CNA-01-27-2015

Page 1

PANTHER LOSS

FRANCHISE FEE

The Creston Panthers girls basketball team went cold late in a loss to Interstate 35 Monday evening. More in SPORTS, page 1S.

Read a column from Creston Mayor Warren Woods about the franchise fee and upcoming city budget on page 4A of today’s newspaper. >>

creston

News Advertiser

SHAW MEDIA GROUP SERVING SW IOWA SINCE 1879 BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE AT WWW.CRESTONNEWS.COM

TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015

Huntsman charged, allegedly steals $500K By BAILEY POOLMAN

CNA staff reporter bpoolman@crestonnews.com

Lyndsay Jo Huntsman, 44, of Creston was charged with ongoing criminal conduct and five counts of first-degree theft after turning herself in Monday at Union County Law Enforcement Center. The charges stem from a fourmonth investigation by Creston Police Department and Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI). A DCI report shows Huntsman misappropriated more than $500,000 from Creston Automotive business accounts. According to a Creston Police

report, between Jan. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2014, Huntsman committed multiple thefts for financial gain on a continual basis, and knowing- Huntsman ly acquired or maintained, directly or indirectly, interest in or control of real property through specified unlawful activity, theft or embezzlement of funds. “With those five charges combined, it shows ongoing criminal conduct, so they’re able to charge the ongoing criminal conduct,” said Mike Motsinger, DCI special

An initial appearance for Lyndsay Huntsman, former office manager at Creston Automotive, is slated 9:30 a.m. Friday. She was charged Monday with ongoing criminal conduct and five counts of first-degree theft. ■

agent in charge. “It was multiple thefts over a time period. During her employment, she made several thefts.” Each count of first-degree theft is for each year Huntsman misappropriated property. “Now it’s in the criminal courts, so they’ll set up a preliminary hearing date, and it’ll just proceed through the court system,”

Businessmen draft petition challenging franchise fee By KYLE WILSON

CNA managing editor kwilson@crestonnews.com

The city’s proposed franchise fee is receiving more resistance this week. Creston businessmen have drafted a petition opposing the fee and Mike Tamerius — co-owner of Precision Optical in Creston — said they’ve already collected enough signatures to hold a special election if Creston City Council does, in fact, decide to impose the fee. (Read more about the fee, right) A special election would give citizens the chance to vote for or against the franchise fee. “This petition is the collective effort of several businesses and industries as well as residential property owners who don’t feel like their voice was being heard,” Tamerius said. “We hope we don’t have to present this petition to the council at all. We hope they look at other ways (to resolve budget issues) and let this die.” Sandy Hysell, auditor in Union County, said 55 signatures were needed on this petition because only 548 people voted in the last city election (10 percent needed). Tamerius said more than 200 signatures have been collected so far. But, a special election doesn’t come without a price tag. Hysell estimated a special election would cost petitioners $5,000. Tamerius said 10 supporters have already committed financially to pay $500 each. Tamerius said — if the Please see FRANCHISE FEE, Page 2

This franchise fee would replace the 1-percent local-option sales tax (LOST) currently on your Alliant Energy bill. The fee — if passed at two more readings — would increase all electric and natural gas bills inside city limits including residential, industrial and commercial property. The only exemptions under the fee will be city-owned properties. How much? The franchise fee was originally proposed by the city at 5 percent on your bill, but was amended by Creston City Council prior to the first reading Jan. 20. The amended version would impose a 2 percent franchise fee on your Alliant Energy bill in October 2015, then will increase to 3 percent in April 2016, 4 percent in 2018 and 5 percent by 2020. At the full 5 percent, some businesses would pay an extra $100,000 in utility costs each year while residential users would be looking at anywhere from $50 to $300 extra annually. Mike Taylor, city administrator, has said the franchise fee is needed during this difficult budget year because “revenue streams for cities are drying up and this is one way to capture additional revenue.” The franchise fee would generate about $150,000 per percentage point meaning — at the full 5 percent — the city would receive about $600,000 in extra funding annually.

double homicide in osceola

59 33

OST photo by AMY HANSEN

Osceola Police Chief Marty Duffus, left, speaks during a press conference Monday at Clarke County Law Enforcement Center. Also pictured are Michael Motsinger, a special agent in charge of Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, center, and Clarke County Sheriff Bill Kerns.

Four Osceola residents charged in double homicide By AMY HANSEN

OST news editor ahansen@osceolaiowa.com

Four Osceola residents have been charged in connection with a double homicide that occurred in the Osceola area. On Saturday, Jan. 24, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Osceola Police Department received a report of two persons who had gone missing during the evening hours on Friday, Jan. 23. After further investigation, the two missing persons were located in a vehicle at 1305 255th Ave., Osceola, in rural northern Clarke County, deceased. It appears both victims died of gunshot wounds. The following people have been charged in this case: • Richard Ryan Lamb Carson, 38, Osceola — two counts of first-degree murder. • Lynn Ranean Sutton, 47, Osceola — one count of accessory after the fact. • Tracy Kay Johnson, 43, Osceola — one count of accessory after the fact.

CONNECT WITH US crestonnews.com | online 641-782-2141 | phone 641-782-6628 | fax Follow us on Facebook

COMPLETE WEATHER 3A

Creston News Advertiser 503 W. Adams Street | Box 126 Creston, IA 50801-0126

Copyright 2015

Please see HUNTSMAN, Page 2

FRANCHISE FEE BACKGROUND

WEDNESDAY WEATHER

PRICE 75¢

Motsinger said. “Once we hand it to the county attorney’s office, it falls in their hands, getting everything lined up in the court system.” Huntsman has been released on $25,000 bond. Tim Kenyon, Union County attorney, said Huntsman’s initial appearance is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday, during which a pre-

liminary hearing will be scheduled. Kenyon also explained the maximum sentencing for the charges. “The theft, first, is what they call a class C felony, and that maximum would be 10 years’ prison on each one. ... And the fine is $1,000 to $10,000, so that would be times five. So, that could be up to 50 years,” Kenyon said. “The other one is what they call a class B felony, and that carries a prison sentence maximum of 25 years, and there’s no fine on that. ... So, potentially, she’s looking at a maximum sentence of 75 years.”

Volume 131 No. 170

2014

If you do not receive your CNA by 5 p.m. call 641-782-2141, ext. 6450. Papers will be redelivered in Creston until 6:30 p.m. Phones will be answered until 7 p.m.

Carson

Sutton

• Christopher Martin Elben, 42, Osceola — one count of accessory after the fact. Accessory after the fact is a result of the suspects helping the perpetrator after the crime had occurred. The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notifications of the family. An autopsy is being planned for today at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny. The victims were adult men in their early 20s. The investigation is ongoing, however, it appears this is an isolated incident and the public is not in danger. Press conference A press conference was held 11

Johnson

Elben

a.m Monday, Jan. 26, at Clarke County Law Enforcement Center. It was led by Osceola Police Chief Marty Duffus, Clarke County Sheriff Bill Kerns and Michael Motsinger, a special agent in charge of Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation. Osceola Police Department is being assisted by Clarke County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Duffus said Carson and the victims are acquaintances. The victims were also acquaintances with each other. Two of the suspects charged are boyfriend and girlfriend and the Please see HOMICIDE, Page 2

Become a Fan on Facebook! facebook.com/crestonnewsadvertiser


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.