Jefferson Man Faces Charges for Stealing Fourth Vehicle this Year
Jefferson Police have issued an arrest warrant on a man for stealing his fourth vehicle this year.
Police Chief Dave Morlan says 33 year-old Andrew Lee Jensen of Jefferson is charged with a Class D Felony for second degree theft following an October incident. On Sunday, October 25th, a 2005 Dodge Neon was left running at a residence in the 300 block of East Monroe Street. The owner of the vehicle went inside the residence for a couple of minutes, came out and his vehicle was gone. It was later recovered at a gravel pit on Tuesday, October 27th in the 1400 block of 222nd Street.
During the investigation, Morlan says officers were able to retrieve fingerprints from the vehicle and they sent it to the Criminalistics Laboratory in Ankeny. Officers also found footprints around the vehicle. Both prints matched the accused and they were able to file for the warrant with probable cause.
Jensen is currently in the Dallas County Jail under two $10,000 and one $5,000 cash bonds for stealing another vehicle on October 26th, which lead Dallas County officials on a chase. Morlan notes that once Dallas County’s case is finished, Jensen will be transported to Greene County and booked on the felony charge.
Jensen was also convicted in Greene County District Court this past July on two felony charges for stealing two vehicles on March 3rd and March 6th.
Jefferson Man Arrested Following Short Chase Through Town
A Jefferson man is in custody after a short chase through town Tuesday night.
According to police reports, at 8:19pm, officers found a vehicle that they knew belonged to 54 year-old Michael Lynn Heard, who had a probation violation warrant from Boone County. The vehicle was parked at 307 West Lincoln Way. After officers talked with Heard, he was allowed to retrieve some personal items from his vehicle.
Heard then jumped into his vehicle and sped off. Both officers and a Greene County Sheriff’s Deputy then got involved in the pursuit. Heard went north on Oak Street and then east on Lincoln Way, when he ran a stop sign. He went through another stop sign at Lincoln Way and Elm Street, heading south on Elm. Heard then turned into the circle drive at Greene County Middle School, where he broke through the closed gates to the parking lot. The chase ended when the vehicle entered the east side parking lot, where Heard allegedly got out of his vehicle and tried to enter the school through the east entrance. Authorities were able to apprehend Heard a short time after that.
Heard was taken to the Greene County Medical Center by Greene County Emergency Medical Services with possible injuries and was later released. The deputy sustained minor injuries to his hand during the scuffle.
Heard was taken to the Law Enforcement Center where he was booked and transported to the Boone County Jail where he remains held under the probation revocation warrant.
Charges are pending at this time from Tuesday night’s incident.
Greene County Residents Encouraged to Shop Local on Small Business Saturday
Today is Small Business Saturday.
It traditionally follows Black Friday as one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Greene County Chamber Administrative Assistant Sheilah McGregor Pound encourages everyone to shop local during Small Business Saturday.
“In fact, I kind of like to not have to rush and the running around that you get sometimes on Black Friday. It’s kind of nice just to walk in, take a look, shop, buy two or three Christmas presents and move on to the next one. It’s just kind of a special time.”
She also reminds everyone that you can use Browse Weekend coupons, Christmas certificates and Chamber bucks to help support the local economy.
West Central and Farmers Cooperative Members Urged to Vote on Merger
Ballots for a special merger vote by memberships of both West Central Cooperative and Farmers Cooperative Company were recently mailed.
West Central Chief Executive Officer and President Milan Kucerak says the ballots were mailed out after a unanimous vote by both boards of directors pushing forward with the potential merger. He points out that they will host a series of informational meetings between November 30th and December 11th.
“West Central and Farmers Cooperative members are invited to attend those meetings to learn more and really to have a discourse of our membership about why we think this makes sense (to merge). (You can also) voice any concerns that you may have, either positive or negative, we want to hear both. And then become informed when they make a decision and cast their ballot.”
Ballots can be submitted in several ways. You can mail it to the auditors by noon on December 18th, deliver to an auditor at one of the informational meetings, placing it in a designated lock box at a West Central or Farmers Cooperative location by 5pm on December 17th or attending the special meeting on December 18th and voting there.
Iowa law requires at least 50 percent plus one of the memberships to vote and of those votes, 60 percent must vote “Yes.”
The tallying of votes will take place during a special meeting on December 18th.
Tips for Winterizing Your Vehicle
With colder temperatures across Iowa, now is a good time to check your vehicle and get it winterized.
Nick Lestina with McAtee Tire and Service in Jefferson says two critical items to check for is making sure your vehicle has a good battery and there’s plenty of antifreeze fluid. Not having a properly functioning battery can cause a shortage internally. Batteries should be replaced every five to six years. It is recommended that antifreeze fluid should be a 50/50 mix of water and coolant, with most antifreeze graded for 32 degrees below zero.
Other tips for winterizing your vehicle include making sure tire pressure is at the manufacturer’s specifications. During the winter, Lestina says tires can drop as much as three to four pounds of pressure. He also suggests having properly working windshield wipers and when it comes to different types of wiper fluid, Lestina points out that any fluid will be sufficient for winter travel.
Finally, allow your vehicle some time to warm up when it’s below freezing. Lestina says when the vehicle’s temperature gauge begins to move, that’s when you know it’s properly warmed up.