DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds says White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the special guest speaker at her annual campaign fundraiser Harvest Festival scheduled for Oct. 13. Reynolds says the festival will be a family-oriented event celebrating “the progress we are making across the state of Iowa.”

She is running for her first full term as governor against Democrat Fred Hubbell.
The festival which costs $50 per ticket will feature live music, pumpkin decorating, balloon animals, and a barbeque.

The three-hour event is scheduled to be held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A judge has sentenced a former Sioux City special education teacher to probation after she admitted to stealing from a school account for Special Olympics and other programs.

The Sioux City Journal reports District Judge Steven Andreasen on Monday sentenced 49-year-old Melissa Dickerson, of Sioux City, to five years of probation. She also must repay $5,063 to the Sioux City school district and complete 100 hours of community service.

Dickerson pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree theft. Court records show that for nearly a year beginning in August 2016, she withdrew money from accounts she set up under the names of East High School Special Olympics and the Friendship Connection. She acknowledged Monday using the money to pay personal bills.
Dickerson later resigned from her teaching position.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests. On Saturday, the Iowa State Patrol arrested 36-year-old Mary Marie Riley, of Harlan, as a result of a traffic stop.  Riley was charged with operating while intoxicated 1^st offense and improper lane change.   Riley was transported to the jail without incident, and releases later that morning on her own recognizance.

Last Friday, Shelby County Deputies arrested 36-year-old Justin Charles Henriksen on an outstanding statewide warrant for failure to pay child support.  Henriksen was brought to the Shelby County jail with no local charges, awaiting transport to Blackhawk County.

On Sept. 25th, 58-year-old Cynthia Lea Carpenter turned herself into authorities at the Sheriff’s Office regarding outstanding warrants.   Carpenter was booked into the jail on charges of harassment simple, harassment in the 3^rd degree, and disorderly conduct. Carpenter was released later that evening on her own recognizance after initial appearance with the magistrate.

On Sept. 22nd, Deputies arrested 50-year-old Murry Allen Pentecost of Shelby on charge of domestic abuse assault simple misdemeanor.  Authorities were sent to the residence in Shelby and upon further investigation it was determined that an assault did take place.  Pentecost was transferred to the jail without incident and held with no bond pending initial appearance but was released later that morning on his own recognizance.

On Sept. 17th, 41-year-old Brian Anthony Wood of Marne turned himself into authorities regarding an outstanding warrant.  Wood was booked into the jail without incident on charges of domestic abuse assault simple misdemeanor, violation of a no contact order, and disorderly conduct.      Wood was held in custody without bond, and after initial appearance was set and released later that afternoon on a $2,000 cash/surety bond.

And, on Sept. 15th. the Iowa State Patrol arrested 39-year-old Michael Eugene Poorker of Harlan as the result of a traffic stop.  Poorker was taken into custody and charged with operating while intoxicated 1^st offense, driving while suspended, speed and no proof of insurance. He was transported the jail and booked without incident where he was held under a $1,566.25 bond. Later that evening, Poorker was able to post the surety bond and was released from custody.

Council Bluffs Police report an arrest was made in connection with an armed robbery that took place this (Monday) morning. Officers responded at around 7:42-a.m. to the Bomgaars store (2703 E. Kanesville Blvd.) for an armed robbery. The suspect fled from the scene in a red Pontiac Firebird with Nebraska plates, heading west on Kanesville.  The vehicle was located and a traffic stop was attempted, but the vehicle continued west on Kanesville to 8th and Broadway where officers deployed stop sticks.

Randy Lee Andersen, Jr.

The car lost a tire and became disabled as it went over the Broadway Viaduct. The driver then fled from the vehicle on foot, but was apprehended before he could get off the viaduct.  The suspect was identified as 35-year old Randy Lee Andersen, Jr., of Omaha. Andersen was charged with two-counts of 1st degree Robbery, Theft in the 2nd degree (possession of stolen property), Theft in the 3rd (possession of stolen property), Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Reckless Driving, Eluding, and Possession with Intent to Deliver (Meth). , Andersen also had an outstanding warrant from Nebraska.

Both the vehicle and the gun Andersen used in the commission of the robbery had been reported stolen.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports a Pottawattamie County man was arrested Friday afternoon. 24-year old Dylan Lee Conn, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a warrant for two counts of Probation Violation. He was taken into custody at the Pott. County Jail and held on a $50,000 bond.

ATLANTIC – Cass County Health System is hosting special walk-in clinics for people to receive their annual flu vaccination. The clinics will be on:

• Atlantic Medical Center: October 3, 10, 17, 24 from 8 am to 7 pm
• Griswold Medical Center: Wednesday, October 17 from 5-7 pm
• Anita Medical Center: Tuesday, October 23 from 5-7 pm
• Massena Medical Center: Tuesday, October 30 from 5-7 pm

On Wednesday, October 10^th, Atlantic Medical Center will host the “Ayzlee’s Family Flu Clinic” from 5 to 7 pm, which includes additional flu information and children’s activities. In addition to the flu clinics, anyone can receive their flu vaccine during the Atlantic Medical Center Immunization Room’s normal business hours: Monday through Friday 8 to 4 pm. They are also open on Saturday mornings from 8 to 11 am.

