SAC CITY, Iowa (AP) – A public defender is seeking another change of venue for a man charged with murder and kidnapping, arguing the move is needed because of the abduction of two girls near Dayton.The Sioux City Journal reports public defender Charles Kenville filed a motion Friday seeking to move the trial for Kirk Levin. The 21-year-old Early man is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his mother and third-degree kidnapping in the abduction of a woman who later escaped.

Levin’s trail had been moved from Sac County to Webster County, but Kenville says another move is needed because of the abduction of two girls last week near Dayton, which is in Webster County. Kenville says that case would influence Webster County jurors. Levin’s trail is scheduled for June 3.

Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County are investigating a burglary that occurred sometime over the past few days. Authorities say sometime between last Friday and today (Tuesday), someone entered the Anderson Conservation Building at 2059 190th Street. The perpetrator of the crime left with a computer from the office area. The loss was estimated at $1,645. The building itself was not damaged. Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s deputies in Cass County arrested a Massena man Saturday. Authorities say40-year old Todd Edward Kimpson, faces a felony charge of Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon and an Aggravated Domestic Assault charge. Kimpson was taken to the Cass County Jail and released Monday on $10,000 cash bond.

(Noon news)

Harlan Municipal Utility customers will see slight increases in water and gas rates starting in July. In a regular board meeting last Thursday, the HMU board of trustees approved the rate increases. The water rates will increase 8% and Chief Executive Officer of HMU Darrell Wenzel says this increase is a follow up to the rate increase last year for the water treatment plant as they are needing to hit certain revenue targets to pay for the 7 million dollar plant. A family of 2 will see about a $1.50 increase on the average while a larger family will be closer to the $2.50 range.

As far as the gas rate increase, he says HMU saw a negative margin of about $25,000 last year and through January 2013 the increase is around $47,000. Wenzel says it has been twelve years since the last gas increase and back then it was a 65 percent increase. The board wanted a much smaller increase this time around to get the margins back to the positive side.

For a couple residential examples, they are looking at a 91 cent increase, 2.5%. If you have a bigger family, you are looking at a $1.40. But it all depends on how much gas you use. The Harlan Municipal Utilities water and gas rate increase will take effect on July 1st, 2013.

In other news, Wenzel said the Water Treatment Plant is about 89% completed in a monetary stand point and customers could see the plant itself being fired up in mid-July however the plant will not go online until all the tests are complete. Wenzel said the plant should be pumping water into the wells by fall.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports Springbrook State Park, near Guthrie Center, is closed due to flood conditions on Springbrook Creek and the Middle Raccoon River. Three other state parks overlooking scenic Iowa rivers are also closed after heavy rainfall sent the rivers out of their banks, flooding the parks. George Wyth State Park, in Black Hawk County, will likely be close through the weekend due to flood conditions on the Cedar River. 

Dolliver State Park, in Webster County, closed at noon Monday, when theDes Moines River left its banks. The river blocked access to the cabins and campground, but the north shelter and south lodge and group camp remain open. Walnut Woods State Park has been closed in anticipation of the City of West Des Moines closing And, Walnut Woods Drive due to a flood warning for the Raccoon River. The DNR is contacting all reservations to arrange for a refund. Updates will be provided on the DNR’s website www.iowadnr.gov/Destinations/StateParksRecAreas/ClosureInformation.aspx 

In addition to the campground closures, the Neal Smith Trail, along the Des Moines River, will likely be flooded when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increases the water release from Saylorville Lake. Signs and barricades will be posted alerting users of the closure. Rock Creek State Park will reopen once the electric pedestals are inspected. As of Sunday, Rock Creek Lake had returned to its banks.

Five people were arrested over the weekend in Atlantic. According to the Police Department, 21-year old Nicholas Anderson, of Atlantic, and 51-year old Robert Atkinson, of Chicago, Il, were arrested Friday. Anderson was taken into custody on a Cass County warrant for Contempt of Court/Failure to Comply with Treatment. Atkinson was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Failure to Appear. Both were booked into the Cass County Jail.

On Saturday, Atlantic Police arrested 19-year old Ethan Pollock, of Anita, and 25-year old Eric Gross, of Des Moines. Both men were charged with Operating a motor vehicle While Intoxicated (OWI). They were booked into the Cass County Jail.

And, on Sunday, 38-year old David Graham, of Atlantic, was arrested by the Atlantic P-D on an OWI charge. Graham was also booked into the Cass County Jail.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting Wednesday morning, in Greenfield. On the agenda for their 9-a.m. session at the courthouse, is action on a resolution approving a Fiscal Year 2013 budget amendment, and an amended service contract with Access Systems.

Other discussion and/or action items include those pertaining to: Pictometry; Sidwell GIS; Labor negotiations; Consent for Local Option Sales Tax/Tax Increment Financing, for the City of Stuart; and, courtyard permits for the Chamber Main Street committee.

A fight in Shenandoah Monday, has resulted in charges being filed against a teenager. A 17-year old male faces a charge of Willful Injury, following an incident at 707 West Summit Street. When officers arrived, they found 26-year old Cody Tunnel bleeding from a puncture wound. Tunnel was taken toShenandoahMedicalCenter for treatment. A report on the extent of his injuries is not available. Officials said the unidentified teen allegedly involved in the fight was booked into the Council Bluffs Juvenile Detention Center.

Two juveniles in Adams County face a felony Criminal Mischief charge, and aggravated misdemeanor charge of burglary in the 3rd degree, following incidents of vandalism over the weekend. The Adams County Sheriff’s Department reports the unnamed juveniles allegedly sliced 11 tires and broke into one vehicle, causing around $3,500 in damage. The juveniles were detained by authorities at around 11-p.m. Saturday. One of the youths was released to their parents, while the other was released to Juvenile Services.

(9-a.m. News)

w/Ric Hanson

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