Denison council approves Boulders management agreement

Document to go to golf course board

On Tuesday, the Denison City Council gave its approval to an agreement that would place the management of the Boulders Conference Center with Majestic Hills Golf Course.

City Manager Jessica Garcia said that the agreement will be forwarded to the golf course board for its approval.

Since January, the Boulders Conference Center Commission had been seeking proposals on the operation of Boulders. That search started after the conference center’s former lessee, Chris Polley and his company, WCP LLC, was given a notice to vacate on December 28 for non-payment of rent.

The Majestic Hills Golf Course has been covering the operations of events at Boulders since January, with the agreement that the city would forgive the golf course’s rent and utilities for the lower part of the building.

Requests for proposals were sought for the conference center’s operation.

Under the agreement approved by the council, the city will retain 85% of gross booking revenues received for all events and Majestic Hills will receive 15%.

The city will reimburse Majestic Hills for 105% of the gross labor costs.

Majestic Hills will provide beverage services at events with all labor costs at their own expense. Majestic Hills will retain 100% of the beverage sales.

When finalized, the management period will run from May 1 this year to April 30 next year.

The city and Majestic Hills can agree to extend the management arrangement for additional one-year periods.

The city will retain ownership of the building, furniture, fixtures and equipment, and the property on which the building is located.

The agreement contains language for early termination, 60 days written notice in writing by either party for termination without cause, and 30 days for termination with cause. 

Majestic Hills will have control and authority over the day-to-day operations of Boulders Conference Center.

Among other points, the agreement says that Majestic Hills will maintain an event booking calendar and will use the rate schedule established by the Boulders Conference Center Commission. If no event is scheduled at the conference center, Majestic Hills would have permission to use the event for its purpose.

The agreement contains a list of maintenance, improvements and operations that Majestic Hills would be responsible for, as well as insurance requirements.

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An opportunity to be well-fed and give to the wellness center

On Tuesday, May 14, people will have the opportunity to drive the Crawford County Wellness Center project closer to its fundraising goal and enjoy a Staley’s chicken dinner.

The drive-through dinner will take place from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Stables at Copper Ridge.

Tickets are $15 and are available at the Chamber & Development Council of Crawford County, Denison City Hall, The Hoffman Agency and Ten Point Construction.

Tickets will also be available at the drive-through.

The meal includes two pieces of chicken, two sides, a dinner roll and a cookie.

Members of Boy Scout Troop 55 will be helping at the drive-through dinner.

The Bake Shop will provide the cookies for the meal.

“This is truly a countywide event,” said KR Buck, a member of the fundraising committee.

Other fundraising efforts are taking place, including donations from individuals, businesses and corporations.

Estate-planning possibilities are also being pursued.

The Friends of Crawford County Wellness Center, in cooperation with the City of Denison, are seeking New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program funding to help meet the $19 million goal for the project.

The city and the Friends group are seeking a net benefit of $3.6 million for the wellness center project through the NMTC program.

The Denison City Council took action in this pursuit at a meeting Tuesday night by approving a motion and passing a resolution to hire Novogradac Accounting Services to help in securing an NMTC allocation. 

The NMTC program was established in 2000 and is designed to encourage investment in operating business and real estate projects in low-income communities. Individuals and corporations can make equity investments in Community Development Entities and receive a tax credit against their federal income tax.

Novogradac is among three entities working toward securing NMTC funding for the wellness center project.

Previously the city hired the Lothrop GPM firm to serve as legal counsel in the quest to secure NMTC. Steadfast City, an economic development, community development and non-profit consulting firm, was hired to represent the city in selling the project to Community Development Entities.

The hiring of an accounting firm was recommended by Steadfast City, said Denison City Manager Jessica Garcia.

She added that accounting for NMTC is a very niche market and that there are only two accounting firms in the nation that deal with NMTC as their main focus of work.

She discussed the benefits in engaging Novogradac before the city receives a NMTC allocation.

“Basically, what they’re saying is it’s another sign of readiness once an allocation is sourced,” Garcia explained.

“It shows we’re ready to close on the allocation as soon as it’s given to us,” she added, “Also, what they (the Community Development Entities) are looking for is for the accounting firm to create a structure, or mini-model, if you will, what the project would look like.”

Garcia said a NMTC conference will take place in Florida next week.

The council discussed the $7,500 retainer for Novogradac before taking action.

Garcia said the retainer would come back to the city through the NMTC process, as well as any other fees that would be a part of the NMTC funding structure. If the wellness center project does not receive an allocation, the project is out the $7,500.

The city manager explained that the city has a line item in its budget for the wellness center project and that the retainer fee would come from that.

Councilman Corey Curnyn asked about funding from other partners in the wellness center project, like the county, Denison Municipal Utilities (DMU) and Crawford County Memorial Hospital, and if funds pledged by those partners could be used for some of the expenses like the retainer fee.

City Clerk Jodie Flaherty explained that the county is providing $100,000 each fiscal year for expenses until the construction begins.

DMU’s and the hospital’s commitment to the project will take effect once construction begins.

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DCI investigates in-custody death in Crawford County

Around 7:30 p.m. on May 5, officers from the Denison Police Department arrested a 61-year-old male for public intoxication. The subject was placed into a lone jail cell.

At approximately 9 a.m. on May 6, while conducting a scheduled welfare check, Crawford County jail staff discovered the subject had become unresponsive. Crawford County jail staff, deputies and EMS performed CPR on the subject and transported him to Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison where he was later pronounced deceased. 

The male subject was identified by a family member as Abraham Gatwech Ngor of Denison. A forensic autopsy was scheduled for May 8 at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny.

The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office requested the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to investigate the death of Ngor.

No further details will be released at this time.

Darrell Simmons, special agent in charge with the DCI, clarified that the jail staff conduct hourly checks on all inmates. It was during the 9 a.m. check that Ngor was found unresponsive. 

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Courthouse News

April 26-May 2, 2024

NON-SCHEDULED TRAFFIC

• Roberto Carlos Gonzales Guerrero, Denison. DUS - driving while license denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked, $325.75.

• Gilberto Garcia Saucedo, Denison, driving while license under suspension, $347.50.

SCHEDULED TRAFFIC

• Kevin Alexis Ramirez, Denison, manner of conveyance, assembled unloaded gun, $395.25.

• Javier Enriquez Tlaseca, Omaha, NE, no valid driver’s license, $354.

• Victoria Daniella Altamirano, Denison, no valid driver’s license, $503.50.

• Yelennis Sosa Cid, Tampa, FL, failure to obey stop sign and yield right of way, $287.88.

• Arillian A. Barrios, Denison, no valid driver’s license, $503.50.

• Juan Jose Ochoa Gomez, Denison, failure to maintain or use safety belts, adult, $135.50.

• Juan Jose Ochoa Gomez, Denison, operation without registration card or plate, $135.50.

• Edgar Zavala Hernandez, Denison, no valid driver’s license, $354.

• Jace David Siemer, Omaha, NE, no valid driver’s license, $354.

• Gloria Margarita Castaneda, Denison, failure to use child restraint device, $210.25.

• Steven Joseph Ridgley, Carroll, failure to maintain or use safety belts, adult, $135.50.

• Andres Baqueiro Cruz, Denison, no valid driver’s license, $354.

• Gilberto Sartun Garcia, Denison, driving on wrong side of two-way highway, $210.25.

• David Ismael Felipe Simon, Omaha, NE, no valid driver’s license, $354.

• Marco Loarca, Omaha, NE, failure to have a valid license or permit for operation of motor vehicle, $285.

• James Michael Anderson, Odebolt, improper registration plate lamp, $106.75.

• Karel Morales Sandoval, Denison, insufficient number of headlamps, $106.75.

• Enrique Lara Romero, Denison, fail to obey stop or yield sign, $210.25.

• Ismael D. Gonzalez, Denison, operating non-registered vehicle, $135.50.

Speeding (21 mph and over)

• Briar Alan Gale, Pacific Junction, $313.75.

Speeding (16-20 mph over)

• Lukas Kyle Niedert, Marion, $262.

Speeding 6 thru 10 mph over)

• Brittany Jean King, Manning, $149.88.

• Erika Marlys Haberberger, Denison, $149.88.

• Matthias Vernon Stork, Breda, $118.25.

• Francisco Barroso Vargas, Denison, $118.25.

• Jakub Randall Workman, Manilla, $118.25.

• Alandria Brown, Denison, $118.25.

• Alisa Yer Thao, Charter Oak, $118.25.

• Lynette Robin Barondeau, Denison, $118.25.

Speeding (1-5 mph over)

• Jamel Malcolm Jones, Union, NE, $106.75.

