Woman Hit By Car
WALFORD, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a Wisconsin woman was fatally struck by a car after walking in the middle of a highway in eastern Iowa.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says 44-year-old Rochelle E. Ihander, of Marinette, Wisconsin, was walking in the center of the southbound lane of Highway 151 near Walford early Thursday when she was hit by an SUV traveling in the same direction. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, 53-year-old Kevin W. Tjaden, of Walford, was not injured.
The case remains under investigation.
June Rains Erase Drought Concerns
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A meteorologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture says near-record-setting rainfall last month has nearly eradicated residual drought from much of the Midwest including Iowa.
All that remains of the drought in Iowa are two small areas of abnormally dry conditions, one in the southeast corner of the state, and one in the southwest corner. Some areas now have too much water.
Meteorolgist Brad Rippey says in a Wednesday report drought covers just 5 percent of the U.S. soybean area and 8 percent of the nation’s corn.
Corn, rated 75 percent good to excellent, has not been rated as highly at this time of year since 2003. Soybeans, at 72 percent good to excellent, have not been rated as highly at this time of year in the last two decades.
Council Bluffs Police Report Thieves Stealing Gasoline From Cars
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Authorities in Council Bluffs say a thief or thieves is drilling holes into cars to take gasoline inside.
Council Bluffs police say a person or group may be linked to at least 18 cases since April. There were 10 cases alone in June.
Sgt. David Dawson tells the Council Bluffs Nonpareil that the crimes involve the drilling of a hole into a car’s fuel tank. Both old and new cars have been targeted.
Dawson encouraged residents to contact authorities if they notice anything suspicious in their neighborhood.
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Newton Man Sent To Prison For Videotaping Tanning Clients
NEWTON, Iowa (AP) – A central Iowa man who recorded teenagers using a tanning bed in his home has been sent to federal prison.
James Brock, of Newton, on Wednesday was sentenced to eight years.
Prosecutors say Brock admitted possessing child pornography on or about July 2, 2013. Prosecutors say Brock produced the porn by using hidden cameras to record teenagers using the tanning bed.
In addition to the prison sentence, Brock also was ordered to forfeit his home and all equipment used to commit the crime.
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Mason City Man Convicted Of Distributing Child Pornography
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – A 41-year-old Mason City man has been convicted of distributing child pornography.
Federal prosecutors say Jamison Miller pleaded guilty to one count on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.
Miller admitted at the hearing that he distributed child porn between September 2012 and April 2013.
Miller faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison when he’s sentenced.
Otho Mayor Resigns
OTHO, Iowa (AP) – The mayor of the small central Iowa city of Otho has abruptly resigned without giving a reason for his decision.
Mayor Joe Hayes resigned Tuesday from his position in the city of about 500 people. He was elected mayor in 2013.
Asked why he had quit, Hayes said “I’m in no position to talk about that right now.”
His departure came soon after City Council member Gary Fox’s resignation on June 13, also without explanation.
Asked his resignation, Fox would only say, “I’d just as soon at this time not say anything.”
Otho is six miles southeast of Fort Dodge.
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