(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday), voted unanimously to send a letter to the Director of Policy Studies Center in Washington, D-C, refuting an accusation that Montgomery County is a “Sanctuary” for illegal immigrants.

Board Chair Mike Olson said he consulted with Cass County Supervisors Chair Steve Baier on the matter. Last week, the Cass County Board agreed to send a similar letter to Jessica M. Vaughan, vehemently denying the claim.

Olson said in 2014, counties in Iowa passed a resolution stating unequivocally, they will NOT hold illegal aliens if they have no green card or visa, for more than 48-hours.

Olson said “I took offense to that.”

Olson said he was going to mail the letter by registered mail that requires a signature of receipt.

Montgomery County BOS mtg. 3-12-24

In other business, the Board received an update from Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert.

And, they voted to approve allocating a refund payment from United Health Care (UHC) to the Two Rivers (Bank) partially self-funded account, in the amount of $12,878.80. The funds can be used to help reduce County employee health insurance premiums and/or deductibles.

RED OAK, Iowa – On March 11, New Cooperative in Red Oak notified the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) of a release on-site early Monday morning.

Approximately 1,500 tons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer (32% solution) discharged into a drainage ditch, then into the East Nishnabotna River. The release occurred due to a valve left open on an aboveground storage tank overnight. Areas of pooled fertilizer have been pumped into a vac truck and will be land applied later. Dead fish were observed in the East Nishnabotna. The extent of the fish kill is still being determined.

DNR field staff are on-site. Samples have been collected and will be analyzed. The investigation is on-going.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a man was arrested at around 8:15-p.m. Monday, for OWI/3rd offense. 42-year-old Anthony Germann, of Villisca, was arrested at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has issued a report on arrests that took place from February 2nd through the 29th. Most recently:

2-29-24: Vincent Alejandro Celaya, age 31, Harlan, IA was arrested following a call for service in the 500 block of Dye St. Celaya was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault.

2-27-24: Kory Ross Petersen, age 35, Harlan, IA was arrested following a traffic stop in Earling. Petersen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving under Suspension.

2-23-24: Andrew James Arrick, age 40, Glenwood, IA was arrested following an investigation. Arrick was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Theft 1st, and Burglary 3rd; Daniel Raymond Harris, age 58, Harlan, IA was arrested following a call for service in the 1000 block of Chatburn Avenue in Harlan. Harris was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st.

2-22-24: Jake Michael Scripter, age 32, Omaha, NE was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant. Scripter was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Theft 5th.

2-18-24: Elizabeth Marie Bailey, age 27, Harlan, IA was arrested following a call for service in the 500 block of Victoria St in Harlan. Bailey was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st; John Joseph Bowen, age 43, Harlan, IA was arrested following a trafiic stop in the area of 12th and Willow St in Harlan. Bowen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense (2 counts), Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Driving under Suspension, and Improper Rear Lamps.

2-11-24: Reid Jeffrey Hemminger, age 39, Harlan, IA was arrested following a traffic stop on Durant St in Harlan. Hemminger was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving under Suspension, OWI 1st, and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability.

2-9-24: Laura Lynn Madden, age 40, Harlan, IA was arrested following a call for service in the 2000 block of College Place in Harlan, Madden was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault 2nd Offense.

2-8-24: Edward Lloyd Auciello, age 31, Altoona, IA was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant. Auciello was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault.

2-5-24: Jasmine Marie Cowgill, age 31, Dunlap, IA was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 37. Cowgill was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving under Suspension.

2-4-24: Elizabeth Grace Christo, age 40, Harlan, IA was arrested following an investigation. Christo was transported to the Shelby County Jail on an active Shelby County Warrant for Violation of Probation and charged with Violation of a No Contact order; Jennifer Rose Miller, age 42, Harlan, IA was arrested following an investigation. Miller was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Violation of a No Contact Order.

2-2-24: Brian Scott White, age 47, Harlan, IA was arrested following a traffic stop on Chatburn Avenue in Harlan. White was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving under Suspension; Michael Wayne Aufrance, age 32, Pisgah, IA was arrested following a traffic stop on Chatburn Ave, in Harlan. Aufrance was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving under Suspension.

Note: Criminal charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – Charges have been filed against a teenager in connection with an incident over the weekend in Sioux City, where a 10-year-old was approached by a suspicious vehicle.
The Sioux City Police Department says on Saturday, March 9 at about 5:45 p.m. a young girl was walking in the 4500 block of Cheyenne Blvd. Police say a silver Ford Bronco approached her and the driver offered the 10-year-old candy, and then backed up and made comments about the girl’s shoes.

Police shared surveillance video of this incident with the public to identify the people in the Bronco and to determine if there was a danger to the public. According to police, the video was seen by a juvenile suspect who was inside the vehicle at the time of this incident. This suspect ended up contacting the Sioux City Police Department.

A 16-year-old girl was subsequently charged with harassment. Authorities have not identified the teen.

Still frame video image of a girl and the suspect vehicle in an alleged harassment case. (Sioux City PD Facebook video image)

Sioux City Police say the incident should serve to encourage parents to “take this opportunity to have open conversations with your children about staying safe and understanding stranger danger.”

(Harlan, Iowa/KNOD) – Shelby County Auditor Mark Maxwell, Monday, announced he will not be filing papers to run for re-election in the June Primary. Maxwell says he is truly grateful for the trust Shelby County residents have shown, by electing him in two successive elections.

Maxwell noted also, any candidate seeking to run for a County office in Shelby County, must have their properly filled out nomination papers returned to the Auditor’s Office by no later than 5-p.m. on March 22nd, 2024.

He said also, Mike Kolbe has filed his nomination papers to run for County Supervisor in Shelby County.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – State and local officials are investigating a reported liquid nitrogen spill that occurred Monday morning, in Montgomery County. Red Oak Fire Chief John Bruce says his department along with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Montgomery County Emergency Management responded to the spill near NEW Cooperative at 203 200th Street.

Bruce said DNR officials were onsite to determine whether the product reached the Nishnabotna River. He says the only risk to the public is if the chemical reached the main river stream.

DNR officials are expected to release further information as it becomes available.

Red Oak Fire Dept. photo

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will hold a regular, monthly meeting Wednesday. Their session in the High School Media Center begins at 5:30-p.m., and includes what we’re told is expected to be a 90-minute presentation on the Role of School Board Directors, from IASB Board Development Director LouAnn Gvist.

Later in their meeting, the Atlantic School Board will review and discuss the 2024-25 District Budget. Action items include setting the dates for Public Hearings, with regard to:

• The FY25 Certified Budget (Hearing #1)
• The 2024-25 School Calendar
• The FY 25 Budget (Hearing #2).

The Board will also act on approving the Girls Swimming Program for the Fall of 2024, and on bids for elevator repair at the Schuler Elementary School.  The next meeting of the Atlantic School Board is a work session on March 27th in the Central Office Conference Room at the Achievement Center, beginning at 5:30-p.m.

Spring Break for the Atlantic School District is March 28-29 and April 1, 2024.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A woman from Red Oak was arrested at around 8:30-p.m, Monday, on an Assault charge. Red Oak Police say 20-year-old Kaydence Reanne Fussell was taken into custody in the 400 block of E. Joy Street, and charged with Simple Assault – a Simple Misdemeanor. Fussell was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.