(Radio Iowa) – A retired Iowa Air National Guard member who became a symbol of the effort to save lives in the crash of United Flight 232 at the Sioux City Airport in 1989 has died. Colonel Dennis Nielsen of the 185th Air wing was caught in a photo carrying three-year-old Spencer Bailey from the plane wreckage following the crash. Gary Brown was Woodbury County’s Emergency Services Director at the time and was also a friend of Nielsen. “Denny was a very humble person. He did not enjoy the notoriety that came with that photograph,” Brown says. “But he also was respectful of the fact that his photograph was representing the hundreds and hundreds of emergency responders in the hundreds of people from the military and the 185th.”

Flight 232 Spirit of Siouxland Memorial featuring Colonel Dennis Nielsen

The picture by Sioux City Journal Photographer Gary Anderson later became the model for the Spirit of Siouxland Sculpture on the Sioux City riverfront. Sioux City’s response to the disaster was praised across the country. Brown says Nielsen was an early member of the local team that train for such emergencies. “Denny first joined with us in the disaster committee preparedness when it was first established back in the 80s. He was assigned there by Commander Dennis Swanstrom and he was an amazing ambassador for the 185th,” he says. Nielsen retired from the 185th Air Wing in 202 and moved to Raleigh North Carolina, where he died in September at the age of 76. Brown kept in touch with Nielsen.

“We’re gonna miss Denny, he’s an Iowa boy he was born in Shelby, Iowa on February of 1947,” Brown says. “And I’m going to miss him personally we just wish him a speedy journey.” The plane crashed and cartwheeled down the runway, but the effort of first responders helped save 184 of the 296 people on board the plane.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Guthrie County Deputy Sheriff/Jail Administrator Jesse Swensen, today (Monday, 11/6/23), released reports on October jail statistics for Guthrie County. Swensen said “We processed 54 inmates through the jail in October and netted approximately $22,500 from holding out of county inmates.” He commended his staff, “…and the Heart of Iowa staff as [they] took in two problem inmates from other counties that they were unable to house due to their behavior and mental status.”

You can view the Average [Jail] Population, October billing and October Summary of Jail activity, by clicking on the pdf forms below:

Average Population October

October Billing

October Summary

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports three arrests from over the past week. On Oct. 29th, Police in Adair arrested 33-year-old Juan Everado Estrada-Calderon, Jr., of Omaha, for OWI/1st offense. He was later released on a Recognizance Bond (ROR).

On Oct. 30th, 36-year-old Lee Delmar Goll, of Ankeny, was arrested by Adair County Sheriff’s Deputies on 380th Street, in Stuart, on two counts Contempt of Court/Violation of a No Contact Order. Goll was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash-only bond.

And, Deputies arrested 42-year-old Stormy Allen, of Stuart, on November 1st, for Violation of Probation. She was released the following day on the Own Recognizance.

(Sidney, Iowa) – Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope reports numerous arrests from Oct. 8th through November 3rd. Most recently, on November 3rd, Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to 155th Street in Thurman, for a report of shots fired.

Kitchens

Deputies allege 65-year-old Daniel Jay Kitchens, of Thurman, discharged a firearm in the air and then pointed it a neighbor over a property dispute. Kitchens was arrested for Intimidation with a Dangerous Weapon, Going Armed with Intent, Assault while displaying a Dangerous Weapon, Disorderly Conduct, Obstructing a Street, Reckless Use of a Firearm. His bond was set at $18,300.

Two people were arrested on drug charges in Fremont County. 29-year-old Miesha Prince, of Omaha, was arrested Oct. 8th in Fremont County, for Possession with Intent to Distribute, Marijuana, Possession of Drug paraphernalia. She was released after posting bond. And, on Oct. 13th, Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 41-year-old Randall Eric Crawford, of Sidney, for OWI/2nd Offense, two counts Child Endangerment, Assault on a Corrections Officer, Possession of Marijuana/1st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Crawford was being held in the Fremont County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.

