Law Enforcement also recount early parts of investigation. Oskaloosa, Iowa – Two friends of Marquis Todd testified on Wednesday that they only had one thing in mind when they stopped by the residence of Luke Vanhemert on March 1, 2018: to see if he and his friends would pay for damages done to his car […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Two differing details of events on the evening of March 1, 2018, were shared with a jury panel of 10 women and four men Tuesday afternoon, as the trial of Luke Vanhemert began in Mahaska County District Court. Vanhemert is charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of William Penn University […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The presidential nominating season has fully kicked into swing, as US Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) became the first major declared presidential candidate to swing through Oskaloosa. Sanders spoke to a standing room only crowd of roughly 250 people at the Musco Technology Center on the William Penn University Campus. Starting off his […]
Oskaloosa- Approximately one week after hearing arguments on whether or not to move trial, Judge Myron Gookin has decided that an Oskaloosa mother facing murder charges cannot receive a fair retrial in Mahaska County. Gookin ruled that Alicia Ritenour’s request for a change of venue should be granted, in large part because of pre-trial publicity. […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Luke Vanhemert will stand trial as charged, after a Judge ruled Tuesday morning, March 26, that he has no immunity from prosecution. After a hearing before Judge Lucy Gamon, Vanhemert’s claim that he is immune from prosecution of second-degree murder, under Iowa’s Stand Your Ground Law, was denied. On March 14, Vanhemert’s […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Just as soon as it began, the 2019 session of Eggs and Issues came to a close on Saturday, as all three of Mahaska County’s legislators took questions from the public. The issue of Medicaid privatization once again provided the most commentary and sparks from members of the public, as well as […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – If attorneys for Luke VanHemert have their way, their client will walk out of jail as a free man. Defense Attorney Allen Cook has filed a motion requesting that a judge declare immunity from prosecution for VanHemert, under Iowa’s Stand Your Ground law. The request was filed on March 14 in Mahaska […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa – As of now, an Oskaloosa mother charged with murdering her daughter in 2014 will face a second trial by jury in Mahaska County in August. Judge Myron Gookin had not, as of press time, ruled on a motion for a change of venue filed by Alicia Ritenour’s attorney, Gina Messemer, seeking to […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa- Another felony conviction in Mahaska County has been overturned on appeal, this time by the Iowa Court of Appeals. Bruce Spahr was convicted of one count of second-degree sexual abuse by a Mahaska County jury in 2013. The same jury found him not guilty of three other counts of second-degree sexual abuse. Spahr […]
Oskaloosa, Iowa- The Mahaska County Emergency Management Commission closed out the year 2018 with perhaps one of the most routine meetings of the year. To started off the meeting, EMA Director Jamey Robinson reported that he has finished a preliminary draft of the budget and presented it for review to the commission. Robinson took the […]
