DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad says a teacher licensing program aimed at helping veterans and their families is working. Branstad said at a Monday news conference that the military exchange license program has helped veterans and their spouses secure technical and provisional licenses that will keep them working in the state. The program allows participants to teach in the state for several years without having to immediately take additional college coursework.

Branstad says the program ties in with his separate Home Base Iowa initiative, which went into effect last year. That law is aimed at giving veterans incentives to work in Iowa once their military service is over. The licensing program is offered through the Board of Educational Examiners. A board report says more than 20 licenses were issued in 2014.

The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports today (Monday), that on December 16t, 2014, 30-year old Anthony J. Simmons, of Shenandoah, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to serve 57 months (nearly 5-years) in prison for possession of child pornography, and to serve 10 years of supervised release following imprisonment.

United States Attorney Nicholas Klinefeldt says during the Spring of 2013, investigators located sexually explicit pictures of a fifteen year-old female on Simmons’ computer. On June 5, 2014, Simmons entered a guilty plea to possession of child pornography.

The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations, Cyber Crimes Unit, and the case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

A traffic stop Saturday in Cass County resulted in the arrest of two men. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office says as a result of the stop by an Iowa Department of Natural Resources officer, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested 56-year old Richard Joseph Foley, and 55-year old Kenneth Paul Foley, Jr., both of Carroll.

Kenneth Foley, Jr., was charged with OWI 2nd Offense. He was also charged by the Department of Natural Resources for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Richard Foley was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Contraband within a Jail Facility. Both men posted $5,000 bond each, the following day.

And, on Sunday, deputies in Cass County arrested 28-year old Christopher Anthony Jason Castillo, of Atlantic,  on a charge of Driving While Barred. Castillo was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $2,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – An administrator at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, will become the next president at Drake University in Des Moines. Drake announced Monday that Earl F. Martin, Gonzaga’s executive vice president, would become the 13th president at Drake in July. Martin will succeed David Maxwell, who will retire after 16 years at the university.

At Gonzaga, Martin has provided administrative and operational oversight since 2010. He also served as academic vice president and dean of Gonzaga’s School of Law during his tenure at the university. Martin joins Drake as the school works to advance STEM initiatives and complete a $200 million fundraising campaign.

Drake University Board of Trustees chairman Larry Zimpleman says Martin is ‘well-equipped’ to lead Drake as the university wraps up past projects and confronts new challenges.

Two teens from Exira face drug charges following a traffic stop Friday night, in Exira. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office says 17-year old Rachel Ellen Walker and 16-year old Margo Marie Christensen were charged with Possession of Marijuana after the vehicle they were in was pulled over at around 11:45-p.m., Friday.

The teens were transported to the Audubon County Sheriff’s Office and later released to the custody of their parents. Their charges were referred to Juvenile Court.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) – More than 35 pounds of marijuana has been seized and an Iowa resident has been arrested after a traffic stop in south-central Nebraska. The Nebraska State Patrol says a trooper pulled over an eastbound car around 1 p.m. Sunday about two miles east of the Minden exit off Interstate 80. The patrol says a search dog taken to the scene indicated that drugs were in the vehicle. Troopers found the pot in duffel bags in the car trunk.

The driver and lone occupant, who is from Mason City, Iowa, was taken to Buffalo County Jail in Kearney.

Officials with Myrtue Medical Center and Myrtue Medical Center Community Health Department are encouraging the citizens of Shelby County to do their part in planning and preparedness to protect themselves, their family, and their community. Preparedness is an important personal responsibility to take simple steps such as organizing an emergency supply kit, making a personal preparedness plan, becoming informed about different threats, and getting involved in preparing their community on a local level.

Community members are also asked to register to volunteer to help in the event a disaster should occur in the community. Every volunteer is a valuable asset including medical providers, nurses, escorts, clerical support, or simply someone who is willing to provide comfort to someone in need.
Volunteers are encouraged to register at the Iowa Statewide Emergency Registry of Volunteers (i-SERV) at https://www.iaserv.org. Local volunteers may also contact Cathy Buman, RN, at cbuman@myrtuemedical.org for further information.

A local planning team of community partners meets quarterly to plan and discuss emergency response in Shelby County. Representatives from Myrtue Medical Center, Shelby County Board of Health, Shelby County Board of Supervisors, Shelby County Sheriff’s office, Harlan Police Department, Shelby County Public Health, local schools, long-term care facilities, public utilities, Shelby County Emergency Management Services, Shelby County Environmental Health, Shelby County Red Cross, and the Harlan Fire Department are part of this planning team. In addition, exercises are held yearly in Shelby County to practice and implement these county-wide emergency plans.

Further information on emergency preparedness is available at www.ready.gov. Contact Calla Poldberg, Director of Public Health, at 712-755-4423 for questions.

Officials with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office report a 72-year old man from rural Honey Creek suffered serious injuries during a home invasion and attack Sunday night. Robert L. Bogar, who resides at 31550 170th Street, was listed in critical condition at an area hospital following the attack that happened just before 9-p.m., Sunday.

Authorities say they received a 911 call in reference to a subject entering a residence and assaulting one of the residents with a weapon. Witness described subject as a male, approximately 5 ‘10”- 6’0” 170-200 lbs.’ Wearing a dark hoodie sweatshirt or jacket, dark pants, black or dark ski mask.
Pottawattamie and Harrison County deputies and Iowa State troopers were dispatched to the residence. This case remains under investigations. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (712) 890-2200.