• Samuel Ronald Seuntjens, Anthon, $106.75.

• Arillian A. Barrios, Denison, $106.75.

• Fredi Alexander Perez Osoy, Cicero, IL, $89.50.

• Jose Alberto Salas, Denison, $89.50.

• Tyson Eric Preul, Denison, $89.50.

• Cecilia Hernandez Perez, Denison, $89.50.

• Kent Ronald Elliott, Minden, $89.50.

SMALL CLAIMS

• Against: David Donald Kleinberg, Denison. In favor of: H&R Accounts. Amount: $6,445.84 plus $95 costs.

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Land Transactions

April 26-May 2, 2024

Warranty Deeds

• Candace Ueding to Antonio Linden Trevino: Lot 2, Block 5, City of Dow City; $69,500.

• Steve P. McCollough and Connie J. McCollough to McCollough 5 LLC: NE1/4 Section 2, East Boyer Township.

• McCollough 5 LLC to Steve P. McCollough and Connie J. McCollough: NE1/4 Section 2, East Boyer Township; $188,442.

• Juan Ramon Velasquez and Ana Miriam Velasquez to Mario F. Flores and Mirna Flores Cortez: Lot 7, Block 24, City of Schleswig; $55,000.

Michaela C. Willroth Trust, Michaela C. Willroth, Trustee to Thomas W. Willroth Jr.: Lot 1, Block 9, City of Denison; Lot 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Block 14, City of Denison; $18,140.

• Daniel B. Eiten and Mary S. Eiten to Brian Zavitz and Nakia Zavitz: Lot 1, 2, 3, Block 74, City of Denison; $189,000.

• James J. Sailer and Elise A. Sailer to Elise A. Sailer Trust, Elise A. Sailer and James J. Sailer, Trustees: SW1/4 Section 15, Hanover Township; N1/2 SW1/4 Section 2, Hanover Township; S1/2 SW1/4 Section 2, Hanover Township; NW1/4 Section 2, Hanover Township; NE1/4 NE1/4 Section 2, Hanover Township; NE1/4 Section 3, Hanover Township; S1/2 NE1/4 Section 2, Hanover Township; NW1/4 NE1/4 Section 2, Hanover Township; SE1/4 Section 2, Hanover Township; S1/2 SE1/4 Section 35, Morgan Township; Lot 1, Block 5, Ridgeway Fourth Addition, City of Denison.

• James J. Sailer and Elise A. Sailer to James J. Sailer Trust, Elise A. Sailer and James J. Sailer, Trustees: SW1/4 Section 15, Hanover Township; N1/2 SW1/4 Section 2, Hanover Township; S1/2 SW1/4 Section 2, Hanover Township; NW1/4 Section 2, Hanover Township; NE1/4 NE1/4 Section 2, Hanover Township; NE1/4 Section 3, Hanover Township; S1/2 NE1/4 Section 2, Hanover Township; NW1/4 NE1/4 Section 2, Hanover Township; SE1/4 Section 2, Hanover Township; S1/2 SE1/4 Section 35, Morgan Township; Lot 1, Block 5, Ridgeway Fourth Addition, City of Denison.

• Patricia Leslie to Vonnahme Family Trust, Bruce Vonnahme and Marilyn M. Vonnahme, Trustees: Lot 6 and Lot 7, Payne’s Addition, City of Westside; $105,000.

• Kandy L. Goslar to Jason P. Nichols: Lot 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Unit 4, Block 105, City of Denison; $110,000.

• Jason P. Nichols to Manuel Arturo Gonzalez Mujica: Lot 13 and Lot 14, Block 7, City of Schleswig; $110,000.

• Connie Campbell, Darwin Campbell, Travis Campbell and Angela Sieck to Steinhoff Farm LLC: NE1/4 Section 22, Nishnabotna Township; N1/2 SE1/4 Section 22, Nishnabotna Township.

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Quit Claim Deeds

• Matthew Weeda to Maria Weeda, Maria Vonnahme: W1/2 NW1/4 Section 20, Hayes Township.

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Court Officer Deeds

• Dale E. Bueltel Estate, Ella Mae Bueltel, Executor to Ella Mae Bueltel: Lot 3, Sunrise Addition, City of Manilla.

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Contract

• Marsha Schwartz to Russ Johannsen and Lori Johannsen: Lot 1, Southern Heights Second Addition, City of Schleswig; $50,000.

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Affidavit Of Surviving Spouse

• Dale Elwin Bueltel and Ella Mae Bueltel to Ella Mae Bueltel: E1/2 SW1/4 Section 34, Iowa Township; NW1/4 SE1/4 Section 33, Iowa Township; S1/2 SE1/4 Section 33, Iowa Township.

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On The Scanner

April 29, 1:16 p.m.: John Michael McGuire, 66, of Somers, was driving a gray 2022 Dodge RAM pickup east on Highway 30 through Westside. McGuire stated that he saw two children riding bicycles next to the highway, entering the highway at times. McGuire slowed down, and as he passed, the boys thought he was in the clear. McGuire said he looked in the mirror and saw one of the boys on a bicycle go down. McGuire did not know exactly where the boy hit the truck but thought it was somewhere between the truck and the car trailer he was pulling. McGuire stated that the other boy on the bicycle said he had just told the other boy to stay off the highway. The investigating officer said he spoke with two witnesses who both confirmed McGuire’s story. The report said that the accident victim was Lifeflighted to Des Moines after arriving in Carroll with a broken femur.

May 1, 1:43 a.m.: The Denison Police Department investigated a two-vehicle accident that happened at the Monogram Foods parking lot. Erik Yoshua De La Cruz Garcia, 18, of Denison, was backing a red 2007 Nissan pickup from a parking spot in the Monogram Foods parking lot. He said the rear window glass was foggy and he did not see a black 2010 Nissan Murano that was parked in the parking lot. The Murano received $1,000 damage to the rear driver side and De La Cruz Garcia’s pickup received $200 damage to the rear passenger side corner.

May 3: A criminal complaint for theft in the fifth degree was filed against Ashley Marie Ramsey, 39, of Denison. The offense occurred on March 12 at Walmart.

May 3, 9:25 p.m.: Emmanuel Prado, 19, of Denison, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance – marijuana, 1st offense. Also arrested was a 14-year-old minor.

May 4, 4:17 p.m.: The Denison Police Department investigated a single-vehicle accident that happened at the Pit Stop Auto Wash at Highway 30 and South 17th Street. The investigating officer met with Jeff Schaben who provided footage of a vehicle that drove forward into his machine, almost disabling it. The vehicle, a white 2013 Toyota Tacoma, was located on Exchange Street right next to the Denison Police Department. The driver, Anthony Lopez, 18, of Denison, admitted to the accident. Lopez was cited for violations of conditions of a minor school license. The Pit Stop Auto Wash equipment received $2,000 damage. The Tacoma received $1,000 damage to the front middle.

May 5, 1:07 a.m.: Hser Gay Eh, 36, of St. Paul, Minnesota, was arrested for operating while under the influence, 1st offense. The location of the offense was on North 7th Street.

May 6, 12:25 p.m.: The Denison Police Department investigated a two-vehicle accident that happened on Highway 30. Sonia Francois, 36, of Mulberry, Florida, was driving a black 2010 Nissan Murano west in the middle lane of Highway 30. Sara Marie Swanson, 40, of Denison, was driving a white 2007 GMC Canyon pickup west on Highway 30 in the north lane. Francois merged improperly and struck Swanson’s vehicle, causing a sideswipe collision. No injuries were reported. Swanson’s vehicle received $3,000 damage to the middle driver side. Francois’s vehicle received $1,200 damage to the front passenger side.

May 6, 1:58 p.m.: The Denison Police Department investigated a two-vehicle accident that happened in the parking lot at Smithfield Foods. Moises Escobar Lemus called the police to report scratch damage on the passenger side door of a 2021 Ford Bronco. He said he knew who damaged the vehicle and that a friend witnessed the event and took pictures. The investigating officer spoke with Jude Casseus, 45, of Sioux City, who admitted to scratching the vehicle with his vehicle. The drivers exchanged insurance information. Casseus was cited for striking an unattended vehicle.

May 6, 5:38 p.m.: The Denison Police Department investigated a two-vehicle accident that happened in the parking lot at Smithfield Foods. Oleg V. Lantuku, 59, of Tacoma, Washington, was operating a white 2019 Freightliner semi. Marlon Star, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was in a white 2022 Freightliner semi. Star advised the investigating officer that he was waiting in his semi tractor, and Lantuku was backing his tractor-trailer into the spot to the east of Star. Star said he felt his semi tractor rock; he honked and noticed damage to his driver’s sideview mirror. Lantuku told the officer he did not damage anything and that there was no evidence that he damaged the other semi tractor. The damage done was a crack that went through part of the sideview mirror. Star said that according to his work policy, he must make a report with police in any incident where damage is done. 

