Afton Police Chief John Coulter reports his Department has been contacted by a local resident concerning a consumer scam phone call. The caller says they are from Publishers Clearing House and are ready to deliver your award and claim that they are waiting in a neighboring town. Coulter says “This is a scam and people should just hang up on the caller.”

DO NOT answer any questions or provide any personal information to the caller. The Afton resident did hang up on the caller and did not experience in loss of funds or credit information.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s attorney general has concluded that Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will not have the authority to appoint a lieutenant governor when she replaces Gov. Terry Branstad. Reynolds is preparing to become governor when Branstad resigns to become U.S. ambassador to China in coming weeks.

Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller said in a legal opinion Monday that Reynolds will assume the duties of an elected governor through January 2019 but won’t have the power to appoint a new lieutenant.

Miller’s office had said in December that it agreed with Reynolds and Branstad that she would have the power to choose a new no. 2. The reversal is likely to infuriate Republicans and could have significant consequences for the 2018 election in which Reynolds is expected to seek a four-year term.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — An inmate who escaped from a western Iowa jail has been captured after crashing a stolen vehicle during a police chase in neighboring Nebraska. Authorities have acknowledged that an inmate, Wesley Correa-Carmenaty, stole a transport van and crashed out of the Pottawattamie County Jail around 11 a.m. Monday. According to media reports, two deputies were shot but were listed in fair condition at a local hospital. A third person was transported to Creighton Medical Center. A report on their condition was not immediately available.

Authorities say the van was abandoned a few blocks away, where the inmate either met an accomplice or carjacked someone’s car. He then drove over the Missouri River into Omaha, Nebraska. It’s unclear whether the inmate was alone and still in the same vehicle when he crashed in Omaha to end the high-speed police chase.

Correa-Carmenaty was being held in the Pott. County Jail on charges of 1st Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, and 1st Degree Robbery. He was scheduled to be sentenced today (Monday).

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests. This (Monday) morning, 24-year old Tanor Devon Jimmison, of Clarinda, was arrested on a Linn County (Iowa) Warrant for Revocation of probation.  Jimmison was arrested at the Page County Courthouse and unable to post the $5000. He remained in the jail pending transportation to Linn County.

And, last Thursday evening, 27-year old Cody Robert Cordell, of New Market, was arrested by Page County Deputies in Clarinda, following a traffic stop. Cordell was charged with Driving under suspension (a serious misdemeanor), Theft 2nd (a class D felony), and Possession of drug paraphernalia (a simple misdemeanor).  He was booked into the Page County Jail and later posted $5000 bond before being released, pending further court appearances.

Jimmison

Cordell

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests took place over the past few days. At around 8:30-a.m. today (Monday), 30-year old Lisa Marie Riskowski, of Exira, was arrested on an outstanding Audubon County warrant for Child Endangerment. The charge stems from an investigation into an incident that occurred in the 300 block of W. Washington Street, in Exira, whereby Riskowski allegedly allowed a registered sex offender to reside at her home where minor children were present. Riskowski was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later released after appearing before a magistrate. Her preliminary hearing was set for May 18th.

At around 12:40-a.m. Sunday, 20-year old Zen Henry Gross, of Atlantic, was arrested in Audubon County for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop. Gross was later released after appearing before the magistrate, with his preliminary hearing also set for May 18th.

20-year old Verlyn Duane Richardson, Jr., of Ankeny, was arrested Saturday night in Audubon County, for Possession of Marijuana/1st offense, two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Driving While Barred. His arrest was the result of a traffic stop on Highway 71 at Littlefield Drive. Richardson was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $2,000 bond.

And, Friday evening, 32-year old Amanda Sue Wicker, of Harlan, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana/3rd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The charges stem from a traffic stop on Highway.

(12-p.m. News)

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a Cass County man was arrested last Wednesday (April 26th), on two counts of Harassment in the 3rd Degree. 27-year old Charles Ray Edwards, III, of Atlantic, was arrested at around 10:30-p.m. by Adair Police in Adair. He was released that same night on $3,000 bond.

46-year old Andre Lamont Sewell, of Stuart, was arrested April 24th by Stuart Police, on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense, following an incident in an apartment complex parking lot involving a female and her children. A Deputy arriving on the scene noted Sewell appeared to be intoxicated and had a strong odor of alcohol coming from him.

And, on April 28th, an Iowa State Patrol Trooper responded to a report a Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup with construction lights on top and a logo on the doors, was all over the road on Interstate 80 eastbound. The vehicle was located the vehicle near the Adair Exit and eventually pulled over at about mile marker 85. The Trooper, who observed the truck swerving all over the lanes prior to it being pulled over, said he smelled an odor of alcohol emitting from inside the truck.

A half consumed bottle of tequila was laying on the front passenger floorboard. The driver, 49-year old Ramon Guerrero Gonzalez, of Des Moines, admitted he has consumed three, 16-ounce beers. The man failed the Field Sobriety Test and a Preliminary Breath Test indicated his blood alcohol level was .183%, or more than twice the legal limit. A test at the Adair County Jail resulted in a reading of .163%. Gonzalez was arrested for OWI/1st offense and later released on $1,000 bond.

Sheriff Vandewater said also, 25-year old Taylor Jay Edelman, of Adair, was arrested April 26th, for Simple Assault. He was later released on $300 bond.