(Radio Iowa) — An Earlville man convicted of killing his wife is asking for a new trial. Todd Mullis was found guilty of first-degree murder following a week-long trial in September. The 12-person Dubuque County jury agreed with prosecutors, who said Mullis stabbed his wife, Amy, in the back with a corn rake on their farm on November 10, 2018 – one year ago. His sentencing is set for December 17th in Delaware County District Court. But Mullis’ attorney, Gerald “Jake” Feuerhelm, who represented him in the September trial, filed a motion for a new trial last week.

Delaware County Attorney John Bernau says he has filed a resistance to the motion for a new trial. Judge Thomas Bitter, who was the presiding judge for the trial, has set a hearing on Feuerhelm’s motion for a new trial for December 17th. The hearing will be held at 12:55 pm, five minutes prior to the 1 pm sentencing.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A Dubuque man and his wife accused of stealing more than $200,000 from his disabled mother have pleaded guilty to federal charges. The Telegraph Herald reports that Howard Derby and Patti Derby recently entered the pleas to charges of wire fraud. The state charges were dropped after the federal charges were filed. Federal records don’t list a sentencing date.

State court documents say his disabled mother moved in with the couple and that he had been given power of attorney for her finances and medical needs. The documents say the Derbys took money from her accounts and used it to buy cars and pay for vacations, among other things.

Students with the CAM North Elementary and the CAM High School will present a Veteran’s Day program at the CAM High School this morning, starting at 10:00am. Everyone is welcome to attend, veterans especially. Veterans in attendance will be recognized for their service, and there will be a special area for you to sit during the ceremony. If you are able, school officials say they would love for all veterans to come forward and share your name, when you served, and in what branch you served.

The CAM Digital Media will be on hand to live-stream the program, so for those people who are unable to come to the ceremony, they can watch it “live” on the KJAN website. The program will be archived to watch later as well. A second ceremony will be held at the Massena Middle School at 1:30 with a reception to follow. That program will also be live-streamed on KJAN, so those who are unable to attend will have the ability to watch it ‘live”.

The program for the high school/CAM North ceremony is displayed below:

click on the image to enlarge

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A man charged with first-degree murder in Linn County has been found guilty of a lesser charge, involuntary manslaughter. The Gazette reports that 32-year-old Donald Harris was acquitted of two other charges Friday: robbery and going armed with intent. He’d been charged after the Nov. 12, 2017, slaying of 40-year-old Tarrance Newman in Cedar Rapids. Harris has maintained that another man shot Newman.

Atlantic, IA – Cass County Public Health is hosting a session on Medications at Home: Keeping Your Children Safe on Thursday, November 14th from 6 to 7 pm. Parents, grandparents, and caregivers are encouraged to attend.

Information will be shared on about how to safely store medications, and how to talk to kids about being safe around medicine. In partnership with the Parents as Teachers program, this session will be presented by a local volunteer, Shelli Brown, RN, and other community experts will also be on hand to answer questions or provide advice.

Attendees are asked to please RSVP by calling 712-243-7475. Cass County Public Health is located at 1408 East 10th Street in Atlantic.

Officials with ARISE (the Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise) in Atlantic, report Ray “Bubba” Sorensen, from Greenfield, will present a program on his Freedom Rock paintings at the American Legion Memorial Building, this Sunday, November 17th, beginning at 2-p.m.

(R) Rep. Ray “Bubba” Sorensen

Sorensen, serves as Republican House Representative for District 20 in Iowa (which includes Adair, Guthrie and parts of Cass and Dallas Counties), began designing and painting a 12-foot tall boulder north of Greenfield, when he was 19 years old. He continues to repaint that rock every year since 1999 to be finished before Memorial Day. Sorensen has completed a commissioned rock in nearly every Iowa County and some in other states, since the first rock was painted.

2019 Freedom Rock (Courtesy Sorensen Studios)

Sorensen says his goal has always been to spread a message of thanks to veterans. Every county’s rock is unique representing specific stories. Each one is part of the overall story of Iowa and their veterans’ service. Recently “Bubba” has applied his artistic skills in another way, by illustrating a book of poems honoring veterans.

The Atlantic History Center, Military Museum, and Military Library will be open for viewing during the event. Books may be checked out of the Library. Refreshments will be available. The American Legion Memorial Building, AKA the Armory, is handicapped accessible. There is no fee for attending but donations are appreciated. For more information see ariseAtlantic.org website or Facebook.