w/ Brett Johnson

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EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say workers at an ice cream shop in Evansdale captured a 37-year-old man who was threatening to light an explosive. Police say Richard Roney of Washburn was arrested after entering the store around 9:15 last night. Court records say Roney acknowledged that he was planning to rob the 4 Queens Dairy Cream.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Two men have been charged with second-degree robbery and are in jail in Cedar Rapids after police say they were involved in a bank robbery yesterday afternoon. KCRG television reports 18-year-old Kevin Conner and 23-year-old Daniel Straw are being held at the Linn County Jail.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A former University of Iowa student who attacked an Iowa City police officer has pleaded guilty after making a deal for a lesser charge. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports (that 21-year-old Branden Plummer pleaded guilty this morning to willful injury and interference with official acts. He had been charged with attempted murder and willful injury in the attack on Sergeant Brian Krei on November 18th.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds begins an economic and cultural mission to Germany on Saturday to discuss trade, education and other topics. Among the government officials she is scheduled to meet with are German Vice Chancellor Philipp Rosler and the U.S. Ambassador to Germany Philip Murphy. The meetings will be in Dresden, Lommatzsch, Leipzig, and Berlin.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES HAS ISSUED A FREEZE WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND EARLY SUNDAY MORNING TEMPERATURES ARE LIKELY TO FALL BELOW 32 DEGREES ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN…NORTHERN AND EAST CENTRAL IOWA. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE NISHNABOTNA RIVER VALLEY AND NORTHERN IOWA COULD FALL INTO THE UPPER 20S.

FROM THE DES MOINES METRO AREA INTO SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA…FREEZING TEMPERATURES MAY BE MORE LOCALIZED…BUT A FROST IS LIKELY. EXPOSED PLANTS AND TENDER VEGETATION ARE LIKELY TO SUFFER FREEZE DAMAGE OR BE KILLED. PEOPLE INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THEIR PLANTS NEED TO TAKE ACTION BY SATURDAY EVENING.  A FREEZE WATCH MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE. THESE CONDITIONS COULD KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

In a recently released report, the Iowa State Patrol says a Cass County woman was cited for Failure to Stop within a clear distance, following an accident Tuesday morning, in Audubon County. Officials say 35-year old Shannon Jean Bishop, of Griswold, was cited after the 2000 Ford Taurus she was driving rear-ended a 2003 Oldsmobile driven by 68-year old Jane Jessen, of Exira, as Jessen was braking for a deer on the road. Both vehicles were traveling north on Highway 71 at the time. The accident happened at around 6:30-a.m., near Brayton. Neither woman was injured. Both were wearing their seat belts. Damage from the accident amounted to $6,500.

The Iowa State Patrol says a Nebraska man died when the pickup he was driving was struck by a train Friday, in Fremont County. 84-year old Robert D. Aksamit, of Nebraska City, NE died at the scene of the crash on Dike Road and 225th Avenue, or about 5-miles west of the Waubonsie State Park. The accident happened just before Noon, Friday, when Aksamit, who was traveling east of Dike Road, failed to yield to a Burlington-Northern Sante Fe train that was traveling north. His 2002 Chevy S-10 pickup was hit on the passenger side by the train.

The Atlantic Police Department reports 21-year old Alicia Dellaca, of Atlantic, was arrested today (Friday), on charges of Operating a motor vehicle While Intoxicated (OWI), and Driving While Suspended (DWS). Dellaca was booked into the Cass County Jail and held, pending an appearance before the magistrate.

On Thursday, officers arrested 33-year old Marryann Kieky, of Atlantic, on 11 counts of forgery, and Dependent Adult Abuse. Also taken into custody, was 40-year old Laura Folau, of Wichita, KS. She was arrested on a warrant for Violation of her Probation. Both women were booked into the Cass County Jail.