There are four strains, or types, of the flu that typically hit the Midwest during flu season: two types of Influenza A and two types of Influenza B. Atlantic Medical Center will have the Quadrivalent vaccine which protects against all four strains, to provide the greatest protection. They will also be offering the High Dose flu vaccine for people 65 years of age and older. The two best ways to protect yourself, and those around you, from influenza are to get vaccinated and to practice good hand washing. Getting vaccinated not only protects you, but also those around you who may be too young (under 6 months) or have a medical condition that prevents them from being vaccinated.

The seasonal flu (influenza) is a serious disease caused by the influenza virus. Some common symptoms of the flu are fever, cough, chills, body aches, and extreme weakness. For more information, please contact the Immunization Room at 712-250-8122.

(Radio Iowa) — A popular tourist attraction in northwest Iowa will close today (Monday) for renovation. The Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor, located in Le Mars will close its doors today (Monday) to being a four million dollar upgrade. The ice cream parlor will re-open on November 19th for the holiday season, then close again from February through early June to complete the remodeling project. When completed, the ice cream parlor will expand its seating area, include an interactive display entitled “From Farm to Spoon.” It will have a small theater to showcase the history of Wells Enterprises and the making of ice cream. Included with the ice cream parlor will be a rooftop seating area. According to Adam Baumgartner, Vice President of Retail Sales, Wells wants to bring joy to everyone and make eating ice cream fun.

(Radio Iowa) — Des Moines Police are looking for a suspect in a fatal shooting Sunday afternoon on the city’s east side. The victim, 28-year-old Aaron John Ross of Des Moines, was shot to death just after 1 p.m. while sitting in a car (in the 1200 block of East 13th Street). Des Moines Police Sergeant Paul Parizek says a woman and two children who were also in the car were NOT injured.

Parizek said the children are both under the age of 10. This is Des Moines’ ninth homicide of the year. “This is a very specific, targeted incident. There’s nothing random about it,” Parizek said. “As far as motive goes, that’s something we’ll have to determine as we locate the suspect and maybe get some more information from people in the community. Obviously, absent the victim’s ability to fill us in, motive is hard to determine until you know who’s exactly all involved.”

Parizek is confident an arrest will be made soon.”We’ve got some really good investigative leads…forensic evidence that was gathered and good statements from witnesses,” Parizek said. The nine homicides this year is down considerably from 2017, when Des Moines has a total of 25 killings – the most since 1978 (27 homicides).

On Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018 at 1:18 PM CDT, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will send a TEST Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) message to nearly all wireless devices in the United States. This will be a TEST “Presidential Alert”. You can not turn off a Presidential Alert nor can you “opt out” of the test either. If your phone is turned on, within range of an active cell tower and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, the phone should be capable of receiving the message. This means just about every wireless phone near you during that timeframe will receive the text message at 1:18 PM CDT (10/3), which will likely set off an audible alarm for a short time.

A call Thursday about a robbery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center resulted in three men under suspicion of 1st Degree robbery. The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports $700 in cash and a cell phone was stolen from an Avoca man. 19-year old Ricky Lee Ludwig Miedel, of Minden, 20-year old Dylan James Miedel, of Council Bluffs, and Austin Bird are suspected in the case. A report was filed but the men were not arrested.

A traffic stop Friday evening in Pott. County on a vehicle with illegal window tint, resulted in the arrest of the driver, 18-year old Austin Markey, of Council Bluffs. He was arrested on a warrant for Theft in the 5th Degree, the bond for which was set at $300. Markey was also given a verbal warning about the window tint. A call about an intoxicated person at around 2:40-a.m. Sunday in Avoca, resulted in the arrest of 28-year old Brittani Mary Ann Wheeler, of Avoca. She was taken into custody on a Public Intoxication charge.

A man camping at Arrowhead Park in Neola, was arrested on active warrants from Pottawattamie County and Jefferson County, CO. 40-year old Fred Travis Starrett, of Avoca, was arrested on a warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice from Colorado, and on a Probation Violation warrant, the bond for which is $5,000. An adult male and female were arrested at around 10-a.m. Sunday following a call about suspicious activity. A Deputy made contact with several people in a tan Suburban parked near the gate of Remelt, and arrested 18-year old Maggie Ann Baker, of Council Bluffs, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and on two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance. 41-year old Andy Charles Andrews, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for having a concealed weapon, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Contraband. Authorities recovered 2.8 grams of meth, 4 Xanax bars, one-half gram of marijuana and assorted paraphernalia pipes during the incident.

A traffic stop Sunday in Pott. County resulted in the arrest of 26-year old Taylor Rae McDaniel, of Essex. McDaniel was taken into custody on a warrant out of Clarinda and transported to the Pott. County Jail.