NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — A man has been convicted of killing an acquaintance in central Iowa’s Jasper County. Court records say 53-year-old Randy Linderman was found guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder in the March 2017 slaying of Jose Ramirez Berber. A family member found Berber’s body inside a rural Newton home. Autopsy results determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. DNA evidence taken from Berber’s body and clothing matched that of Linderman, of Charles City. Investigators say Linderman acknowledged that he’d been to Berber’s home several times.

Linderman’s sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8. First-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors met 10-a.m. Tuesday, in Atlantic. According to the agenda minutes, during their session, the Board heard from County Conservation Director Micah Lee, who presented a quarter ending (Sept. 30th) report of activity with regard to county recreational sites (maintenance at Cold Springs, West Nodaway Area, Pellett Memorial Woods and Outdoor Classroom) and naturalist Lora Kanning’s environmental education activities (She presented 67 programs to 1,115 persons).

The Board and representatives from ISU extension, Cass Co. Memorial Hospital, Harrisdale Homestead, Cass Co. Conservation, and others, discussed the concept of a Wellness Coordinator for Cass County. The Coordinator would be a connector and bridge builder, between various working groups around community health initiatives.  Projects involved in could include community events promotion, infrastructure and implementation projects, food systems development, applying for grants and educational programming.

Considered was a part time county-based position with the county providing a portion of the salary plus other non-salary expenses such as an office in the courthouse.  Other funding partners could include ISU Extension, YMCA, and CCMH to start.  Considered also, was an annual wage of $20,000, with each funding partner (minimum of four) contributing $5,000 per year.  Since Soc. Sec. and IPERS would be over 17% additional, a higher contribution may be requested.  Proposed, was a possible 28E agreement and intent to commit to five years.  Also discussed was a one year renewable agreement.  After due consideration, the consensus of the board was to proceed with work plan with goal of having something in place by end of calendar year.

After their regular meeting was adjourned, the Cass County Board of Supervisors met again at 11:35-a.m. Tuesday, to serve as Board of Canvassers to proceed with the official canvass of the November 6, 2018 General Election. After examination of the tally books submitted by the precinct election officials, the total votes received by all candidates were ascertained. County Auditor Dale Sunderman was directed to draw up the abstracts of the election to be submitted to the Secretary of State and to be filed in the office of County Auditor and to notify all local candidates who were declared elected in the General Election. Certified canvass was prepared and placed on file in the office of the County Auditor.

SUMMARY OF LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS (that is, candidates declared elected):

COUNTY OFFICIALS                             Votes:

County Treasurer      Tracey J. Marshall (R)  5,005

County Recorder       Mary Ward          (R)  4,859

County Attorney       Michael Donn Hooper(R)  4,645

Bd. of Supr. (2nd)    Mark T. O’Brien    (R)    614

Bd. of Supr. (3rd)    John Hartkopf      (R)    695

NW Hosp. Trustee      Roger Herring           4,545

NE Hosp. Trustee      Julie Pollock           4,282

AG. EXTENSION COUNCIL MEMBERS:

Chad Becker       3,183  Kristi Plagman       3,138

David York        2,407  Bradley J. Pellett   3,153

Todd Weppler      3,188

SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS:

John J. Hansen                                2,888

Greg Zellmer                                  4,413

TOWNSHIP CLERKS:                              Votes

Edna                   Travis Erickson         52

Union                  Cheryl R. Christensen   93

TOWNSHIP TRUSTEES

Edna                   Patrick Erickson        52

Edna                   Kevin A. Stender        44

Union                  Daryl Schrier           84

Union                  Richard Hoffman         62

Board Chair Gaylord Schelling then declared canvass completed and all vote totals to be Official.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans who are motivated to give blood after they hear about mass shootings have good instincts, but a study finds it’s a largely unnecessary gesture. Study co-author Justin Nix, a criminology professor at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, says a significant amount of the blood donated after a mass casualty event — like the 2017 Las Vegas shootings — goes to waste. “About 17% of the donated blood went unused,” Nix says. “People have this altruistic desire to donate blood following an event like that, which is totally understandable, but the blood that’s going to save lives from these incidents is already on the shelves.”

