their seat belts.

The crash happened on Interstate 80, at little after 10-p.m., Saturday, just before the east mixmaster (the I-80/I-235/I-35 interchange). After the impact, both vehicles entered the north ditch, where the car struck a tree.

The accident remains under investigation, with charges pending.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:55 a.m. CST

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A Feb. 11 trial start has been scheduled for a 19-year-old Muscatine man accused of stabbing to death his grandmother. Muscatine County court documents say Darian Lensgraf pleaded not guilty Friday to first-degree murder. He’s accused of killing 66-year-old Diana Lensgraf at her home early on Dec. 12.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A southeast Iowa couple convicted of locking their adopted 7-year-old son in their basement at night have filed appeals. Court records say Heidi Fiems, of Mediapolis, filed the appeal notice after her sentencing Friday. She and her husband, Justin, were sentenced to 180 days in jail but must serve only 60 days. Each was fined $625 and given two years of probation. The Hawk Eye reports that Heidi Fiems was tearful Friday as she described the “wrong choice” she and her husband made.

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say one person was hospitalized after a fire in the basement of home in the eastern Iowa city of Clinton. The two residents were outside by the time the firetrucks arrived Sunday morning, but firefighters rescued two dogs from inside, giving one of them oxygen to help it recover. The fire cause is being investigated. The name of the injured person was not released.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines’ last single-screen movie theater has closed after 80 years. The Des Moines Register reports that the Varsity Theater was packed during its final screening on Sunday, just over eight decades after the theater opened on Christmas Day in 1938. Theater owner Denise Mahon says the turnout touched her heart. She’d announced the closure in November, citing plans to undergo knee replacement surgery.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office said today (Monday), three accidents that occurred Friday resulted in three people being transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment of mostly minor injuries. Weather and road conditions played a role in at least two of the accidents.

At around 8:30-a.m., Friday, a single-vehicle accident happened on westbound I-80 at the 55.7 mile marker. Officials say a 2005 Chevy Suburban owned and driven by 54-year old John K. Fuller, of Johnston, lost traction on the icy road, entered the center median and rolling onto the passenger side before coming to rest on its wheels. Medical care was refused. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $10,000.

Nearly three-hours later, another single-vehicle accident happened on 650th Street (Highway 71), near Troublesome Creek Road. Authorities say a 2002 Ford F150 driven by 41-year old Kimberly Joy Zimtbaum, of Phoenix, AZ, was traveling southbound on 650th when the driver hit an icy patch on the road. The vehicle exited the roadway, rolled twice, and came to rest in the east ditch. Zimtbaum and her passenger were transported by Midwest Transport to Cass County Memorial Hospital. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $6,000.

And, just after 7-p.m. Friday, a single-vehicle accident happened on on Olive Street in Cass County, near Echo Road. A 2009 Chevy Cobalt driven by 16-year old Dallas Joseph Drenth, of Woodbine, was traveling northbound on Olive Street when the vehicle hit the gravel shoulder, sending it into the east ditch. Drenth was transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $3,000.

Officials with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Monday, reported multiple arrests have occurred recently. On December 27th, Charles Albert Mace, Jr., turned himself in at the Cass County Jail. Mace was wanted on two Atlantic Police Department warrants for four counts of Felony Sex Abuse 3rd Degree; one count of Exhibiting Obscene Material to a Minor; and one count of Violation of a No Contact Order. He was booked at the Cass County Jail and remains held on $200,000 bond.

As mentioned earlier in the Atlantic Police Department’s report, on December 28th, Atlantic Police arrested 46-year old Robert Joseph Dambra, of Atlantic, on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office warrant for Tampering with a Witness and Harassment 3rd Degree. Dambra was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released on $2,300 bond. That same day Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 20-year old Dakota Lee Sandbothe, of Marne, on a charge of Eluding, and a citation for Reckless Driving. Sandbothe was also charged by the Atlantic Police Department with Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer.

On December 29th, deputies arrested 57-year old Cinthia Ann Ulveling, of Atlantic, on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. She was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on her own recognizance. Also on Dec. 29th, deputies arrested 25-year old Dylan Zachary Russell, of Atlantic, on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for Driving Under Suspension. Russell was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty the following day and was released from custody.

On December 30th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 52-year old Richard Harold Lewis, Sr., of Anita, on a charge of Simple Assault. Lewis was taken to the Cass County Jail where he pled guilty the following day and was released from custody. And, on December 31st, 38-year old Daniel Harvey Pash, of Harlan, was arrested in Cass County on a Shelby County warrant. Pash was taken to the Cass County Jail and was later released to Shelby County authorities.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met at 8:30-a.m. today (Monday), with all members present. During their session, the Board acted on allowing or disallowing family farm credits and to approve agricultural land credits as recommended by the Assessor and the Auditor in accordance with the Code of Iowa, for taxes collectible during Fiscal Year 2019-20.  The Board also took up discussion of employee information handbook, but after a brief discussion acted to table the mater until a future session.

The Board’s next meeting is 8:30-a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2nd in their Board Room at the Cass County Courthouse, in Atlantic. During their meeting Wednesday, the Supervisors will handle several, annual administrative matters. That includes: A Resolution approving the number of and appointment of, Administrative Assistants and deputies for each of the following…County Attorney, Recorder and Treasurer; Also the appointment of two township trustees for each of the 14 townships in Cass County, whose officers are appointed rather than elected; The Supervisors will also appoint members of the Board to serve on committees, and appointments to various county councils, commissions, and other governmental subdivisions. In other business, the Supervisors will set the 2019 (plus 2020 New Year’s Day) Holiday Schedule, and mileage reimbursement rate for employees and for sheriff’s civil processing.

Atlantic Police report six arrests occurred over the past few days. On Sunday, 42-year old Amanda Bashor, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. On Friday, Atlantic Police arrested: 20-year old Allen Van Aernam, of Atlantic, for Eluding; 20-year old Dakota Sandbothe, of Atlantic, for Assault on Persons in certain occupations; and 46-year old Robert Dambra, of Atlantic, on a Cass County warrant for Tampering with a Witness or Juror.

On Dec. 22nd, 50-year Mark Winston, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. And, on Dec. 21st, 54-year old Michael Nielsen, of Atlantic, was arrested on Cass County warrants for Theft in the 1st Degree, and Ongoing Criminal Conduct-Unlawful Activity. All of the suspects were booked-into the Cass County Jail.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A February trial has been scheduled for a 19-year-old Muscatine man accused of stabbing to death his grandmother. Muscatine County court documents say Darian Lensgraf pleaded not guilty Friday to first-degree murder. He’s accused of killing 66-year-old Diana Lensgraf at her home early on Dec. 12. Authorities say police found the young man at a convenience store after the store clerk called to report a man holding a bloody knife in the store.
Darian Lensgraf’s trial is set to begin Feb. 11.