(UPDATE 3:35-a.m., 2/28) — In reference to the missing Council Bluffs man, Robert Nielson, he has been located by a Woodbury County Sheriff’s Deputy in Holstein Iowa, which is east of Sioux City Iowa. Nielson is in good condition and he is safe.

Original story:

Police in Council Bluffs, Tuesday evening, were asking for your help in an attempt to locate a missing man, 83-year old Robert Carl Nielson, of Council Bluffs. Nielson was last seen in Council Bluffs Monday afternoon. He left his residence driving a RED 2016 Honda CRV with Iowa license plate FIG 907.

Robert suffers from Alzheimers and was possibly seen at a Casey’s gas station in Blair, NE between 11:00am and 1:00pm Tuesday. If located please contact the Council Bluffs Police Department at 712-328-5737.

Robert Carl Nielsen

The Red Oak Police Department report the arrest Tuesday afternoon of 28-year-old Mark Robert Griger, of Red Oak. Griger was taken into custody at around 4-p.m., on a valid Douglas County, Nebraska warrant, for being a Fugitive from Justice. Griger was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond.

(UPDATE) Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department said late Tuesday night, that the teen accused of making a threat against the Lewis Central High School, Monday, and who disappeared from school Tuesday, was found later that evening. 16‐year‐old Giovanni D. Raymundo, of Council Bluffs was arrested on a Felony, Threats of Terrorism charge. He was being held at the Southwest Iowa Juvenile Detention Center, in Council Bluffs. Juvenile Court Services will set a date for his initial hearing.

The teen had been reported as a “Missing Person” by his family. Raymundo left school property Tuesday, against the wishes of Lewis Central staff, after making the threats, but prior to the arrival of police personnel or family members. Police officers were at Raymundo’s home Tuesday night. Detectives did not locate any evidence that would lead them to believe that he had the means to carry out his threats, but the case remains under investigation.

The Council Bluffs Police Department does not normally release the names of juvenile offenders, but the “Safety Exception” of Iowa Code 915.25(2) allows for this information to be provided when the whereabouts of the juvenile are unknown and if doing so will protect the public in general.

It’s official: Atlantic Athletic Director and Assistant High School Principal Matt Alexander will become the new Superintendent of the Odebolt-Arthur/Battle Creek/Ida Grove School District, effective July 1st. The OA-BCIG School Board offered him the job last Saturday with a verbal commitment, pending their meeting today (Tuesday), during which the offer was affirmed.

Matt Alexander

Alexander sat down with the media Tuesday afternoon to discuss the offer, which he said he “Was pleased to receive.” He said also that “It’s an opportunity for me to advance my career, something I’ve studied for and hoped for, for a while. It always comes with mixed emotions…leaving somewhere I’ve been for a long time. I’ve been in [Atlantic] for 23-years, and the school District for 17. I’ve met a lot of great people and had some wonderful opportunities….I think it’s a great professional move, and it’s the right time for my family to make that move.”

He said as for his replacement, and where Atlantic Athletics go from this point forward, that will be up to the Administrative team, who will work with the School Board, to determine how they will fill the position (including looking at other options, such as split duties).

He said the opportunities to serve in a variety of roles in the Atlantic School District has prepared him for the leap to Superintendent. Learning about Iowa School Finances has also helped to prepare him for “the next step.” He said also, he’s looking forward to the challenge. As for what he leaves behind, Alexander said the District’s Athletic facilities and school security need to be priorities, especially in light of the recent shootings in Florida, and other threats around the Midwest that have people on edge.

OA-BCIG he says, also are working on improving their athletic facilities. Alexander is originally from Ida Grove. He’s a 1991 graduate of the former Ida Grove High School. He said “It was a little bit odd walking back into the building that I attended as a student, but a lot of things were the same, but there also a lot of things that had changed. I can that over the years, the District has been very proud of their facilities and I want to keep moving that forward.”

