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THURSDAY, FEBURARY 5, 2015
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Carson claims self-defense in double homicide By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
An Osceola man charged with double homicide is claiming self-defense. Richard Ryan Lamb Carson, 38, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Erick Reyna, 22, and Noe Flores Rascon, 27, both of Osceola. On Saturday, Jan. 24, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Osceola Police
Department received a report that Reyna and Rascon had gone missing during the evening hours on Friday, Jan. 23. After further Carson investigation, the two men were located Sunday, Jan. 25, in a vehicle at 1305 255th Ave., Osceola, in rural northern Clarke County. They were deceased. It ap-
pears both victims died of gunshot wounds. Court report According to court documents, a female reported, “Carson spoke of beating up her two friends and taking them into the county to dump them off.” The documents state Carson told state investigators that he did get into an altercation with Rascon while in a vehicle outside of a residence in Osceola. Carson said that during the altercation, a gun was
presented and discharged. Carson later told state investigators, “It was self-defense.” Three other Osceola residents have been charged in connection to the double homicide: • Lynn Ranean Sutton, 47 — one count of accessory after the fact. • Tracy Kay Johnson, 43 — one count of accessory after the fact. • Christopher Martin Elben, 42 — one count of accessory after the fact. Accessory after the fact is a re-
Pushed into fall OST news editor ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
School district’s in Iowa used to take for granted their waiver for an early start date would be easily approved by the state. Not anymore. In December, state school officials learned Gov. Branstad’s Iowa Department of Education will no longer automatically grant waivers to start classes earlier than state law requires, which is the week of Sept. 1. Many Iowa schools start in the middle of August. However, Branstad has said starting school early in August hurts
By AMY HANSEN
OST news editor • ahansen@osceolaiowa.com
A burglary at a popular Osceola restaurant caused it to go out of business for a day. The burglary occurred at The Iron Horse Neighborhood Grill between the hours of late night Monday, Jan. 26, and early morning of Tuesday, Jan. 27. According to a message on the Iron Horse’s Facebook page, the restaurant was closed for business Tuesday, Jan. 27, because of the burglary. Tablets “The reason they were closed is the little electronic tablets that they use for the customer orders, those were tak- Duffus en, along with some other things,” said Osceola Police Chief Marty Duffus said. Duffus said he believes the tablets would be worth money if sold illegally by a suspect, but the tablets appear to be “fairly industry specific.” “I don’t know if they can be wiped and reused in another way. I don’t know that.
the state’s tourism industry and Iowa State Fair activities. “This is not a partisan issue. There are Democrats and Republicans on either side of the issue, probably in similar numbers,” said Sen. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, during a legislative luncheon Friday, Jan. 23, at Lakeside Casino. “It’s truly not a Democrat or Republican issue. It’s an issue of what’s best for Iowa and we need to look at it as such.” A lot tougher There are now tougher guidelines and restrictions for schools to have an early start date waiver approved. Sinclair said the new waivers must show a strong, educational benefit proven behind the request. Finishing the first semester before winter break won’t be considered a valid reason for an early start date. This issue has frustrated many school districts that have already set the calendar for the upcoming 2015-16 school years. Bills Sinclair said there are currently bills in the Iowa House and Senate that essentially remove the Sept. 1 start date. She said the bill in the Iowa House has passed out of its subcommittee and the bill for the Senate’s subcommittee will be on the docket during a hearing. “It boils down to a question of local control, or an economic stimulator from the state fair, and some folks particularly in northern Iowa with lake areas who have a big tourism industry,” Sinclair said. “So, the question is, what’s best for Iowa and what’s best for kids?” What needs to happen, Sinclair said, is to come to a point of compromise on maintaining the level of adequate control for the state’s school districts. Sinclair said she supports local control of the process. “I don’t want to go down the slippery slope of removing local control,” she said. “Pretty sure my supervisors
OST photo by AMY HANSEN
Sen. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton, discusses the Sept. 1 school start date issue during a legislative luncheon Friday, Jan. 23, at Lakeside Casino.
Please see SCHOOL START DATE, Page 4
OST photo by AMY HANSEN
How much?: A ruler stuck in the snow by the office of Osceola Sentinel-Tribune measures
how much accumulation had fallen by the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 1. At the time, it was approximately 10 inches and snow was still falling. The snow storm began Saturday, Jan. 31, and continued until late the next day. Central Iowa saw 10-14 inches of snow fall during the storm. In related winter news, Monday, Feb. 2, was Groundhog’s Day and Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means a prediction of six more weeks of winter. SINGLE COPY PRICE: 75¢
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Index Obituary .......................3 Editorial ........................4 Church Directory .........5 Classifieds ...................9
Neighbors ....................6 Public Notices ......... 6-7 Record .........................2 Sports...........................8
Please see CARSON, Page 4
Burglary causes Iron Horse to close for a day
Sept. 1 school start date draws lengthy dicussion during legislative luncheon By AMY HANSEN
sult of the suspects helping the perpetrator after the crime had occurred. Press conference A press conference was held 11 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
That was very interesting to all of us,” he said. If the tablets are industry specific to the restaurant business, they are worthless, Duffus said. According to an update from The Iron Horse, the tablets are iPad 2s. Duffus said he doesn’t believe any cash money was taken from the restaurant. “There were other things taken that I’m going to hold onto, because if and when we do develop a suspect, in an interview, I want to make sure they’re the right ones,” he said. Break-in Because of an ongoing investigation, Duffus couldn’t give specific examples of how the break-in occurred. “It’s a question that, let’s just put it (this way), they damaged the building,” he said. According to Duffus, there’s a chance the burglary could have been done by only one individual. He said a good place to start the investigation might be a disgruntled former or current employee. “You really don’t know that until you are farther into being able to identify the actual suspect,” he said. “Then, you start to identify Please see BURGLARY, Page 4
OST photo by AMY HANSEN
Winter wonderland?: Snow is piled high on the square in Osceola near Clarke County
Courthouse. The biggest snow storm of this winter season, so far, began the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 31, and continued until late Sunday, Feb. 1. It made travel difficult with roads across the entire state being mostly to completely covered. Johnston had an area high of 14.2 inches of snow. This storm also hit during a big travel day because it was the weekend of Super Bowl Sunday. Area schools were even closed Monday, Feb. 2, because of the storm.
Weather Your Local Weather Thu
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Mainly sunny. Highs in
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Considerable cloudiness.
Don’t Forget Fry Times
A new edition of Rep. Joel Fry’s “The Fry Times” is featured on page 4.
the mid teens and lows clouds. Highs in the upHighs in the upper 30s CHECK OUT OSCEOLAIOWA.COM FOR DAILY UPDATED DEATH NOTICES AND SPORTS. in the low teens. per 30sNEWS, and lows in the and lows in the mid 20s.