Sioux County Authorities Investigate Found Dead Body
(Orange City) — Sioux County authorities are investigating the death of a person whose body was discovered in the Floyd River Tuesday morning. A spokesperson for Northwest Iowa Community College at Sheldon says the body was found in the river near the southeast edge of campus at around 10:30 a.m. Sioux County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the found body is that of a male, but they would not elaborate on the age of the victim, or of the circumstances surrounding the death. A sheriff’s deputy said a news release would be issued later this afternoon.
Iowa Senate Passes Bill To Remove All Traffic Cameras
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Senate has approved a bill requiring the removal of all automated traffic cameras, sending the measure to the House even as that chamber considers another proposal dealing with the devices.
The Senate bill passed Tuesday by a vote of 30 to 19.
Republican Sen. Jack Chapman pushed for the ban, saying cities
primarily installed the systems to raise money even while violating citizens’ constitutional rights.
At least eight Iowa cities operate more than 70 cameras. The most recent data showed Cedar Rapids raised the most, at $4 million annually.
Windsor Heights, a Des Moines suburb of about 5,000 people, raised $2 million.
Democratic Sen. Claire Celsi, who says she received an automated speeding ticket Monday in Des Moines, opposed the bill, saying cameras change driver behavior, improve safety and free up officers.
Similar legislative efforts to ban the cameras have been tried for
nearly a decade but have failed.
The House measure would divert an estimated $6.5 million a year from cities to the state Department of Public Safety.
Woman Given Probation After Stealing Prescription Drugs
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – A woman accused of stealing prescription drugs turned in to the Mason City Police Department has been given a year of probation.
Cerro Gordo County court records say 44-year-old Melinda Severs, of Dumont, entered a written plea of guilty Monday to unlawful possession of a prescription drug. Prosecutors dropped a second count in exchange.
Severs also was granted a deferred judgment, which means her conviction can to be removed from court records if she fulfills her probation terms.
Authorities say Severs was working as an administrative assistant for the department when she took the medications. The department building is a collection site for unused and unwanted medicines.
Severs no longer works for the police.
Tipton Woman, Accused Of Killing Boyfriend, Faces New Trial
MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) – A Tipton woman accused of killing her former boyfriend in 1992 is scheduled for another trial.
The first trial of 56-year-old Annette Cahill ended in a mistrial March 12 because of a hung jury. The Des Moines Register reports that her second trial in Muscatine is scheduled to begin Sept. 9.
Cahill was arrested last year in connection with the killing of 22-
year-old Corey Lee Wieneke, whose body was found in his West Liberty home.
Cahill has pleaded not guilty to the charge of first-degree murder. She has no criminal history and works for a company that helps train police officers. She has said Wieneke was her best friend and denied any involvement in his death.
—
Owner Of Dog Breeding Operation Charged With Neglect
MANLY, Iowa (AP) – The owner of a northern Iowa dog breeding operation has been charged with animal neglect.
Worth County court records say 66-year-old Barbara Kavars, of Manly, is charged with 17 counts. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for her.
Court records say Kavars was holding Samoyed dogs in inhumane conditions when officials raided her operation on Nov. 12 and visited at other times. The records say the 17 dogs had fur matted by feces, skin conditions leading to fur loss, painful wounds, intestinal parasites and other maladies.
The records also say the dogs’ kennels lacked food and had water containers that were filled with ice.
Kavars denied any wrongdoing and told officials she didn’t think the dogs needed additional care.
