(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday), voted unanimously to send a letter to the Director of Policy Studies Center in Washington, D-C, refuting an accusation that Montgomery County is a “Sanctuary” for illegal immigrants.

Board Chair Mike Olson said he consulted with Cass County Supervisors Chair Steve Baier on the matter. Last week, the Cass County Board agreed to send a similar letter to Jessica M. Vaughan, vehemently denying the claim.

Olson said in 2014, counties in Iowa passed a resolution stating unequivocally, they will NOT hold illegal aliens if they have no green card or visa, for more than 48-hours.

Olson said “I took offense to that.”

Olson said he was going to mail the letter by registered mail that requires a signature of receipt.

Montgomery County BOS mtg. 3-12-24

In other business, the Board received an update from Montgomery County Engineer Karen Albert.

And, they voted to approve allocating a refund payment from United Health Care (UHC) to the Two Rivers (Bank) partially self-funded account, in the amount of $12,878.80. The funds can be used to help reduce County employee health insurance premiums and/or deductibles.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a man was arrested at around 8:15-p.m. Monday, for OWI/3rd offense. 42-year-old Anthony Germann, of Villisca, was arrested at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has issued a report on arrests that took place from February 2nd through the 29th. Most recently:

2-29-24: Vincent Alejandro Celaya, age 31, Harlan, IA was arrested following a call for service in the 500 block of Dye St. Celaya was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault.

2-27-24: Kory Ross Petersen, age 35, Harlan, IA was arrested following a traffic stop in Earling. Petersen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving under Suspension.

2-23-24: Andrew James Arrick, age 40, Glenwood, IA was arrested following an investigation. Arrick was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Theft 1st, and Burglary 3rd; Daniel Raymond Harris, age 58, Harlan, IA was arrested following a call for service in the 1000 block of Chatburn Avenue in Harlan. Harris was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st.

2-22-24: Jake Michael Scripter, age 32, Omaha, NE was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant. Scripter was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Theft 5th.

2-18-24: Elizabeth Marie Bailey, age 27, Harlan, IA was arrested following a call for service in the 500 block of Victoria St in Harlan. Bailey was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st; John Joseph Bowen, age 43, Harlan, IA was arrested following a trafiic stop in the area of 12th and Willow St in Harlan. Bowen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense (2 counts), Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Driving under Suspension, and Improper Rear Lamps.

2-11-24: Reid Jeffrey Hemminger, age 39, Harlan, IA was arrested following a traffic stop on Durant St in Harlan. Hemminger was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving under Suspension, OWI 1st, and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability.

2-9-24: Laura Lynn Madden, age 40, Harlan, IA was arrested following a call for service in the 2000 block of College Place in Harlan, Madden was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault 2nd Offense.

2-8-24: Edward Lloyd Auciello, age 31, Altoona, IA was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant. Auciello was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault.

2-5-24: Jasmine Marie Cowgill, age 31, Dunlap, IA was arrested following a traffic stop on Highway 37. Cowgill was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving under Suspension.

2-4-24: Elizabeth Grace Christo, age 40, Harlan, IA was arrested following an investigation. Christo was transported to the Shelby County Jail on an active Shelby County Warrant for Violation of Probation and charged with Violation of a No Contact order; Jennifer Rose Miller, age 42, Harlan, IA was arrested following an investigation. Miller was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Violation of a No Contact Order.

2-2-24: Brian Scott White, age 47, Harlan, IA was arrested following a traffic stop on Chatburn Avenue in Harlan. White was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving under Suspension; Michael Wayne Aufrance, age 32, Pisgah, IA was arrested following a traffic stop on Chatburn Ave, in Harlan. Aufrance was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving under Suspension.

Note: Criminal charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – Charges have been filed against a teenager in connection with an incident over the weekend in Sioux City, where a 10-year-old was approached by a suspicious vehicle.
The Sioux City Police Department says on Saturday, March 9 at about 5:45 p.m. a young girl was walking in the 4500 block of Cheyenne Blvd. Police say a silver Ford Bronco approached her and the driver offered the 10-year-old candy, and then backed up and made comments about the girl’s shoes.

Police shared surveillance video of this incident with the public to identify the people in the Bronco and to determine if there was a danger to the public. According to police, the video was seen by a juvenile suspect who was inside the vehicle at the time of this incident. This suspect ended up contacting the Sioux City Police Department.

A 16-year-old girl was subsequently charged with harassment. Authorities have not identified the teen.

Still frame video image of a girl and the suspect vehicle in an alleged harassment case. (Sioux City PD Facebook video image)

Sioux City Police say the incident should serve to encourage parents to “take this opportunity to have open conversations with your children about staying safe and understanding stranger danger.”

(Harlan, Iowa/KNOD) – Shelby County Auditor Mark Maxwell, Monday, announced he will not be filing papers to run for re-election in the June Primary. Maxwell says he is truly grateful for the trust Shelby County residents have shown, by electing him in two successive elections.

Maxwell noted also, any candidate seeking to run for a County office in Shelby County, must have their properly filled out nomination papers returned to the Auditor’s Office by no later than 5-p.m. on March 22nd, 2024.

He said also, Mike Kolbe has filed his nomination papers to run for County Supervisor in Shelby County.