Atlantic Police Lt. Dave Erickson (P.D. website photo)

The investigation continues into Thursday’s reported bomb threat at the Atlantic Middle School. Atlantic Police Lt. Dave Erickson said the Police Department received word of the threat at around 8:30-a.m., Thursday. Erickson says just a few minutes before police were notified, a message was found on a bathroom wall, indicating the school would be “blown up at 11:45.” Police began a search of the building, and the threat was ruled not credible. Erickson says they had a “possible suspect” in the case, but that person was interviewed and then ruled out as the perpetrator. Erickson says the building was evacuated at 11:30-a.m. and the search resumed. At noon Thursday, students and staff were allowed back in the building. He says the suspect who was arrested in last week’s bomb threat at the Atlantic Middle School is NOT the same person who made Thursday’s threat. He says they continue to investigate who caused the most recent incident.

Erickson says he’s not going to give up until he runs out of leads and they will continue to look for the young person responsible. Lt. Erickson says parents who are concerned about this most recent incident, the second in one week at the Middle School, should not feel the need to pull their students out of classes. He says “The schools are extremely safe. We take every precaution to keep these kids safe at all times. There’s no reason to pull them out of school and start home schooling them, or anything like that.”

w/ Ric Hanson

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Officials with the Iowa DNR said today (Friday), a Boil Order has been issued for the city of Dexter because of a break in a water line between the treatment plant and the city.
While the repair is being made, water pressure will be lost. Due to the potential for bacterial contamination, it is being recommended that the water be boiled before using for drinking or cooking or that an alternative source such as bottled water be used. The boil order will be lifted after the repair has been made and water samples have been analyzed to ensure that the water is safe.

It is recommended not to drink the water without boiling it first. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.  The water may be used for bathing and other similar purposes.

General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426-4791.

Four people were taken into custody on drug and other charges, following a raid at a residence Thursday morning, in Red Oak. According to police, a search warrant was executed at around 8:30-a.m. Thursday, at a home on east Market Street, in Red Oak. The search resulted in the discovery of drug paraphernalia, six-grams of methamphetamine, 70-grams of marijuana, and numerous prescription pills. Packaging equipment and a little over $2,000 in cash was also taken into evidence.

Officials say 34-year-old Tommy Joe Lovell, 28-year-old Samantha Jo Abraham, and 41-year-old Angela Kay Shetterly, all of Red Oak, were arrested on charges of Possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance/methamphetamine. Lovell and Abraham were also charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver marijuana and Schedule 4 controlled substance drugs, possession with intent to deliver a Schedule 2 controlled substance, and drug tax stamp violations. Shetterly was charged as well with gathering where controlled substances are used. Abraham and Shetterly both also face child endangerment charges. A 4th suspect, 18-year-old Devon Ray Briggs, was charged with Possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver/marijuana, and Possession of a schedule 4 controlled substance.

All four suspects were being held in the Montgomery County Jail, with Lovell and Abraham’s bonds set at $100,000 each. Shetterly was being held on $50,000 bond, while Briggs bond was set at $5,000.

w/ Ric Hanson

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(DES MOINES) -On Monday, November 14, 2011, Gov. Terry Branstad will extend a proclamation to allow the transportation of overweight loads of soybeans, corn, hay, straw and stover.  The  proclamation takes effect November 14, 2011, and expires after 14 days. “Many Iowans’ livelihoods depend on a smooth, efficient harvest season,” said Branstad. “I am pleased to extend this proclamation, which will continue to allow the movement of Iowa’s commodities and help Iowa farmers during harvest.”

The proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa, excluding the interstate system, and which do not exceed a maximum of 90,000 pounds gross weight, do not exceed the maximum axle weight limit determined under the non-primary highway maximum gross weight table in Iowa Code section 321.463 paragraph “5.b”, by more than twelve and one-half percent (12.5%), do not exceed the legal maximum axle weight limit of 20,000 pounds, and comply with posted limits on roads and bridges.

The action is intended to allow vehicles transporting soybeans, corn, hay, straw, and stover to be overweight, not exceeding 90,000 pounds gross weight, without a permit, but only for the duration of this proclamation.

The Iowa Department of Transportation is directed to monitor the operation of this proclamation to assure the public’s safety and facilitate the movement of the trucks involved.

DEXTER, Iowa (AP) – A pipeline leak has forced Dexter officials to ask residents to limit their water use. Des Moines television station KCCI reports that workers had begun repairs but it was uncertain when they would be finished. Mayor Jerry Stiles says the leak began Thursday in a pipeline that runs six miles from a well near Redfield. Stiles says water quality is not affected.

Dexter is a Dallas County town of about 1,000 people that sits 30 miles west of Des Moines.

Sustainable development through smart planning will be showcased tomorrow (Saturday, Nov. 12th), in Greenfield, during the annual meeting of 1000 Friends of Iowa. Part of the day will be spent touring Greenfied’s town square, which has been a Main Street community since 1995, and showcases how the community has not allowed its city core to fall into disrepair.

Jay Howe is one of the backers who have refurbished the Hotel Greenfield, where the meeting will be held. He says it made sense to fix up the facility. “We are reducing the carbon footprint so to speak in contrast, let’s say, to promoting the constuction of a box hotel out on the highway strip.”  Howe says The Hotel Greenfield received $2-million in grants and is now open for business.  “Some of the stimulus money that became available at the time we were shovel-ready, so to speak. The  U.S. and Iowa historic rehabilitation credits are available that we can use to help fund the project.”

Altogether, Greenfield developers have obtained over $6.2-million and are currently rehabbing four other buildings, including the Opera House, turning it into a cultural center.  1000 Friends of Iowa will also be awarding their Best Development Awards, which showcase examples of growth and leadership that incorporate Smart Planning Principles.

For more information, surf to www.1000friendsofiowa.org.

(Courtesy the Iowa News Service)

An Elliott man was being held in the Montgomery County Jail Thursday night, following his arrest for Failure to Appear in court on an original charge of OWI/2nd offense. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department says 32-year old Joshua Duane Mohn, of Elliott, was arrested at around 10:40-p.m. Mohn was being held in the jail on $2,000 bond.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a fish kill south of Vail. The incident was reported by the Crawford County Engineer, Tuesday afternoon. Officials say many dead fish and a strong smell of manure indicate recent manure application may be the cause of the fish kill. The DNR fisheries staff did a fish kill count Wednesday, finding mostly small fish such as minnows and shiners. About one to two miles of Miller Creek have been affected southeast of its confluence with the Boyer River. The DNR is actively investigating the source of the fish kill and will continue to monitor the situation.