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City of Denison extends closing date on two lots

The City of Denison has extended the deadline for sealed bids for two city-owned lots located on Oak Ridge Drive near the intersection with Medical Parkway on the west side of the community.

The deadline for Lots 48 and 49 in Oak Ridge Heights had previously been on April 23, but no sealed bids had been received by the 11:59 a.m. deadline, it was reported at last week Tuesday’s special city council meeting.

The new deadline to receive sealed bids is on June 10.

Under the request for bids, a minimum bid of $1,000 is required.

Other stipulations of the request for bids are the following.

• A structure must be started within 12 months from the date of closing.

• The structure must be built and completed within two years from the date of closing.

• A licensed and bonded contractor/builder must be hired for the construction of the residential structure.

• A statement of intent to build a new residential dwelling and a simple site plan or sketch of the new house or houses should show that all new one-family dwellings should have a minimum of 1,600 square feet of living area excusing basements, breezeways and garages; and that all one-family dwellings have a minimum of a two-stall garage that is a minimum of 18 feet by 20 feet.

• The successful bidder on the lot or lots must execute a purchase agreement on a form prepared and approved by the City of Denison.

Lot 48 is a rectangular-shaped lot and Lot 49 is a triangular-shaped lot.

In other action last Tuesday, the city council conducted a public hearing and approved the 2024-2025 budget, which goes into effect on July 1 this year.

The regular property-tax levy is $18.86269 per $1,000 assessed valuation, which is lower than the current year’s regular levy of $19.05138.

The estimate of property taxes to be collected is $5.2 million and total revenue and other sources are estimated at $12.5 million. Both figures are higher than the re-estimated figures for the current fiscal year. For 2023-2024, the estimate of property taxes to be collected is $4.7 million and the total revenue and other sources are estimated at $10.8 million. 

In fiscal year 2022-2023, property taxes collected were $4.7 million but the total revenues and other sources were higher at $14.9 million.

For fiscal year 2024-2025, all expenditures and transfers out are estimated at $12.3 million, higher than in fiscal year 2023-2024 ($11.3 million) but lower than in fiscal year 2022-2023 ($14.1 million).

The city budget for 2024-2025 will be a positive one, with just more than $230,000 being added to the fund balance. In the current fiscal year, the estimate is that the fund balance will be lowered by just less than $455,000.

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Farmers fearful Koch takeover of Iowa fertilizer plant would boost nitrogen prices, bring more consolidation to agriculture

Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan speaks with former Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller.

Harold Beach, a northeast Missouri farmer who runs a row-crop operation and raises hogs and cattle, traveled to central Iowa Saturday to urge one of the nation's top regulators to stop a multi-billion-dollar takeover of a Lee County fertilizer plant he and other rural advocates say will further erode competition in agriculture and increase costs for one of modern farming's essential inputs, nitrogen.

"I would like you to be fearless and courageous and be a Teddy Roosevelt," Beach told Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan.

Khan spoke to a crowd of about 100 people, an audience that featured farmers, rural leaders and some state legislators. But her main mission for the 90-minute session in downtown Nevada, the county seat of Story County and a 15-minute drive from the center of agricultural research in the state, Iowa State University, was to gather facts from the brewing storm over Koch Industries' planned purchase of OCI Global's nitrogen fertilizer plant in Wever, a small town in southeastern Iowa.

Over a decade ago, during the administration of Gov. Terry Branstad, the state provided $240 million in tax incentives for the development of the plant — one of the largest economic-development efforts in the history of the state, and one designed to bring jobs and access to more affordable fertilizer for a wide swath of Iowa.

Koch plans to buy the plant for $3.6 billion.

"I am concerned about the greed-flation that permeates everything," said Susie Petra, an Ames educator who spoke at the event.

A parade of farmers and legislators urged Khan, one of the more highly visible FTC chairs in history, and a regulator not afraid to drop lawsuits on major American companies, to halt the purchase. The detractors say the Koch takeover is bad for farmers, and is a toss-away of hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies from the state.

State Rep. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, a vocal opponent of consolidation in agriculture, talks with Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan in Nevada on Saturday.

Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman expresses concerns about Koch Industries' planned takeover of a fertilizer plant in southern Iowa, one with a big reach in Iowa.

"We are losing it," David Weaver, who farms in Boone and Greene counties, said of capitalism and democracy itself.

Aaron Lehman, president of the Iowa Farmers Union, said the concern is easily understood: farmers fear getting gouged on fertilizer costs by a consolidated industry with increasingly less competition.

Added Iowa Falls farmer John Gilbert, "Iowa agriculture is addicted to nitrogen."

Khan said the direct public input gives her a better understanding of challenges facing farmers. She said the FTC can investigate whether the Koch deal is restricting markets. If so, the government agency can go to court to block it, she said.

"The anti-trust laws prohibit mergers if they may substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly," Khan said. "So when deals are proposed we can investigate them and try to understand: is this going to eliminate competition in a way that's going to harm farmers, harm communities, harm customers?"

Bottom line, she said, the Biden administration wants markets to work for regular people.

"If we see monopolistic practices in the marketplace we're going after them," Khan said.

Koch Industries is aware of the listening session in Nevada, a Koch Fertilizer spokesperson, Greg Lemon, said in a statement.

"We have received support from many customers and are confident the Federal Trade Commission will allow our transaction to proceed after they have concluded their analysis and customer outreach," Lemon said. "This acquisition builds on the $2 billion in investments we have made in our North American facilities to increase production, enhance safety and reliability, and improve our customers’ access to the products and service they need to feed and fuel the world." 

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Grassley in Denison

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) conducted a town hall meeting at the Denison Municipal Utilities community room last week Wednesday, April 25. Photo by lorena lópez altimirano

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Courthouse News

April 19-25, 2024

SCHEDULED TRAFFIC

• Kevin Lee Clausen, Ricketts. Employee providing tobacco/ vapor product to person under 21 years of age, first offense, $210.25.

• Oscar Eduardo Lopez Lara, Denison, no valid driver’s license, $354.

• John Neyok Mayot Maiek, Sioux City, no valid driver’s license, $354.

• Terry Larue Hottendorf, Manilla, passing contrary to highway sign or marking, $210.25.

• Kerry Michael Pollman, Soldier, failure to provide proof of financial liability, $615.63.

• Tanner Edward Reimer, Dow City, maximum gross weight violation, 3001 to 4000 pounds over, $193.00.

• Tanner Edward Reimer, Dow City, failure to maintain or use safety belts, adult, $135.50.

• Dalton Robert Jones, Denison, use electronic communication device, age 18 or under, $106.75.

• Ateng Rual Aluak, Denison, fail to maintain registration plates, $89.50.

• Isaias Sanchez, Denison, failure to have a valid license or permit for operation of motor vehicle, $400.

• Isaias Sanchez, Denison, operating non-registered vehicle, $175.75.

• Tucker Bailey, Denison, operation without registration, $112.50.

Speeding (16-20 mph over)

• Kaitlin Joy Wille, Williamsburg, $193.

Speeding (11-15 mph over)

• Jackson Gerald Huebert, Denison, $236.13.

Speeding 6-10 mph over)

• Oscar Eduardo Lopez Lara, Denison, $118.25.

• Jaxon Arthur Hopkins, Carroll, $149.88.

• Benton Scott Warnke, Carroll, $118.25.

• Matthew L. Newsom, Farmington, AR, $118.25.

• Alecia Ann Smith, Lake View, $118.25.

Speeding (1-5 mph over)

• Adam Ross Blum, Charter Oak. $106.75.

• Aydan Joseph Guenther, Peoria, AZ. $106.75.

• Brian Edward Witzel, Mapleton, $89.50.

• Jennefer Ellene Pross, Denison, $89.50.

• Leland Joseph Siegner, Battle Creek, $89.50.

• Josue L. Perez Aguilar, Grand Island, NE, $89.50.

• Taya Ray Pawlowski, Gann Valley, SD, $89.50.

• Jayson D. Marten, Denison, $89.50.

• Laura J. Hertzig, Bellevue, NE, $89.50.

• Rafael Quiala Hechavarria, Storm Lake, $89.50.

• Sharon Kay Benson, Des Moines, $89.50.

• Adriana Rodriguez, Denison, $89.50.

• Jose Alfredo Moreno Orellana, Omaha, NE, $89.50.

• Cindy Ann Stoppel, Ida Grove, $89.50.

