(Atlantic, Iowa) – In an update to our earlier posts: Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue said this (Sunday) afternoon, a 12-year-ol juvenile was taken into custody in connection to alleged threats on social media, made towards the Atlantic Middle School and Schuler Elementary School.

The Chief says “On Sunday, Sept. 8th, the Atlantic Police Department received a report of a threat that was posted on social media that named two of our district buildings as a target. An investigation into the incident has found that the threat is not credible and students and staff are not in danger to attend school tomorrow [Monday], September 9^th, 2024. However, due to the seriousness of the threat and the disruption to the school and learning environment, a 12 -year-old juvenile has been taken into custody and transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs.

The juvenile – who was not identified because of his age – is being charged with Threats of Terrorism and False Reports to or Communications with Public Safety Entities.

Chief Hogue said “The Atlantic Police Department will provide heightened presence at the ACSD buildings all week.” He said also, “The Atlantic Police Department worked alongside the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Atlantic Community School District during the investigation. We have also made contact with the Iowa Governor’s School Safety Bureau with regard to the incident.”

No other details are being released at this time. If you have information regarding the incident, please call the Atlantic Police Department at 712-243-3512.

Note: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department today (Sunday) said an accident on August 29th caused a total of $5,200 damage, but no one was injured. Authorities say a 2010 Chevy Equinox driven by 54-year-old Jason Glenn Beard, of Creston, was traveling on Fremont Street at around 8:15-a.m., when Beard attempted to put something in his back pocket and became “lost in thought.

Beard’s SUV struck a large utility trailer attached to a legally parked 1999 Ford F-350 Super Cab pickup truck. No citations were issued.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Officials with the Atlantic Community School District have sent an e-mail to parents of students in the District, with regard to an alleged threat on a social media platform. KJAN received a copy of the e-mail which reads:

“We’re aware of the social media threat made to AMS and Schuler. Law enforcement and administration are investigating the threat and taking proper precautions to ensure the safety around the district.

“More information will be available once we have been able to determine the credibility of the threat.”  Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue told KJAN News in a text message this (Sunday) morning, in response to our inquiry, that “We have been made aware and are diligently working on the situation.”

The A-PD also posted on its Facebook page, “The Atlantic Police Department has been made aware of a social media post that was made as a threat to our school district. Our agency along with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office have been diligently working on the situation and have been in contact with the Atlantic Community School District to ensure safety precautions are being made and the Governor’s School Safety Bureau for assistance with the investigation.”

Additional information will be released when it is made available to us. KJAN will not elaborate on the nature of the threat until law enforcement has had a chance to complete their investigation.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Two women from Red Oak were arrested on separate charges early this (Sunday) morning, in Red Oak. The Red Oak Police Department reports 56-year-old Kimberly Dee Rocha was arrested at around 12:04-a.m. in the 1200 block of E. Summit Street, for OWI/1st Offense. Rocha was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

And, at around 12:18-a.m., Red Oak Police arrested 19-year-old Heavyn Lee Aherns in the 2400 block of N. 8th Street, for Public Intoxication/1st Offense. Aherns was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond.

[updated 1:53-p.m.] (Scott County, Iowa) – A collision Saturday evening between a motorcycle and an SUV resulted in a female motorcyclist being seriously injured. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident happened in Davenport a little before 7-p.m, when 25-year-old Jessica Alice Beth Irelan, of Davenport – who was riding a 2013 Triumph – failed to obey a red light and was struck by 2015 Chevy SUV driven by a man from Davenport. The collision happened at the intersection of Kimberly Road and N. Elsie Avenue.

Irelan was thrown from her motorcycle and transported by ambulance to Genesis Hospital. The driver of the SUV was not injured. The crash remains under investigation.

(Fort Dodge, Iowa) – Officials with the Fort Dodge Regional Airport, Saturday afternoon, released the names of four people – all from Iowa -who died after their plane took-off from Iowa and crashed just short of their destination runway in Anderson, Indiana.The four were identified by the Madison County (Indiana) Coroner on Saturday.

The victims were:

• Joseph R. Scallon, age 68, of Iowa Falls, Iowa
• “Owen” James Renaud, age 19, of Alden, Iowa
• Jesse H. Ostheimer, age 41, of Alden, Iowa
• Branden W. Hicks, age 36, of Manson, Iowa

Airport officials in Fort Dodge say Branden Hicks was a private flight instructor based out of the Fort Dodge Regional Airport. And, “While he wasn’t a city airport employee, he was a much loved member of the airport family and will be forever missed.”

The accident was first reported at around 9:50-a.m., Friday (Sept. 6th), when a 911 call came in to County Dispatch of a plane down in the area of 4200 block East 100 South, approximately two miles south/east of the Anderson Airport in the corn field. Units were dispatched, and on arrival found a single engine airplane down and on fire. Additional resources were dispatched, and the fire was quickly extinguished.

The federal authorities, FAA and NTSB as well as the County Coroner and additional needed resources were notified to respond to the incident.  It was quickly acquired that the plane had departed Fort Dodge, Iowa, enroute to the Anderson Airport, and for an undetermined reason lost altitude, and crashed.

The crash is still being investigated.