Two transients were arrested in Council Bluffs on theft and other charges, following an investigation into the theft of pickup trucks from Pottawattamie and Mills Counties. According to Bluffs Police, 35-year old David Spracklin was arrested March 6th in Fremont, NE, by members of the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force.

David Spracklin

He was wanted on warrants charging him with 2-counts of Theft in the 1st Degree, 4-counts of Forgery, Credit Card Forgery, Identity Theft, Conspiracy, and On-going Criminal Conduct.

Sara Novy

32-year old Sara Novy was arrested today (Tuesday) in Omaha, by members of the same Task Force, on warrants charging her with 2 counts of Theft in the 1st, Credit Card forgery, Conspiracy and On-going Criminal Conduct. Both were being held in the Pottawattamie County  Jail.

The investigation into the duo’s alleged activities began just before 7-a.m. January 27th, when a white 2015 Ford F250 pickup was stolen from the parking lot of Bucky’s on North 16th Street, in Council Bluffs. Officials say in the early afternoon hours of February 11th, a red colored 2012 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup was stolen from a farm in Mills County, Iowa. Later that same afternoon, the vehicle’s owner noticed his stolen truck parked in the parking lot of Midstates Bank (at 1851 Madison Avenue) occupied by a male and a female.

The owner called 911, but before the arrival of the Police, the truck drove to the No Frills Super Market (at 1801 Valley View Drive) and pulled next to a new white Ford F250. The female exited the Dodge and got into the Ford. The Police arrived at this time and attempted to stop the Dodge Ram. Both vehicles fled the area, failing to stop for the Officer.

A little after 2-a.m. February 15th,  a Council Bluffs Police Officer pulled into the Bucky’s parking lot (15 No. 16th St.) and noticed a white Ford F250 had just pulled into lot from the opposite drive. As the Officer drove toward the truck, it sped out of the lot and traveled westbound on Avenue A at a high rate of speed. The truck was found abandoned minutes later near the intersection of No. 34th Street and Avenue A. This was the same vehicle that had been stolen on January 27th.

At around 7:40-p.m. on February 19th, a vehicle fire was reported in the 3500 Block of Gifford Road. After the fire was extinguished, it was determined that this was the same vehicle that had been stolen in Mills County on February 11th. During the course of the investigation into these thefts, Spracklin and Novy were identified as being in possession of both stolen trucks. They have also been identified as having tried to pass forged checks at Walmart and Home Depot in Council Bluffs. Warrants for their arrests were issued on March 4th.

The deadlines are quickly approaching for several scholarships that are available to area students through Cass County Health System and its affiliate organizations.
· Cass County Health System offers a $1,000 scholarship to southwest Iowa students pursuing a four-year degree in a health-related career. Deadline is April 1, 2015.
· Cass County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary provides two $1,000 Grant-in-Aid scholarships for students pursuing a health-related career. Deadline is March 31, 2015.
· Cass County Memorial Hospital Foundation offers two $5,000 Louie and Elsie Hansen Memorial scholarships for graduates of a Cass County high school who will be attending a medical or nursing school leading to an MD, RN, or LPN degree. Deadline is April 1, 2015.

Applications are available on the Cass County Health System website, www.casshealth.org, and can be turned in to the Human Resources Office or Cass County High School guidance offices by the respective deadlines listed above. For more information, contact Sara Nelson, Director of Public Relations, 712-243-7408.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The House has passed a bill that would make several changes to Iowa’s gun laws, including removing the age limit for children to use pistols and revolvers under a parent’s supervision. The House voted 75-24 Tuesday to advance the bill to the Senate, where lawmakers are considering a similar bill. The bill would make it legal for a child under 14 to use pistols and revolvers under a parent’s supervision. It would also block public access to the names of people with permits to carry guns.

The bill would legalize the use of suppressors to help silence guns. It also makes changes to how some people acquire and renew their permits. It’s unclear what kind of support the bill will get in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A prosecutor says a former Air Force captain who oversaw contracts in Afghanistan will plead guilty to an influence-peddling charge stemming from his later employment representing a vendor. Adam Pudenz is charged with making false statements and violating a law that bans ex-federal employees from trying to influence matters in which they were involved. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Murphy wrote in a court document Friday that the 35-year-old has agreed to plead guilty to both counts Tuesday and forfeit his home in Carroll, Iowa.

