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Nearly 19-lbs of powder meth found during a traffic stop in Pott. County

News

March 12th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Two Arizona residents face felony drug charges after being stopped on Interstate 80 late last month, and their vehicle found to contain more than 18 pounds of powder methamphetamine with a street value of several hundred thousand dollars. According to the Daily NonPareil, 24-year old Andres Sanchez, and 27-year old Alexis Velasco, both of Tempe, Arizona – were stopped at 5-p.m. on Feb. 27th, after a Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office deputy reportedly clocked Sanchez’s 2015 Chrysler 200 traveling at 74-mph in a 55-mph zone on the northeast side of Council Bluffs, near mile maker 7, on Interstate-80.

Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker said the couple told the deputy that the sedan was rental and they were headed to see family in Des Moines. The deputy become suspicious when the couples’ answers weren’t consistent, so he asked for and received, consent to search their vehicle. During the search, the deputy found 18.5-pounds of meth hidden in numerous compartments throughout the vehicle. The latest figures indicate the meth had a street value of around $421,800.

A preliminary hearing for the couple took place on Thursday. A jury trial has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on May 17th. They remain in Pottawattamie County Jail with bond set at $100,000.

Iowa early News Headlines: Sat., March 12th 2016

News

March 12th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — About 2,000 players from throughout Iowa have gathered in Waterloo for a five-day pool tournament. The Courier newspaper reports that two levels of a downtown convention center were crammed with 140 pool tables as the annual Iowa Operators of Music and Amusements Pool Tournament kicked off Wednesday.

ROCK FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Residents near Rock Falls are concerned about what they consider as neglect of a county park. The Globe Gazette reports that more than 200 people have signed a petition to the Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board to make repairs and improve maintenance at Wilkinson Pioneer Park and the Shell Rock River Greenbelt. Some of the concerns citied in the petition include a lack of road maintenance in both the park and the greenbelt, as well as a rusty drain tunnel.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials say a pipeline company is working to contain a gasoline spill in Sioux City that reached a drainage ditch. Magellan Pipeline officials reported the spill Friday morning after finding a leaking pipe between tanks at their Sioux City bulk petroleum facility.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Damon Struve scored 13 points and Paullina South O’Brien finished the game with a 15-0 run to beat Council Bluffs St. Albert 54-43 Friday night for the Class 1A state championship. St. Albert led 43-39 after Jake Carley’s jumper in the lane with 5:32 remaining in Des Moines, but couldn’t score after that.

Nebraska, Iowa move to daylight-saving time Sunday morning

News

March 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — It’s time to spring forward again, as the country makes the switch to daylight-saving time. Like those in almost all other states, Nebraskans and Iowans will trade an hour of sleep starting Sunday morning for an extra hour of sunlight in the evening.

The government expanded daylight-saving time in 2007 in an effort to save energy. It now begins on the second Sunday in March and continues until the first Sunday in November.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins 2-a.m. Sunday

Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins 2-a.m. Sunday

The official change occurs at 2 a.m. Sunday, local time, although people often change their clocks before going to bed Saturday night. Daylight-saving time ends Nov. 6th.

South O’Brien rallies to beat St. Albert 54-43 for 1A title

Sports

March 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Damon Struve scored 13 points and Paullina South O’Brien finished the game with a 15-0 run to beat Council Bluffs St. Albert 54-43 Friday night and win the Class 1A state championship. St. Albert led 43-39 after Jake Carley’s jumper in the lane with 5:32 remaining, but did not make another shot. Kyle Paulsen hit a 3-pointer to start the Wolverines’ final charge.

It was the first title for the combined South O’Brien district, though Paullina High School won five championships before consolidation, the last in 1982. St. Albert had been seeking its third title. Paulsen added 11 points for South O’Brien (25-3). and Peyton Brasser came off the bench to score nine, including two key baskets down the stretch. Travis Miller’s 16 points led St. Albert (17-10).

(Update 8:40-p.m. 3/11) – At least 2 Cass County Primary races will have 3 candidates each

News

March 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Auditor’s Office late Friday afternoon updated the roster of candidates who have filed certified nomination papers for the June 7th Primary election. By the end of the day, there were three Republicans running in each of the Board of Supervisors Districts 1 and 4. The latest addition was Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green, who is running for the District 1 Supervisor’s seat. He faces a challenge from Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones who filed nomination papers on  Monday, and Dale Retallic, who threw his hat into the ring on Tuesday. No democrats have filed for the seat, thus far.