He said when he began the search for a superintendents position, his goal was to look in northwest Iowa to be closer to his family. The Atlantic School Board is expected to act on approving Alexander’s resignation during their meeting Wednesday afternoon.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says talks will continue on a dispute over the future of the renewable fuel standard, which has pitted lawmakers from corn-producing states against those representing refineries.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says President Donald Trump had a productive meeting Tuesday with four Republican senators: Ted Cruz of Texas, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

The White House says Trump has made clear his commitment to the RFS and support for farmers and energy workers. The standard requires biofuels from corn and soybeans to be blended into gasoline and diesel. Midwest states have sought to maintain the standards while oil companies have pushed to ease the mandates.
Grassley says in a conference call with reporters that no deal was reached Tuesday.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has approved a bill that would ban automated traffic enforcement cameras in the state, though the measure’s future is unclear. The Republican-controlled chamber voted 32-18 Tuesday for the legislation, which would prohibit devices tracking vehicles that speed or run a red light.

The measure heads to the GOP-majority House, where leadership hasn’t commented on its chances. A separate bill in the Legislature would instead add regulations for such cameras.

The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency says eight cities operate about 80 related devices. A ban would reduce revenue for local governments by about $12 million annually.

The Legislature has considered a ban for years. The state’s transportation department faced legal challenges recently for ordering cities to remove some cameras. The Iowa Supreme Court sided with the state last year.

The Harlan Police Department reports numerous arrests dating back to Valentine’s Day. Today (Tuesday), 53-year old Curt Thomas Anstey, of Harlan, was arrested following an investigation of a suspicious vehicle.  He also had an active warrant out of Cass County.  Anstey was transported to the Shelby County Jail where he was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Monday, 23-year old Brandon Lee Anderson, of Harlan, was arrested on an active warrant.  He was transported to the Shelby County Jail. 45-year old Stephanie Ann Good, of Harlan, was arrested Monday as well, following a call for a possible domestic situation.  She was transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

On Feb. 16th, 45-year old Richard Eugene Green, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant.  He was transported to the Shelby County Jail. And, on Valentine’s Day, 35-year old Justin Charles Henricksen, of Harlan, was arrested on an active warrant.  He was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo woman has taken a plea deal in the death of a toddler at her in-home day care. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that 43-year-old Amy Hangartner entered Alford pleas Monday to neglect of a dependent person and to child endangerment. A second count of child endangerment was dropped in exchange for her pleas. Under an Alford plea, a person doesn’t admit guilt but acknowledges there is enough evidence for a conviction.

Prosecutors say 18-month-old Brody Harrelson was found unresponsive and later died in June 2015 after Hangartner put him in an infant car seat and left him unattended in a closet to nap. Brody apparently slid down in the seat and a strap became stretched over his neck. An autopsy determined he died of mechanical or positional asphyxia.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports three arrests occurred over the past few days. Today (Tuesday), 32-year old Christopher Seymour, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI. And, on Friday, 25-year old Adnan Abdic, of Waterloo, was arrested on a Black Hawk County warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. 26-year old Nurija Huebner, also of Waterloo, was arrested Friday for Theft in the 2nd Degree (possession of stolen property) and Theft in the 4th Degree (Shoplifting). All three subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports Nicholas Slater of Glendale, Ariz. was found guilty following a trial on Feb. 12th, 2018, for charges related to poaching a whitetail deer. The poaching incident occurred at Lake Manawa State Park in Council Bluffs on Nov. 19, 2016.  Slater was found guilty on seven charges, including hunting on a game refuge, not having a valid nonresident hunting license and habitat fee, not having a valid deer tag (either antlerless or antlered/anysex), and illegal taking, transporting and possession of deer.

The total fines for Slater are $7,061.95, which includes court-imposed civil damages for the reimbursement of the deer. In addition, Slater will have his hunting privileges suspended for three years in Iowa and the Interstate Wildlife Violator’s Compact as a result of the conviction. The Iowa DNR was assisted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department with the investigation.