(Radio Iowa) – A former Ottumwa teacher has pleaded guilty to a sexual abuse case from five years ago. According to court records filed last week, 40-year-old Zachary Barr entered a guilty plea to the charges of enticing a child under 16, sexual exploitation by a school employee, and dissemination of obscene material to a minor. According to his attorney, Barr will be seeking probation.

The outlined sentencing details include 11 years of probation and a suspended prison sentence. Additionally, Barr must register as a sex offender. Prosecutors reportedly will not resist the potential sentence. Barr was a sixth-grade teacher at Evans Middle School in Ottumwa in 2018 when authorities say the mother of a 13-year-old girl, who was a former student of Barr’s, said her daughter received inappropriate messages sent by Barr via social media.

As part of the investigation, officers took control of the girl’s social media accounts. Their conversations with Barr became overtly sexual, prompting his arrest.

(Elk Horn, Iowa) – Customers of Marne-Elk Horn Telephone Company (METC) are being offered a chance to recycle residential electronics next week, at locations in Exira, Walnut and Minden. Businesses should contact your METC office for your recycling needs.

The locations, dates and time frames are as follows:

• Exira – Exira Ball Fields on South Florence Street on Tuesday, July 18 2-6pm.
• Walnut – Marne Elk Horn Shed (1501 Antique City Drive) on Wednesday, July 19th 2-6pm.
• Minden – Lot across from City Hall onThursday, July 20th 2-6pm.

Accepted Items Include:

Personal Computers; Monitors; Keyboards & Mice; Printers; Copiers & Scanners; Networking Hardware; Disk Drives; Servers & Mainframes; Audio/Visual Equipment; Computer Manuals; Software; Telephones; Televisions; VCRs; Fax Machines; Circuit Boards; Cable & Satellite Equipment; Computer Cables & Wires including Christmas Tree Lights; Misc. Electronic Equipment.

Not Accepted – Appliances, Microwaves, Lighting Fixtures, Projection TVs, Laser Printers, etc. $15 fee for Old ‘Tube-Like’, Plasma & LCD TVs and Cracked Screens.

All Other Items Recycled FREE! Again, this service is for customers of Marne-Elk Horn Telephone Company, only.

CRESTON, Iowa – July 13, 2023 – If you are driving on U.S. 59 one mile south of Avoca in the coming weeks you need to be aware of a lane closure that may slow down your trip.

Crews will begin replacing the bridge on U.S. 59 one half at a time beginning on Monday, July 24, weather permitting. The roadway will be reduced to one lane with a lane width of 9-feet-6-inches. Trucks with wide loads traveling north of the work zone will be directed to use Iowa 83 and trucks with wide loads traveling south of the work zone will be directed to use U.S. 6. You will be directed across the bridge with temporary signal lights.

(Harlan, Iowa) – Officials with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), issued a report on arrests that occurred from July 1st through the 11th. Three people were arrested on separate charges this past Tuesday:

• 40-year-old Amy Joy Carman, of Avoca, was arrested following a traffic stop on Main St., in Elk Horn. She was taken into custody on an active Shelby County Warrant for Violation of Probation. Carman was also charged with Driving Under Suspension, Operate Non-Registered Vehicle, and Fraudulent use of Registration.
• 45-year-old Anthony Joseph Miller, of Kimballton, was arrested following a traffic stop on Main St in Elk Horn. Miller was transported to the Shelby County Jail on an active Shelby County Warrant for Violation of Probation. Miller was also charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Open Container (passenger). And,
• 35-year-old Jeremy Steven Mannion, of Omaha, NE, was arrested Tuesday on an active Shelby County Warrant for Violation of Probation. Mannion was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

Two people were arrested Monday, in Shelby County. 42-year-old Grabiel Garcia, of Omaha, NE, was arrested in the 400 block of Station St., in Shelby. Garcia was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance and Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance. Garcia also had an active Shelby County Warrant that he was arrested on for Driving under Suspension. And, 38-year-old Tosha Dawn Johnson, of Storm Lake, was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant for Violation of Probation.

Two people were arrested also, on Sunday, in Shelby County. Authorities say 25-year-old Brandon Gerald Ratashak, of Shelby, was arrested after a traffic stop on East St In Shelby. Ratashak was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability, and Speeding. And, 26-year-old Victoria Anne Griffen, of Shelby, was arrested after a traffic stop on Center St in Shelby. Griffen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while Barred, Possession of Controlled Substance, and Fail to Display Registration plate.

Last Saturday, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 70-year-old Larry Steven Meurer, of Harlan, following a call for service on Hawkeye Avenue. Meurer was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with OWI 1st.  On July 6th, 37-year-old Lydell Jay Smith, of Omaha, NE was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault, Theft 2nd. On the 5th, 25-year-old Charlie B. Hadfield, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant for Violation of Probation. And, 29-year-old Victoria Anh Vanscoy, of Peru, IA was arrested after a traffic stop in the 700 Block of Hwy 59. Vanscoy was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance, Dark Window or Windshield, and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability.

On Independence Day, Shelby County Deputies arrested 19-year-old Gabriela Jisel Agapito, of Underwood, following a call for service in Kirkman. Agapito was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Child Endangerment, Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations, Interference with Official Acts, Disorderly Conduct, and Public Intoxication.

There were two arrests on July 3rd: 40-year-old Brent Michael Swisher, of Harlan, was arrested after a call for service in the 1600 Block of Chatburn Ave. Swisher was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Criminal Mischief 5th, Trespass 1st, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; and, 38-year-old Amber Lea Nelson, of Denison, was arrested after a traffic stop on Garfield Ave. Nelson was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving under Suspension, Operating a Non-Registered Vehicle and Failure to Provide Financial Liability.

And finally, on July 1st, 33-year-old Rudy Thomas Holguin, of Denison, was arrested after a traffic stop on Hwy 191 and Elmwood Road. Holguin was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Insufficient Number of Head Lamp, Fraudulent use of Registration, Operate a Non-Registered Vehicle, and Failure Provide Proof of Financial Liability.

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