Officials with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Monday afternoon, issued a report on numerous recent arrests. Last Saturday (Aug. 11), two people were arrested on drug charges, following a traffic stop. 29-year old Benjamin Tomoya Sorensen of Harlan was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance (Marijuana), Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The second party in another vehicle arrested, 26-year old Brooke Rena Petersen of Audubon, was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance (Marijuana). Both were transferred to the Shelby County Jail for processing, and upon further investigation Petersen was assessed an additional charge of Possession of Contraband in a Controlled Facility, a Class D Felony. The charge was added after officials discovered additional marijuana hidden on her person. Both subjects had an initial appearance in front of the magistrate Sunday morning and were given a date to appear in court and then released on their own recognizance.

Also arrested Saturday was 20-year-old Evelyn Marie Rzonca of Portsmouth. Her arrest followed a call for deputies to respond to a residence on Dogwood Avenue for a woman destroying property. The subject was later identified as Rzonca. She was charged with Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree (Class D Felony) and transported to the Shelby County Jail without incident. She had her initial appearance Sunday, and was being held in the Shelby County Jail on a $5,000 cash/surety bond. Harlan Police assisted in making the arrest.

On Sunday, Shelby County Deputies arrested 32-year-old Michael John Carroll of Shelby after they were called to a residence with regard to a disturbance. Carroll was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault by Strangulation. He was held until Monday and then released on a $2,000 cash/surety bond, with a future court date assessed.

Last Tuesday, Deputies in Shelby County arrested 44-year-old Gary Wayne Hastings of Shelby on an outstanding warrant. Hastings was charged earlier last month with Willful Injury (Class D Felony) through the District Court of Shelby County. He was located in Shelby and arrested on the outstanding active warrant. Hastings was later released on a $5,000 cash/surety bond.

And, on Aug. 4th, 34-year-old Jordan Michael Flaherty of Harlan, was arrested on drug charges, after authorities were called the 59’er Motel outside of Harlan for a male party who was refusing to leave. Harlan Police assisted in the arrest. Flaherty was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) a Class D Felony, Prohibited Acts and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was transported to the Shelby County Jail, where he posted bond and was released later that evening.

That same day (Aug. 4th,) 22-year-old Andrew James Nippert of Council Bluffs, was arrested on drug and weapon charges, following a traffic stop.  Nippert was charged with Operating while Intoxicated (2nd Offense) Possession of Controlled Substance 2nd Offense (Marijuana), Prohibited Acts, Carrying Weapons, and Driving while Revoked. He was transported the Shelby County Jail and later released on $2,000 bond. The Shelby County K-9 Unit assisted in the investigation.

In an update to our broadcast reports and those online, Cass County Auditor Dale Sunderman, Monday, sent out a new agenda for Wednesday morning’s meeting. In the update, discussion and action on a property tax abatement for the ADM elevator requested by Pipeline Foods, LLC., was removed from the schedule.

Officials with Pipeline had requested the five-year property tax abatement during the Supervisor’s meeting on Aug. 8th, but it was taken under advisement at that time. Pipeline Foods – a developer of supply chains in agriculture with a focus on organic foods and feeds, grains, oilseeds, and ingredients will be acquiring, converting and utilizing the ADM facility for organic grain handling.

Their plan is to acquire the facility in mid-September. The only “action item” on the agenda Wednesday, is to approve a beer permit for the 21st Century Co-Op C Store, in Massena.

(Radio Iowa)  — After years of waiting, the date has been set for the dedication of the completion of the final segment of the expansion of Highway 20 to four lanes in northwest Iowa. The D-O-T’s Dakin Schultz says the event is set for October. He says the Highway 20 association has set a ribbon cutting for October 19th at three p-m in Holstein at the new hotel on the south side of U-S 20 and U-S 59. Schultz says there are some final pieces being completed along the highway.

“We’ve got the work between Correctionville and Holstein that we’ll be looking at completion on that. All the paving, mainline paving is complete out there. The contractors are working on shoulders and will continue to do grading work,” According toe Schultz. “From Holstein over to Early, all the pavement is down.” Crews are doing other finishing work east of Moville.

He says they are doing clean up work, putting up signs and doing work on side roads that has to be completed to connect gravel roads. Schultz says they expect to have that section open before October. The completion of the final segment will end the work that has gone on for several years to expand Highway 20 to four lanes from Dubuque to Sioux City.

More information on the completion celebration will be released as the event gets closer.

SERGEANT BLUFF, Iowa (AP) — Residents in northwest Iowa have banded together to save their local park. Jon Anderson told the Sioux City Journal that he and his neighbors recently petitioned to save the Oak Hills park in Sergeant Bluff. The pocket park is small and consists of basketball courts and playground equipment, but it’s still used by children in the neighborhood, Anderson said.

“When we heard the city was considering taking the basketball hoops down, we had to spring into action,” he said. Anderson and his neighbors were able to secure 118 signatures in a petition to save the park. The move led to the City Council deciding not to get rid of the basketball hoops and agreeing to help write a grant for new playground equipment.

