CASA Celebrating 20th Anniversary In Ottumwa

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Rick Watts

In 2016, over 300 children in Jefferson, Mahaska and Wapello counties were in foster care placement, and many more were at risk in their homes. Only a small number of those children had the benefit of a Court Appointed Special Advocate.

Specifically, Ottumwa area businesses and organizations are asked to support efforts to recruit and engage new CASA volunteers in Ottumwa.

Advocates and volunteers with CASA are ordinary people who have decided to volunteer their time and talents to ensure children who are already victims of abuse or neglect, are not further impacted by the system intended to protect them. After receiving extensive pre-service training, the advocate receives an order from the court to represent a child in court proceedings and allows the advocate access to information. The advocate meets with their assigned child or sibling group monthly and gathers information from everyone involved with that child such as caregivers, therapists, teachers and other providers. Advocates prepare a Report to the Court for each hearing involving the child.

This Thursday in Ottumwa, Mayor Tom Lazio alone with Associate Juvenile Judge William S. Owens, and Aprile Goodman – Court Appointed Special Advocate Coordinator. Along with other CASA volunteers or members, Kayla Eckerman, Deb Pumphrey, and Jim Hennessey, will welcome all to the 20th Anniversary of the Court Appointed Special Advocate program in Ottumwa. This event is being held at The Hub in Ottumwa on November 16th, starting at 4:30 PM.

CASA Advocates serve as a consistent presence in the life of their assigned child and remain assigned to the case until successful case closure. For more information or an application to apply to be a CASA Advocate, visit the Iowa Child Advocacy Board.

Weapon Involved Robbery Reported at Same Vacant House

Posted on November 9, 2017 by Rick Watts

Within the last month, two separate robbery incidents have taken place at a 449 N. Market Street, in Ottumwa. Each incident is outlined below:

On October 14, 2017, a male victim, who is identified as 46-year-old Kenneth Paul Dyer of Ottumwa, reported that he was robbed at gunpoint behind the specified residence by two males. Dyer sustained injuries to his head and face and received medical treatment for his injuries.

On October 31st, 2017, a Dominoes Pizza Delivery Driver, was robbed after an order was placed to be delivered at the specified residence. The delivery driver was identified as 24-year-old Tyler Scott Eidson of Ottumwa. When Eidson arrived at the residence to deliver the pizza, a male armed with a handgun approached Eidson and stole various items from his person. Eidson complied with the demands of the assailant and was not harmed.

Anyone with information concerning either of these incidents is encouraged to contact the Ottumwa Police Department investigations unit at 641-683-0631.

Food Bank of Southern Iowa Slated to Merge with Food Bank of Iowa

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Rick Watts

The Food Bank of Iowa based in Des Moines announced a merger Monday with the Food Bank of Southern Iowa that’s based in Ottumwa. Spokesman Danny Akright says its southern Iowa counterpart has served as a redistribution organization for Food Bank of Iowa since 2012.

“Their truck is up here, our trucks are down there working with each other day in and day out.” Akright said, “Our staffs are getting to know each other even better getting prepared for this merger it just is kind of a natural next step for the two organizations.”

Akright said the southern Iowa organization has around one dozen employees, while there are 25 in central Iowa, and the merger won’t impact that.

“It’s not going to change much on a day-to-day basis yet. Food Bank of Southern Iowa is going to keep all of their staff. they are going to keep their equipment, their warehouse down in Ottumwa, their trucks. We really are going to keep things going as they are,” Akright said. “But the purpose of the merger right now is for what is right now kind of a small food bank in a small area with not a lot of resources around it to benefit from the larger resources that we have access to.” He says it will allow them to do a better job in helping Iowans.

“We have a lot more food producers, a lot more sources of food donations that they do down in Ottumwa,” Akright explains. “So we are able to share those with them and ultimately to help those people in need in those 13 counties more effectively.” Akright says thousands of people will benefit from the merger.

“They do have some more significant populations — they have Burlington, Keokuk, Fort Madison, Ottumwa, Oskaloosa — those are all within the service area that the Food Bank of Southern Iowa serves now,” according to Akright. “We do have a fair amount of population down there and a fair amount of need. So we are ready to work and ready to serve all of the people in the 55 counties that we’ll have together.”

Akright said they are expecting to have the merger completed by the first of the year.

