The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa said Friday, a Mills County man was sentenced Thursday to more than 15-years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Senior U-S District Court Judge Ronald Longstaff also ordered 42-year old Andru Alan Fisher, of rural Glenwood, to serve five-years of supervised release once he’s released from prison. Fisher was being held in the custody of the U-S Marshal’s service, pending designation of the Federal Bureau of Prison Facility where he will serve his sentence. 

A grand jury handed down an indictment against Fisher last April, charging him along with five other persons, with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and associated charges in what has been referred to as “the Fisher Farm case”. Fisher appeared in federal court in Council Bluffs, last September, and pled guilty to his role in the conspiracy. 

The “Fisher Farm” is an acreage located in rural Mills County, at which an estimated 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds) of pure methamphetamine was manufactured by several people from at least February of 2003, to May of 2011. Persons involved in the conspiracy were responsible for the theft of substantial quantities of anhydrous ammonia in southwest Iowa and for the purchase of pseudoephedrine from several stores in Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri, all of which was used to manufacture methamphetamine. Fisher was considered a leader of the conspiracy. He was one of the owner’s of “Fisher Farm”, lived on the premises, manufactured methamphetamine, permitted others to manufacture, and assisted in the loose organization of providing precursor materials, including stolen anhydrous ammonia, for others to manufacture methamphetamine. Fisher admitted knowledge of at least 23 other people who engaged in manufacturing methamphetamine at “Fisher Farm”. 

Previously sentenced in this case were: Robert Gene Ott, Jr. (14-years imprisonment), Kirk Jason Hardman (10-years in prison), Christopher Nicholas Smith (7.5-years in prison), Trent James Fisher (7.5-years in prison), and Jennifer Mae Biggerstaff (6.5-years in prison). Previously sentenced in associated cases regarding the same conspiracy were: Timothy Earl Bendt (2-years in prison) and Paul Leon Foster (13-years imprisonment). 

The case was investigated by the Mills County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Department, the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

In an update to our earlier story about a crash north of Oakland Thursday afternoon, Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker says an Avoca woman suffered non-life threatening injuries, after the vehicle she was a passenger in, crashed following a collision with a semi. The Sheriff says 29-year old Randi Riessen, was transported to Alegent Health Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.

The accident happened at around Noon, Thursday, on U.S. Highway 59 north of Oakland. Danker says a 2007 Chevrolet driven by 58-year old Jacqueline Riessen, was northbound on Highway 59 and attempting to pass a 2005 Peterbilt semi, driven by 62-year old James Reid, of Belleview, FL.  The semi was hauling a wide load associated with a wind turbine, and was being escorted by vehicles ahead and behind it.  

Danker said the wide load pushed Riessen to the west shoulder as her vehicle was attempting to pass. The woman lost control of the car, which veered back into the roadway and hit both the load and the trailer before the car entered a ditch and overturned.

Randi Riessen was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled. Danker says she was not wearing a seatbelt. Jacqueline Riessen and Reid were not injured during the crash.

Authorities in Pottawattamie County say an Avoca teen was seriously injured during an accident near Walnut Thursday night. According to Sheriff Jeff Danker, the accident happened at around 8-p.m., on Western Avenue, just north of Walnut.  15-year old Josephine Anzalone, of Avoca, was injured in the single vehicle crash, and was flown by helicopter to Creighton University’s Trauma Center in Omaha. Emergency crews set-up a landing zone for the chopper at the Walnut High School football field.  

The accident happened when Anzalone’s vehicle hit a deer, went out of control, and rolled several time. The teen was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled. Danker says the girls’ father told him  she had left their house about two-hours before deputies arrived on the scene, so it’s not clear when the crash took place.  The accident remains under investigation.  

Josephine Anzalone is a member of the Walnut girl’s basketball team. School officials have postponed tonight’s girl/boy doubleheader with East Greene.  An account has been established at the Rolling Hills Bank in Walnut, to help defray the cost of medical expenses.

Officials with the CAM Community School District and the Iowa Connections Academy have announced a new, virtual public school will be available for students statewide, in grades K-12.  As an Iowa public school, there is no tuition or fees to attend, however there is an important open enrollment deadline of March 1st, 2012.  Enrollment in the Iowa Connections Academy (IACA)  will begin immediately, as part of the state’s open enrollment period for the 2012-2013 academic year, and will offer informational meetings for interested families in February across Iowa.

The virtual school is said to offer a high-quality, highly accountable, tuition-free, public education option. IACA’s teaching and attendance center will be based in the greater Anita area. It will combine Iowa-licensed teachers, an Iowa Core standards-aligned curriculum, unique technology tools, an extensive selection of electives and clubs, and community experiences to create an individualized alternative to the bricks-and-mortar classroom.