• Juan Antonio Diaz Meraz, Storm Lake, $89.50.

• Jodi M. Ohl, Denison, $89.50.

• Demetrio Gracia III, Storm Lake, $89.50.

SMALL CLAIMS

• Against: Nancy Castillo, Denison. In favor of: Midland Credit Management Inc. Amount: $2,506.18 plus $95 costs.

• Against: Penni M. Coenen, Dow City. In favor of: Midland Credit Management Inc. Amount: $1,196.62 plus $95 costs.

• Against: Brenda Lee Hervey, Arcadia. In favor of: Auto Sales San Juan LLC. Amount: $2,700 plus $130 costs.

• Against: Timothy Edward Kropf, Denison. In favor of: Midland Credit Management Inc. Amount: $608.66 plus $95 costs.

• Against: Sierra Leann Kroll, Ricketts. In favor of: Crown Asset Management LLC. Amount: $1,241.16 plus $95 costs.

• Against: Nohemi Alcocer, Denison. In favor of: Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC. Amount: $6036.70 plus $95 costs.

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Land Transactions

April 19-25, 2024

Warranty Deeds

• Kai Keiner to Bruce Lee and Cherri Lee: Lot 10, 11, 12, Block 17, City of Charter Oak; $27,566.30.

• Alex James Segebart to Terry Segebart: W1/2 NW1/4 Section 12, East Boyer Township; $1,032,000.

• Douglas M. Wonderlin and Jane Marie Wonderlin to Douglas M. Wonderlin and Jane Marie Wonderlin: S1/2 SW1/4 Section 36, Westside Township.

• Joseph A. Muff Irrevocable Trust, Larry Muff, Trustee to Larry Muff and Tom Muff: E1/2 NW1/4 Section 5, Union Township; E1/2 NE1/4 SW1/4 Section 5, Union Township; NW1/4 NE1/4 SW1/4 Section 5, Union Township.

• Cynthia Renee Delance, Scott Delance, Diane Lynn Bauer and Kenneth Bauer to Jane Ann Mohler: Lot 5 and Lot 6, Bock 54, City of Manilla; Lot 12 and Lot 13, Block 54, City of Manilla; $93,333.

• Chad Thomas Muff, Jeremy Lee Muff and Kathryn Ann Muff to Kelly J. Garrett and Amber S. Garrett: NE1/4 SE1/4 Section 15, Paradise Township; W1/2 E1/2 SE1/4 SE1/4 Section 15, Paradise Township; E1/2 W1/2 SE1/4 SE1/4 Section 15, Paradise Township; $926,800.

• Chad Mohr and Shanda Mohr to Steve P. McCollough and McCollough 5 LLC: NE1/4 Section 2, East Boyer Township; $386,118.

• Steve P. McCollough, Connie J. McCollough and McCollough 5 LLC to Chad Mohr and Shanda Mohr: SE1/4 SW1/4 Section 2, East Boyer Township; NW1/4 Section 2, East Boyer Township; $312,360.

• Shirley E. Stull to Marlin K. Conry and Shirley E. Stull, LE: W1/2 SE1/4 Section 6, Hanover Township; NE1/4 SE1/4 Section 6, Hanover Township.

• Pedro L. Pedroza Coronel and Marta Sebastiana Ramos De Pedroza to Daniel Francisco Mendoza Ramos and Blanca Garcia Lopez: Lot 1, 2, 3, Block 122, City of Denison; $100,000.

• Fay J. Kohorst Revocable Trust, Fay J. Kohorst, Trustee to James W. Wolterman: W1/2 SW1/4 Section 2, Jackson Township; $720,000.

• James F. Neppel to Maria De Los Angeles Cruz: NW1/4 NE1/4 Section 13, Milford Township; $10,000.

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Quit Claim Deeds

• Situs Cultivation LLC to Toni Lingle and Emma Lingle: Lot 11, Block 3, City of Ricketts, $1.00.

• Mary I. Miller to Richard A. Miller, Brian L. Miller and Jodi K. Gubbels: Lot 11 and Lot 12, Block 42, City of Manilla.

• Gail Scott, Donna Lawton, Sharon Krambeck, Sharon Krambeck, Trustee, Sharon Krambeck Trust, Kim Zobel, Sheila Zobel, Kim Zobel, Trustee, Sheila Zobel, Trustee, KSZ Trust, Idacrawood Partnership to Idacrawood LLC: NE1/4 NE1/4 Section 23, Otter Creek Township; $1.00.

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Court Officer Deeds

• Colin Eugene Garrett Estate, Kelly Garrett, Administrator to Connor Garrett and Cael Garrett: NW1/4 Section 10, Union Township; SW1/4 Section 10, Union Township, NW1/4 SW1/4 Section 10, Union Township.

• Joseph A. Muff Estate, Larry Muff, Executor to Joseph A. Muff Irrevocable Trust, Larry Muff, Trustee: E1/2 NW1/4 Section 5, Union Township; E1/2 NE1/4 SW1/4 Section 5, Union Township; NW1/4 NE1/4 SW1/4 Section 5, Union Township.

• Ricky Dean Beam Estate, Cynthia Delance, Administrator to Jane Ann Mohler: Lot 5 and Lot 6, Block 54, City of Manilla; Lot 12 and Lot 13, Block 54, City of Manilla; $46,667.

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Contract

• Jorge Patlan Arroyo to Delfino Lopez y Lopez: Lot 2, Block 132, City of Denison; $185,375.

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Affidavit Of Surviving Spouse

• Dennis Lee Jepsen and Julieanna Jepsen to Dennis Lee Jepsen: Lot 6, 7, 8, Block 6, Normal School Addition, City of Denison.

• Donald D. Clausen and Judith A. Clausen to Donald D. Clausen: Lot 4, Block 18, City of Schleswig; Lot 8 and Lot 9, Block 15, City of Schleswig.

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Affidavit Of Death

• Roger Nemitz, Elaine Nemitz, LE, Elaine Nemitz to Roger Nemitz, Mark Nemitz and Linda Sherrill: SW1/4 Section 2, Willow Township.

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On The Scanner

April 24, 9:28 p.m.: The Denison Police Department investigated a vehicle vs. deer accident that happened on Highway 30 north of Donna Reed Road. Iracema Manrique Puc, 40, of Denison, was driving a gray 2018 Chevrolet pickup east on Highway 30 when a deer ran in front of her truck. The pickup received $1,500 damage to the front end. She was able to drive her vehicle away. 

April 25, 1:53 p.m.: The Denison Police Department investigated a two-vehicle accident that happened on Highway 59. Richard Marvin Staley, 64, of Charter Oak, was driving a white 2008 GMC Savana north in the right lane of Highway 59. Cheryl Ann Lustgraaf, 65, of Storm Lake, was driving a black 2023 Chevrolet Equinox north in the left lane of Highway 59. Staley merged improperly and struck the other vehicle on the passenger side. Lustgraaf’s vehicle struck the side of the bridge, resulting in both tires being punctured. No injuries were reported. Staley’s vehicle received $1,500 damage to the rear driver side. Lustgraaf’s vehicle received $10,000 damage and was disabled. A tow was arranged by the officer.

April 25, 3:16 p.m.: The Denison Police Department investigated a two-vehicle accident that happened on 8th Avenue North and North 20th Street. Alex Leonardo Cabrera, 17, of Denison, was driving a white 2019 Chevrolet Silverado pickup north on North 20th Street and was turning left onto 8th Avenue North when he struck a silver 2005 Mazda MPV wagon that was being driven south on North 20th Street by Jose Lopez Vasquez, 70, of Denison. No one was injured. Cabrera’s vehicle received $2,000 damage to the front middle and Lopez Vasquez’s vehicle received $3,000 damage to the front driver side corner. 

April 27, 9:54 p.m.: The Denison Police Department investigated a single-vehicle accident that happened near Boulders Drive. Shannon Renee Chandler, 51, of Schleswig, was driving a white 2021 RAM pickup and struck the concrete around a light pole in the Boulders parking lot. Chandler was not injured. Her pickup received $1,100 damage to the rear passenger side corner. The concrete around the pole was not damaged.

April 27, 10:33 p.m.: Jonathan Miguel Castaneda Mendoza, 36, of Denison, was arrested on two warrants. 

April 28, 3:30 a.m.: Armando Porras, 31, of Denison, was arrested for assault causing bodily injury. The incident happened at a residence on South Main Street.

April 28, 4:35 a.m.: Jaqueline Roxana Enriquez, 27, of Denison, was arrested for assault causing bodily injury or mental illness, first offense. The incident occurred at a residence on 4th Avenue North.

