The Iowa Judicial Branch reports that at 3:30-p.m. September 21st,, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will administer the oath of office to Iowa Supreme Court Justice Susan Christensen in a public ceremony in the supreme court courtroom in the Judicial Branch Building (1111 E. Court Ave.), in Des Moines. Justice Christensen, of Harlan, will fill the vacancy that resulted from the retirement of Justice Bruce B. Zager.

Gov. Kim Reynolds (right) introduced Judge Susan Christensen as her pick for IA Supreme Court Justice during a press event on Aug. 2nd, in Des Moines. (Radio Iowa photo)

Prior to her appointment to the supreme court, Justice Christensen was appointed a district associate judge in 2007 and a district judge in 2015. Before becoming a judge, she practiced law in Harlan for 16 years. Justice Christensen graduated from Judson College in 1988 and received her law degree from Creighton University School of Law in 1991. She served as Assistant County Attorney in Shelby County from 1991 to 2007, Harrison County from 1996 to 2007, and Crawford County in 2007.

Justice Christensen is a member of the Children’s Justice State Council and served on the Supreme Court’s Family Law Pro Se Forms Committee, Child Support Guidelines Review Committee, and Parents Representation Standards Committee. She is a member of The Iowa State Bar Association, the Southwest Iowa Bar Association, and the Shelby County Bar Association.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) — A man sought by police for more than 20 years has been arrested in Burlington. Des Moines County District Court records say 41-year-old Dawarn Moncrief was taken into custody Thursday. The Hawk Eye reports that he’s charged with going armed with intent for the June 27, 1998, stabbing of DiAngelo Willis. Police say Moncrief fled the stabbing scene and remained free until Thursday.
He was arrested on drug and other charges after the vehicle he was in was stopped for an illegal license plate.

Moncrief’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, today (Tuesday) released a report on arrests and other information. Vandewater said 28-year old Kenny Joe Cunningham, of Creston, was arrested Aug. 28th on a warrant for Failure to Appear on a child support matter, the cash -only bond for which was set at $1,500. He was also arrested on Court Orders requiring he serve the balance of his sentences (12 days), for Carrying Weapons, and Failure to serve his required jail time.

And, 21-year old Matthew Christopher Avila, of Prescott, was arrested Aug. 31st in Orient, on a warrant out of Taylor County. He was turned over to Deputies from Taylor County.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The director of the Iowa Department of Transportation is boldly inviting his employees to go where they’ve gone many times before: a work meeting. A video produced by DOT staff features Director Mark Lowe and six department leaders as characters from “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” The video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o403Rlyf0cA&feature=youtu.be)  urges employees to attend a two-day annual leadership conference that begins Wednesday.

Lowe is the star, dressing in the uniform of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and flashing the Vulcan salute. With “Star Trek” theme music playing, he says the mission is to engage employees “to boldly go where no DOT has gone before.”

The others didn’t dress up but had their headshots photo-shopped onto the bodies of “Star Trek” characters. Lowe recorded another video for last year’s conference featuring him eating dates. He says the videos are “very quick, easy and efficient” ways to connect with employees using self-deprecating humor.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will meet 9-a.m. Wednesday, in their Board Room at the Courthouse, in Greenfield. During their meeting, the Board will set Public Hearings and Readings regarding an Amendment to Ordinance 31 (Assessment of Wind Energy Conversion Property), to establish rules and regulations on Wind Conversion Property. That will be followed by discussing and the establishment of rules to conduct the Public Hearing.

Afterward, the County Engineer will discuss Secondary Road Department matters, including a new hire for the culvert crew, the Adopt-A-Roadway Program, and other business.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County say a man from Treynor was arrested early Saturday morning following a traffic stop on a speeding VW Passat. A Deputy observed the vehicle, driven by 32-year old Bryan James Murray, traveling around 100-mph eastbound on Highway 6, at approximately 2:30-a.m., Saturday. Murrary was taken into custody for OWI/3rd offense, Driving While Suspended, and Failure to Maintain Proper Speed.

At around 9:50-p.m. Friday, 58-year old Jeffrey J. Funkhouser, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Possession and/or Consumption of Alcohol (Public Intoxication) in the vicinity of a school, after authorities received a call to assist the Crescent Volunteer Fire Department with a possible “Man down,” call. It was later determined there were no injuries. And, at around 5:50-p.m. Friday, 22-year old Kuira Jane Lawton, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on a felony warrant for Violation of Probation, after her vehicle was pulled over for having no registration plates. Lawton was also cited for Driving While Suspended and Operating a non-registered vehicle.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have rescued one of two people whose kayak overturned in a rain-swollen Cedar Rapids stream. City public safety spokesman Greg Buelow says rescuers were dispatched a little before 4:30 p.m. Monday to comb a stretch of Indian Creek. A woman was rescued a little after 5 p.m., but the man she’d been kayaking with remained missing at nightfall when the search halted. No names have been released. The search is expected to resume today (Tuesday).