A Judge in Pottawattamie County has sentenced a Council Bluffs man to five-years in prison for maintaining a drug-involved premises. 27-year old Justin Ray Smith was also ordered Thursday, to serve a two-year term of supervised release following his incarceration. On Feb. 8th, Smith pled guilty to the charge, which was the result of an investigation conducted by several law enforcement agencies into the importation and distribution of marijuana by a known drug trafficking group operating in the Council Bluffs and Omaha areas.

Marijuana was distributed by the group from May, 2009 through March, 2012. Smith maintained a residence on Monument Road in Council Bluffs, as a storage location and distribution point for the drug trafficking organization. Prior to sentencing Smith, Chief Judge James Gritzner sentenced Smith’s five co-defendants.

The following were sentenced earlier this year to terms in prison for conspiracy to distribute marijuana:

30-year old Christopher Brandt of Council Bluffs, was sentenced to 36-months in prison; 40-year old David L. Lopez, Jr, of Omaha, was sentenced to 48-months in prison and 26-year old Nicholas Barnes, of Council Bluffs was sentenced to 48-month.

28-year old Dennis Smith, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced to 84-months in prison for conspiracy to distribute marijuana and money laundering. And, 29-year old Gene Smith, of Council Bluffs, was sentenced to 41-months in prison for maintaining a drug-involved premises.

The investigation was conducted by seven law enforcement agencies and prosecuted by the U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports an Audubon County man was sentenced Thursday to two and a-half years in prison for possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. 51-year old Randy Eugene Doss, of Exira, was also ordered to serve two-years of supervised release once he completes his 30-month sentence.

On August 1st, Doss plead guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The charge was the result of a June 12th, 2013 search by law enforcement of Doss’ home in Exira, during which a loaded .410 shotgun was discovered near the front door of the residence.

The investigation was conducted by officers with the Council Bluffs Police Department, U-S Marshall’s Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

An historical organization in Adair County has received a national award for its efforts at restoring a nearly 120-year old building in the heart of downtown Greenfield. The National Trust for Historic Preservation presented its Preservation Honor Award for the restoration of the Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield, to the E.E. Warren Opera House Association. The project is one of 18 award winners honored by the National Trust during its 2013 National Preservation Conference in Indianapolis, IN.

E.E. Warren Opera House in Greenfield

Attending on behalf of the E.E. Warren Opera House Association was Board President Nancy Queck and Catherine Howe, former vice-president. Co-recipients are Greenfield Chamber of Commerce and Main Street; INVISION Architecture; the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office; and Lang Construction Group.

The National Preservation Awards are bestowed on distinguished individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and corporations whose skill and determination have given new meaning to their communities through preservation of our architectural and cultural heritage.

In the face of a declining economy, the community of Greenfield took action to preserve the historic E.E. Warren Opera House. Built in 1896, the Romanesque-inspired building was a local landmark for decades, but eventually time took its toll and the building was showing its age. When Greenfield was made a Main Street Iowa community in 1996, the town redoubled its efforts to preserve the Opera House.

Led entirely by volunteers, the E.E. Warren Opera House Association raised $4.5 million. The project’s diverse mix of private and public funding – including state and federal historic tax credits – enabled an expert rehabilitation. The project also catalyzed several other downtown rehabs, including a boutique hotel and new restaurant.

The winners of the National Preservation Awards will appear online at www.PreservationNation.org/awards.

Police in Red Oak report an animal skull valued at $300 was stolen sometime this past week from a garage off of B Street. The victim of the crime said a 30-by-30-inch bull skull that was attached to the garage was taken sometime between Nov. 5th and 8th. The incident remains under investigation by the Red Oak Police Department.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A 43-year-old inmate again has been listed as escaped from a work release facility in Sioux City.   Officials at the Sioux City Residential Treatment Facility said Friday that David Kreider remains free.

David Kreider (2012 photo)

Kreider was listed as escaped after he didn’t return as scheduled from his overnight shift job on Thursday morning. He’s serving a 20-year sentence for willful injury and other crimes. He was convicted of stabbing a man in October 2004.

In July last year, Kreider left the center without permission. He was found two days later by U.S. marshals and subsequently convicted of voluntary absence.  Prisons spokesman Fred Scaletta says Kreider was given another opportunity for work release because officials perceived that Kreider’s behavior had improved.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – After Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation leaders summoned an agent to Des Moines to be fired, they mistakenly allowed him to drive two hours home in a state car equipped with a shotgun.  One workplace safety consultant says it was a stupid blunder that created serious security and liability concerns and showed a lack of respect for the employee.  Department of Public Safety spokesman Scott Bright calls it an oversight that won’t be repeated.

Division officials ordered Council Bluffs-based agent Andrew Harrelson to a meeting at their Des Moines headquarters on Feb. 6 to be fired. Harrelson drove a state vehicle equipped with a Remington 870 shotgun. Bright says administrators wrongly assumed Harrelson had driven a personal vehicle and didn’t know until later he drove the state car home.

An Iowa State University professor was among the 11 people arrested this week in a prostitution sting. Ankeny Police made the arrests at a hotel on Wednesday after posting an ad on an adult website. All 11 people were charged with prostitution, including 54-year-old Michael Spurlock of Ames, who’s a professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at ISU. In a release, Ankeny Police said prostitution stings are carried out in order to focus on predators who surf the Web and may be involved in human trafficking offenses.

Prostitution is an aggravated misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine ranging from $625 to $6,250. Police identified those who were arrested as Erin Blue, 28, of Des Moines; Scott Daniel, 45, of Pleasant Hill; Luis Epinoza, 40, of Denver, Colorado; Chris Gilroy, 61, of Story City; Rita Gray, 45, of Des Moines; Thwang Chia Hlun, 25, of Des Moines; David Nord, 48, of Sleepy Eye, Minn.; Andrew Novak, 27, of Ames; Levi Riddick, 21, of Bloomfield; Michael Spurlock, 54, of Ames; and Sabrina Williams, 21, of Des Moines. Blue was additionally charged with interference and arrested on two outstanding warrants.

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (8.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Iowans who are planning to fly off to visit far-flung friends or family for Thanksgiving need to get their travel dates lined up in the next week or so — if not sooner. Rose White, at Triple-A-Iowa, says many flights are filling up and prices are climbing.  “Capacity rates right now are already higher than what they were a year ago, meaning, fewer seats are available because many people have already booked their vacations,” White says. “It is important to take advantage, if you can, of at least 14-day advance reservations to obtain better price rates.”

When demand is high, like during four-day holiday weekends, the airlines know premium prices can be charged for fares. “Very few will have discounted rates unless you travel on the holiday itself,” White says. “If you travel on Thanksgiving Day, you should be able to find better rates as well as many seats available.”

White says the hardest flights to get will be on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after. Even if you book 14 or more days out, she says ticket prices are higher this November.  “They are up about 6-8% compared to a year ago, so it’s important to keep that in mind when booking your travel,” White says. “Of course, if you can book in advance, you’ll also be able to receive lower rates.”

Triple-A reports more than 3.14-million Americans flew somewhere during last year’s Thanksgiving holiday and the numbers are expected to be up this year.  

(Radio Iowa)

Officials with the Atlantic Community School District have scheduled a public meeting for Thursday, Nov. 14th, with regard to concepts the district is considering to address its need for more instructional space. The community meeting is intended to provide the public with information about five concepts to increase the size of its instructional facilities, and will begin at 7-p.m. Thurday, in the Commons Area at the Atlantic High School.

Participants will be encouraged to provide feedback and input to the School Board, with regard to the concepts to be presented.