April 29, 9:59 p.m.: Garrett John Kruger, 28, of Denison, was arrested for refusing to assist an officer. According to the criminal complaint filed in district court, the investigating officer was directed to a verbal dispute between a male and female at a residence at North 26th Street. When the officer spoke to the male subject, the male subject advised that he was having an argument with his wife. After trying to talk to the male subject, he refused to talk to the officer and would not identify himself. He was placed under arrest and transported to the Crawford County Jail.

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Introducing the primary election candidates for county sheriff

The June 4 primary election ballot will have the names of two Republicans who are seeking their party’s nomination for the office of sheriff.

The following articles are to serve as an introduction to the candidates.

More thorough interviews will be published in May closer to the date of the primary election.

Absentee ballots can be requested now; however early voting by absentee ballot or in person at the county auditor’s office won’t begin until May 14.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is at 5 p.m. on May 20.

Cardenas lists mission and vision for sheriff’s office

Yovan Cardenas said he has a mission and a vision in his candidacy to serve as the next sheriff for Crawford County.

He is one of two Republicans running for the office in the June 4 primary election. The incumbent sheriff, James Steinkuehler, is retiring.

Cardenas’s mission statement for the sheriff’s office reads “Under my leadership, the Crawford County Sheriff's Office will be committed to excellence in providing law enforcement, detention, public safety services and community engagement. In partnership with our residents, we will serve with accountability, targeting professionalism to meet the needs of the community in any capacity.”

And his vision statement is “Under my leadership, the vision will be to staff a highly trained, well-equipped professional team that will provide the highest level of service with urgency. While providing comprehensive services, we will be transparent in our actions, utilizing any resources available. We will proactively reduce crime and enhance the quality of life to ensure Crawford County is a safe and attractive place for families to live, work and visit.”

Cardenas is a 2010 graduate of Denison High School and a 2014 graduate of Iowa State University with a degree in criminal justice and sociology. 

In 2014 he was hired by the Hampton Police Department and in 2015 graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. In 2016 he joined the Denison Police Department. Two years later, in 2018, he was promoted to patrol sergeant.

Last year Cardenas, along with Mitch Flaherty, served as co-interim police chiefs. When the new chief, Anthony Trejo, was hired, Cardenas briefly resumed his duties as patrol sergeant before he was promoted to police captain, the No. 2 position with the Denison Police Department.

Cardenas is also a member of the Iowa Army National Guard. He is a first lieutenant and is the executive officer (second in charge) with the 186 Military Police Company based in Camp Dodge.

He enlisted in 2019, graduated from officer’s candidate school in 2020 and in 2021 graduated from the military police basic officer leadership course. In 2022 he attended a leadership course to become the unit movement officer, which enables him to do the logistics for the deployment of company-size elements to any location in the world.

Cardenas and his wife, Kassidy (Ipsen), were married in 2017. They have a son who will soon be four years old and a one-year-old daughter. They are also expecting another child. In addition, Cardenas is a foster parent for a 16-year-old girl.

From 2018 to 2021 Cardenas was a member of the St. Rose of Lima School Board.

Cardenas said he wants to serve as sheriff to be able to positively influence and impact the community of Crawford County.

He said that having community-oriented law enforcement is something that he and others did with the Denison Police Department.

“When I was interim chief, the co-interim chief and I instilled in our officers the community policing aspect,” he said. “We were mandating our officers to make interactions in schools, to give multiple presentations to many grades to build rapport with the younger generation, with kids who are the future of our nation and our community, to give them trust in and respect for law enforcement and to know that they can come to us with any problem.”

“If you’re able to relate to the community you serve, you are going to do so with more integrity and more professionalism,” Cardenas added. 

He said he wants the police officers to go to sporting events and community functions and to also be proactive in reducing crime, in order to provide the safety and protection of the citizens.

“That’s what I want to instill in my deputies. I want to have deputies that are physically and mentally fit, well trained and equipped to protect and serve the communities in the county,” Cardenas said. “It comes back to our core functions for law enforcement and what every officer is sworn to do, which is to Protect and Serve.”

Rasmussen wants to build and bring resources to the county as sheriff

Roger Rasmussen is one of two Republican candidates running for the office of county sheriff in the June 4 primary election.

Rasmussen was born in Denison, grew up in Manilla, and graduated from Manilla High School in 1988. He received an associate of arts degree from Iowa Western Community College in 2011 and then received a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice administration from Bellevue University in 2012. 

“My wife, Heather, and I have been married for 29 years. We currently live in Manilla,” he said. “Heather is the chief quality and ancillary services officer at Crawford County Memorial Hospital. Our son, Zach, also lives in Manilla with his fiancé, Skyler. Zach is a paramedic and works at Iowa Western Community College as the Emergency Services Program director. Skyler is a pharmacy technician and works at Deluxe Animal Health. They are expecting their first child in October. We are members of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla.”

After high school, Rasmussen went to work for Rasmussen Lumber Company before moving to Council Bluffs. 

“My law enforcement career began in 1995 as a reserve deputy with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office. Taking this position solidified my desire to become a law enforcement officer and help those in need,” Rasmussen said.

“After four years of being a reserve deputy, I joined the Shenandoah Police Department as a full-time officer. I graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in July of 1999 and served the citizens of Shenandoah for five years. In March of 2004, I came back to my home community and started working for the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office. In 2006, I started working part-time for the City of Manilla and currently hold the position of police chief. In 2018, I was promoted to chief deputy under Sheriff Steinkuehler, and I currently hold that position. Throughout my career I have received different training opportunities to advance my knowledge in the field of law enforcement. I am currently the firearms instructor for Crawford County as well.”

Rasmussen said he is seeking the office of sheriff as he wants to continue to serve the citizens of Crawford County.

“There are so many opportunities to explore such as specialized training for deputies. Transparency, community involvement and relationships, school resource officers, agency collaboration, drug enforcement, and mental health are all areas I want to build and bring resources to the community,” he said. “I have the knowledge, experience and drive to move the sheriff’s office forward. I’ve been with the sheriff’s office for 20 years and know how to run the office. I would be honored to serve the community as the Crawford County Sheriff.”

Rasmussen said his experience is a benefit to serve as sheriff.

“I’ve been in law enforcement for 29 years and know the profession. Twenty years of my career has been with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, and I’ve been in the leadership role of chief deputy for the last six years,” Rasmussen said. “I have experience with budgets while working as the chief deputy and chief of police for Manilla. 

“I have a good work ethic, I’m dedicated, and I’m dependable,” he added. “I care about the citizens of Crawford County. This is the community where my wife and I grew up and where we raised our son. I want to continue serving the communities of Crawford County. I’m ready for the challenges and opportunities to ensure the success of the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.”

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On The Scanner

April 9, 9:28 a.m.: The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office investigated a two-vehicle accident that happened on 260th Street and E-16. Joseph Paul Stan, 49, of Holstein, was driving a white 2020 Ford Ranger pickup east on E-16 and was at the crest of a hill at 260th Street. Joshua Paul Thomsen, 39, of Denison, was driving a white 2004 Peterbilt semi south on 260th Street. He said he looked but did not see Stan’s vehicle. No one was injured. Stan’s pickup received $30,000 damage. The semi received $3,000 damage.

April 12, 10:12 p.m.: Sarina Jenny Burgin, 18, of Alden, was arrested and charged with assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.

April 14, 1 p.m.: The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office investigated a single-vehicle accident that happened on Boyer Boulevard. Andres Baqueiro Cruz, 20, of Denison, was driving a silver 2008 Ford XST. He parked the vehicle on the east side of Boyer Boulevard while the occupants went fishing. When the occupants left, the occupants said they turned the vehicle around, met a tractor and lost control of the vehicle after the tractor went by. However, the tracks indicate that they spun around on the gravel road and traveled southeast, fishtailing, and failed to maintain control, causing the vehicle to enter the west ditch where it rolled one time and landed back on its wheels. The airbags were deployed. Baqueiro Cruz received minor injuries and the passenger was not hurt. The vehicle received $5,000 damage. Baqueiro Cruz was cited for not having a valid driver’s license. 

April 14, 8:10 p.m.: The Denison Police Department investigated a vehicle vs. building accident. Keven Lee Mohr, 61, of Denison, was driving a red 1997 Ford Explorer. He reported mistakenly thinking that his vehicle was in reverse before pushing the gas pedal but it was in drive, causing the vehicle to drive into the Pizza Hut building. The collision caused $10,000 damage to the building, pushing in and breaking glass. Where the vehicle hit the wall, a male and female were sitting at a table with their five-year-old son. The female reported having a small scratch on her leg from a piece of broken glass. She put a band-aid on it and did not request any further medical attention. Mohr was not injured. His vehicle received $250 damage to the front passenger side corner.