The study shows individuals and communities could better handle these types of situations. First, Nix says more people need to be trained in first aid and in how to use a tourniquet to stop hemorrhaging.  “We also recommend that public officials weigh the pros and cons of going in front of the media and imploring the public to donate,” Nix says. “Only do that if the blood banks have approved sending out that message.”

In the case of the Las Vegas shootings, some 500 units of blood were used that day, while donors gave nearly 800 units. It takes several days to process donated blood so a better system is needed to manage those donations so precious resources are wasted. “We need to think about how we’re going to respond to these incidents before they occur,” Nix says. “We need to encourage routine blood donations from the public. Folks who are inspired to go give blood after one of these shootings, the hospital tells them ‘We’re full and we don’t need your donations,’ well, let’s have them scheduled to come back in a month. Let’s encourage people to be more routine in giving blood.”

U-N-O researchers collected the data from health care, public safety and law enforcement agencies. It’s being published in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery.

Officials with the Harlan Police Department report three recent arrests. On Tuesday, 32-year old John Erich McCulley, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant. McCulley  was booked into the Shelby County Jail. On Sunday, 58-year old Bradley Allen Lewis, of Harlan, was arrested for Assault, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Prohibited Acts penalties. And, last Thursday, 33-year old Terri Lynn Hallas, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop. Hallas was charged with Driving While Barred, and Failure to Provide (Proof of Insurance).

Harlan Police said also, no injuries were reported Nov. 5th, after a 2017 Ford F-150 pickup struck the Keast Ford/Lincoln/Mercury building. The accident happened when the foot of the pickup driver, Robert Allen Myers, of Shelby, slipped off the brake and onto the gas pedal. The building sustained cosmetic damage. Last Thursday, James Ralph Laver, of Harlan, was attempting to park his vehicle in front of the Casey’s Store at 1006 Chatburn, in Harlan, when his foot slipped-off the brake. His truck hopped the curb and hit the front doors of the convenience store. No injuries were reported.

The monthly Healthy Cass County meeting was held Monday, November 12th in Atlantic, at Cass County Public Health. Officials say the group discussed progress on the Cass County Health Improvement Plan related to tobacco prevention in the county. Additionally, they submitted an application for the 2019 Healthy Hometown Community Award powered by Wellmark.

Four tactics were chosen highlighting various health and wellbeing initiatives that occurred throughout the county within the past year. The highlighted tactics included farm-to-school programming, locally grown foods, opportunities for physical activity and community spaces for social interaction. Those tactics covered all three of the Healthy Hometown categories: Eat Well, Move Move and Feel Better.

For more information on local health and wellness events or resources, follow the “Healthy Cass County” Facebook page.

The Annual Grand Lighting Ceremony in Atlantic, sponsored by CornerStone Landscaping and Precision Concrete Services, will be tomorrow (Thursday), November 15th, beginning at 5-p.m. It takes place at the Historic Rock Island Depot in Downtown Atlantic. Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce says “Atlantic is one of Travel Iowa’s best places to celebrate the Christmas Season and Grand Lighting is a big reason why. There are over 200,000 lights strung throughout the trees on Chestnut Street as well as City Park that helps create this magical scenery for everyone to enjoy.”

The Grand Lighting event also features a free hot dog meal, provided by Hy-Vee. There will be free hot chocolate as well at the Chamber tent. The Cass County Choir will perform a Christmas Medley before Santa’s arrival beginning at 5-p.m. Santa will make his special helicopter arrival, weather pending, at 5:30-p.m., to turn on the lights. He’ll also see children in his cabin, from 6-until 7:30-p.m. Thursday, sponsored by the Atlantic Rotary Club.

