Iowa News

ANKENY CHILD DIES        Iowa man given life sentence for baby’s death        (Information in the following story is from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com)        ANKENY, Iowa (AP) -An Ankeny man who killed his infant daughter two years ago has been sentenced to life in prison.        The Des Moines Register (http://dmreg.co/TT3OkO ) reports Ryan Trowbridge was sentenced Tuesday in Polk County.        He was convicted in October after a bench trial of first-degree murder and child endangerment causing death.        Prosecutors say injuries on 4-month-old daughter Rylee were consistent with being grabbed and shaken. Trowbridge told authorities he put his daughter on a bed for a nap and then discovered her trapped between the headboard and mattress.        Trowbridge’s attorney says his client will appeal his conviction.

MANCHESTER DEATHS        Iowa attorney wants interview out of homicide case        (Information in the following story is from: The Gazette, http://www.gazetteonline.com/)        MANCHESTER, Iowa (AP) – An attorney for a man facing charges in a double homicide in Manchester wants part of a police interview kept out of his client’s upcoming trial.        The Gazette (http://bit.ly/XPKs2y ) reports an attorney for Brandon Ahlers argued at a hearing Tuesday that police expressed or implied leniency during an interview in return for Ahlers’ statements. A judge will make a ruling on the request at a later date.        Ahlers is charged with aiding and abetting in the killings of Richard and Janet Sweet in May 2011. Prosecutors say he suggested to his friend, Isaiah Sweet, on different ways to kill the couple.        Sweet is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of his grandparents.        Both have pleaded not guilty. Their trials are scheduled to begin in March.

BULLDOZER DEATH        Officials identify Iowa man killed by bulldozer        (Information in the following story is from: The Quad City-Times, http://qctimes.com/)        DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – Authorities have identified a construction worker in Davenport who was killed after becoming trapped underneath a bulldozer.        The Quad City-Times (http://bit.ly/XORynX ) reports Thomas McLachlan was operating the machinery Tuesday morning when an embankment he was grading gave way and the equipment tipped over.        Hawkeye Paving posted on its website that McLachlan has been the company’s lead operator since 1987.        The accident briefly closed traffic near the construction site, which is scheduled to be a hotel and retail complex.

CITY CLERK        Former city clerk in Iowa gets jail time for theft        (Information in the following story is from: Globe Gazette, http://www.globegazette.com/)        FOREST CITY, Iowa (AP) – A former city clerk in Scarville has been given jail time for tampering with city records.        The Mason City Globe Gazette (http://bit.ly/USuAtp ) reports Jolene Carter was sentenced Tuesday in Winnebago County District Court to 30 days in jail. She also must pay about $20,000 in restitution to the city.        Prosecutors say Carter issued paychecks to herself totaling nearly $8,000. A report by the state auditor caught the misuse, including by Scarville Mayor Michelle Hermanson.        Hermanson pleaded guilty to theft and other charges in November. She will be sentenced in January.

MISSING COUSINS        Mother of Iowa girl worries about details on death        (Information in the following story is from: KWWL-TV, http://www.kwwl.com)        EVANSDALE, Iowa (AP) – The mother of one of two Iowa girls whose bodies were recently found says she doesn’t want to know how her daughter was killed.        Waterloo television station KWWL (http://bit.ly/RnsZgd ) reports Heather Collins says she doesn’t need to know what anyone did to Elizabeth Collins because it’s in God’s hands. She says her daughter is up in heaven.        Authorities confirmed Monday that two bodies found last week belonged to Elizabeth and her cousin, Lyric Cook. Hunters found the bodies in the Seven Bridges Wildlife Area, about 25 miles from where the girls were last seen.        Heather Collins says she worries about learning possible gruesome details as the investigation moves forward.        Elizabeth was 8 and Lyric was 10 when they went for a bike ride in July and didn’t return.

IOWA-EMERALD ASH BORER        Destructive beetles found in northeast Iowa        DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Destructive insects known for killing ash trees have been found in new locations in northeast Iowa.        The state Department of Natural Resources says insect larvae consistent with the emerald ash borer have been found in two trees in Allamakee (al-uh-MAK’-ee) County.        The county has been under quarantine since 2010 when the insect was discovered along the Mississippi River.        Officials say the discoveries are the furthest west the invasive pests have been spotted. It also is the first time emerald ash borer has been found in sentinel trees in the state. Those are trees purposely girdled to attract the beetles. More than 400 of those trees are being checked as part of a surveillance effort.        Nearly 1,200 insect traps were placed this summer, mostly in eastern Iowa.

 

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