Police in Red Oak cited two men Thursday night on separate drug and alcohol-related charges. Officials say 23-year old Cory Melvin Stimmel, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 10:35-p.m. in the 100 block of West Hammond Street, on a charge of Possession of drug Paraphernalia. Stimmel was issued a citation and released from custody at the scene.

About an hour later, 50-year old Timmy Lee Gardner, of Red Oak, was cited for Possession of Open Container, following a traffic stop near the intersection of West 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue. Gardner was cited for the offense and released.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A business conditions index for nine Midwest and Plains states has dropped after rising the previous two months.  The overall Mid-America Business Conditions Index plunged to a growth neutral 50.0 in October from 54.8 in September. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the partial government shutdown and slower business activity for firms tied to agriculture pushed overall economic conditions lower for the month.

The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth, while a score below that suggests decline. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

The sign up begins today (Friday) for the program that provides assistance to low income Iowans who need help with their energy bills. Rob Hillesland of the Iowa Utilities Board says those who are signed up for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or the Home Weatherization program also get some other help. “These programs help protect them against energy/utility service disconnection during the winter months,” Hillesland explains.

The protection against having the utilities disconnected begins Friday November first and runs through April 30th. Hillesland says LIHEAP provides some financial help with energy bills for those who qualify. “They have to meet certain income guidelines or show that they participate in certain programs in order to be eligible,” Hillesland says. He says you can find out how to sign up through your local community action agency. LIHEAP doesn’t cover all the utility costs.  “Usually it will pay a portion of what their winter heating costs are — its’ a supplemental assistance, it’s not going to pay all their heating bills,” according to Hillesland.

He says participants are encouraged to keep paying what they can. “That is something that the Iowa Utilities Board strongly urges, it that anyone who is certified as eligible for LIHEAP and receives that winter disconnection moratorium, continues to pay on their energy bills to the extent that they are able to throughout the winter months,” Hillesland says. “Otherwise.
they can collect a large bill that they are unable to pay when the moratorium ends in the spring.”

The Home Weatherization program is also available for low income Iowans. Hillesland says the program helps people do things to their homes to make them more energy efficient and provide longer term savings. Those who are signed up for the weatherization are also given protection from being disconnected from their utilities during the moratorium.

Hillesland says elderly Iowans have already been signing up for the program and now low-income Iowans who qualify can sign up. You can find out more about the eligibility requirements for the two programs from the Iowa Department of Human Rights, or on the Iowa Utilities Board website at: www.iub.iowa.gov

(Radio Iowa)

Iowans who receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will notice a smaller amount on their cash cards starting today (Friday). Kevin Concannon, a former Iowan and the U-S-D-A’s Undersecretary for Food and Nutrition Services, says the federal government raised the amount of benefits by 13-percent back in 2009 to help those struggling during the recession. It was a temporary increase. “The additional benefit added to the SNAP program expired the last day of October,” Concannon says.

About 421-thousand Iowans now receive SNAP benefits, or about 13-percent of the population. With the change beginning this morning, the federal government will be sending about 43-million fewer dollars to Iowa for food assistance. Concannon says every person taking part in the program will see a decreased amount.  “A single person receiving the benefit will see an $11 per month reduction and the current average benefit is about $133 dollars per month,” he says. “A four-person household will see a $36 per month reduction.”

Concannon served as the director of the Iowa Department of Human Services from 2003 to 2008. Cuts in SNAP benefits are also the subject of current debate in Congress as members of the House and Senate try to reach a compromise on a new farm bill.

(Radio Iowa)

A man suspected of reckless driving in Council Bluffs was arrested Thursday afternoon in Omaha, after authorities set-up a road block thanks to new technology that’s only being used in two states. The Daily NonPareil reports an officer responding to a report of a vehicle driving through yards near South Sixth Street and 23rd Avenue in Council Bluffs had attempted to stop the vehicle, but the suspect escaped.

A State Trooper was able to lock on to the vehicle using the Star system GPS, which is being used in Iowa and Florida. The system uses a “cannon” mounted in front of the grill on a police cruiser. The Star Chase System uses compressed air to shoot a GPS tag onto a targeted vehicle. Once the GPS tag is attached, dispatchers can continually monitor the whereabouts of the vehicle in question and relay the information to the officers involved. It also allows any police who may have been involved in a high-speed car chase to slow down and wait until it is safe to make a stop. Iowa State Patrol Trooper Tim Sieleman used the same system last week when he tried to stop a vehicle in Council Bluffs that he thought was stolen.