“There are other, newer parks in Sergeant Bluff,” Brandy Cook, a longtime resident in the neighborhood. “But this park was our park.” Anderson believes showing the City Council that residents were passionate about bettering the neighborhood is what made the difference.

“It wasn’t a handful of people making a decision,” he said. “Instead, this was an entire neighborhood wanting to preserve something that was important to everybody.”
Anderson has planned a community day with food and music to clean up the park Aug. 19.

MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — Investigators searching for a University of Iowa student who vanished last month are launching a new website to generate tips from potential witnesses. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation unveiled FindingMollie.Iowa.gov at a news conference Monday.

Mollie Tibbetts has been missing since July 18, when the 20-year-old was last seen jogging in her small hometown of Brooklyn, Iowa. Her disappearance has sparked an enormous search involving local, state and federal authorities and volunteers.

Assistant DCI Director Mitch Mortvedt says investigators are considering all scenarios but that it’s “possible that Mollie has come into contact with someone who has caused her harm.” He asked the public to report information about anyone who has recently displayed odd behaviors.

The site seeks tips from people who were in specific Brooklyn locations on July 18, including a car wash and a truck stop.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports 39-year old Terry Hannan, of Council Bluffs was sentenced Friday to slightly more than five-years in prison for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. United States District Court Senior Judge Robert W. Pratt sentenced Hannan to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Hannan pleaded guilty to the offense on March 13, 2018. On December 29, 2017, the Council Bluffs Police and Fire Departments responded to a fire at Hannan’s home. Officers entered the house and observed ammunition and a gun safe, but did not locate anyone in the residence. As the fire inspector investigated the cause of the fire, Hannan was seen in a car near the home.

The car left abruptly when the fire inspector approached Hannan, and a short pursuit ensued. When the vehicle was stopped, Hannan was found in possession of a loaded Taurus Titanium .38 revolver.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The case was investigated by Council Bluffs Police Department, Council Bluffs Fire Department, and The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Sheriff’s officials in Mills County, Monday, released a report on seven arrests made over the previous four days. On Sunday, 56-year old Roderick Jerom Bequette, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Driving While Barred. His bond was set at $5,000. That same day, 38-year old Marcella Janine Mutchler, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Page County Sheriff’s Office, on a Mills County warrant for Failure to Appear in court, after being issued a citation. Her bond was set at $2,000. And, 21-year old Kyle Ethan Grudle, of Glenwood, was arrested Sunday for OWI/1st offense. Bond was set at $1,000.

On Saturday: 61-year old Norman Duane Lutter, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Bond $1,000); 20-year old Katelynn Marie Wickman, of Glenwood, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. (Bond $1,300); and, 31-year old Mitchell Brian Probst, of Glenwood, was arrested Saturday for Public Intoxication (Bond $300).

Last Thursday, Mills County Deputies arrested 23-year old Dakota John Allen, of Hastings (IA), for Interference with Official Acts causing injury, Driving Under Suspension, Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and Theft in the 1st Degree (Bond $6,600).

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Monday afternoon, released details about a fatal motorcycle accident that took place at around 6:30-p.m., Saturday. Authorities say 28-year old Bryan Brown, of Council Bluffs, died at the scene of the crash located in the area of Old Lincoln Highway and Iowana Lane.

A preliminary investigation determined that Brown was northbound on Old Lincoln Highway on a 2005 Kawasaki motorcycle.  A 2010 Ford Edge was southbound on Old Lincoln Highway driven by 18-year old Jamie Hackett, of Carson.  Near the intersection of Old Lincoln Highway and Iowana Lane, Brown attempted to pass a vehicle.  In doing so, his cycle and the SUV collided.  Hackett was not injured in the collision.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports three juveniles face charges following a series of incidents on the Wabash Trace. Deputies began receiving reports during the month of July of logs, rocks, tree branches, and fishing line being placed across the trail. This was occurring on Thursday evenings during the bicycle ride known as “The Taco Ride”. This lead to the potential of serious injury if a rider were to be thrown off a bicycle.

Deputies patrolled the trail on Thursdays in an attempt to catch those responsible. On August 9th Deputies were alerted to three suspicious individuals on the trail and were able to locate three male juveniles. It was determine that the three males had placed fishing line across the trail. The line was located and removed. The three juveniles were then charged with Harassment in the 3rd Degree in juvenile court.

No injuries were reported as a result of the activity.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man charged with murder says his actions in an Urbandale bar fight are protected by Iowa’s “stand your ground” law.

The Des Moines Register reports that a judge has set a hearing for Aug. 20 to consider the motion filed for 49-year-old Rodney Henricksen. He’s pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the Jan. 18 death of Joshua Sadlon, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The motion says Henricksen was defending himself from an intoxicated and aggressive Sadlon. Henricksen told three people at the bar that Sadlon had threatened his life. The law says a person doesn’t have to retreat before using deadly force if he or she reasonably thinks his or her life is being threatened.

The motion says Henricksen was entitled to use reasonable force to preemptively strike at Sadlon to avoid injury to himself.