Two men who said they were hired to break into the Dallas County Courthouse are now suing the Dallas County Sheriff. According to KCCI, Gary DeMercurio and Justin Wynn filed the lawsuit against Sheriff Chad Leonard. The men worked for Coalfire Labs, a cybersecurity firm hired by the Iowa Judicial Branch to test the security of court facilities.

The men said their agreement with the state protected them from arrest. But when they broke into the Dallas County Courthouse in 2019 they said Leonard refused to honor that agreement. DeMercurio and Wynn were jailed and criminally charged. Those charges were eventually dropped.

The two are suing Leonard for negligence, false arrest and defamation among other claims.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety reported Sunday evening, that the Ottumwa Police Department has found the body of a missing woman. Authorities had said earlier Sunday afternoon, Helen Elizabeth Showalter’s family reported her missing on Saturday. She was last seen walking away from a vehicle near the Garrison Rock Park in Wapello County.

At about 12:30 p.m. Sunday, police received reports that a body was found in the Des Moines River in Wapello County. The remains have been identified as 60-year-old Showalter. Police are investigating it as a suspicious death. The State Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy.

In a press release, Lt. Jason Bell with the Ottumwa Police Dept. said, “At this time we do not feel that there is any danger to the public with the information that we have.” Anyone with information about this case should call the Ottumwa Police Department at 641-683-0661.

The Atlantic City Council is set to meet 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4th, at City Hall. During their session, the Council is expected to act on passing a Resolution “adopting Job Descriptions for the Acting Deputy City Clerk and Temporary Administrative Assistant.” The action is necessary because the current Deputy City Clerk is on an indefinite medical leave.

The City crafted a job description for a temporary, Acting Deputy Clerk and is looking for an Administrative Assistant to ensure Finance and Administration maintains a 3.5 FTE (Full-Time Employee) staffing level that has been the practice since Aug. 31, 2015. City Administrator John Lund says budgeting related to the position will be completed with the FY2022 Revised Estimate. He says it will not affect the City’s insurance levy, as no new health plans are being made available to existing or new employees.

The City’s Personnel and Finance Committee met last week to review the job descriptions, wages and benefit issues pertaining to the proposal. They subsequently approved those matters and made paid time-off (PTO) a pro-rated benefit based on the actual hours worked by the employee. The Council will act on adopting compensation for the Acting Deputy Clerk and Temp. Administrative positions, following action on the previous resolution (mentioned above). They will also act on the related matter of Paid Time-Off for permanent part-time positions.

In other business, the Atlantic City Council will act on orders to appoint the following persons:

• Dick Casady, Frazer Werts, Connie Boose, Dave Jones and Christina Bateman, to the Housing Committee.
• Jeff Gude to fill a vacancy on the Community Promotion Committee, as recommended by Mayor Dave Jones.

The Council will recognize Hannah Richter for her service to City Hall over the Summer. And, they will receive a presentation by “Retail Coach” Project Director Austin Farmer. The City was identified by Retail Coach as a potential client. If the company’s services are approved, it would cost $40,000, with the City paying $35,000 as part of the primary contract cost, possibly through LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) Revenue. The Chamber and CADCO have agreed to split the remaining $5,000 in travel and reimbursement costs of the contract ($2,500 each).

And, the Atlantic City Council is expected to receive a monthly report from Kris Erickson on Animal Shelter and Code Enforcement matters.

The Ames Police Department is investigating a death after a body was found in a shack Friday night. KCCI reports authorities were called to a dilapidated shack on the 900 block of S. Duff Avenue at about 6:05 p.m. A citizen had reported a deceased body in the shack. When police arrived on the scene they found the decomposing body of a man. The body was transferred to the Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. Authorities are waiting for an autopsy to be performed before releasing a cause of death. Police conducted interviews, canvassed the area and processed evidence. They do not believe there is a threat to the community at this time.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Ames Police Department at 515-239-5133 or the anonymous tip line at 515-239-5533. Tips can also be sent in to Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa at 515-223-1400.

About 250 Iowa Army National Guard soldiers returned home Saturday to cheering, smiling and tearful loved ones, following a yearlong deployment. Dual ceremonies in Des Moines and Fort Dodge honored the soldiers returning home. They included members from the 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division. KCCI reports Gov. Kim Reynolds attended the ceremony at a hangar at Des Moines International Airport. She called ceremonies for returning service members one of her favorite parts of the job.

“On behalf of a grateful state, thank you for your service, for your selfless devotion to cause and country, for protecting the freedoms of your fellow Americans and for doing so with courage, honor and integrity,” she said.

Ninety-nine soldiers were on the flight that returned to Des Moines.