All IACA students will participate in the nationally accredited Connections Academy program that combines resources from leading publishers with cutting-edge, yet easy-to-use, technology and hands-on materials. Learning from home, students will work closely with a licensed Iowa teacher using detailed daily lesson plans that can be personalized to meet individual student needs. A parent or another adult “Learning Coach” monitors progress in the home. Students enrolled will receive learning materials such as textbooks, science kits, and more.

CAM Community School District Superintendent said “The CAM Community School District is committed to providing our students with a 21^st Century education. We have been utilizing technology to creatively support and enhance our teaching for some time and developing a virtual school is a natural extension and expansion of our efforts and ideas. This is about offering the best educational options for CAM students and students throughout Iowa – about meeting, exceeding, student needs and successfully preparing them for their future.”

Pelzer says “Through technology, students will gain access to programs they may not have had access to before – an expanded Talented and Gifted program, additional Advanced Placement courses, foreign languages such as Mandarin Chinese, an option for credit recovery for high school students.”

Iowa families seeking more information about IACA and its approach to personalized public education can visit http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com or call 800-382-6010. Informational meetings will take place throughout the state in February.

In an update to a story we first posted on KJAN.com early this (Friday) morning, and told you about during our newscasts, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says an Exira man died in a crash Thursday night, in Irwin. Officials say 21-year old Gary Davis, of Exira died, after the car he was driving went out of control on a curve and traveled into a ditch before coming to rest on its top.

The accident happened at around 11:50-p.m., as Davis was traveling north on Shelby County Road M-47 in the City of Irwin. Crews from Irwin Fire and Rescue responded to the scene and extricated Davis from his 2008 Pontiac G-6. The Shelby County Medical Examiner was called to the scene as well, and determined the man was deceased. The accident remains under investigation.

Officials with the Iowa West Foundation…headquartered in Council Bluffs…have announced $4 million in grants for the fourth quarter of 2011.  The grants will be used to assist 44 non-profit organizations and governmental entities with funding for area projects. The current round of foundation grants includes $1.25 million to support the Pottawattamie County Community Foundation (PCCF) to promote local philanthropy and help meet emerging needs in communities.  It is the fourth installment of Iowa West’s six-year pledge.

Other sizable grants this quarter included: 

• A $487,500 grant to the Nature Conservancy of Iowa for the preservation of a scenic and native Loess Hills area in Mills County (IA); 
• A $400,000 grant for the implementation of an economic development related strategic plan in rural Pottawattamie County; 
• A $350,000 grant was awarded to the United Way of the Midlands – headquartered in Omaha – to complete its 2011 campaign in meeting the needs of southwest Iowans and eastern Nebraskans.  

In addition, many “small but important” grants in the round, including the smallest of $2,000, which went to a Best Buddies program at Harlan (IA) High School to support students with developmental disabilities. 

Iowa West has provided $280 million in grants to non-profits and governmental entities since the inception of its grants program in 1996. Requests for Iowa West grant applications for the second quarter of 2012 will begin March 1, 2012 and will be accepted through April 2, 2012.  Completed applications will be due April 16, 2012.  The deadline to request applications for the first quarter has passed.  

For more information including deadlines, interested organizations may visit the foundation’s website at www.iowawestfoundation.org or contact Deb Debbaut, Grants Manager, at 712-309-3003.  The foundation has recently updated its funding guidelines and procedures, which can be viewed at the website.  Applicants can apply on-line through the website.

A Harlan man was arrested Thursday on burglary and other charges. According to the Harlan Police Department, 29-year old Bruce Spray faces a 2nd degree burglary charge, along with charges of criminal mischief in the 3rd degree and violation of a protective order. Spray was taken into custody after authorities investigated a report a man was kicking in a door in the 800 block of Market Street.

In other news out of Harlan, the H-P.D. says 28-year old Michael Stewart, of Harlan, was arrested last week after officers were called to the 16-hundred block of 16th Street. Stewart was taken into custody on charges of domestic abuse assault, and obstruction of emergency communications. Also arrested last week in Harlan, were two juveniles…14-year old Christopher Buttry, and 15-year old Andrew Nippert, both of whom are from Harlan. Officials say the teens were charged with 4th degree theft, after allegedly taking cigarettes, sunglasses and $300 cash from a locker at the Petersen Wellness Center. The teen were cited, and released to their parents.

Earlier this month, Harlan Police officers arrested 15-year old Stephaun Lancer, of Harlan. Lancer was cited for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was later released to his parents. And, 17-year old Cassidy Coenen, of Earling, was arrested after police received a tip about a possible party where minors were present. Coenen was cited for being a minor in possession of alcohol, while 28-year old Sean Gifford was arrested on a charge of supplying alcohol to persons under legal age. Gifford was cited and released. Coenen was released to the custody of her mother, after receiving her citation.