Pick up your Christmas brochure from area retail businesses, “like” the Chamber on Facebook, or follow on Twitter to find dates and details to celebrate Christmas in Atlantic. You can find a complete list of activities at www.christmasinatlantic.com. Capture the Christmas magic with (Hashtag) #MyAtlanticIA and post to the Atlantic Area Chamber’s Facebook page or Instagram (AtlanticIowaFan). Contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce if you have any questions, at chamber@atlanticiowa.com or call 712-43-3017. Christmas in Atlantic is presented by TS Bank.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department today (Wednesday), released an internal legal opinion supporting the legality of Matthew Whitaker’s appointment as acting attorney general.
The 20-page opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel, which provides advice to executive branch agencies, is aimed at addressing concerns from Democrats and even some Republicans that President Donald Trump violated the law by naming Whitaker over Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

Whitaker had been chief of staff to now-ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions — a job that didn’t require Senate confirmation. The state of Maryland has challenged Whitaker’s appointment, arguing that the top Justice Department job must be held by someone such as Rosenstein who has been confirmed by the Senate. A Justice Department official said the White House contacted the Office of Legal Counsel for advice, before Sessions was replaced, about options in the event of a vacancy. The department made the official available to brief reporters only on the condition that the official not be identified by name.

The office said Whitaker, even without Senate confirmation, could serve as attorney general on an acting capacity because he has been at the department for more than a year at a “sufficiently senior pay level.”
One statute laying out the department’s line of succession says a deputy attorney general may hold the top spot in the event of a vacancy. But the legal counsel’s office said a president is not bound by that, and that a different law, the Vacancies Reform Act, allows the president to elevate someone without Senate confirmation. The opinion identified more than 160 times in which non-Senate officials were temporarily appointed to fill vacancies as Cabinet secretaries or equivalent jobs.

“As all three branches of government have long recognized, the President may designate an acting official to perform the duties of a vacant principal office, including a Cabinet office, even when the acting official has not been confirmed by the Senate,” the opinion said. The opinion didn’t address the question of whether Whitaker should step aside from overseeing the special counsel’s investigation into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia. Many Democrats have called Whitaker to withdraw from the probe being handled by Robert Mueller and his team of prosecutors, citing derogatory comments that Whitaker made about the inquiry before joining the department. The investigation until now had been overseen by Rosenstein.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County report numerous arrests took place over the past week.On Monday, 18-year olds Gavin Allen Sickler, and Brandon Ray Kammerer, both of Clarinda, were arrested at around 9:45-p.m. near 360th and Lamber Avenue. Both were charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. Sickler faces additional charges of Carrying a Weapon, and Driving Under Suspension.

Three arrests took place Sunday, including: 36-year old Brian Joseph Freemont, of Council Bluffs, who was arrested at around 3:50-a.m. on Interstate 29. Freemont was charged with Driving Under Suspension, Having No Insurance, and Operating a Non-registered vehicle. His bond was set at $835; 30-year old Zachary Clay Younts, of Red Oak, was arrested in Fremont at around 11:30-a.m. Sunday, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $10,000; And, 20-year old Vladimir Michael Deovillo-Stryka, of Lawrence, KS., was arrested at around 7:30-p.m. Sunday at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on two counts of Assault causing injury to an officer. His bond was set at $4,000.

On Friday, at around 1:50-a.m., Mills County Deputies arrested 22-year old Noah Steven Kennedy, of Council Bluffs, for a Controlled Substance Violation, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $50,000. Thursday night, 21-year old Zachary Vaughn Case, of Glenwood, was arrested on charges that include: Possession of a Controlled Substance; Possession of a Firearm in a Controlled Substance Violation; Fugitive from Justice; Child Endangerment; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Case was being held in the Mills County Jail without bond. At the same time and place, 18-year old Breanna Madine Thomas, of Glenwood, was arrested for Child Endangerment. Her bond was set at $2,000.

And, at around 11:35-a.m. Thursday, Mills County Deputies arrested at the Mills County Courthouse, 22-year old Kayla Shae Richardson, of Mineola. She was arrested on a warrant for Revoked Pretrial Release. Bond was set at $50,000.