The officer who deployed the Star Chase system in Council Bluffs backed-off his pursuit while the suspect’s vehicle crossed into Omaha on Interstate 480. When it stopped near 42nd and J streets in Omaha, State Patrol officials in Iowa contacted their counterparts in Nebraska. Officers with the Nebraska State Patrol and Omaha Police Department were able to block the vehicle in and take the driver into custody.

50-year old Sean Richey, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on warrant for felony parole violation. A passenger in his vehicle fled after Richey’s car allegedly hit another vehicle near South 27th Street and Ninth Avenue, shortly before the chase began.

A traffic stop for speeding Wednesday afternoon on eastbound Interstate 80 in Pottawattamie County, lead to the arrest of two men from Indiana on drug charges. Sheriff Jeff Danker told the Daily NonPareil 26-year old Rusty Drew, of Indianapolis, IN, was arrested a little after 2:15-p.m., after deputies searching his 2013 Kia Optima, found numerous duffel bags containing a total of 68-pounds of marijuana.

Drew, and his passenger 27-year old Martin Gonzalez, also of Indianapolis, were taken into custody on suspicion of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, tax stamp violation and prohibited acts. Drew was given a warning for speeding. Both men posted a $5,000 bond Thursday morning

A man suspected of murder in Georgia was arrested Thursday evening in western Iowa. The Daily NonPareil reports 25-year old Courtney Thomas, of Hapeville, GA, was arrested by Iowa State Patrol Troopers on Interstate 29 northbound, about 4-miles north of the Glenwood exit, at around 5-p.m.

Authorities said Thomas was wanted for murder on a warrant from the Hapeville Police Department in connection with an incident that took place Thursday morning. Georgia authorities contacted ISP at 4:35 p.m. to alert troopers that the suspect, who was being tracked through a cell phone signal, had just crossed from Missouri into Iowa in I-29. He was driving a 2008 black Dodge Charger.

Three patrol officers conducted a felony stop, and Thomas was taken into custody without incident. A 9mm handgun was found in his vehicle. Mills County Sheriff’s deputies transported Thomas to the Mills County Jail, where he was awaiting extradition to Hapeville, which is a suburb of Atlanta.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board says Governor Terry Branstad’s former chief of staff may not immediately lobby the governor’s office, but can interact with his former colleagues. Jeff Boeyink recently left the administration and joined a Des Moines-based consulting firm. On Thursday the board responded to a request from his attorney for an opinion outlining how he must abide by state rules.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have captured a 20-year-old man suspected of killing an Iowa man and dumping his body in South Dakota. Sioux City police say a phone tip yesterday led to the arrest of Martin Castellanos. He was arrested in Sioux City.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — A patrol car video presented in the trial of a former Iowa jail guard accused of killing his pregnant wife includes the sounds of him sobbing and pledging to kill the person responsible for her death. Seth Techel is heard sobbing as he tells a deputy in the video that he jumped out of the shower after he heard a gunshot, then grabbed a handgun and ran down a hallway.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — A day care provider in northwest Iowa has been accused of severely abusing a 3-year-old girl. The state Division of Criminal Investigation says 33-year-old Rochelle Lynn Sapp was arrested yesterday in Orange City. The girl was taken to a hospital Tuesday with serious head injuries, including a fractured skull and brain trauma.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office Thursday, released more information about a shooting incident that took place Wednesday morning, in Marne. Officials say at 10-a.m., the Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an individual with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Marne. Upon investigation, 43-year old Scott Edward Sullivan, of Marne, was pronounced deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Cass County Engineer Charles Marker has issued an apology for a comment he made last week at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting. During the meeting, Marker, who was speaking about a bridge construction project, said one of the projects was running behind because a subcontractor had not been able to complete their portion of the project. Marker said based on Federal law, the County is required to have a certain percentage of all projects to minority sub-contractors.

But then he added “You can see what that gets us into…we’re sitting there just waiting on a minority contractor to show up ‘cuz they’ve got other jobs they’re workin’ on, and I guess they don’t get in a hurry. But we’re required to do that and there’s no way around it under federal guidelines.”

That comment irritated an Atlantic resident, who called KJAN News and requested a copy of the audio from the meeting. KJAN provided Marker with a copy of the audio, as well. At Thursday’s Board of Supervisor’s meeting, Marker clarified his statement and apologized if his previous comment offended anyone.

He said quote – “It was not my intent to imply that they {the subcontractor} was procrastinating or would be doing substandard work. I was only trying to explain the County could not open the bridge until all parts of the contract were completed, both those of the contractor and the subcontractor. As stated during last week’s report, they were already working on other projects, and it was not clear how soon they would be available to complete our guardrail {on the bridge near the research farm}. So, if my report was offensive and unclear, I apologize, but it was not my intent to offend anybody.”

The Board thanked Marker for his report and public apology.