Author: Yorke Prough

The Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force has been conducting an in-depth investigation over the past several months into a suspected drug network operating in Burlington, Iowa. This investigation culminated in the execution of a search warrant at 312 Spring Street, Burlington.

On June 6th at approximately 1:45 P.M. officers from the Task Force, with the assistance of local law enforcement agencies, carried out the search warrant at the residence located at 312 Spring Street. This operation is part of a broader effort to dismantle drug trafficking operations within the region and ensure the safety and well-being of the community.

Tony Rettig, 57, was arrested and faces multiple charges, after methamphetamine and marijuana were seized.

On Thursday, June 6th, 2024 at approximately 12:45 p.m. the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office and Ottumwa Fire Department recovered (Deceased) the body of Skiller Amo, age 36 of Ottumwa, on the Des Moines River.

Mr. Amo was located just south of the Ottumwa Water Pollution Facility southeast of Ottumwa.

*Original post*

On Sunday, June 2nd, 2024, at approximately 4:21 p.m.; The Ottumwa Police Department received a report of an adult male subject who was last seen swimming in the Des Moines River. It was reported that the subject went swimming earlier in the day with a group of individuals in the Des Moines River near the Hwy 34 overpass bridge next to the JBS plant in Ottumwa, Iowa.

A search was conducted last night by the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office.

The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office, Ottumwa Fire Department, Eldon Fire Department, and the Iowa DNR are currently still searching the river and embankments.

The identity of the missing individual is currently being withheld.

Summer is a great time to relax while children splash in swim in the pool. It might be difficult to keep an eye on your children at all times, which is partly why it’s recommended to have your kids wear neon bathing suits with light colored patterns. This makes it easier to see your children and ensure that they can splash all they want if they are in your eyesight.

Former Iowa State Representative and Congresswoman hopeful, Christina Bohannan, stopped by the Belle Center as part of the Rural Restoration Project, to hear directly from constituents on educational matters.

As a professor of Law at the University of Iowa, Bohannan spent the day traveling the Congressional District to better understand the needs of the people. As someone who grew up in a town of 700 people, she understands the need for rural schools, and wants more of a focus on building those up. She mentioned that education is something that needs investment, and the country does not want to fall behind other countries, such as China.

Some of the concerns brought up during the meeting include the school lunch program, with kids not getting enough food, more funding for mental health resources, such as mental health professionals servicing one building rather than multiple school districts at the same time. Success was also a key issue, with the idea of judging student success not on test scores, but on a variety of factors.

Bohannan made it clear that she does not support widespread student loan forgiveness, however, she would like to explore the idea of targeting certain loans. For example, if a teacher were to spend 5 years working in an area that was starved for educators, that person might see forgiveness.

Bohannan will be looking for a different outcome in her November rematch against Miller-Meeks.

The Henry County Attorney, Darin Stater, spoke in front of the Henry County Board of Supervisors on Thursday morning to discuss the handling of a criminal case which took place last spring in Henry County. There was disagreement between the Sheriff’s Office and the County Attorney on interpretation of a statement in the report. The county attorney did not pursue prosecution of the case and chose to place the officer mentioned on the Brady-Giglio list.

Because the County Attorney did not pursue the case further, Henry County Sheriff Rich McNamee spoke to the Henry County Supervisors and requested outside counsel on this case, which was something the county and Sheriff’s Department had done in the past on a number of cases. After their discussion, the Sheriff’s Department was operating under the assumption  they were given permission to pursue counsel. Furthermore, the Supervisors approved payments to the counsel totaling $3,200 between February 13 and May 21 of this year. However, County Attorney Stater explained to the Supervisors they did not follow proper procedure and file an official resolution with the assistance of the his office and therefore, they could not pay outside counsel as it was not approved properly. The County Attorney referenced a supreme court case from 2006, Stream vs Gordy, which proves to be similar to what was brought up at Thursday’s meeting.

It seems there was disconnect between the Board of Supervisors and the County Attorney on following procedure for expenditures, as one supervisor mentioned approval of these expenses even after County Attorney Stater said he advised against it in an email to the Supervisors in January. Stater mentioned that this is not a disagreement, but the law, and he asked for all three supervisors’ word that they would not approve future payments. He then assured them that he will look to get back onto the agenda as soon as possible and remain in contact.

While the Sheriff’s Department was working with outside counsel on the case over many months, Henry County Attorney Darin Stater also placed the deputy who wrote the report on this case on the Brady-Giglio list. According to the Iowa Legislature website, the Brady-Giglio list is a list compiled by a prosecutor’s office or a law enforcement agency containing the names and details of law enforcement officers who have sustained– confirmed– incidents of untruthfulness, criminal convictions, candor issues, or some other type of issue which places the officer’s credibility into question.

The deputy in question, Deputy Carlos Lopez, and Henry County Sheriff Rich McNamee asked Stater to reconsider and remove the deputy from the Brady-Giglio list. After allowing time for the Sheriff’s Department to provide additional information to the County Attorney’s office for reconsideration, Stater confirmed his decision to put the deputy on the Brady-Giglio list. It is important to note that Deputy Lopez remains a certified deputy in good standing with the Henry County Sheriff’s Department. His placement on this list does not charge him with any wrongdoing. County Attorney, Darin Stater, has sent the following information in response.  2024 Statement to KILJ re June 6 2024 BOS Meeting re Sheriff

*This article and headline were edited for clarity on 6/7/24 at 8:30 am.