Pudenz managed contracts for clothing, shoes and boots for Afghan National Security Forces while stationed in Kabul in 2009-2010. Two went to Kabul Milli Trading Co. After leaving the Air Force, investigators say Pudenz was paid $247,000 by the boot manufacturer to influence his former colleagues.

The Atlantic Police Department has informed the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce about a purse that was stolen at around 5:15-a.m. today (Tuesday). The Chamber is warning its member businesses not to take any checks or credit cards with the name Karla Michael. If you receive a check, credit card or debit card with the name Karla Michael on it, contact Atlantic Police Depot at 712-243-3512.

Details about the checks and credit cards:

Checks: Karla Michael Iowa State Savings Bank, Lenox, IA
Debit Card: Karla Michael US Bank
Debit Card: Karla Michael PCSB Bank
Credit Card: Karla Michael Capital One

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A prison official says an Iowa work release inmate who’s been on the loose since Jan. 1st has been apprehended. Corrections Department Assistant Director Fred Scaletta said Tuesday that Timothy Denney was caught somewhere in Nebraska. Denney was placed on escaped status after he didn’t return to the work release center in Sioux City on New Year’s Day.

Denney was sentenced in August 2004 to 15 years in prison on convictions for robbery and going armed with intent. He’d been transferred to work release on Oct. 8.

Shelby County is entering its Spring Fire Season. Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Seivert says there is an abundance of dead material that is in the process of fully drying out. With limited access to fields due to thawing conditions, Seivert says they are going to start their bi-weekly updates to our Fire Danger Boards. Updates are Tuesday, and Thursday of each week.  From now through Thursday, Seivert is asking local businesses and fire departments to place their “Fire Danger” Boards into the MODERATE category. The next update on fire conditions will be Thursday morning.

Shelby County has four color coded distinct levels:

LOW – You are asked to call in and report your burning projects to dispatch at 712-755-2124, and notify your local Fire Chief.
Moderate – You are asked to call in and report your burning projects to dispatch at 712-755-2124, and notify your local Fire Chief. Timing for burns should be morning, or evening hours and extinguished by dark unless authorized by Fire Chief due to possible impacts to roads and health from smoke. Burns must be monitored at all times.
High – Burning of any kind is restricted unless approval is received from local Fire Chief. Controlled burns that are not reported will result in Fire Department being dispatched, and fires extinguished if determined to be un-safe. Please call 712-755-2124 with questions.
Extreme – Burning is prohibited, unless you have a signed permit from the local Fire Chief. Fires on Extreme days can grow rapidly and pose a risk to the Health and Safety of the Community. Citations can be issued if burning without permission.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency at 712-755-2124.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Frontier Airlines has confirmed that it won’t be resuming service at the Sioux City airport. In October the company stopped its Denver service from Sioux Gateway Airport. In a statement Monday, Frontier said it had relied on connecting passengers flowing through Denver, but it now is focused on city-to-city service. The airline says Sioux City doesn’t fit into that business strategy.

Sioux Gateway’s only carrier is American Airlines, which offers two daily flights to and from O’Hare in Chicago. Airport officials have said they’re seeking other airlines to offer Sioux City service.

With Ric Hanson.

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Poised in the nation’s heartland between two big farm states, Omaha-Council Bluffs officials hope to benefit from the region’s strong agricultural sector to become one of the world’s top five agri-business leaders. Randy Thelen, senior vice president at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, sees value-added agriculture as a key to making the metro area a global leader in food processing, biofuels and biochemicals.  “We’ve seen tremendous growth of the Cargill campus up in Blair over the years,” Thelen says. “We want to see that continue to grow and we see a new wave of investment taking place across the country in that space and we want to be a leader in that.”

Thelen says other opportunities include the growing precision agriculture industry as well as managing the huge amount of data collected to aid modern ag practices. Thelen says, “How can we best translate the data that’s being collected today in a meaningful way that provides better abilities to manage the farms, manage these businesses around the world, not just here locally, but around the world?”

Thelen says the region’s strong agricultural sector provides urban centers with great opportunities to foster agri-businesses.

(Radio Iowa)