(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report the arrest Saturday afternoon, of a woman on an assault charge. Authorities say 38-year-old Sarah Shanelle Barnwell, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 3:50-p.m. in the 200 block of S. 1st Street, for Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense – a Simple Misdemeanor. Barnwell was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – A man who drove to Arizona several times to mail fentanyl pills to his partner in Sioux City was convicted by a jury, after a five-day trial in federal court. Federal authorities say 33-year-old Aki Awou from Omaha, Nebraska was convicted of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and two counts of possession with intent to distribute and aiding and abetting the possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. According to authorities, on Feb. 21, 2024, before heading to trial, Awou’s partner-in-crime, and brother, 20-year-old Karem Bol of Sioux City entered a guilty plea to five counts:

• Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
• Two counts of possession with intent to distribute.
• Aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
• Possession of firearms by a drug user
• possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of drug trafficking crime.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says evidence shows between January 2022 and May 2022, Awou traveled to the Phoenix, Arizona area where he would mail packages containing thousands of fentanyl pills to Bol’s address in Sioux City. The pills were disguised as oxycodone. The Omaha Police Department’s Gang of Intelligence Unit utilized a GPS tracker on Awou’s vehicle to pinpoint Awou’s travels and possible package locations which included addresses in Sioux City and post offices in Arizona. Authorities say postal inspectors were able to intercept a package and conduct a controlled delivery at one of the addresses located in Sioux City. Afterward, postal inspectors executed a search warrant, during which Bol was seen throwing firearms out a second-story bedroom window.

During the search, authorities identified a second location tied to both men and obtained a second search warrant for that residence. In the second location, authorities found additional illegal substances as well as documents identifying both Bol and Awou as residences of both Sioux City locations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the day after the search warrants took place, postal inspectors received notices of another package being delivered from Arizona to an address in Sioux City. The inspector was able to intercept the package before the delivery which revealed the package contained thousands of fentanyl pills.

The office says laboratory results revealed Awou’s fingerprints were present on three packages used as evidence and Bol’s palm print was located on the package used during the controlled delivery. The gathered evidence also identified Bol and Awou as known gang members. While awaiting sentencing, both men remain in the custody of the United States Marshal. Awou and Bol both face a minimum sentence of ten years imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine and five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The Sioux City Police Department and the Omaha Police Department were assisted by:

• The United States Postal Inspector
• DEA Tri-State Drug Task Force
• Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department
• U.S Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — The safety of police officers will be addressed at the upcoming Sioux City city council meeting. KCAU reports Monday’s council meeting will have members of the Sioux City Police Department asking the city for its approval of a $40,375 purchase of 85 suppressors. Suppressors are attachments to firearms that significantly diminish the noise emitted when shooting off ammunition. Sergeant Todd Sassman said the department is getting serious about the hearing health of its officers.

“There’s been a lot of studies about hearing damage with officers and gunfire,” Sassman said, “repetitive shootings on the ranges or if there are shooting incidents out on the street that officers can severely damage their hearing.”

Right now, Sioux City police have about 10 suppressors attached to their rifles. But Sergeant Sassman said members of the department are showing signs of hearing loss. “Thankfully, we’ve never had an officer yet that has been in a shooting situation in a confined space where a firearm was discharged and they actually have a traumatic injury,” he said. “We’ve noticed over the years – I’m just shy of my 30th year, and we tend to, once we get up in that 20-30 year range, myself included, your hearing is definitely not as good as it was.”

Once the purchase is approved by the city, the Sioux City Police Department would have around 90 officers with suppressors attached to their rifles.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man from Villisca was arrested Friday night on active felony warrants for Felony Eluding, Driving while revoked, Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd Offense, and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says42-year-old Anthony Thomas Germann was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and was being held on full bond.

WATERLOO, Iowa (KCRG) — Waterloo police say they have positively identified the remains found at the Waste Treatment Plant on Monday, KCRG reports. In an update on Friday, police said the remains were identified as Darrin Lenton, who had been reported missing on July 10, 2021, when he was 49.

Police said no foul play is suspected in this case, which remains under investigation.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a soybean by-product spill in a tributary of the Boyer River in Harrison County.

On March 8, the DNR Atlantic Field Office was notified about a transportation truck losing control spilling a feed additive called soybean soapstock. KSX Transportation LLC was carrying approximately 40,100 pounds of product when, due to icy road conditions, the truck rolled off the road and released an unknown amount of product.

Upon release, the product reached an unnamed tributary of the Boyer River. Clean-up efforts have begun. The tributary has been dammed. Booms have been placed approximately 250 feet downstream and a pumper truck is on-site removing the product from the tributary for proper disposal. The by-product did not reach the Boyer River.

No injuries were reported and no dead fish were observed. Water samples were collected. The investigation is ongoing.

(Harlan, Iowa) – A chase that began in Shelby County Friday afternoon resulted in injuries to a Deputy and three subjects eventually being taken into custody. According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, at around 11:23-a.m., the Shelby County Communications Center was contacted by the Harrison County Communications Center, with regard to persons trying to pass a fraudulent check at a bank in Missouri Valley. The same people tried to pass  a fraudulent check in Washington County, Nebraska.