Prince

Crawford

Four people were arrested on a variety of Theft-relates charges in Fremont County. On Oct. 24th, 42-year-old Justin William Wake, of Glenwood, was arrested for Failure to Appear. He was later charged with Identity theft, in an unrelated case. Wake was being held on an $8,000 cash bond. He posted $2,000 cash/surety bond on the Identity Theft case. Deputies were assisted by the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. On Oct. 25th, deputies arrested 28-year-old Alex Joseph Tobin, of Sidney, for Burglary 2nd Degree. He was released and the case was dismissed.

Justin Wake

Alex Tobin

On November 1st, deputies arrested 29-year-old Brooke Marie Johnson, age 29 of Shelby, and 40-year-old Jonathan Patrick Antrim, age 40 of Council Bluffs, for in the Theft 1st Degree, a Class C Felony. Their arrests stemmed from an investigation that began in August, when Antrim and Johnson were allegedly found to be in possession of power tools reported stolen in two construction vehicle burglaries in Omaha, as well as other tools believed to be stolen. The tools were valued over $11,000. Deputies also arrested Johnson for Operating a Vehicle without Owner’s Consent. Both Johnson and Antrim were released after posting 10% of $2,000 bond after their initial appearance with the Fremont County Magistrate.

Antrim

Johnson

Also arrested on November 1st, was 43-year-old Jennifer Rae Wake, of Glenwood. She was taken into custody on two counts of Failure to Appear, and Identity Theft. Jennifer Wake was being held on $11,000 bond in the Fremont County Jail.

Jennifer Wake

In other activity:

• Fremont County Deputies arrested 49-year-old Kara Marcine Lorimor, of Sidney, on Oct. 17th, for Public Intoxication and Disorderly Conduct. She was released on time served.
• 37-year-old Jamie Leah Flora, of Sidney, was arrested Oct. 20th, for Domestic Abuse. She was released on bond. And, 34-year-old Jonathan Michael Lawler, of Bellevue, Nebraska, was arrested on an out of state warrant. Lawler was released to another agency.
• On Oct. 27th, deputies arrested 31-year-old Ambriea Rose Chandler, of Sidney, on an out of state warrant. She was released on her own recognizance. And, 60-ye
  

  Chandler

  

  Ferguson

  

  Martinson

  ar-old Stephen Dale Ferguson, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse and OWI 2nd Offense. He was being held on $3,000 cash/surety bond.

• On Oct. 31st, deputies arrested 32-year-old Nicholas Todd Martinson, of Omaha, Nebraska, on an out of state warrant. He was released to another agency.
  

  Lorimor

  

  Flora

  

  Lawler

Sherif Aistrope reports that in October 2023, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office took 954 calls for service.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors were hosted by Shawn Sarsfield, owner of Cheqed It Training, on Thursday, November 2nd, 2023, to learn more about the unique local business. Sarsfield is an Atlantic native who grew up just outside of town. He moved away for a short period of time, but ultimately moved back to the area. After an on-the-job accident, his crew was thrown into extensive training and Shawn found his passion for instructing. Fast forward to 2017 when the time came for Shawn to venture out on his own, and Chequed It Training was established.

Today, Chequed It Training hosts monthly 4-to 5-day training at their facility in Atlantic, where professionals from around the country come to learn under Shawn’s custom curriculum. Cheqed It certifications include all types of cranes, along with forklifts, areal lifts, scissor lifts, OSHA certifications and more.

Shawn says he is in the process of working alongside regional high schools to create a 3–to 4-week program that will allow students to become qualified on different equipment, giving them an upper hand when they seek a career immediately after high school. “My goal,” he says, “is to get these students into the seat of a crane and allow them to see if this field is right for them and find out if this work is fun for them.” Sarsfield also mentioned that he is constantly being approached by companies in search of qualified workers. “The job can pay very well if you do it well,” he said.

Cheqed It Training is located at 1007 W. 6th Street in Atlantic. To learn more information, visit https://www.cheqedit.com/ or call Shawn at (712) 249-4598