The Atlantic Police Department reports four arrests took place Saturday. 24-year old Mark Fredericksen, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for allegedly violating the terms of his probation, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine. 52-year old Robert Keithley, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday for OWI/1st offense. 29-year old Tony Mack, of Atlantic, was arrested for Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault, and, 38-year old Eric Smith, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Saturday for Simple Assault, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury.

All four men were booked into the Cass County Jail.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An event in Des Moines about increasing skilled labor in Iowa has been scheduled for April. The Future Ready Iowa Summit is aimed at closing the state’s so-called skills gap in the workforce. The all-day event on April 19 at Hy-Vee Hall is expected to include participation from business leaders, educators and students.

Gov. Terry Branstad has called for Iowa to increase opportunities for education and training beyond high school. He announced an initiative last year that seeks to have 70 percent of Iowans with that extra education and training by 2025.

Specifics about how much such an initiative would cost have been vague. Branstad said during a Monday press conference that the summit will be funded through grant money, private donations and a small registration fee.

Police in Red Oak are asking for your help in locating a pickup stolen from property owned by the United Farmers Mercantile Cooperative. Officials say at around 8-a.m. today (Monday), the P-D began an investigation into the incident after they received a call from UFMC.

During the investigation, it was determined a person or persons unknown entered the property at 203 W. Oak Street in Red Oak, sometime early this (Monday) morning. Several vehicles owned by UFMC were rummaged through, but it’s believed nothing was taken. The suspect or suspects are then alleged to have started a 1991 Kenworth T-800 semi tender truck, and drove it through a chain-link fence that was surrounding large, bulk propane tanks.

From inside the chained-in area, they stole a white, 2002 Dodge Dakota pickup with Iowa license plate ASL 402. The thief or thieves left in an unknown direction of travel. If you have any information about the crime, call the Red Oak Police Department at 712-623-6500, or Montgomery County Crime Stoppers, at 1-888-434-2712.

Police in Glenwood who were investigating the alleged selling of drugs arrested a Sidney man, Saturday. The investigation into the selling of methamphetamine in the parking lot of the Glenwood McDonald’s restaurant began after authorities received complaints on Feb. 1st. Officials say a vehicle 27-year old James Hume was stopped Saturday for having an expired registration, as he was leaving the Glenwood McDonald’s.

Hume was subsequently arrested for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Mills County Jail and is currently out on bond.

Audubon Police Chief Matt Starmer reports a woman from Shelby County was arrested last Thursday for Identity Theft (Over $1,000) and Forgery. The offenses allegedly occurred Nov. 20th, 2015. 36 year old Haydee Michelly Juarez-Castillo, of Harlan, was transported to the Audubon County Jail and posted a $5,000 Recognizance bond on Friday.

On Saturday, Audubon Police arrested 18 year old Hannah Marie Spencer, of Audubon. Spencer was charged with Possession of Marijuana, Fail to Obey a Stop Sign and Fail to Provide Security. She was transported to the Audubon County Jail where she posted bond and was released. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest.

And on Jan. 26th, 38 year old Micah Mitchell Hansen, of Audubon, was arrested for Failure to Maintain Control, Reckless Driving, No Valid Driver’s License, Failure to Provide Security – Accident Related, Failure to Register Vehicle, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Striking a Fixed Object. Mitchell later appeared before a magistrate where he pled guilty to the charges.

A Republican-dominated panel at the statehouse last week approved another gun rights bill, part of a package of legislation backed by the Iowa Firearms Coalition. A bill to make weapons permits confidential will now be considered by the full House Judiciary Committee. Missouri Valley Republican Matt Windschitl says it’s a matter of privacy for gun owners.

“As many of you know, anyone can walk into any sheriff’s office right now and request any information on any permittee,” Windschitl said. “They can get all the information, including their home address and any other information that’s on that form.” Windschitl says those individuals who get a permit-holder’s personal information from the sheriff could then go after the gun owner.

“If they’re going on vacation, they could maybe break into the home and steal their guns. Or, for the folks who don’t have a permit, the conclusion could be drawn that they don’t have a weapon in their home and they could be the targeted by someone with nefarious intent, to break into their homes and rob them,” Windschitl said. “Keep in mind, we’re talking about a constitutional right here. We’re talking about the right to keep and bear arms.”

In some states, Windschitl notes entire lists of weapons permit holders have been published online, exposing gun owners, and violating their right to bear arms. Critics of the bill include the Iowa Newspaper Association, which argues weapons permits are public records. Other opponents of the bill say the public should be able to keep an eye on the local governments issuing the permits.

A similar measure passed the Iowa House three times last year, but died in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

(Radio Iowa)

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent, non-injury accidents. Last Friday night, a pickup driven by 51-year old Jane Maxine Liles, of Clarinda, was traveling westbound on 140th Street just east of K Avenue, about six-miles east of Essex, when the pickup went out of control after hitting a patch of ice. The 2000 Dodge Durango went into the north ditch, where it rolled through a barb wire fence before coming to rest on its side. The pickup was considered a total loss.

And, early Saturday morning, 16-year old Jasilyn Danae Roop, of Farragut, was traveling north on Tolbert Ave from 210th Street (about one-mile east of Clarinda),  when the vehicle she was driving went out of control on the ice / snow covered road, and slid off the road into the ditch. Damage to the vehicle was considered disabling.

No charges were filed in connection with either accident.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – More than 80 Iowans have been convicted of violating a state law that bans domestic abusers from owning guns in the five years since it went into effect. A review by The Associated Press shows those convicted include people who used weapons to kill others, to threaten their spouses and to shoot at police officers.

The law signed by Gov. Chet Culver in 2010 bars individuals who are subject to protective orders and who have committed domestic violence-related misdemeanors from owning guns. Violating the prohibition is a felony that carries up to five years in prison. Attorney General Tom Miller and other supporters predicted the law would save lives by keeping guns away from dangerous individuals. Critics, including some Republican lawmakers, warned that it could unfairly take away gun rights.

Adair County Sheriff’s Jeff Vandewater said it was pretty quiet in his county over the past week. Vandewater had only one arrest to report: At around 12:30-a.m. Friday, an Iowa State Patrol Trooper arrested 35-year old Francisco Martinez-Villagomez, of Carter Lake, for OWI/1st offense. The man was arrested after the Trooper was called to the McDonald’s restaurant in Stuart.

During an interview with Martinez-Villagomez, the Trooper learned the man’s car was in a ditch off I-80, but it wasn’t clear where the vehicle was. In the report, the Trooper said Martinez-Villagomez had a very strong odor of alcohol coming from him, and the man admitted to drinking whiskey. He failed a Field Sobriety test, was placed under arrest and was transported to the Adair County Law Enforcement Center. A breath test at the LEC revealed Martinez-Villagomez’ alcohol level at .247, or more than three times the legal limit.

Martinez-Villagomez was released later in the day, Friday, after posting at least 10-percent of his $1,000 bond.