A unique, side-by-side bicycle “car” built by a Creston man, and destined to be sold at auction and used for community events, was stolen the day before the auction.

Bike stolen prior to auction.

The bike was built by Wilbur Ricks of Creston, who died in December. On June 22 his family scheduled an auction to sell his estate. The bicycle car was included. One of the civic clubs in Creston had determined that they would bid on it to make it a “parade vehicle” for community events.

Sometime in the early-morning hours of June 22, someone decided they would prefer to acquire the bike by wheeling it away from the property, rather than seeing it sold at auction. The family would still like to see it go to the service club to be enjoyed by the community

If you see the vehicle, call the Union County Law Enforcement Center at 641-782-8402, or Rick’s son at 319-269-3475 to collect a reward upon its recovery.

A pickup truck with a dump box and small equipment (including  4 new tires, a weed eater, paint machine and other, miscellaneous items) was reported stolen last week from the Harlan Wastewater Treatment plant. According to the Harlan Police Department, the incident happened sometime Thursday night. The loss was estimated at more than $36,000.

The Harlan PD, Shelby County Sheriff’s, Iowa State Patrol and other authorities in the area were notified to on the lookout for the vehicle and equipment. Authorities determined the stolen red truck with the city of Harlan logo on the side headed south from the plant, towards the interstate.

The facility, located on a mile south of Highway 44 on Maple Road, was broken into through a locked gate where the thieves used wire cutters to cut around the padlock. Anyone with information on the burglary at the Harlan wastewater treatment plant is asked to contact the Harlan Police Department at 712-755-5151 or city hall at 712-755-5137.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)

A 27-year-old Boone native has quit his job at the Pentagon to run for the Iowa congressional seat Republican Steve King now holds. Democrat Jim Mowrer is formally kicking off his campaign this morning (Tuesday). Mowrer served in the Iowa National Guard unit that spent 23 months in Iraq — the longest Iraq deployment for any unit in the military. In 2009 he returned to Iraq as a private contractor. In 2010 Mowrer went to work at the Penaton as a special assistant to the Under Secretary of the Army.

Mowrer says too many politicians in Washington from both parties are “pushing sound bytes to…score political points for partisan gain.” He accuses King of being part of the problem. “Steve King isn’t working for Iowans. He’s not working for the 4th district and I have a record of actually getting things done,” Mowrer says. “I think that a lot of politicians spend time talking about problems, but not actually working on finding a way to find solutions and getting them done.” 

Mowrer’s last day at the Pentagon was June 10th. He has moved back to Boone with his wife — who is a Boone native, too — and their two young children. If elected, Mowrer would be among the youngest members of congress. To be eligible to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, a candidate must be at least 25 years old and a resident of the state they wish to represent.

(Radio Iowa)

Three Council Bluffs residents accused in the kidnapping and abuse of a special needs man living in their home, will be allowed to post bond prior to their trial. The Daily NonPareil reports 4^th District Court Judge Mark Eveloff on Monday decided to allow 55-year old Rebecca S. Beyer, 51-year old James W. Beyer, Jr., the step-mother and father of the alleged 20-year old victim, to post 10 percent of the bond, but Eveloff did not reduce the amount of their $100,000 bonds, as had been requested by attorneys for the accused. If they do post bond, the suspects will be placed on a pre-trial, supervised release. The judge also issued a No Contact order.

Rebecca Beyer was arrested June 19th on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping and willful injury causing serious injury. James Beyer, Jr. and his stepson, 22-year old Ryan M. Smith, were both arrested on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping. Attorneys for the Beyer’s said a family member would be able to post 10-percent of their $100,000 bonds. Smith’s attorney said he would likely receive the same option.

The charges against the trio were filed following an investigation into allegations the 20-year-old made in March, while speaking with workers at a Council Bluffs men’s shelter. The unidentified man told authorities that Rebecca Beyer allegedly heated spoons and forks on the stove and burned him with them. He also said he had been physically assaulted by his father, James Beyer, and that both his parents had threatened to kill him. The abuse had allegedly been going on for years.

Assistant Pottawattamie County Attorney Amy Zacharias said none of the facts in the case have changed since the arrests were made on June 19th, except that DNA evidence was found on a leash the 20-year-old said was used to chain him up in the garage. Conversely, an attorney for the accused said testing on three other items – an iron said to have been used to burn the victim, a spoon and an extension cord – did not show any evidence of the victim’s DNA being on those items.