The suspect’s vehicle was being followed by a bank employee, into Shelby County. When Shelby County Deputies located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop north of Portsmouth on Highway 191, the vehicle briefly stopped, and one person got out. A pursuit by law enforcement began, when the vehicle sped-off. Deputies from Shelby and Harrison Counties, and the Iowa State Patrol engaged in the chase.

During the pursuit, two Shelby County Deputies lost control of their patrol cars at the intersection of Cedar Road and F-32. Both patrol cars left the road and entered the south ditch before coming to rest. One vehicle sustained minor damage, but the Deputy was not hurt. The other patrol vehicle sustained major damage. The Deputy in that vehicle was transported to Myrtue Memorial Hospital in Harlan by Shelby County Ambulance. The Deputy was treated and released, and is recovering at home.

The suspects were again located by the Iowa State Patrol near Highways 30 and 44. A second pursuit was initiated, which ended near Beebeetown. Two suspects were taken into custody, and transported to the Harrison County Jail. The third person who got out of the vehicle near Portsmouth, was arrested by Shelby County Deputies and transported to the Shelby County Jail. No names were immediately released.

Agencies assisting during the incident (in addition to those previously mentioned), include: the Panama, Earling Fire & Harlan Fire & Rescue Departments, along with the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency, and 712 Towing.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Members of the Atlantic ®RAGBRAI committee were presented with a $50,000 check at the RAGBRAI Overnight Community Meeting Thursday, March 7th.

“RAGBRAI is generously investing $50,000 in each overnight community this year to help alleviate event expenses and to help show their gratitude to each host community. We’re grateful for their partnership and look forward to using the funds to create the hospitable experience RAGBRAI goers have come to love when visiting Atlantic,” Bailey Smith, Atlantic RAGBRAI Exec Chair stated.

Atlantic last hosted in 2019, welcoming just under 20,000 people to town. The committee raised a record $50,000 that was divided between the Atlantic Police Department, Atlantic Volunteer Fire Department, Atlantic School Booster Club and Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. Smith is looking forward to having another record year.

“RAGBRAI gives Atlantic a lot of positive exposure while supporting local organizations and non-profits. A lot of work goes into planning the event, and we’re eager to get the ball rolling with our 20 committee chairs and their committee members,” Smith stated.

The official Atlantic RAGBRAI website, www.atlanticragbrai.com, was launched by NISHNANET and is live now for individuals looking for information regarding housing, vending and volunteer opportunities. Information regarding sponsorship opportunities will be available in the coming weeks as well as a schedule of entertainment.

Atlantic will host RAGBRAI Monday, July 22nd. Follow Atlantic RAGBRAI on Facebook to receive live updates when information is made available. Visit www.atlanticragbrai.com or call 712-250-5343.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Planning to replace a tree? Have questions about tree care or diseases? Attend the Cass County Master Gardener’s Tree Care Workshop on Saturday, March 23 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the Cass County Community Center on the fairgrounds in Atlantic (805 W. 10th St. Atlantic, IA 50022).

Iowa DNR District Forester Sarah Bell will give a presentation on native trees and current tree diseases and pest concerns, including emerald ash borer. Bell will discuss how to select appropriate trees for the area, including trees native to southwest Iowa. She will share helpful tree information and resources, as well as advise on how to select and purchase a new tree.

Following the presentation, Bell will lead a walking tour of the Cass County fairgrounds which will cover tree evaluation, pruning, and planting. Looking for symptoms of decay, weakly attached branches, splits, and root problems are examples of tree evaluation. Bell will also demonstrate tree pruning and planting a new tree as time and weather allow.

This workshop is open to the public. Cost to attend is $10. Find more information or register for the Tree Care Workshop by calling the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132 or visiting www.extension.iastate.edu/cass. Preregistration is encouraged by Thursday, March 21 to ensure materials are available. A variety of resource materials will be available for participants to take home, and light refreshments will be available.

For more information about this event and other Master Gardener activities in Cass County, please call the Cass County Extension Office at 712-243-1132, stop by the office at 805 West 10th street in Atlantic, email Cass County Extension Director and Master Gardener Coordinator Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu or visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass.  You are also invited to follow the Cass County Master Gardeners Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CassCoMG to keep up with local events and tips for gardening!

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Rising will be hosting the 7th Annual Trivia Night Fundraiser on Saturday, March 16th at The Venue. The organization continues to hold this event to fundraiser for the annual Christmas Box program. Kelsey Beschorner, Atlantic Rising Social Chair says “This event has been very successful in the past. In 2023, we had 10 teams register and were able to raise over $2,500 for the program. We are excited to have Ann & John McCurdy returning to emcee ‘A Night at McCurdy’s Pub.’ We can’t wait to see what questions they have in store for our teams.”

The event will include eight rounds of ten questions each. Categories range from math to music to Queens of the Decades and everything in between. There is a prize awarded to the winning team. Teams are also encouraged to dress for the St. Patrick’s Day theme to add to the fun of the evening. A prize is awarded to the best dressed team and will be chosen by the staff at The Venue.

Beschorner says “Our goal is to have everyone come out to enjoy a fun night while raising money for a project that does so much good for our community.”

For more information on Trivia Night or to register a team, contact Kelsey Beschorner at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or visit www.atlanticiowa.com.