DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A worker has died after being trapped by a cave-in at Linwood Mining and Mineral near Davenport, according to WQAD-TV. The body has been recovered. Linwood Mining is an active limestone mine that has been in service since the 1960s.
ELKADER, IA (IRN) – A carnival worker has been imprisoned for sexually abusing a girl while he was working at the Clayton County Fair. KWWL-TV reports 27-year-old David Pennington Jr., of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was given five years. Pennington was working at the fair in August when he had sexual contact with a teenage girl when they were alone in a camper.
DALLAS CENTER, IA (IRN) – A Dallas Center pastor faces thirteen charges related to a sexual abuse investigation. Raccoon Valley Radio reports 52 year-old Randy Johnson is charged with four Class C felonies for third degree sex abuse, and one count of lascivious acts with a child, among other charges. Sources say he is a pastor at the Church of the Brethren in Dallas Center and lives next door to the church.
CENTERVILLE, IA (IRN) – A high school employee in Centerville has been arrested and charged after allegedly having sexual contact with a student. KCCI-TV reports 23-year-old Branson Hehnke was charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee. Hehnke is listed as an assistant coach for the Centerville High School wrestling and track teams on a Centerville athletics website.
CLEAR LAKE, IA (IRN) – A Clear Lake man has been arrested for assaulting another man at a North Iowa bar, according to KIMT-TV. 56-year-old Bruce Otto Bonorden is accused of pushing a man down a flight of stairs into the basement, then following him down and kicking and hitting the alleged victim in the head and face. The victim lost two teeth, suffered lacerations and bruising, possible nerve damage, and the loss of full movement in his left arm.
HANLONTOWN, IA (IRN) – A Magellan Pipeline Company’s diesel line ruptured yesterday in Worth County near Hanlontown. Nearly 140,000 gallons of diesel fuel were released. Iowa DNR staff report the fuel pooled in a farm field and does not appear to have reached surface waters.
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A rally was held in Cedar Rapids Wednesday night in support of refugees and illegal immigrants. KCRG-TV reports the demonstration was a response to news that President Trump is moving forward with his plans to tighten the country’s immigration laws.