DES MOINES, IA – A Des Moines man was sentenced today (Tuesday) to 40 years in prison for sex trafficking three adult females by force, fraud, and coercion and kidnapping one of the adult females; 30 years for sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor female; and 10 years for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently for a total term of 40 years in prison.

According to public court documents, Richard Thomas Ball, 47, used deceptive and coercive tactics as well as physical assaults to compel three adult females to engage in sex acts in exchange for money. Ball trafficked the victims and received proceeds from the victims’ sex acts. Ball kidnapped one of the victims during the course of trafficking her. Ball admitted that he transported the victim against her will in a vehicle from Missouri to Des Moines so that he could physically assault her during the trip as a form of revenge against another victim.

Ball also coerced three minor females to engage in sexually explicit conduct and caused images and videos to be produced of those minor females engaged in such conduct. Ball sexually abused the three minor females, one of whom he began abusing at age 13 and continued for approximately five years. Additionally, Ball admitted to conspiring with others, including minors, to transport marijuana to Iowa and distribute it.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Department of Public Safety, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, and Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.

Human trafficking is a crime involving the exploitation of youth under the age of 18 for commercial sex; the exploitation of adults for commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion; and the exploitation of any individual for compelled labor. Human trafficking does not require the transportation of individuals across state lines, or that someone is physically restrained. Signs that a person is being trafficked can include working excessively long hours, unexplained gifts, physical injury, substance abuse issues, running away from home, isolation from others, or having a person in their life controlling them or monitoring them closely.

Victims particularly susceptible to being trafficked include those with criminal histories, a history of physical or sexual abuse, uncertain legal status, and dependency on controlled substances. Individuals who purchase sex from minors or from those who are otherwise exploited for commercial sex are also subject to prosecution for sex trafficking under federal law, if they knew or were in reckless disregard of the fact that they were under the age of 18, or that force, fraud, or coercion was used.

Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring, be it a minor engaging in paid sex acts, or anyone being coerced into prostitution or labor, is urged to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is receiving 11 million dollars in federal money for grants to various safety programs in Iowa. Bureau Chief Brett Tjepkes (Jep-keys) says one program helps refugees with driver education.

He says it’s an important for people who are new to Iowa.

The Iowa Bicycle Coalition is also getting grant money.

The Iowa Restaurant Association and Mothers Against Drunk Driving are receiving grants.

Tjepkes says traffic deaths in the state are already more than 300 this year and they hope these grants will help bring that number down.

You can see a complete list of the grants at the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau website.

(Radio Iowa) – A heavily wooded state park in northwest Iowa is the site of an unusual event held this Saturday. It’s called the “Fright Hike” and it covers about half a mile in Fort Defiance State Park near Estherville. Lexie Ruter is executive director of the Estherville Chamber of Commerce. “We are getting everything prepped and ready to go for our one-night-only event where we usually get 1200 people out in three and a half hours,” she says, “so it’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun.”

This will be the 11th annual Fright Hike — held the Saturday before Halloween each year — held in the woods of the state park that’s about two-and-a-half miles outside of Estherville.  “We’ve got a lot of new people doing some new things this year, so it should be scary and not just the same thing as every year before,” Ruter says. “so hopefully everyone leaves scared, having had a good time.” The “Fright Night” festivities begin just before sunset this Saturday, but Ruter says the half mile route will be lit for the first hour.

“From 6 to 7 p.m. we have our ‘lights on’ hour which is when we encourage those who want a little bit less of a scary experience to come out. We do kind of take it a little bit easier if there is a child who is upset or something like that. We will back off between 6 and 7 p.m.,” Ruter says. “From 7 to 9:30 is a ‘full scare,’ so those two and a half hours are your typical haunted hour style scarings.”

A ticket to the Fright Hike at Fort Defiance is 10 dollars. Halloween has become one of the biggest consumer holidays of the year and the National Retail Federation predicts Americans will spend a record 12-point-two BILLION dollars on Halloween costumes, candy, decorations and haunted houses this year. The National Retail Federation’s annual survey found seven out of 10 people said they would participate in Halloween activities.

OTTUMWA – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections report 35-year-old Preston Kash Ingram, convicted of Robbery 2nd Degree and other charges in Lee County, failed to report back to the Ottumwa Residential Facility as required last Friday. Ingram stands 5-feet, 11-inches tall, weighs 195 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on July 11, 2023.

Persons with information on Ingram’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Preston Kash Ingram

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported, following three accidents that took place last Thursday (Oct. 19, 2023). The first crash happened at around 10-a.m., and involved a pickup truck and an SUV. Authorities say a 2018 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 49-year-old James Allen Black, of Johnston, was westbound on Highway 44 from Avenue A, at the same time a 2020 Nissan Murano driven by 47-year-old Tanny Marie Miller, of Guthrie Center, was traveling eastbound.

The pickup crossed the center line of the road, into the path of the SUV. Miller tried to avoid the collision, but her SUV was struck on the driver’s side rear door by the pickup. The SUV came to rest in the east ditch. The pickup stopped on the west side shoulder of the road. Damage from the crash amounted to $15,000. Deputies cited Black for Failure to Maintain Control, and Driving on the wrong side of the highway.

The second accident in Guthrie County, last Thursday, happened at around 12:32-p.m., on eastbound Highway 141. Authorities say a 2008 Kenworth semi driven by 40-year-old Floyd Peterman, of Corning, and a 2005 Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup driven by 35-year-old Amalia Easton, of Ankeny, were traveling west on Highway 141 at Rose Avenue, When the pickup slowed to make a right-hand turn into a driveway, the semi struck a trailer attached to the pickup, causing Easton to lose control. The vehicle rolled into the westbound ditch. The semi stopped on the west shoulder of the road. Damage from the collision amounted to $30,000. No citations were issued.

