(Glenwood, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Mills County, Wednesday (Today), reported four arrests from the past couple of days. On Wednesday (11/17), 48-year-old Victor Velesco Cook, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested at around 1:50-a.m. in Glenwood, on an Out-of-State warrant. Tuesday night, 39-year-old Bobbi Jo Christo, of Shenandoah, was arrested in Page County, on a Mills County warrant for Violation of Probation (Bond $5,000).

Also arrested Tuesday, was 34-year-old Tyler Ehren Simmons, of Pacific Junction, who was taken into custody at around 7:45-p.m., on a warrant for Violation of Probation (Bond $10,000), and, 27-year-old Brianna Sharna Compton, of Butler, AL, who was arrested at around 4:05-p.m. Tuesday, on two counts Possession of a Controlled Substance,  a drug tax stamp violation, and contraband/weapon in a Correctional facility. Her bond was set at $12,000.

(**Updated 1:34-p.m.) (Atlantic, Iowa) – The trial for an Anita woman facing felony charges of 1^st Degree Murder and Child Endangerment with Bodily Injury resulting in death, will be re-tried at 9:30-a.m. on January 31st. A previous jury in Cass County deadlocked in their verdict on November 4th, resulting in Judge Amy Zacharius declaring a Mistrial. Alison Elaine Dorsey is accused of causing the death of 11-week old Luka Hodges, who was in her care on Oct. 7, 2019 at a home in Massena. The child was showing signs of unresponsiveness and labored breathing before he went limp. Despite multiple attempts to keep him alive via CPR, the child died at Children’s Hospital in Omaha.

Luka’s death was initially declared to be a result of Shaken Baby Syndrome, but the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office report on the cause of death was inconclusive. Cass County Attorney Vanessa Strazdas made a motion Tuesday, for a Change of Venue, but no information was available as of today (Wednesday), as to whether the motion will be granted.

Dorsey’s previous Defense Attorney DeShawne Bird-Sell has submitted a motion to withdraw as her attorney the new trial. At the conclusion of the previous trial Bird-Sell said she would “Absolutely” work to defend Dorsey, “If that’s what we have to do.”  It’s not clear why she has withdrawn from the case.

**She will be represented instead by Joseph Reedy, a State Public Defense Attorney from Council Bluffs. The State (Prosecution) will once again be represented by Assistant Iowa Attorney General Monty Platz and Cass County Attorney Vanessa Strazdas.

(Radio Iowa) – The Interstate-74 bridge construction team is planning a big party next month to celebrate completion of a new, six-lane bridge over the Mississippi River at the Quad Cities. The massive undertaking has been underway for more than four years. Project manager George Ryan says the project is coming in on time and within budget.  “For many factors, we were about a year behind schedule and our goal was to get the west-bound bridge open by the end of 2020, and we accomplished that,” Ryan says. “Then our goal was to get the east-bound open by the end of 2021 and we’re going to accomplish that as well, and both of those, we did better than our adjusted goals.”

On December 1st, the public is invited to take a walk on the east-bound bridge between Moline and Bettendorf, while those Illinois-bound lanes will open to traffic a few days later. The old, Illinois-bound side of the original twin bridge will close the same day the new one opens.  “We realized that during the process, it’s inconvenienced people in the Quad Cities, so there have been pluses and minuses,” Ryan says. “We appreciate all of the motorists having so much patience with us. It’s worked out to be really nice and it’ll be so safe for years to come.”

image via i74riverbridge.com

Landscaping and other parts of the project will continue into next year, including an elevator in Bettendorf and decorative glass for the trail outlook. Construction started in July of 2017 and the project cost one-point-two billion dollars. Details about registering to attend the celebration on December 1st are available at “I 74 river bridge dot com.”

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce announced today (Wednesday), Atlantic has been recognized as a Neighborhood Champion for the eighth year in a row by American Express. Atlantic will participate in the 12th Annual Small Business Saturday to support small businesses. Baily Smith says “We’re excited to partner with local businesses to create shopping incentives and activities to celebrate Small Business Saturday.”

Founded by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday® is a day to celebrate the small businesses that help support our community. American Express created the Neighborhood Champion Program to help rally communities around Small Business Saturday and is working alongside numerous business organizations to support local Small Business Saturday celebrations throughout the country. Smith says “American Express recognizes communities that have strong participation. The on-going Shop Local Initiative, presented by First Whitney Bank & Trust, and overall community support has helped Atlantic achieve this national recognition.”

“It’s a great opportunity” she says, “for Atlantic to receive positive, national exposure. Atlantic is very fortunate to have the business community that we do, and this day is an added bonus for residents to remember how important their support and participation in shopping local is to keeping Atlantic a vibrant place to live.”

November 27th marks the 12th Annual Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Small business owners can learn more about taking part in Small Business Saturday and download free marketing materials on www.shopsmall.com. Consumers can visit www.atlanticiowa.com to find merchants to shop at on Small Business Saturday.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Police Department says Officers arrested four people from Nov. 4th through the 16th. On Tuesday (11/16), 62-year-old Joseph Hahn, of Atlantic, was arrested on a warrant for Violation of Probation. On Nov. 9th, 18-year-old Myson Kovac, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. On the 8th of November, 32-year-old Brandon Pahl, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), and, 41-year-old Dawn Theisen, of Griswold, was cited for Theft in the 5th. She was released from the scene with the citation.

And, on Nov. 4th, Atlantic Police arrested 30-year-old Itatipei Rudolph, of Atlantic, for Public Intoxication. With the exception of Thiesen, all suspects were booked into the Cass County Jail.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – A Mills County Sheriff’s Office K-9 was used early this (Wednesday) morning, to persuade a man to surrender to authorities. The Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies arrived at 109 S. Hazel Street in Glenwood to execute a full extradition warrant out of Nebraska, for Victor Cook. Authorities who made contact with residents in the home saw Cook, who proceeded to hide himself in the home and refuse to come out.

The Sheriff’s K-9 was used to retrieve Cook, who was placed under arrest without further incident, and without injury. Mills County Deputies were assisted at the scene by Officers with the Glenwood Police Department.