A jury in Pottawattamie County deliberated for more than 10 hours Friday, but ultimately handed down a guilty verdict against a man accused of sexually abusing a child. The trial of 47-year Martin Hiatt, from Carter Lake, lasted only two-days. Hiatt was charged with five counts of second-degree sexual abuse and four counts of indecent contact with a child. He was found guilty on three of the second-degree sexual abuse counts and all four counts of indecent contact with a child. Second-degree sexual abuse is a Class B felony and carries a mandatory prison sentence of 25 years. Because the crime is a forcible felony, 70 percent of the sentence – or 17½ years – must be served before Hiatt will be eligible for parole. Hiatt is scheduled to be sentenced March 7, 2012.

Assistant Pottawattamie County Attorney Dan McGinn said the encounters occurred with the child over a four-year period between 2007 and February 2011. The child — who was not identified because of her age, testified that Hiatt “did bad things” to her, including touching her thigh, breasts and buttocks; the girl said that Hiatt touched her inappropriately on more than 50 occasions.

A fast food restaurant in Council Bluffs became the scene of a fast take down of two suspects wanted by authorities, Friday. Council Bluffs police, Iowa State Patrol troopers and members of the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force all converged on a Burger King restaurant on West Broadway Street just before 1:30-p.m.

According to Council Bluffs Police Capt. Todd Weddum, members of the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force saw a stolen Dodge Ram truck as they were driving around the city looking for wanted subjects. Team members believed a wanted man – Keith Baker – was in the stolen vehicle. As they followed the truck, it turned into the drive-thru at the Burger King. As the driver was ordering, a Council Bluffs police cruiser – driven by Officer R.G. Miller – pulled in front of the truck.

Weddum told the Council Bluffs Daily NonPareil “As the cruiser attempted to block the truck, the driver put it in gear.” Offcier Miller was unable to exit his vehicle before the truck drove onto the hood of the cruiser. Weddum said the passenger side front wheel came to rest inches away from where Miller was sitting, shattering the windshield.

The driver of the truck, 28-year old Roger Madsen, of Council Bluffs, and a passenger in the truck – 27-year old Jeffrey Vosler – left the vehicle and took off running. Weddum said additional officers in the parking lot caught Madsen immediately. Vosler was apprehended a few blocks away.

Ironically, neither of the men was the individual Task Force members were looking for: Keith Baker, but Weddum said Baker and Madsen are “known associates” of the suspect. Madsen had an outstanding warrant for probation violation. He was also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer, aggravated assault on a peace officer, first-degree theft and possession of meth. Vosler was arrested on suspicion of eluding and interference with official acts.

Officer Miller was checked out by paramedics at the scene, but refused transport to a hospital. Weddum said the man was shaken up, but otherwise OK.  Metro-area officers are still searching for Baker, who is wanted on felony theft charges. He’s described as a white male, 38 years old, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on Baker’s whereabouts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-STOP. Callers may remain anonymous and might be eligible for a cash reward.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Army Corps of Engineers is extending the current release from Gavins Point Dam in South Dakota to increase flood control storage heading into the spring runoff season on the Missouri River, which had record flooding this year because of heavy rain and melting snowpack. The corps planned to cut the release on Thursday from 40,000 cubic feet per second to 20,000 cfs. The corps says Friday it will maintain the current release through Dec 7. It will then gradually decrease the rate until it reaches 20,000 cfs.

The corps’ Jody Farhat says the adjustment could provide an additional 500,000 cfs of storage by the start of the runoff season. Farhat says precipitation this fall is below normal over most of the basin, but that could change.

Deter Motor Company and the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce have announced they are currently accepting nominations for the Annual ATHENA Award.

Athena Award

The award has been presented over the past 10-years to women who are an inspiration to other women by demonstrating professional excellence, community service, and assisting women in realizing their true leadership potential. Nominations are due to the Chamber of Commerce by Friday, Dec. 16th at Noon. Former recipients and Deter Motor representatives serve on the selection committee.

The ATHENA Award was first presented in 1982 in Lansing, Michigan and has grown to include presentations to more than 5,000 individuals in hundreds of cities in the United States as well as in Canada, China, Russia and the United Kingdom. The award takes the form of a hand-cast bronze sculpture symbolizing the strength, courage and wisdom of the recipient. The ATHENA Award Program is nationally underwritten by KPMG.

Chamber Executive Director Megan Roberts said other awards will be given in conjunction Chamber Annual Dinner January 21sy, 2012, with the ATHENA being the capstone for the evening. Atlantic is the only Iowa community to partner with ATHENA International to host the program.

For more information contact Megan Roberts, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, at 712.243.3017 or email megan@atlanticiowa.com