April 18, 12 a.m.: The Denison Police Department investigated a hit-and-run accident that happened on Chamberline Drive. The owner of a gray 2020 Chevrolet Equinox reported that his vehicle was legally parked in the driveway at a residence on Chamberlin Drive when it was struck by an unknown vehicle. Based on inspection of the vehicle, it appears an unknown white sedan or smaller SUV struck the vehicle, which received $1,200 in damage to the rear driver side. 

April 19, 3:43 a.m.: Dakarai Darell Jackman, 28, of Des Moines, was arrested and charged for assault causing bodily injury or mental illness.

April 20, 8:10 a.m.: Jose Enrique Vega Ramirez, 46, of Denison, was arrested and charged with domestic abuse assault – injury or mental illness, 1st offense.

April 21: The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office issued a report on a vehicle pursuit that covered Ida, Sac and Crawford counties and happened around 3:40 a.m. The Ida County Sheriff’s Office initiated a pursuit with a gray 2014 Honda CRV being driven by William Ross Clark, 39, of Story City. The pursuit continued into Sac County. Clark’s vehicle struck an Ida County deputy’s vehicle and continued on. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office picked up the pursuit; stop sticks were deployed. The driver’s side tire on Clark’s vehicle was deflated. During the pursuit the tire came off, causing damage to the driver’s side of the vehicle. Sac County continued the pursuit into Crawford County. While coming into Vail on Highway 30, Clark contacted dispatch and advised that he was going to hit the next vehicle he saw head on. Sac County Sgt. Jonathan Meyer then struck Clark’s vehicle from behind in an attempt to end the pursuit. Clark’s vehicle left the roadway and went into the lot at Sparky’s in Vail. It was again struck on the rear passenger side. Clark was able to gain control and go west on 1st Street. Clark drove into an open lot where the vehicle struck a tree. The vehicle Clark was driving was a rental; it received $10,000 damage and was estimated to be a total loss. The Sac County Sheriff’s Office vehicle, a white 2023 Tahoe, received $2,000 damage. Clark was taken into custody and transported to Sac County. The rental vehicle was towed to Wadrich Towing in Denison. Clark was charged in Sac County with eluding at speeds of 25 miles over the speed limit, second or subsequent charge, a Class C felony; criminal mischief in the second degree and interference with official acts – dangerous weapon, Class D felonies; criminal mischief in the third degree, an aggravated misdemeanor; reckless driving; and two counts of failure to obey a stop sign and yield the right of way.

April 23, 12:03 a.m.: Sergio Antonio Jimenez Shull, 35, of Denison, was arrested and charged with domestic abuse assault, 1st offense. 

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Courthouse News

April 12-18, 2024

SCHEDULED TRAFFIC

• Juan Jose Ochoa Gomez, Denison, operation without registration card or plate, $175.75.

• Jayden Chace Klinger, Marcus, dark window or windshield, $135.50.

• Aundrea Jean Burr, Alta, passing on grade or hill, $210.25.

• John Edward Leinen, Denison, failure to comply with safety regulations rules, $135.50.

• Yosdelvis Nunez Acosta, Denison, failure to provide proof of financial liability, $428.75.

• Yosdelvis Nunez Acosta, Denison, no valid driver’s license, $354.

• Homero Zuniga Medina, Denison, operation without registration card or plate, $135.50.

• Bradley W. McCollough, Vail, failure to provide proof of financial liability, $428.75.

• Angel Rene Jepsen, Denison, failure to yield upon entering through highway, $210.25.

• Jose Noe Lucas Lucas, Charter Oak, failure to provide proof of financial liability, $428.75.

• Luis Alonso Mendez Romero, Denison, no valid driver’s license, $354.

• Gustavo Adolfo Cruz Molina, Denison, dark window or windshield, $112.50.

Speeding (21 mph or over)

• Yosdelvis Nunez Acosta, Denison, $262.

Speeding (6-10 mph over)

• Daisey Luvi Pocasangre, Wall Lake, $149.88.

• Leonel Rodriguez Leyva, Denison, $118.25.

• Abigail Lynn Houston, Denison, $149.88.

• Leonerquis Gondres, Storm Lake, $118.25.

• Clayton Donald Mandernach, Odebolt, $118.25.

• Jose Israel Santamaria Hernandez, Denison, $118.25.

• Amanda Jo Comer, Sioux City, $118.25.

• Steve Alan Rogers, Denison, $118.25.

• Ashley Nichole Kennebeck, Denison, $149.88.

Speeding (1-5 mph over)

• Sergio Antonio Padilla Perez, Denison, $89.50.

• Gunnar Montgomery Swindall, Smithville, MO, $89.50.

• Gage Steven Matthew Head, Denison, $89.50.

• Koleson Lee Evans, Logan, $89.50.

• Gregory David Healy, Deloit, $89.50.

• Jose Noe Lucas Lucas, Charter Oak, $89.50.

• Elizabeth Amaro Castillo, Denison, $89.50.

• Blaine Wendell Grady, Denison, $89.50.

• Adriana Jimenez Lopez, Denison, $89.50.

• Lisa Ann Teneyck, Dow City, $89.50.

• Juan Martin Lemusquezada, Porterville, CA, $89.50.

SMALL CLAIMS

• Against: Sara Renee Duysen, Denison. In favor of: LVNV Funding, LLC. Amount: $1,241.69 plus $115 costs.

• Against: Shandi Marie Steinkuehler, Schleswig. In favor of Nebraska Furniture Mart. Amount: $3,373.20 plus $95 costs.

• Against: Katie Jo Sharp, Schleswig. In favor of: Spring Oaks Capital SPV, LLC. Amount: $2,721.38 plus $95 costs.

• Against: Amber Lee Koch, Denison. In favor of: H&R Accounts, Inc. Amount: $2,151.24 plus $95 costs.

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Land Transactions

April 12-18, 2024

Warranty Deeds

• Carlos Fernandez, Francia Fernandez and Francia Navar to Otto J. Schrunk Revocable Trust, Otto J. Schrunk Trustee: Lot 3, Block 81, City of Denison; $173,500.

• Timothy J. Austin and Pamela J. Austin to Patrick M. Pudenz and Sarah R. Lindeman: Lot 14, Block 3, City of Westside; $166,000.

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Quit Claim Deeds

• Nancy Dierenfield to The Good Shepherd LLLP: N1/2 SW1/4 Section 2, Goodrich Township; SW1/4 SW1/4 Section 2, Goodrich Township.

• David Allen Duncan to David A. Duncan and Marsha Lynn Kracht: Lot 17, Schultz Addition, City of Denison.

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State Tax Liens

• Iowa Department of Revenue against Carmen L. Rodriguez. Amount: $511.63.

• Iowa Department of Revenue against Luis Castro Reyes. Amount: $511.63.

• Iowa Department of Revenue against Dennis Nelson. Amount: $4,440.75.

• Iowa Department of Revenue against Carla Nelson. Amount: $4,440.75.

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Joint Warranty Deeds

• Isabel C. Ramon and Ramon Meraz Mendoza to Mario F. Flores and Mirna Flores Cortez: SW1/4 SE1/4 Section 13, Denison Township.

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Court Officer Deeds

• Steven Fineran Estate, Patrick Fineran, Executor to Clay Schwarte and Amber Schwarte: Lot 1,
Siemer Addition, City of Denison; $30,000.

• Andrea Nelson Estate, David Nelson, Executor to David Nelson, Robert Nelson and Cynthia Nelson: NE1/4 NW1/4 Section 17, East Boyer Township.

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Affidavit Of Surviving Spouse

• Mary Ann Irwin and William H. Irwin to Mary Ann Irwin: Lot 12, Clabaugh Addition, City of Denison.

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Legal Notice: OFFICIAL NOTICE BEFORE THE UTILITIES BOARD OF THE STATE OF IOWA TO THE CITIZENS OF CRAWFORD COUNTY:

OFFICIAL NOTICE
BEFORE THE UTILITIES BOARD OF THE STATE OF IOWA TO THE CITIZENS OF CRAWFORD COUNTY:

Notice is given that Silver Queen Wind Farm, LLC, Boulder, Colorado, pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 478, has filed a petition with the Utilities Board (IUB) for a franchise to erect, maintain, and operate an electric transmission line setting forth the following as the maximum voltage, starting points, routes, and termini of the existing line:

SILVER QUEEN WIND FARM, LLC
EXHIBIT A

230,000 Volts Nominal;
(242,000 Volts Maximum)

Electric Transmission Line
Crawford County, Iowa

The West Endpoint/Terminus of this line is the existing WAPA Denison substation located in the Southeast Quarter (SE 1/4) of Section Twenty-Nine (29), Township Eighty-Three (83) North, Range Thirty-Nine (39) West of the 5th P.M., Crawford County, Iowa. 

