RALLY FALLS SHORT
FIREWORKS DONATION
The Southwestern women’s basketball team fell short in its rally Monday night against Kansas City Kansas Community College. For more on the Spartans, see SPORTS, page 7A. >>
Friends of the Lake committee is asking for donations toward the Adams County fireworks display at the Fourth of July. For more information, see page 2A. >>
creston
News Advertiser
SHAW MEDIA GROUP SERVING SW IOWA SINCE 1879 BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE AT WWW.CRESTONNEWS.COM
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Teenager charged in Iowa House OKs $117 slew of thefts
million in cuts to resolve shortfall DES MOINES (AP) — Republican lawmakers have approved legislation to patch a shortfall in Iowa’s $7.2 billion budget. The GOP-controlled House voted Monday night for a bill that will cut about $117 million. The Republican-led Senate has already passed the legislation and Gov. Terry Branstad has indicated support. The reductions require departments to cut about $88 million from the budget that began last July.
An additional $25 million would come from various funds and about $4 million would be saved from unused tax credits. The bill includes an $18 million cut to Iowa’s three public universities and a $3 million cut to Iowa’s Judicial Branch, which oversees courts. Republicans say the reductions will minimize the shortfall’s impact, but Democrats argue it will hurt critical areas of government.
CNA file photo
A Creston Police vehicle sits in front of a business during a burglary investigation in 2015. Creston Police officers investigated another slew of burglaries from vehicles, and charged Johnathan Michael Palmer of Creston with 13 counts of third-degree burglary. Pending charges are possible in the incidents.
By BAILEY POOLMAN
CNA staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com
Johnathan Michael Palmer, 18, 617 N. Pine St., was charged with 13 counts of third-deg r e e burglary from a motor vehicle 6 p.m. M o n d a y Palmer at his residence after a slew of thefts were reported. According to a Creston Police report, at 6 p.m. Friday, Palmer committed third-degree burglary by entering unoccupied
vehicles with the intent to commit theft. The vehicles, located at 1401 Elm Drive, 501 N. Birch St., 1200 N. Division St., 1201 N. Chestnut St., 1502 N. Elm St., 1402 N. Elm St., 616 N. Mulberry St., 805 E. Irving St., 1103 N. Division St., 403 N. Poplar St., 400 N. Chestnut St., and 1026 N. Chestnut St., belonged to 12 different people. “The cars were unlocked, sitting along the street,” said Creston Police Chief Paul Ver Meer. “I think some might have been in the driveway, but I don’t know for sure.” Ver Meer said items taken were small, such as coins and cash, as well as things like an address
book. “We knew a general area where these were occurring, so we set up a little more aggressive patrol in those areas,” Ver Meer said. “Officers, during those patrols, located two subjects, and during investigation determined that they were the ones involved.” Palmer was being held on $2,000 bond. “Make sure you lock your cars, even in Creston, even in your driveway. Keep valuables out of sight,” Ver Meer continued. “If you have something in your car for work or something like that, like a computer, keep it in your trunk or bring it in the house with you.”
“MAKE sure you lock your cars, even in Creston, even in your driveway.”
__
PAUL VER MEER
Creston Police chief
Ver Meer also said the police officers are still investigating a string of thefts that occurred around Christmastime, when various Christmas decorations and ornaments were taken. There are possible charges pending against at least two other subjects in the incidents. More information will be released as it becomes available.
Trump fires Justice Dep’t head over clash on refugee ban WASHINGTON (AP) — In an extraordinary public showdown, President Donald Trump fired the acting attorney general of the United States after she publicly questioned the constitutionality of his refugee and immigration ban and refused to defend it in court. The clash Monday night between Trump and Sally Yates, a career prosecutor and Democratic appointee, laid bare the growing discord and dissent surrounding an
executive order that halted the entire U.S. refugee program and banned all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days. The firing, in a written statement released just hours after Yates went public with her concerns, also served as a warning to other administration officials that Trump is prepared to terminate those who refuse to carry out his orders. BAN | 12A
Company: Size of Iowa diesel pipeline spill overestimated HANLONTOWN (AP) — Pipeline officials say far less diesel fuel than feared spilled from a broken pipeline in north-central Iowa. Magellan Midstream Partners officials initially estimated that nearly 139,000 gallons spilled when the pipeline broke near Hanlontown on Wednesday. But the company told the Mason City Globe Gazette Monday that it has reported a new estimate of nearly 47,000 gallons to federal authorities. Magellan spokesman Bruce Heine said the Tulsa,
Oklahoma-based company reached the new estimate by calculating how much diesel had to be pumped in to get the pipeline back online. The 12-inch pipeline returned to service Saturday. Iowa authorities have said the diesel didn’t reach any bodies of water. Contaminated snow and diesel are being hauled to a facility in Minneapolis. David Miller with the Iowa Natural Resources Department said Tuesday that the tainted soil is going to a landfill near Lake Mills, Iowa.
WEDNESDAY WEATHER
34 16
CONNECT WITH US
Creston News Advertiser 503 W. Adams Street | Box 126 Creston, IA 50801-0126
Copyright 2017
Aubree Weland perform “What is a Family?” Monday afternoon at Creston Community Elementary School during the first-grade musical program “We Are Family.”
crestonnews.com | online 641-782-2141 | phone 641-782-6628 | fax Follow us on Facebook
COMPLETE WEATHER 3A
PRICE $1.00
CNA photo by SCOTT VICKER
Family: Creston Community first-grade students, from left, Haileigh Lundy, Danikka Barber, Nevaeh Pena, Nate Wallace and
Volume 133 No. 172
2016
If you do not receive your CNA by 5 p.m. call 641-782-2141, ext. 6420. Papers will be redelivered in Creston until 5:30 p.m. Phones will be answered until 6 p.m.
facebook.com/crestonnewsadvertiser