One person was arrested Wednesday night in Montgomery County, following a incident in the 1800 block of 130th Street. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Erin Collins, of Villisca, was transported to the Montgomery County Jail on simple misdemeanor charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of drug paraphernalia. Collins’ bond was set at $1,000.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:25 a.m. CST

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to 55 years in prison for his role in the violent robbery and assault of an elderly central Iowa woman. The Des Moines Register reports that Manuel Eduardo Balderas was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty in November to robbery, burglary and willful injury counts. Balderas was one of three men accused of breaking into a then-82-year-old woman’s Kelley home in August 2018, temporarily blinding the grandmother before beating and robbing her. Investigators say she was also sexually assaulted. Balderas had been charged with first-degree sexual abuse, but prosecutors dropped that charge and three others in exchange for his guilty pleas.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers doesn’t expect to eliminate from its reservoir system all the leftover water from last year’s near record runoff that led to massive flooding along the Missouri River. Officials are raising the current releases in expectation of high spring runoff again this year. The Corps’ John Remus told the Omaha World-Herald the system needs to make as much space as possible in light of forecasts for warmer than normal weather and higher than normal runoff. He says the Corps normally doesn’t release more during the winter because of the potential for ice jams and dams upriver.

COLO, Iowa (AP) — Officers are investigating the deaths of two people in what Story County officials say was a murder-suicide. A relative called 911 after discovering the bodies around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at a residence in Colo. The Story County Sheriff’s Office didn’t immediately release the names of the two, nor provide information about the causes of their deaths. State officials have joined the investigation.

DUNKERTON, Iowa (AP) — The former police chief of a small eastern Iowa town has pleaded guilty to charges that she collected pay for hours she didn’t work. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that Katherine Krieger entered the pleas Monday to theft and felonious misconduct in office. She was chief in Dunkerton, a town of about 830 residents around 100 miles northeast of Des Moines. Prosecutors say Krieger collected pay for hours in Dunkerton when she was working another law enforcement job and for training and meetings she never attended last spring. Court records say she received $3,000 in unearned pay.

(Radio Iowa) — One of the groups that pushed to limit the use of seclusion rooms in Iowa schools says it supports a revision of the rules that will go before the State Board of Education. The proposed new rules say students can be removed from class and isolated in a seclusion room only to prevent bodily injury to themselves or others. It cannot be done as punishment. A-C-L-U of Iowa policy director Daniel Zeno spoke at a public hearing and the rules — and says while they wanted stronger restrictions — the proposal takes some steps forward.

“Adding the language that seclusion and physical restraint should never be used for discipline or punishment is really important. Twenty-nine other states have already done that and so making that clear is really important and a good step in the rules,” Zeno says. Nathan Kirstein, an attorney with Disability Rights Iowa, also spoke at the public hearing and says he supports the changes. But, he says, some states have gone as far as banning seclusion rooms after determining they can be counterproductive.

“Hopefully Iowa will one day recognize this as well and make that next step. Until then, we support this step,” Kirstein says. The proposed rule changes also says seclusion rooms must be at least 54 square feet in size, and makes an adjustment in when parents have to be notified that students were put in the room. It also requires school districts to report seclusion and restraint data to the Department of Education.

The State Board of Education will vote on the changes after reviewing the information gathered from the public hearing and input from districts.

(Radio Iowa) — The medical director of the Iowa Department of Public Health confirms the flu is spreading much faster than usual this season. Epidemiologist Dr. Caitlin Pedati says there were nearly 700 confirmed flu cases statewide through the end of December, compared to only about 150 a year ago. Dr. Pedati says the state’s flu activity level is compiled by combining all sorts of data from a variety of sources.

“We look at the number of flu lab tests,” Pedati says. “We look at the number of outbreaks in places like long-term care facilities. We look at hospitalization rates. We look at school absences and we look at other viruses that might be circulating and contributing to what we call influenza-like illness.” At this point a year ago, one Iowan had died from flu complications, but this season, the number is far higher.

“We have had 11 flu-associated reported deaths so far, and flu is a serious virus and unfortunately, it can make people quite ill,” Pedati says. “It kills people every year. Nationally, the CDC is reporting 2,900 deaths associated with flu.” While January and February are typically the peak months, Iowa’s flu activity level is already at its highest point — widespread — but Pedati says there are still simple ways to protect yourself.

“Flu is a tough virus and it can make people sick and it can cause deaths every year,” she says. “That’s why getting vaccinated and practicing good public health measures are always going to be important every year, no matter what the flu activity is.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list Iowa among the 34 states where the spread of the flu this season is considered widespread.

While the flu numbers are significantly higher this season compared to last year, Pedati notes this season is still tracking below the 2017-2018 season, which was particularly bad.

Officials with the Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company (METC) said Wednesday, the business ended 2019 the best way it knew how: contributing funds to help the many communities they serve. A total of $24,750 was donated to 5 area public libraries and 15 area fire or fire & rescue departments. Donations ranged from $750 to $2,000.

Janell Hansen, CEO and General Manager at Marne Elk Horn, said “The board and our staff value what our libraries and fire & rescue departments do for our communities. They educate us, help us and keep us safe. This is one small way we can say thank you.”

Hansen says Marne Elk Horn strives to give back to the people and organizations that work to keep Avoca, Brayton, Elk Horn, Exira, Kimballton, Marne, McClelland, Minden, Neola, Persia, Shelby, Underwood, and Walnut vibrant and strong.

According to Hansen, Marne Elk Horn has been making these year-end donations for
many years. City budgets are often tight, so organizations normally have immediate plans for the funds. As such, the contributions are met with excitement about what will be possible. Hansen concluded, “Together we serve the needs of our residents in all our
communities. Working together we can make a difference.”

You may see pictures and all award amounts at www.metc.net/2020donations