The East Endpoint/Terminus of this line is a new interconnection substation to be located in the Southeast Quarter (SE 1/4) of the Northeast Quarter (NE 1/4) of Section Fifteen (15), Township Eighty-Three (83) North, Range Thirty-Seven (37) West of the 5th P.M., Crawford County, Iowa

Beginning at a point of connection to Western Area Power Administration’s (WAPA’s) existing Denison Substation, being the West Endpoint/Terminus, located in the Southeast Quarter (SE ¼) of Section Twenty-Nine (29), Township Eighty-Three (83) North, Range Thirty-Nine (39) West of the 5th P.M., Crawford County, Iowa, thence north on private right of way approximately one hundredths (0.01) mile to a point located approximately twelve hundredths (0.12) mile north and thirty-six hundredths (0.36) mile west of the Southeast corner of said Section Twenty-Nine (29), thence east on private right of way approximately ten hundredths (0.10) mile to a point located approximately twelve hundredths (0.12) mile north and twenty-six hundredths (0.26) mile west of the Southeast corner of said Section Twenty-Nine (29), in the Southeast Quarter (SE 1/4) of said Section Twenty-Nine (29); thence southeast in private right-of-way approximately twenty-two hundredths (0.22) mile to a point located approximately one hundredths (0.01) mile north and one hundredths (0.01) mile west of the Southeast corner of said Section Twenty-Nine (29), in the Southeast Quarter (SE 1/4) of said Section Twenty-Nine (29); thence southeasterly crossing R Avenue and 240th Street (approximately 0.01) mile; thence South in private right-of-way adjacent and parallel to the east boundary of 240th Street along the west line of Section Thirty-Three (33) of said Township and Range, approximately fifty hundredths (0.50) mile to the West Quarter Corner of Said Section 33; thence east in private right-of-way approximately thirteen and forty-five hundredths (13.45) miles along the east-west center section line of Sections, 33, 34, 35, and 36 of said Township and Range, and Sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 of Township Eighty-Three (83) North, Range Thirty-Eight (38) West of the 5th P.M., Crawford County, Iowa, and Sections 31, 32, 33, and 34 of Township Eighty-Three (83) North, Range Thirty-Seven (37) West of the 5th P.M., Crawford County, Iowa, to the center of Section 37, said Township and Range, crossing 250th St., 260th St., US Highway 59, 270th St., 280th St., Donna Reed Rd., County Rd M38, 320th St., 330th St., 340th St, 350th St., 360th St., and 370th St.; thence north in private right-of-way along the north-south center section line of said Section 34 and section 27 of said Township and Range, crossing R Avenue, approximately One and fifty-one hundredths (1.51) miles to a point near the Northwest Corner of the Northeast Quarter (NE 1/4) of said Section 27; thence east along and parallel to the North line of said Section 27 and in the South right-of-way Q Avenue, approximately forty-nine hundredths (0.49) mile, to a point near the Northeast corner of said Section Twenty-Seven (27); thence north in private right- of-way, along and parallel to 380th St. and to the East line of said Section 27 and Sections 22 and 15 of said Township and Range, approximately One and fifty two hundredths (1.52) miles, crossing Q Avenue and P Avenue; thence west in private right of way approximately four hundredths (0.04) mile to the point of interconnection with the new interconnection substation in the Northeast Quarter (NE 1/4) of the Southeast Quarter (SE 1/4) of Section Fifteen (15), Township Eighty-Three (83) North, Range Thirty-Seven (37) West of the 5th P.M., Crawford County, Iowa (the East Endpoint/Terminus).

The total distance of the 230kV line in the Petition for Franchise in Crawford County, Iowa is approximately 17.85 miles.

A map showing the proposed route of the electric line may be obtained at no cost by calling (720) 592-0512 or by writing to Mark Wengierski, Associate Director of Development – East Region, Silver Queen Wind Farm, LLC, 5775 Flatiron Parkway, Ste. 120, Boulder, CO 80301.

Orders issued and documents filed in this docket (No. E-22430) may be viewed by searching under the docket number in the IUB’s electronic filing system (EFS) at efs.iowa.gov.  Objections to the granting of the franchise may be filed electronically using EFS or filed in writing with the Board no later than 20 days after the date of second publication of this notice.

The date of the first publication is April 25, 2024. The date of the second publication is May 2, 2024. 

IOWA UTILITIES BOARD 
BY: Jon Tack 
General Counsel
Dated this 11th day of April, 2024

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Introducing the primary election candidates for county supervisor

The June 4 primary election ballot will have the names of four Republicans who are seeking their party’s nomination for the two available seats on the Crawford County Board of Supervisors.

The following articles are to serve as an introduction to the candidates.

More thorough interviews will be published in May closer to the date of the primary election.

The Denison Free Press also plans to publish interviews with the two Republican primary candidates for sheriff.

Absentee ballots can be requested now; however early voting by absentee ballot or in person at the county auditor’s office won’t begin until May 14.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is at 5 p.m. on May 20.

Jean Heiden

Heiden seeks second term as supervisor

Jean Heiden is among the four Republicans running in the June 4 primary election for two seats on the Crawford County Board of Supervisors. She is an incumbent, elected to the board of supervisors in 2020.

Heiden was born and raised in Crawford County and is a 1972 graduate of Denison High School.

She and her husband, Jerry, have been married for 50 years. They raised three children. Angela works at Job Corps in Denison. Anthony is a UPS driver in Montrose, Colorado. Adam is the owner of Heiden Concrete Inc. in Schleswig. 

Heiden and her husband have nine grandchildren.

She started a career in banking right out of high school. Her first job was at First National Bank in Denison.

In 1978 she and Jerry purchased the Deloit Mercantile Grocery Store. They lived there until Jerry was transferred to Boise, Idaho, by his employer, Iowa Beef Processors.

“Because of his career, we moved around for a few years, but life ultimately brought us back to Crawford County in 1993,” said Heiden.

She and Jerry currently live in the county just outside of Denison.

“As we traveled the country, I also worked at various financial institutions,” she said. “I retired from United Bank of Iowa in 2019 as a mortgage loan vice president.” 

She continued, “I feel my life experiences and a long career in banking has helped me in many ways as a Crawford County supervisor. I have always listened to both sides of the story and consider myself a good listener. I like to do research to find out all the facts before making important decisions. I like working with numbers and percentages. Certification of the upcoming budget is a very important part of the supervisor position.”

Heiden said it has been an honor to serve as a supervisor for the past three and one-half years and added that the position of supervisor has many moving parts.

“We have had some very challenging issues to deal with this term,” she said. “We have had the Silver Queen wind turbines and the creation of an ordinance for new setbacks for future projects. We have had the challenges with the projected hazardous carbon dioxide pipeline wanting permission to cross our county. This is still an ongoing issue as we wait for the ruling from the Iowa Utilities Board.”

Other issues mentioned by Heiden are eminent domain and the effect it will have for landowners in Crawford County, and mental health redistricting being taken over by the state.

“The effects of House File 718 and Homestead 65 will also cause some challenges in the upcoming budgeting for our county,” she added.

As part of her duties as supervisor, Heiden serves on the Mental Health Advisory Board; the Public Health Board; Region XII Council of Governments Policy Board; Buena Vista, Crawford and Sac Early Childhood Iowa Board; and Decategorization/Community Partnership for Protecting Children. 

“I am one of the first Certified Iowa County Supervisors in Crawford County,” Heiden added.

Along with her work with local government, Heiden is an active volunteer for her church and community.

Heiden said she is fiscally conservative and understands the importance of watching out for the taxpayers of Crawford County. 

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Paul Outhouse

Outhouse says he wants to give voters a choice

Paul Outhouse, of Schleswig, said he is running for the Crawford County Board of Supervisors to give voters a choice in the June 4 primary.

He is one of four Republicans running for the two seats up for election.

A 1988 graduate of Denison High School, Outhouse grew up south of Denison near Defiance where he still has an extended family.

He is currently an inspector for Farmers Mutual Insurance in Schleswig, inspecting buildings for the insurance company.

Outhouse previously owned and operated Outhouse Door Company in Schleswig.

He and Shannon Cose have raised a family for 27 years.

Outhouse has been involved in the operation of the local community in a number of ways throughout the years, including serving on the Schleswig City Council. He is currently in the first year of a second four-year term.

As a Schleswig City Council member, Outhouse has gained experience that he said will help him as a member of the board of supervisors.

