More area, and state News from Ric Hanson.
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More area, and state News from Ric Hanson.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.5MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Des Moines, Iowa — An Iowa man previously charged in connection with his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, was arraigned Tuesday on a new federal indictment that includes a felony count that could carry up to 20 years in prison. KCCI reports 36-year-old Leo Christopher Kelly, of Cedar Rapids, who has been free on pretrial release, appeared via video for his arraignment. His attorney, Kira West, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
The most serious of the seven charges Kelly faces is obstruction of an official proceeding. Two other charges of entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct in a restricted building carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. The remaining charges are misdemeanors carrying up to six months in prison.
A plea agreement apparently is no longer under consideration, according to the information that prosecutor Michael Gordon James provided Judge Royce Lamberth during the hearing. James said “The parties have discussed a negotiated plea but that will not occur in this case so this matter should be set for trial.” Lamberth said he will set at trial date later. He scheduled a status update hearing for Feb. 25.
Kelly was arrested in Iowa on Jan. 18 after participating in an internet interview with members of an anti-abortion organization. Kelly said he followed the Jan. 6 crowd into the U.S. Senate chamber, where he said he remained for 30 minutes to an hour. Kelly said he was caught up in the moment, but that he wasn’t armed and didn’t vandalize anything.
He was released Jan. 19 by a federal magistrate who noted his extremely limited criminal history. Federal prosecutors issued a new indictment on Dec. 3rd.
Area News, broadcast at 7:08-a.m., with Ric Hanson.
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(Bartlett, Iowa) – The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the Fremont County K9 Unit, Tuesday, stopped a vehicle at the intersection of Waubonsie Ave and Bluff Road, near Bartlett. The driver, 29-year-old Ambriea Chandler, of Sidney, had an active Fremont County warrant for Theft 4th Degree. The warrant was in connection to a stolen cell phone at a business in Sidney on December 9th.
During the arrest, the Fremont County K9 “Roby” was deployed for a narcotics sniff. A subsequent search uncovered methamphetamine. Chandler was being held at the Fremont County Jail on a $2,000 bond.
Ambriea Chandler
(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak arrested a man for OWI, Tuesday night. Authorities say at around 10:36-p.m., 49-year-old Vincent Matthew Kesterson, of Red Oak, was arrested in the 2300 block of N. Broadway Street, for OWI/1st offense. He was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.
Today: Partly cloudy. High 46. SW wind @ 10-20 mph.
Tonight: P/Cldy. Low 25. S @ 5-10.
Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 54.
Friday: P/Cldy. High 54.
Saturday (Christmas Day): Mostly cloudy w/a chance of light rain. High 40.
Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 43. Our Low was 11. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 55 and the Low was 29. The Record High on this date was 65 in 1933. The Record Low was -27 in 1989.
(Maquoketa, Iowa) – A single-vehicle accident early this (Wednesday) morning in eastern Iowa resulted in a death. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2006 Ford 500 was northbound in the 7700 block of 435th Avenue in Jackson County, when the vehicle went out of control and entered the west ditch. The accident happened at around 12:40-a.m., north of Preston.
The person was not wearing a seat belt and died at the scene. Their name was withheld, pending notification of family. The crash remains under investigation.
(Cromwell, Iowa) – The Union County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported after an SUV struck a deer Tuesday evening, west of Cromwell. The 2021 Jeep Gladiator Mojave driven by 51-year-old Timothy Alan Weeks, of Prescott, was westbound on 180th Street at around 5:37-p.m., when a deer ran out of a ditch and onto the road. Weeks dragged the deer off of the road after it was struck, and was able to drive his vehicle away from the scene.
The SUV sustained an estimated $8,000 damage.
(Radio Iowa) – Adventureland — the family-owned amusement park in Altoona, Iowa — has been sold to the subsidiary of an international company. Adventureland opened in 1974 and has 100 rides today. According to a news release from the City of Altoona, the new owners plan to add 10 new rides in the next two years. Palace Entertainment is based in Pennsylvania and operates two dozen entertainment venues in the United States, including Noah’s Ark Waterpark in the Wisconsin Dells. It’s part of a global chain based in Spain.
The Adventureland property includes a hotel, water park and campgrounds and is valued at 24 million dollars by the Polk County Assessor. The terms of the sale to Palace Entertainment were not disclosed. A spokesman for the company told The Des Moines Register he could not comment on whether liability for a lawsuit over an accident in the park this summer would transfer to the new owner. The family of a boy who drowned in the now-closed “Raging River” ride have accused Adventureland of negligence.