Ottumwa Police Department Makes Traffic Stop, Drug Bust

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Rick Watts

A Thursday morning traffic stop by Ottumwa Police Officer led to four arrests and a drug bust.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Wesley Alan Simmons, 34, Ottumwa. Simmons was arrested and charged with Driving under Suspension, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and No Seatbelt, all Simple Misdemeanors.

Four of the five occupants of the vehicle were arrested and charged with the following crimes:

Richard Dean Driver, 43, of Centerville, IA, was charged with:

Possession With the Intent to Deliver More Than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine, a Class
“B” Felony
Prohibited Acts Possession of Marijuana (Enhanced), a Class “D” Felony
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Simple Misdemeanor

Shad Shannon Palmer, 43, of Ottumwa, was charged with:

Possession With the Intent to Deliver More Than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine, a Class
“B” Felony
Prohibited Acts Possession of Controlled Substance (Enhanced), an Aggravated
Misdemeanor
Unlawful Possession of a Prescription Drug, a serious Misdemeanor
Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, a Class “D” Felony
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Simple Misdemeanor

Heather Beth Murphy, age 27, of 824 S. Lillian, Ottumwa, was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Simple Misdemeanor.

*******

Please note the following pursuant to recent Supreme Court rulings: “A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

PELLA ADVANCES TO VOLLEYBALL REGIONAL FINAL; OSKY, EBF ELIMINATED

Posted on October 26, 2017 by Rick Watts

Four area teams were in action in regional semifinal action Tuesday night.

Pella and Osky battled in Class 4A Region 4 and it was all Lady Dutch from start to finish. Oskaloosa held their own during the first set before slipping late to drop it 25-20. Pella would stroll through the next two sets as they found their footing. They would win the second set 25-14 and the third set 25-8.

Pella was led by Emily Holterhaus, who would get 19 kills to lead all players. Josie Bunnell had eight kills for Osky, who ends their season with a record of 13-21.

Pella moves into the Region 4 Final next Monday where they will face Bondurant-Farrar. Pella is 32-6 on the season and one of their losses came against Bondurant-Farrar in the B-F Tournament back on August 26th. That match will be in Pella on Monday, October 30th at 7 PM.

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont hosted Davis County in a matchup between two South Central Conference teams in Class 3A Region 8. EBF had beaten DC in the regular season in both of their matchups without dropping a set, but Tuesday night was different. Davis County would pull off the road upset in four sets (25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 25-23). EBF’s season comes to an end with a record of 21-16.

Finally, Ottumwa went on the road and faced a tough Waukee squad and came up short in straight sets (25-10, 25-18, 25-10). Ottumwa finished their season with a 19-20 record.

More volleyball action will be on tap on the No Coast Network on Thursday as Montezuma plays in the Class 1A Region 4 Semifinals against North Tama. You can hear that on 104.9 FM KBOE, kboeradio.com, and the KBOE mobile app with the pregame show starting at 6:45 PM for the 7 PM first serve.

Large Schools Look for Momentum Heading Into Volleyball Playoffs

Posted on October 11, 2017 by Rick Watts

We are within a week of every school beginning their trek to the Volleyball State Tournament at the US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. The schools in Class 3A, Class 4A, and Class 5A will not have it easy to get there.

All first round games in these classes will be on Wednesday, October 18^th at 7 PM.

In Class 3A Region 6, PCM (9-16) will have to go on the road to face West Marshall (27-10). The bracket is fairly loaded, so if PCM finds a way to get past West Marshall in the quarterfinals, #12 Iowa Falls-Alden could be awaiting them.

Staying in Class 3A, Region 8 involves four South Central Conference teams in the bottom half of the bracket. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont (19-13) get Albia (10-19), a team they just beat in four sets on Tuesday night. Winner of that matchup will see either Davis County or Centerville. EBF has not lost to any of those teams all season.

Class 4A Region 4 is loaded with four area teams of the six in the bracket. Oskaloosa (11-17) will have to go on the road to play Knoxville (14-19). The Indians have made a habit out of winning road games in the playoffs. The two teams have not seen each other this season. You can hear that game live on 99.5 FM/740 AM KMZN and radiokmzn.com.

Awaiting them is #4 Pella (28-5) for the semifinals on Tuesday, October 24^th. Pella hasn’t dropped a set in two matches with Knoxville this season and swept Oskaloosa in the only meeting between those two teams so far this year.

