A two-year investigation by Waterloo police, postal inspectors and the F-B-I’s led to the arrest of an eastern Iowa man in a check cashing scheme. 56-year-old Morris Dodd Junior of La Porte City was arrested Monday at the Waterloo Police Department. Dodd’s accused of opening accounts at least five Iowa banks using counterfeit checks totaling over 126-thousand dollars. Dodd then allegedly wired the money to associates in Nigeria using bank accounts in Switzerland, China and Taiwan. He faces charges of ongoing criminal conduct. Two people in Decator, Georgia were charged and pleaded guilty to fraud in the case.
Burlington man faces decades in prison over drugs and guns
November 30, 2004 By
A 28-year-old Burlington man will spend a couple of decades in a federal prison for drug and gun crimes. Neighbors of George Edwin Davis called Burlington police this past January to report gunshots. When cops arrived, Davis told them his 18-year-old girlfriend had just committed suicide in the house. The cops then got a search warrant, and found a meth-making lab, as well as the ingredients for making the illegal drug. Officers also found several guns, including a sawed-off shotgun. In August, Davis pled guilty to making and distributing meth as well as possession of an illegal gun. He was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison.
U-of-I fraternity suspended over alcohol use
November 30, 2004 By
A University of Iowa fraternity is in hot water over alcohol. University of Iowa officials have suspended the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity on campus for five years. An investigation by the university found alcohol had been given to pledges at the Iowa City “Pike” house on October 20th. The frat house, which is supposed to be “dry,” is also in trouble for what university officials consider a bit of hazing of the pledges. The University of Iowa dean of students says the university is committed to eradicating all forms of illegal alcohol use and inappropriate membership activities by the Greek community. All fraternities and sororities at the University of Iowa are supposed to be alcohol-free zones. The alcohol ban went into effect in 1995 after a fraternity pledge passed out and died after excessive drinking.
Teen arrested in Marshalltown credit union robbery
November 30, 2004 By
A teenage boy has been arrested in the robbery of a Marshalltown Credit Union Monday. Marshalltown The robbery happened just before noon and Marshalltown Police Chief Lon Walker says his department got some help in making the arrest.He says they got a tip after hearing a description of the suspect on the radio and saw someone fitting the description get into a vehicle a few blocks away from the robbery. Walker says they received a second tip soon after the first and that led to the arrest of 15-year old is Fernando Samuel Garcia. Walker says there’s plenty of evidence linking Garcia to the crime. He says they recovered the money,the gun, the ski mask, the sweatshirt, the pants, the gloves and the shoes that he was wearing at the time. He says they have footprints from the scene that match the shoes. Walker say they recovered all the money the credit union said was stolen, but he wouldn’t give an amount. Walker credits the community members who helped lead police to the suspect.He says it’s one of the goods things about living in a small town, “where neighbors are looking after neighbors and are concerned with the welfare of the community.” Walker says they would’ve had a difficult time solving the crime without the tips. Garcia is being held at the Eldora youth detention facility while the police department confers with the F-B-I on whether the boy will face federal or state charges.
Thanksgiving dinner makes some sick in Cedar Falls
November 30, 2004 By
Some people who attended a Thanksgiving Day dinner in northeast Iowa last week got more than a free meal. Over 700 people showed up for the annual dinner last Thursday at Cedar Heights Presbyterian Church in Cedar Falls. A local Hy-Vee food store catered most of the meal. But for some who chose to spend the holiday at the church, eating the dinner may not have been a good thing. The church’s pastor Cathy Young says about 100 people got sick after the dinner. Local health officials don’t know if the food catered by Hy-Vee caused the illnesses, or if it was something else. Black Hawk County health inspectors are trying to pin-point the cause.
Senator says Presidential visit to Canada could ease tensions
November 30, 2004 By
President Bush heads for Canada this afternoon for two days of talks, his first official trip to that nation after nearly four years in office. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says Bush’s visit to Canada should help patch up relations with our neighbor to the north, which Grassley says have been strained. Grassley says the trip “is very positive for Iowa and for the United States as a whole” because the relationship between our countries has “soured” since Canada doesn’t support the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Grassley says there is an “undercurrent” in Canada that Americans ignore Canada and don’t care what Canadians think. Grassley says Bush’s trip to two locations in Canada should be a reaffirmation to the Canadian people that our friendship is very strong. Grassley says there could be one negative side effect from Bush’s trade mission to Canada — and it deals with the livestock industry and Mad Cow disease. He says Canada is putting a lot of pressure on the U.S. to lift its embargo of Canadian beef which, if it happens, would likely drop beef prices for U.S. producers. Grassley says Canada will eventually be able to guarantee the safety of its beef supply and the U.S. will again accept exports of Canadian beef — just as the U.S. is pushing Japan to take American beef after a Mad Cow scare one year ago.
Close quarters could lead to flu
November 30, 2004 By
‘Tis the season of holiday hugs and kisses. It’s also the season where illnesses are spread faster than running reindeer. Some churches are eliminating the traditional handshaking at the start of services to cut down on potential germ-spreading contact. Cerro Gordo County epidemiologist Gretchen Nissen says flu cases will likely appear in Iowa soon. As much as it’s a special time of year to get together with family and friends, Nissen says people who are sick should consider staying at home so they don’t spread their bug to others. Nissen says just using common sense when being around people is a key to preventing the spread of illnesses like the flu or whooping cough.She says rules of basic hygiene apply — if you’re coughing, cover your mouth. When you sneeze, use a tissue and throw it away. Wash your hands frequently. Nissen says even though there have not been any confirmed reports of the flu in the state as yet, we probably will start seeing some in the near future.For more information about keeping healthy during the holiday season, you can refer to the state health department’s website at “www.idph.state.ia.us”.