Another candidate also threw their hat into the ring for the District 4 seat on the Cass County Board of Supervisors. Todd Hansen, a Republican from Atlantic filed nomination papers Friday, for the seat left open when Chuck Rieken decided against running for re-election. Hansen joins fellow Republicans Steve Baier and Barry Moore in the District 4 race heading into the June 7th Cass County Primary Election. No democrats have filed for the seat. The filing period opened this past Monday, and closes at the end of the day on March 30th.

Republican Frank Waters is vying for re-election to the Board of Supervisors in District 5, and County Auditor Dale Sunderman as well as Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren have both filed for re-election on the Republican ticket. No democrats have filed for any of those positions.

Produce in the Park Planning Meeting set for March 17th

Ag/Outdoor, News

March 11th, 2016 by Jim Field

The second Produce in the Park meeting will be Thursday, March 17, 4:30 pm at Atlantic Area Chamber of commerce meeting room, 102 Chestnut Street, Atlantic. Vendors of locally grown produce and handmade crafts, and anyone interested in the community event are invited to attend.

The opening date for Produce in the Park is June 2 to be held every Thursday night, 4:30 to 6:30 in Atlantic City Park. The vendor fee is $60 for the season.

An update on funding and expenses will be discussed. Marketing methods, activities and cooking demonstrations are also on the agenda. Decisions are made by the group in attendance.

The mission of Produce in the Park is promoting local food production and consumption, and building community to enhance the health and well-being of residents. Produce in the Park provides opportunities for direct marketing for producers, access to fresh local foods for consumers, social networking and educational opportunities for all participants.

For more information contact Susan Retz, Emily Krengel, LaVon Eblen or the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce.

Name released in Schleswig stand-off & shooting

News

March 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Official with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Friday (Today) released the name of a man involved in a stand-off Wednesday night that ended with him being shot by a Crawford County Sheriff’s Deputy. The suspect was identified as 45-year old James Scott Champion.  Champion is still recovering from two gunshot wounds to his torso, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.  Crawford County Deputy Lt. Corey Utech has been identified as the deputy who returned fire, when Champion allegedly fired a round just before the stand-off ended. Lt. Utech is an 11 year veteran of the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.

Following the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office Policy and Procedures, Lt Utech is currently on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.  Champion is facing two (2) counts of Assault on a Police Officer with a dangerous weapon (Class D Felony).

The incident began at around 6:20-p.m. Wednesday when a concerned citizen called authorities requesting a welfare check on a male subject residing at the Schleswig Manor Apartments, in Schleswig. When Deputies arrived at the apartment complex, Champion, who was inside the building allegedly pointed a long gun at the deputies and allegedly threatened to shoot them if they didn’t back away.

Deputies evacuated other residents of the apartment complex as a precaution. Despite attempts to negotiate with the man, at around 11:45- p.m. (Nearly 4 1/2 hours after the stand-off began), Champion opened a door and pointed the long gun in the direction of officers before firing a single round.

The investigation is still ongoing by the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

5 arrested on drug charges in Cass County, Thursday

News

March 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports five people were arrested Thursday, on drug charges. Arrested on a felony charge each of Sponsoring a Gathering, as well varying degrees of misdemeanor charges that include Possession of Alprazolam/2nd offense, Possession of Methamphetamine/2nd offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, was 20-year old Angel Nicole Knowles and 25-year old Alicia Arlene Dellaca, both of Atlantic. Knowles also faces a charge of Possession of Marijuana/2nd offense.

20-year old Amanda Lynn Cooper, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana/1st Offense, Possession of Alprazolam/1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. And, 25-year old Timothy Alan Brown, of Grant, as well as 20-year old Matthew Henry Paulsen, of Adair, was arrested on charges of Possession of Marijuana/ 1st Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

All suspects were taken to the Cass County Jail where they were released the following day on their own recognizance.

Atlantic Police report 5 arrests

News

March 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

The Atlantic Police Department says five people were arrested over the past couple of weeks. On Tuesday, 19-year old Andrew Malloy, of Atlantic, was arrested for Operating a Vehicle without the owner’s consent. And, 54-year old Todd Schrader, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense.

On Sunday, 54-year old Brent Meyer, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. On March 3rd, 53-year old Craig Lang, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense. And, on March 2nd, 20-year old Corey Sunderman, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Driving While Suspended.

All suspects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

Hog building burns near Afton Thursday night

News

March 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

Firefighters from Afton and Creston responded to a hog building fire Thursday night, in Union County, north of Afton. The first call went out at 11:45-p.m. The structure had already collapsed by the time the first crews from Afton arrived on the scene located off of Pheasant Avenue.

Crews from both departments worked to contain the flames and to prevent a nearby propane tank from exploding. No animals were lost in the blaze. It’s not clear how the fire started. Firefighters were on the scene for about three hours.