On the other side of the bracket, Newton (3-20) will be a big underdog on the road against Carlisle (12-13) in the first round. Bondurant-Farrar (17-10) awaits the winner in the second round. B-F is one of the few teams to beat Pella this year which could be a factor if those two teams hold serve and meet in the regional final.

Region 6 in Class 4A has Grinnell (8-19) on the road to face Clear Creek-Amana (19-16) as an underdog. Winner of that match will get #7 Center Point-Urbana (30-9) in the semifinals.

Finally, Ottumwa is our lone Class 5A school and they are in the Region 5 bracket. The Bulldogs (13-16) will host Des Moines North (0-19) in a fairly easy matchup. Should they take care of business there, they will go on the road to face #12 Waukee in the semifinals (23-18). #5 Linn-Mar and #15 Cedar Rapids Prairie are in the other semifinal in a loaded bracket.

The trek to state all begins with the first round, which will take place on Wednesday, October 18^th at 7 PM. We will have continuing coverage of the brackets on the No Coast Network.

Accidental Weapon Discharge Leads to Injury

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Rick Watts

On Sunday, October 8, shortly before midnight, the Ottumwa Police responded to the Ottumwa Regional Health Center on a report that a patient arrived at the hospital with a possible gunshot wound.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the injuries to the patient were caused by an accidental discharge of a firearm into the ground which caused the bullet to fragment into pieces. The bullet fragment then struck the patient in the foot resulting in minor injury.

This incident occurred in the 200 Block of Clayton Street in Ottumwa. If anyone has information about this shooting they are requested to contact the Ottumwa Police Department at 641-683-0661.

Ottumwa Police Investigate Shooting

Posted on October 5, 2017 by Rick Watts

Ottumwa Police Officers responded to the 500 Block of Ottumwa Street on a report that someone had been shot with a gun on October 4, 2017 shortly after 9:00 PM.

Police arrived and determined that a victim had been transported to the Ottumwa Regional Health Center via a private vehicle.

The victim that was transported to the hospital was identified as Leon Laroy Stewart, age 34, of 535 Ottumwa Street, Ottumwa. Stewart sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound to his hand as a result of an altercation with another male near the intersection of 4th Street and Ottumwa Street.

The other person involved in this incident was later located by police and the weapon that was discharged during the altercation was recovered.

The circumstances surrounding this altercation are ongoing in nature. No arrests have been made in connection to this incident. The male who discharged the firearm was released after providing a statement to investigators.

Please note the following pursuant to recent Supreme Court rulings: “A criminal charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

Stolen Property Has Contractor Offering Reward

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Rick Watts

The Ottumwa Police Department took a theft report from a contractor who had a piece of machinery stolen from a jobsite in Ottumwa.

K.M. King Inc., from Burlington, IA, reported that they had a “Kent” brand concrete breaker stolen from the 200 Block of Northview sometime over the previous weekend. The stolen concrete breaker was off white in color and had a diagonal blue stripe on the side.

K.M. King Inc. is offering a reward for credible information that leads to the recovery of the stolen property.

If anyone has information on the whereabouts of the property, they are requested to contact the Ottumwa Police Department at 641-683- 0661.

Wanted Man Arrested in Ottumwa, Accessory Apprehended

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Rick Watts

On Monday, October 2, 2017, investigators from the Southeast Iowa Inter-Agency Drug Task Force received information that Wesley Allen Gridley, age 36, of Ottumwa, was at 523 Ray Street in Ottumwa. Gridley was wanted by the United States Marshall’s Office for a Probation/Parole violation.

No one would answer the door when officers attempted to make contact with the people inside of the residence. Officers obtained a search warrant for the residence and ultimately found Gridley hiding inside a crawl space in the basement of the residence. Gridley was arrested on his outstanding federal arrest warrant and was additionally charged with Delivery of Less Than 5 Grams of Methamphetamine Within a 1000 Feet of a School, a Class
“C” Felony.

Another person who was inside of the house was also arrested. Rodney Allen Schnoor, age 50, of 1132 South Street, #5, was arrested and charged with Accessory After the Fact, an Aggravated Misdemeanor.

Please note the following pursuant to recent Supreme Court rulings: “A criminal charge is
merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

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