MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque man charged in the stabbing death of a Bellevue man has pleaded not guilty. The Telegraph Herald reports that 23-year-old Drew Mangler entered a written plea last week in Jackson County District Court. Mangler is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 59-year-old James Remakel.

Police found Remakel’s body after being called to a house in Bellevue on Dec. 25, 2016. An autopsy showed Remakel had been stabbed 33 times in his upper body, neck and head. He was believed to be dead for several days before police found him.
Court documents say Mangler was developed as a suspect following witness accounts to police. Investigators say they found a shoe with Remakel’s blood on it during a search of Mangler’s house.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A year after firework sales returned to Iowa, many cities have implemented new restrictions as the fledgling industry tries to put itself on a more permanent footing. The Iowa Legislature last year cleared the way for consumer fireworks in Iowa for the first time since 1938 in last-minute legislation that left cities and businesses scrambling. Some cities received numerous complaints, while fireworks companies filed lawsuits alleging too many barriers were erected.

Firework sales already have started for the summer season at permanent retail outlets, and sales can begin Wednesday at tents and other temporary structures. Iowa law also allows winter firework sales in December and early January. Summer firework sales run through July 8, the last day discharging fireworks is legal. Absent more restrictive local rules, fireworks can be shot off between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily or until 11 p.m. on July 4 and the weekends of June 30 and July 7.

Sioux City and Council Bluffs, have restricted the use of fireworks to a much narrower timeframe. Although cities can ban the use of fireworks, they can’t stop firework sales. They can, however, limit where items are sold to certain areas. Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh said the city is experienced with an annual “tidal wave” of fireworks, which have long been legal in neighboring Nebraska. He said allowing a short window to use them has worked, and the city saw no injuries last year. “We realize that it’s almost impossible to regulate the use during the Fourth of July,” Walsh said. “Council Bluffs residents were buying fireworks and shooting them off anyhow.

The state fire marshal’s office said no agency tracks the number of injuries or fire calls linked to legalizing fireworks, leaving the exact impact of fireworks ambiguous. Some cities, like Des Moines, reported a surge in calls. Others, like Council Bluffs, had few adverse consequences. Beyond safety concerns, the noise from fireworks can be a nuisance for the elderly, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, pet owners and those with an early bedtime.

State Fire Marshal Dan Wood said 552 licenses had been issued as of last Friday. He expects a final tally between 700 and 800, which would be up from last summer’s 664 fireworks stands. Inspections are conducted once the stands are up and running.
“It didn’t seem like we had too many large issues last year,” Wood said. “For the most part, it was just small stuff that they were able to fix on the fly.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa maker of wind turbine blades has been fined nearly $155,000 for multiple workplace safety violations. The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration levied the fines against TPI Composites for violations at its Newton plant. The violations included fire hazards, airborne contaminants, faulty record keeping, fall hazards and a lack of employee training.

The citations support complaints from dozens of former workers who say TPI didn’t properly protect them from dangerous chemicals that caused them severe skin injuries. Those complaints were first reported by the Des Moines Register. Some workers say they were fired after reporting the injuries.

The company said Friday it was evaluating OSHA’s findings and that safety is a core value of the company. Six former employees are suing the company.

Police in Council Bluffs are searching for a vehicle and driver involved in a pedestrian hit-and-run crash that happened today (Sunday), at around 2:35-a.m.  Authorities say the incident occurred on the Intertstate 480 westbound on ramp from N. 41st Street, in Council Blufs. The male pedestrian was identified as 27 year old Joshua Nelsen of Omaha, NE. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The hit-and-run vehicle may be a tan sport utility vehicle unknown make, model, or year.

The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking anyone with information on the incident to please call the Council Bluffs Traffic Unit at (712) 328-4948 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-7867(STOP).

Red Oak Police, Saturday evening, were called to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, to speak with two juveniles and their parents, about an incident that took place 6-p.m. Friday. Upon further investigation, the two (unnamed) juveniles were cited into Juvenile Court, for Theft in the 5th Degree. The youth were then released to their parents.