“You work through the city problems – water lines, sewer lines, sirens – there is always something, and as you work through those challenges, you make connections with different people,” he said.

He said those connections build relationships which are valuable in serving the public.

Outhouse’s commitment to community extends beyond the city council. He has been on the Schleswig Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years. He currently serves on the board for the Crawford County Community Foundation. The foundation board awards grants to nonprofit organizations and community projects throughout the county.

As a member of the Schleswig Enterprise Board, he has a hand in the operation of the Schleswig Community Building.

Outhouse has been preparing for his run for county supervisor by attending the meetings on Tuesday mornings at the courthouse, to learn more about the issues the board is dealing with.

“I wanted to run for the board of supervisors in the past couple elections,” Outhouse said. “Local government is so important, and I want to give the county voters a choice, whether it could benefit me or not, and at the primary, we will have a choice. As someone involved in local government and the community, I care what happens at the city and the county levels.”

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Ty Rosburg

Rosburg wants to continue his work as a supervisor

The development of Crawford County is one of the reasons that Ty Rosburg is seeking a second term on the Crawford County Board of Supervisors. He is one of four Republicans running in the June 4 primary for the two seats up for election.

His life has always been rooted in Crawford County. His grandfather was born at Keating’s Corner, located along Highway 141 between Denison and Charter Oak, and his great-grandparents on the Rosburg side of the family homesteaded west of Ricketts. Rosburg was raised and graduated from high school in Fort Dodge because that’s where his father’s job with Iowa Beef Processors took the family, but Crawford County and Charter Oak Township have always been what Rosburg calls home. He is a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison.

He and his wife, Natalie, raised two boys. Zach takes care of the day-to-day operations of the family business, Rosburg Livestock, a trucking company. Josh lives in Des Moines. Ty and Natalie also have what they consider a daughter, Shaunda.

The Rosburgs have six grandchildren between their two sons, and they also consider Shaunda’s four children as grandchildren.

Rosburg spent nearly a decade in the U.S. Army serving in the U.S. and overseas. When he left the service, he returned to Crawford County and started out in the trucking industry with his uncle, went on his own for a while and then started B Bar R Livestock Transportation with Les Brown. After that, he started Rosburg Livestock.

Rosburg said having to manage budgets and invest wisely as a business owner has helped him as a member of the board of supervisors.

“I understand the importance of making your dollar stretch. You pay good people well, but you can’t overextend your account because you don’t want your entire expense in salaries and benefits, and then you can’t update equipment and do things like that,” he said.

He initially ran for supervisor because he saw some things that weren’t getting done and mentioned the communication tower system as an example.

“It was at a standstill, and I thought I had some ideas to help,” he said.

Rosburg said he wants to serve as supervisor to continue to push for development in the county. One key concept is for Highway 30 to be four lanes throughout the state.

“When I talk to employers, the top three or four questions is what kind of highway system we have,” he said. “A four-lane Highway 30 is something I’ve been working on, and to do that as a supervisor kind of adds a little weight to it.”

He also wants to help advance the conversation about a reservoir project for the county, something that was started in 2001.

“Water reserves are critical for the future of Crawford County. All of our industries use a lot of water, and we can’t continue to rely solely on groundwater,” Rosburg said. “A reservoir will serve multiple purposes. Not only does it provide and protect the water supply and provide for flood mitigation, but you also get an area for development.” 

Quality of life, development and the sustainability of Crawford County are priority #1 for Rosburg. 

Along with serving as a county supervisor, Rosburg serves on multiple committees with the National Association of Counties (NACo), the Highway 30 Coalition, and is on the Governor’s Freight Advisory Council.

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James R. Steinkuehler

Steinkuehler seeks to serve county residents as a supervisor

James R. Steinkuehler, who has served as Crawford County Sheriff for the past 16 years, is among the four Republicans running for supervisor in the June 4 primary. Two seats are up for election.

Steinkuehler is retiring as sheriff in November this year.

He was born and raised in Dow City and graduated in 1976 from Dow City-Arion High School.

He and his wife, Starla, have been married for 40 years and have raised three sons – Ryan, Nick and Cody. Ryan and his wife, Danielle, have three daughters, Kadence, Kenslee and Kaislyn. Nick is employed with the Boyer Valley Community School District. Cody and his wife, Crystal, live in Canada where they own and operate a business.

Through the years, Steinkuehler served as the mayor in both Arion and in Dow City and was on the city councils in both those communities in the past. He was on the Dow City-Arion Fire Department for 34 years and was also a first responder, becoming an EMT. He was president of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Dow City.

At one time he was the parts manager for Flynn and Larsen Service Center, which then became Denison Tractor Trailer. He worked there until the business closed and then worked at Farmland Foods (now Smithfield Foods) for three years. 

Steinkuehler then moved into the law enforcement portion of his career. After Farmland, he served as the police chief for Dow City and Charter Oak. From 2002 to 2008, he was employed with the Denison Police Department.

“In 2008 the position of sheriff came open for election,” Steinkuehler said. “Starla and I discussed it and I decided to run for sheriff. There were seven candidates, and I was elected.

“As sheriff, I took over the K9 unit after the handler resigned to take a police chief position. I oversee 10 deputies, 10 jailers and two office staff and am also in charge of the jail,” he added.

He was appointed by Governor Kim Reynolds to serve on the Iowa Law Enforcement Council. That four-year term will end in 2025.

“I am running for Crawford County supervisor because I believe in budgeting, keeping the county safe and listening to each and everyone’s concerns,” said Steinkuehler. “I have met a lot of citizens in the past 16 years and would love to meet more. I believe that I can continue to look out for the people of Crawford County if considered for the position of supervisor.”

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Grassley to conduct town meeting in Crawford and Shelby counties next week

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) will conduct a public town meeting in Crawford County on April 24 and in Shelby County on April 25 as part of his annual 99 county meetings across Iowa. 

This is Grassley’s 44th consecutive year of holding at least one meeting in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. During the meetings, Grassley takes questions or comments on any subject.

The Crawford County town meeting will run from 3 to 4 p.m. at the community room at the Denison Municipal Utilities service center, 721 Broadway.

The Shelby County town meeting will run from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. at the Harlan Public Library, 718 Court Street.

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Courthouse News

April 5-11, 2024

NON-SCHEDULED TRAFFIC

• Brandon Lee Miles, Manning, leave scene of accident, fail to provide aid or information, $269.01.

SCHEDULED TRAFFIC

• Luis Angel Garcia Rubio, Denison, no valid driver’s license, $354.

• Kasia Marie Rodkey, Ida Grove, operating non-registered vehicle, $135.50.

• Jorge Mendoza, Storm Lake, following too close, $210.25.

• Cameron Schofield, Charter Oak, no valid driver’s license, $354.

• Cameron Schofield, Charter Oak, careless driving, $112.50.

• Ryan Michael Scholl, Platte, SD, failure to maintain or use safety belts, adult, $135.50.

• Kent Allen Krager, Ida Grove, failure to maintain or use safety belts, adult, $135.50.

• Dylan Thomas Martens, Harlan, operating non-registered vehicle, $135.50.

• Mitchell John Kerkhoff, Manning, failure to maintain or use safety belts, adult, $135.50.

• Jose Miguel Montepeque Gonzalez, Denison, dark window or windshield, $135.50.

• Anthony Samuel Cabrera, Denison, fail to maintain or use safety belts, $135.50.

Speeding (21 mph or over)

• Evan Marcus Ewoldt, Dow City, $348.25.

Speeding (6-10 mph over)

• Luis Angel Garcia Rubio, Denison, $118.25.

• Julia Dawn Free, Breda, $118.25.

• Rebekah L. Fritzler Moritz, Omaha, NE, $118.25.

• Isaiah Donald Curie, Gretna, NE, $118.25.

• Anthony Samuel Cabrera, Denison, $118.25.

Speeding (1-5 mph over)

• Nolan Allan Neddermeyer, Charter Oak, $106.75

• Lisley R. Rodriguez Valladares, Hialeah, FL, $89.50.

• Shari Ann Carey, Odebolt, $106.75.

• Ludin Manuel Lima Lopez, Denison, $89.50.

• Maria Dolores Castillo Esparza, Harlan, $89.50.

• Robin Courtney Voss, Underwood, $89.50.

• Christopher Michael Sliefert, Sac City, $89.50.

• Jocelyn Lee Harnish, Council Bluffs, $89.50.

• Connor C. Zegar, Lincoln, NE, $89.50.

• Manuel Rojo Esparza, Omaha, NE, $89.50.

• Ashlee Thyra Killian Foster, Odebolt, $89.50.

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