(Radio Iowa) – The ten-year anniversary of the disappearance of eight-year-old Elizabeth Collins and ten-year-old Lyric Cook-Morrissey is today (Wednesday( Iowa Department of Public Safety Special Agent. Scott Reger says they continue to look at new and old tips on the case. “Our team meets regularly, it kind of ebbs and flows as far as how often — but we meet regularly doing both of those things, evaluating the old information and evaluating the new information,” Reger says. The girls bodies were found in a Bremer County wildlife area five months after they disappeared — but no suspect has been found or charged in the case. He says the tips aren’t coming in as fast as they were early on — but they haven’t stopped either.

“The last 10 months we’ve received 117 tips into our email address that we have assigned specifically for this case. So that’s a good handle on on the volume that comes in,” according to Reger. He says the conventional thinking has always been the longer a case goes without being solved — the hard it is to find the killer. But, one factor that has changed that a little big is the development of new technologies. “Technology is always advancing. And it’s it’s advancing all over the board in terms of — think of a piece of evidence, anything you want to think about in terms of evidence — latent prints, video, cell phone, D-N-A, video enhancement, all of those things are always progressing technology wise,” he says. Reger believes that technology improvement helps turn the tide back toward investigators.

Collins and Cook-Morrissey. (photo from the Collins Foundation website.)

“Obviously, the sooner you can get on to somebody that may be responsible for something that’s always best practice, that always obviously is going to assist with leading to a successful resolution,” Reger says. “But I think the myth is, is that well, if you don’t do it in a certain amount of time, you know, I’ll use the 48 hours example. Because everybody puts that as the metric of if you don’t figure it out in 48 hours, it’s just gonna, you’ll never figure it out.” He knows it may take a lot more time before the killer is found — but he is ready to wait that out.

“We’re not going anywhere, we’re going to continue to hit this rock until it cracks. And so that continues to move us forward. The way that you feel as an investigator and anybody who’s worked this case feels the weight of wanting this to be resolved sooner rather than later,” Regar says. The Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers is offering a 100-thousand dollar reward for information in the case. You can call them at: 855-300-8477 (TIPS). Tips can also be called in to Evansdale police at (319) 232-6682, or through the Iowa Department of Public Safety email site: www.ourmissingiowagirls@dps.state.ia.us

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The City Council in Atlantic will hold a Work Session 5:30-p.m. Thursday (July 14th), in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. As it is a Work Session, the meeting is public, but no motions or decisions can be made. Topics are for discussion only. The Council will hear an update and presentation from Code Enforcement Officer Kris Erickson, with regard to proposed ordinance changes.

The Council will also hold discuss with regard to the Park Board relationship and a referral of the Ordinance Review to a joint meeting of the Personnel & Finance Committee and Representatives of the Parks Board. City Administrator John Lund says he and Mayor Grace Garrett met with the Park Board regarding their long-term planning for a Splash Park and that “it was a productive meeting.” They will fill the Council in on some ideas that will hopefully allow the process to move forward.

Lund will have some elected official compensation research results the Council can review. The rest of the meeting will cover various administrative odds and ends, and a broad overview of the past six months and what the rest of the year will hold.

(Pottawattamie County, Iowa) – A federal fugitive was captured Monday night (July 11), by Council Bluffs Police. Authorities say 59-year-old Keven Spanel was released by a federal judge on a medical furlough on July 6th. Upon his return at around noon that day, he exited his friend’s vehicle near the Pottawattamie County Jail and ran into a nearby cornfield.

According to U.S. Marshal’s office, Council Bluffs police were responding to a report of a woman screaming near the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and upon arrival, received a tip that Spanel was there. Spanel attempted to run, but surrendered after having nowhere to go, according to authorities. He was arrested for eluding a police officer and interference with official acts and is back in custody of the US Marshals, according to authorities.

Keven Spanel

Spanel was initially charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she enthusiastically supports expanding the North American Treaty Organization. “The accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO is a great success, but regarding the war raging in Ukraine today…the U.S. cannot grow weary,” Ernst said. “Our resolve to support our partner must carry on.” Ernst says protecting American security and prosperity demands partners like Finland and Sweden who can meet NATO’s military obligations.

“Our commander-in-chief, our diplomatic and military leadership and members of the Senate must hold our partners accountable to their own defense,” Ernst said, “and not lean on the reach and lethality of our soldiers sailors, airmen, marines and guardians alone.” In 2006, NATO member states agreed to annually spend two percent of their Gross Domestic Product on defense. Ernst says some longstanding members of NATO are not meeting that obligation.

“I’m confident that Finland and Sweden are ready to stand up and help shoulder the resource burden of NATO’s military obligations in Europe,” Ernst said, “particularly following Russia’s bloody, lawless invasion of Ukraine.”

Ernst, a Republican, was in the bipartisan U.S. delegation that attended last month’s NATO summit in Madrid, Spain. It’s possible the U.S. Senate will ratify NATO’s expansion this month. More than 80 senators signaled weeks ago that they’d vote to approve Finland and Sweden’s membership in the alliance.