The third accident in Guthrie County, Thursday, occurred at around 7:05-p.m., on Iowa Highway 4. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a 2022 Chevy Trailblazer SUV driven by 34-year-old Breanna Mink, of Jamaica, was traveling south on the highway, when her vehicle struck a deer. The vehicle sustained $4,000 damage.

(Radio Iowa) – Dry conditions led to another busy week in the fields for farmers. The U-S-D-A crop report says the corn harvest increased by 20 percent in the last week, bringing the total to 62 percent of the corn now out of the fields. That is two days ahead of last year and one week ahead of the five-year average. Combines have now harvested 87 percent of the soybeans statewide, up from 74 percent the week before. That is one day ahead of the harvest rate from last year and ten days ahead of the five-year average.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors received an annual report from the Cass County Library Association, and a request for an increase in funding over last year. Sara Young, with the Anita Public Library, said Cass County is below the statewide average funding for libraries (as of FY 2022), by about Nine-thousand dollars.

Funding for libraries is determined by the populations they serve.

The Board took the request under advisement, for when it comes time to work on the Budget. The Supervisors held a Public Hearing on a proposed amendment of the FY2024 Cass County Budget. Auditor Kathy Somers explained there was unexpected income such as grants, and donations, including those to the Veteran’s Affairs Department, and expenditures, that needed to be factored-in, with regard to some departmental line items.

Hearing no comments on the proposal, the Supervisors passed a Resolution approving Amendment 1 of the Cass County FY2024 Budget as published, and making appropriations for the same, effective immediately.

In other business, Diane Schultz, former President of the Iowa Morman Trails Association, spoke with regard to the replacement of trail signs in Cass County. Schultz said the process of changing-out road signs in other, adjacent counties began five-years ago, and now it’s time for the project to occur in Cass County. Many of the signs, she said, that have been in-place since the 1980’s, have deteriorated badly.

The National Parks Service is replacing the actual signs at No Cost. The only thing that needs to be funded by the county is the post and labor to install the signs. The matter was taken under advisement, and in coordination with Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken.

Wolken updated the Board on Secondary Roads Department projects, maintenance and other activities. And, the Board discussed the County 5- and 10-year Capital Improvement Plan. No action was taken during today’s (Tuesdays) meeting.

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) announces $11 Million in federal grant funds to be distributed statewide from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the 2024 federal fiscal year.

“The GTSB is pleased to allocate these funds to support our traffic safety partners across Iowa,” says Bureau Chief Brett Tjepkes. “Over the past five years, almost 1,700 lives have been lost on Iowa roads: that’s too many. Lack of seat belt use, impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding, and other risky driving behaviors continue to wreak havoc. These funds will be used to increase public awareness, educate, collect data, train, and enforce. The goal is to improve safety for all those sharing the road.”

Money will be distributed to law enforcement partners for equipment, education, and enforcement projects. “These partnerships are crucial,” says GTSB Law Enforcement Liaison Randy Kunert. “Enforcing Iowa’s traffic laws is the strongest countermeasure to deter risky driving behavior. It’s vital these agencies have necessary resources to make traffic stops.”

The GTSB is also distributing funds to support non-law enforcement traffic safety initiatives. New partnerships include the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the Iowa Restaurant Association, and Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI). LSI will use GTSB funds to help educate, build confidence, and promote safe driving habits among refugees.

“Having a driver’s license gives refugees independence and increases their employment opportunities,” says Vinh Nguyen, Education and Workforce Manager at Lutheran Services in Iowa.

Every year, traffic safety advocates, law enforcement, and other state agencies across Iowa seek funding through grant applications offered by the GTSB. Applicants who meet the required data driven criteria and highway safety standards are awarded grant funds to support GTSB’s mission to reduce death and injury on Iowa’s roadways.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Rotary Club invites all those who have served in the military, to the Rotary’s Annual Military Appreciation Lunch, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. The event takes place the The Venue (307 Walnut St.), in Atlantic, from 11:45-a.m. until 1-p.m.  Guest speaker for the luncheon is Cass County Deputy Sheriff and former USMC Platoon Sergeant Ben Bartholomew.

Please reserve your place at the luncheon by calling Dolly Bergmann at 712-249-9275, no later than November 3, 2023. The Rotary looks forward to honoring those who have served our country!

RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Secret Serenity Salon and Spa of Shelby County. Throughout this Congress, Ranking Member Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties.

“I want to congratulate Tami and the entire team at Secret Serenity Salon and Spa for their dedication to providing beauty services and products in Shelby County,” said Ranking Member Ernst. “This National Women’s Small Business Month, I’m excited to recognize a woman-led business that goes above and beyond to provide high-quality services and give back to the community.”

Founded in 2007 by Tami Kloewer, Secret Serenity Salon and Spa is a full-service salon that offers hair, nail, and skin care services. Located in Harlan, the salon and spa also includes a retail shop that offers a variety of beauty care products for all types of skin and hair needs. In addition to providing beauty services, Secret Serenity Salon and Spa is also actively involved in the Harlan community. The business has supported philanthropies that benefit the local hospital, schools, and retirement centers, as well as participated in a local event promoting routine women’s health screenings. Tami has also represented Secret Serenity Salon and Spa on the Iowa Board of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences for the past three years.