A farmers co-op that has called Arlington home for more than a century is closing its doors at the end of this year. The Viafield location off State Highway 187 made an official announcement last week. Farmers were able to use the location to dump grain and pick up bag feed. With this closure, farmers in the area will need to go further for the services, some looking at doubling or tripling their current mileage, which can add extra costs for fuel or grain hauling.
An eastern Iowa official is participating in a trial for a COVID-19 booster shot–and it’s the second time she’s been part of one. Cedar Rapids City Council member Ashley Vanorny went to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Friday for a booster shot manufactured by Pfizer. The trial is expected to last a year. Vanorny received the first of two Pfizer shots in August of last year. At the time, she did not know whether she received the vaccine or a placebo. She also does not know whether her shot Friday was a placebo.
A Mason City Dairy Queen employee arrived at work Saturday morning to open the business. The employee entered and encountered a man inside, who then threatened the employee with a knife. The employee was able to get away and called police. The subject was gone before police arrived. An investigation is ongoing.
One of two inmates accused of killing a prison nurse and correctional officer during an escape attempt has confessed in court to beating both with a hammer. Thomas Woodard, Jr. entered pleas of guilty Friday in Jones County District Court to two counts of first-degree murder, one count of kidnapping and one count of attempted murder. The 38-year-old Woodard and his co-defendant, 29-year-old Michael Dutcher, were accused in the March 23 deaths of nurse Lorena Schulte and correctional officer Robert McFarland. Investigators have said the pair used hammers to beat Schulte and McFarland to death and to seriously injure an inmate who tried to stop the attack at the Anamosa State Penitentiary. Dutcher is awaiting trial.
Des Moines Police are investigating after a woman was found dead in the parking lot of a business on Sunday. Police responded to 801 SE 14th Street around 9 a.m. and found a woman dead in the parking lot of an automotive repair shop. Officials say there is no indication of what they called “criminal contributing factors”.
A Dubuque man accused of killing an 80-year-old woman in her home has been ordered held on $2 million cash bond. 60-year-old Mark Fishler had the bond set Friday following his arrest on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the death last month of Berniece Williamson. Police say a family friend who was asked to check on Williamson found the woman’s body on July 15 just inside her basement door with a roll of carpet over her head and blood on the floor. Police say video and other evidence pointed to Fishler.
Police in Des Moines say a resident shot an armed intruder who broke into an apartment. Police say the incident happened around 12:30 early Friday morning, when a man armed with a handgun broke into an apartment along Lincoln Avenue. Police say the intruder assaulted and threatened residents inside the apartment before he was shot by one of the residents. Investigators say the intruder fled the scene and later showed up with a bullet wound at an emergency room. He is expected to recover.
Des Moines police also investigating a shooting that left one person injured Saturday night. Calls of shots fired came in around 10:30 p.m. in the 3200 block of SE 19th Street. Police say one car left the area. One person suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.