The A-PD says also, two accident occurred Thursday, but neither resulted in injuries. One of the accidents happened at around 12:25-p.m., in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Officials say a vehicle driven by Douglas Williams, of Massena, was backing out of a parking stall, when a pedestrian started to walk behind the vehicle. The pedestrian motioned for Williams to continue backing up. As he was doing so, a vehicle driven by Gwenda Basham, of Exira, was backing out of a parking stall behind Williams. She continued backing up, and hit Williams’ vehicle. Damage to the vehicles amounted to $1,900. No citations were issued.

The second accident happened at around 3:55-p.m., Friday, at Iowa Avenue and Clark Street, in Atlantic. Officials say a vehicle driven by Kody Hansen was traveling east on Iowa Avenue, when the vehicle went out of control and entered a ditch, just past Clark Street. Damage to the vehicle amounted to $10,000. Hansen was cited for Failure to Maintain Control.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced today (Friday), that 79 Iowa communities have been recognized by the CDC as Water Fluoridation Quality Award recipients. Fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in the water to a level that is optimal for preventing tooth decay. The award recognizes those communities that maintained a consistent level of optimally fluoridated water throughout 2011. Among the communities honored by the CDC was: Anita, Atlantic, Audubon, Bayard, Carroll, Carson, Casey,  Elk Horn, Greenfield, Griswold,  Harlan, Logan, Minden,  Onawa, Red Oak, Shenandoah, and Villisca. The West Central Rural Water Association, which serves several communities, was also honored.

IDPH State Public Health Dental Director, Dr. Bob Russell said “We are pleased that so many Iowa communities have achieved this measure of excellence in their water fluoridation programs. Community water fluoridation is one of the most effective means available for avoiding tooth decay, preventing at least 25 percent of tooth decay in children and adults.”

Nationally, 2500 water systems in 33 states received the awards, which is a significant increase in the number of participating states and water systems from previous years. For more information on the IDPH Fluoridation program, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/eh/fluoridation.asp. For information about the benefits of fluoridation, see www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/benefits/background.htm.

A 13-year old student at the Villisca Community School District suffered minor injuries when his foot was run over by a vehicle that was in the process of backing up. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, Austin Micah Peligrini‘s toes on his right foot were run over by a car driven by 16-year old Kelsi Jean Vannausdle, at around 8:25-a.m.

An investigation revealed a 2004 Chevy pickup owned by Dennis Sunderman, of Villisca, was legally parked near the intersection of 3rd Street and 4th Avenue in Villisca. A 1999 Mercury Sable owned by Brenda Lynn Vannausdle, and driven by Kesli Vannausdle, was stopped at the stop sign at the intersection, when for reasons unknown, the teen began to back away from the stop sign, and in the process, hit the left rear of Sunderman’s pickup.

During the course of the accident, Austin Peligrini was standing near the parked Sunderman vehicle. When Vannausdle began to back up, Peligrini had to take evasive action to avoid being pinned between the two vehicles. Even so, the toes of his right foot were run over by the Vannausdle car. The teen was examined at the scene by Villisca EMS, and released back to school officials after they consulted with his parents.

Sunderman’s pickup sustained $2,000 damage during the accident, while damage to the Sable was estimated at $500. Kelsi Jean Vannausdle was cited for Failure to Prove Security Against Liability (or, failure to provide proof of insurance).

The Harlan Police Department is investigating a hit-and-run incident. Officials say a Harlan resident reported on Sept. 13th, that her 2008 Ford had been hit on the passenger side, by an unknown vehicle. The incident occurred while the vehicle was legally parked in the 900 block of 6th Street. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $4,000. And, on Sept. 16th, a Harlan resident reported their legally parked 2005 Pontiac  was struck by an unknown vehicle. The incident occurred while the car was parked in the 1200 block of Willow Street. The damage amounted to $300.

The H-PD said also, 47-year old James Ancel Casebeer, Jr., of Harlan, was arrested Wednesday. Casebeer was taken into custody following a traffic stop, for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender, and Failure to Stop at a stop sign. The man posted $1,000 bond Thursday, and was tentatively scheduled to appear in court for his Preliminary Hearing, on Oct. 11th.