DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines Police say a shooting in the capital city late Saturday night was an act of self defense. Officers responded at around 11:30-p.m. to the 200 block of east Park Avenue for a reported shooting. When officers arrived, they found 32-year-old Joshua Wheeler, of Des Moines, suffering from a gunshot wound. There were also two children in the home. Wheeler later died at a hospital.

Police say a 25-year old woman and her 27-year old male friend were in the home. They discovered what was believed to be intentional damage to the man’s tire. Wheeler, who was prohibited from having contact with the woman under a court order, arrived at the home and forced his way in. Once inside, he allegedly begin to physically assault the male resident.

The assault stopped briefly and then began again. That’s when the man, who legally possessed a handgun, fired one shot at Wheeler, causing fatal injuries. The Polk County Attorney’s Office determined the shooting was lawful self-defense, and no charges will be filed.

The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Committee is set to meet 5:30-p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 14th) in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. On their agenda is a review of changes to the right-of-way tree ordinance. The changes reflect policy with regard to dead, diseased and dying trees, and returning the Forester’s responsibilities to the Street Superintendent instead of the Parks and Rec Director. The Forester will have the sole determination about tree health and prioritization of dead tree removal. They will be responsible for removing all dead, diseased, or dangerous trees, broken and decayed tree limbs within the public right-of-way when necessary, to protect the safety of the public. The proposed changes will be forwarded to the City Attorney for review before being recommended to the City Council.

And, the CPC will continue with discussions held during their meeting late last month, with regard to changes to the Fireworks Ordinance. The discussion focused on persons violating the ordinance with regard to when the hours of use for fireworks on private property, which are currently Noon-to 10-p.m. July 2nd and 3rd, and from Noon-to 11-p.m. July 4th. Fireworks are also currently allowed from 6-p.m. New Year’s Eve until 12:15-a.m. New Year’s Day.

Any decisions on changing the Ordinance are not expected until next Spring.

Atlantic, IA – Dr. Edna Becht is presenting on osteoarthritis at the next session of Healthy U on Thursday, August 16th in Conference Room 2 at Cass County Health System. According to Dr. Becht, “50% of adults over 65 years of age have arthritis in at least one joint. While there is no cure, there are a number of management options to consider.”

Dr. Becht

During the presentation, Dr. Becht will cover the basics of osteoarthritis, treatments, medications, and therapy. Dr. Edna Becht is a family medicine physician at Atlantic Medical Center. She provides comprehensive family medicine services, including obstetric care. Healthy U will be offered at both 7:30 am and noon on Thursday, August 16th.

Healthy U is a free educational series at Cass County Health System held monthly in Conference Room 2. The public is invited and welcome to attend, but reservations are required as a meal is provided for all attendees. Call 712-243-7479 to reserve your seat.

Three people have been arrested on Public Intoxication charges, in Red Oak. Red Oak Police report 29-year old Curtis Kit Blystone, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 4:18-a.m. today (Sunday), in the 400 block of E. Reed Street, in Red Oak. His bond was set at $300. A little after 6-p.m. Saturday, Red Oak Police arrested 58-year old Dennis Edward Elliott, of Red Oak, for Public Intoxication/2nd offense, and 53-year old Valerie Zamora, of Red Oak, for Public Intox./1st offense. Zamora’s bond was set at $300, while Elliott’s bond was set at $2,000.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 5:10 a.m. CDT

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A workplace safety agency has cited transportation hub Big Soo Terminal in northwestern Iowa for a March incident that killed an employee. The Sioux City Journal reports that Iowa’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found three serious violations following an investigation into the March 28 death of 42-year-old Brian McCormick, a warehouseman and maintenance technician.

NEOLA, Iowa (AP) — Two organizations in the western Iowa community of Neola are trying to improve the lives of the city’s older residents so they’ll remain in town. The Daily Nonpareil reports that Lookout Village and the Neola Betterment Corporation are also aiming to create community growth. The Betterment Corporation, which is essentially a housing board for senior citizens, is planning to build seven cottages, four individual cottages and three duplex units for the area’s older residents wanting to downsize.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is again calling on volunteers to participate in the state’s annual wild turkey survey. Each summer, the department asks for volunteers to participate in the July-August survey. The information is used to monitor trends and manage the state’s turkey population.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The reward fund offered for the safe return of a missing University of Iowa student has grown to more than $332,000. Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa in a news release Thursday that 210 individual donors have contributed to the fund and that Crime Stoppers has passed on more than 935 tips to authorities investigating the disappearance of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A workplace safety agency has cited transportation hub Big Soo Terminal in northwestern Iowa for a March incident that killed an employee. The Sioux City Journal reports that Iowa’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found three serious violations following an investigation into the March 28 death of 42-year-old Brian McCormick, a warehouseman and maintenance technician.
McCormick was engaged in a switching operation with train cars when he was struck and killed by an unmanned rail car.

OSHA cited Big Soo for allowing employees on the rail car platform as rail cars were moving, letting employees move rail cars with the bucket of pay loader and not providing a derailer or bump block for rail cars.
Big Soo Terminal president Doug Palmer said Friday that the company had met with OSHA to discuss steps moving forward.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is again calling on volunteers to participate in the state’s annual wild turkey survey. Each summer, the department asks for volunteers to participate in the July-August survey. The information is used to monitor trends and manage the state’s turkey population.

Participants are asked to keep an eye out for wild turkeys as they work and play in Iowa during July and August. Volunteers are asked to distinguish adult females from males and young poults. They’re then asked to count the number of adults and young turkeys and make a note of the date and the county in which they were seen. That info is then reported to the Wildlife Bureau online using a computer or smartphone.

NEOLA, Iowa (AP) — Two organizations in the western Iowa community of Neola are trying to improve the lives of the city’s older residents so they’ll remain in town. Lookout Village and the Neola Betterment Corporation are also aiming to create community growth, The Daily Nonpareil reported .

Betterment Corporation, which is essentially a housing board for senior citizens, was able to build a six-unit apartment building for seniors in the 1980s using money raised from an annual community celebration, a $20,000 grant, private donations and a no-interest federal loan, said Anna Killpack, who serves with both organizations.
Now the organization is planning to build seven cottages, four individual cottages and three duplex units for the area’s older residents wanting to downsize.

“We would like to start the infrastructure work on the site we’ve purchased for the cottage this fall, but that is going to be tight,” Killpack said. “If we don’t get that work done this fall, we’ll certainly get it done in the spring.”

Lookout Village is a nonprofit program that provides services to its community members, according to Killpack. Memberships in Lookout Village are available to seniors and persons with long-term and/or short-term disabilities. Lookout Village also hosts a walking club, tours area museums and holds other activities such as bingo to encourage social connections.

Memberships range from $27 to $275 per year. There are currently 18 members signed up for Lookout Village, and the group has been growing at a rate of one new member per week, on average, Killpack said.

“We’re an organization of neighbors helping neighbors,” she said. “We do things like help rake leaves, cook a meal or take a member to an appointment.”

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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Road Race Registration at Atlantic City Park, 7 to 7:45 a.m.
Tractor Ride Registration with coffee and rolls at Cass County Fairgrounds, 7 a.m.
Road Race Begins at Sixth and Poplar Street, 8 a.m.
Hy-Vee Pancake Breakfast at Atlantic City Park, 8 a.m.
Tractor Ride begins at Cass County Fairgrounds, 8 a.m.
Motorcycle Show Registration at Seventh Street and Chestnut Street, 8 a.m. to noon
Car Show Registration at Third Street and Chestnut Street, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Craft Show at Fifth Street, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Activity Booths open at Atlantic City Park, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kids’ Bike Ride at Schildberg Recreation Area-west parking lot, 10:30 a.m.
Pony Rides at Sixth Street and Popular Street, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.- $5 each
Family Carnival at Sixth Street and Popular Street, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.-includes games, dunk tank and ticket booth-tickets $50 cent
Live Entertainment at AM Cohron Main Stage, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.- Villa Dance Company, 11 to 11:45 a.m.; Salute Gymnastics, 11:50 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.; Dance Atlantic, 12:40 to 1:25 p.m.; Reese DeArmant, 1:30 to 1:45 p.m.; Jason Button, 1:50 to 2:05 p.m.; Elyssa Amdor, 2:10 to 2:25 p.m.; BJ Hart, 2:30 to 2:45 p.m.; Alyssa Neal, 2:50 to 3:05 p.m.; Mike and Nancy Gibson, 3:10 to 3:25 p.m.; Reagan Watson, 3:30 to 3:55 p.m.; Sarah Selders, 4 to 4:30 p.m.; BJ Hart, 4:30 to 5 p.m.
Pedal Tractor Pull at Sixth Street and Chestnut Street, 1 p.m.
Atlantic BPW Bingo at Atlantic City Park, 1 p.m.
Motorcycle Show Award at Seventh Street and Chestnut Street, 3:30 p.m.
50/50 Raffle announcement at AM Cohron Main Stage, 3:45 p.m.
Car Show Awards at Chestnut Street in front of Atlantic Motor Supply, 4 p.m.