Primghar, Iowa — A Rock Rapids man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after pleading guilty to murdering his mother.

Forty-two-year-old Nathaniel Kassel was charged with murder in the 1st degree in the death of his mother, Jody Duskin. Kassel had earlier pleaded not guilty and was set to go on trial October 17th. Instead, he changed his plea and was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Monday.

Jody Duskin was found dead in her home in Sheldon in March. Court documents state that Kassel corresponded with family members saying he was planning to kill Duskin. Kassel was taken into custody in South Dakota the day after Duskin’s body was found.

Kassel had also originally been charged with operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent and possession or control of a firearm as a felon. Those charges were dismissed.

Court documents indicate Kassel waived the right to a delay before sentencing, the right to file a Motion in Arrest of Judgment, and any other claim to a defect in his plea and requested immediate sentencing.

The court says Kassel was advised of the right to appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court within 30 days. Court documents indicate the Sheriff of O’Brien County or his designee is authorized to transport Kassel to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center at Oakdale to serve his sentence.

Inwood, Iowa — A Sioux Center man faces felony charges and is accused of assaulting an officer in Inwood on Wednesday, September 6th.

According to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, they were called to assist an Iowa State Patrol Trooper on a traffic stop Inwood. The driver of the vehicle stopped was believed to be impaired. While attempting to place the driver of the vehicle under arrest for traffic violations, a struggle ensued which resulted in a Lyon County Deputy being punched in the face in addition to other minor injuries.

As a result, 41-year-old Jose Madrid of Sioux Center was charged with Assault While Participating in a Felony- a class D felony. Additionally, Madrid was charged by the Iowa State Patrol with OWI 3rd Offense- a class D felony. If he’s convicted of a class D felony, Madrid could face up to five years in prison on each count.

He also faces misdemeanor charges of Assault on Persons Engaged in Certain Occupations-bodily injury, Interference with Official Acts causing bodily injury, and other traffic violations.

Madrid was transported to the Lyon County Jail in Rock Rapids. At last report, he remained there in lieu of a $7500 bond.

Sheldon, Iowa — A Rock Rapids man charged in the death of his mother earlier this year now apparently plans to enter a guilty plea in the case.

Nathaniel Kassel was charged with murder in the 1st degree in the death of his mother, Jody Duskin. Kassel had earlier pleaded not guilty and was set to go on trial on October 17th, but a plea and sentencing hearing is now set instead for September 18th in O’Brien County District Court.

Jody Duskin was found dead in her home in Sheldon in March. Court documents state that Kassel corresponded with family members saying he was planning to kill Duskin. Kassel was taken into custody in South Dakota the day after Duskin’s body was found.

Kassel had also originally been charged with operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent and possession or control of a firearm as a felon. Those charges have since been dismissed.

Sioux Center, Iowa — The Sioux and Lyon County Sheriff Departments are working with local police, trying to identify individuals involved in a check scheme at banks in Alvord, Orange City, and Sioux Center.

They say Hispanic or Guatemalan individuals entered banks in what appears to be a unified manner and presented fraudulent checks for cash. They would reportedly arrive at locations in groups of four to six individuals, enter the lobby to present checks for cash, then another new group of four to six people, and enter in the same manner to overwhelm the bank employees. The fake checks were printed on high quality holographic paper, and had bank routing numbers.

We’re told nearly all of those present wore hats, face coverings, neck coverings, long sleeves, and other attempts to disguise their identity. The suspects kept their faces down to avoid video identification and appeared to be the same individuals at multiple locations.

The investigation continues.

Matlock, Iowa — Sheldon’s police K9 has provided an assist in Lyon County.

Sheldon Police officers tell us that on Tuesday, August 29th, they received a mutual aid request for K9 Balin just north of Matlock near the “Hershey Bridge”. The bridge is just into Lyon County, only a half mile north of the Sioux County line, and four miles west of the Osceola County line.

Multiple area law enforcement agencies were already on the scene where an Iowa State Patrol Trooper had located a stolen vehicle. They tell us the vehicle had just been involved in a pursuit with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect was believed to be in possession of stolen firearms as well.

The O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office used their drone to find the suspect in the field. The suspect refused all commands and continued to flee. Officers and Deputies from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sheldon Police Department then entered the field to arrest the suspect. The suspect was still non-compliant and after several warnings, so K9 Balin was deployed to apprehend the suspect.

The suspect was taken into custody with no injuries to deputies or officers. The suspect was treated by George first responders and transported to the Sibley Hospital by the Lyon County Ambulance. The suspect was released from the hospital and transported to the Osceola County Jail.

They tell us investigation is still ongoing.

The Sheldon Police Department says they would like to express their pride for K9 Balin and all of the agencies involved in bringing this intense situation to a safe outcome.

Larchwood, Iowa — A Larchwood commercial dairy, which has been selling milk and many other dairy products to consumers through grocery stores in the tri-state area has decided to stop selling fluid milk products.

Officials at Stensland Family Farms tell us that after much consideration, they as a family have decided to discontinue bottling the fluid products.

A statement says that when Stensland Family Farms began their creamery seven years ago, the original goal was “to produce the best ice cream in the Midwest.” They tell us that after several months of research and development, “we created a premium ice cream, which in turn led us to have a surplus of milk. We didn’t want this by-product to go to waste, so we began bottling.”

They say that half gallons were set to be launched mid-August. The half gallons were to replace gallon jugs and included all new labeling, as advertised on cooler doors at various retailers.

But Stensland officials say that unfortunately, with the demanding state of the market, increasing labor and material costs, they’ve decided to eliminate fluid milk from their current line of premium dairy products.

They tell us their last bottling day will be September 6th, with last deliveries to various retail locations on Friday, September 8th. They also say this will not affect any of their other non-fluid products. They will continue to sell ice cream, pizza, freeze-dried treats, breaded cheese curds, block cheese, beef jerky, and meat sticks.

Rock Rapids, Iowa — A South Dakota man has been arrested on Lyon County warrants after a February police chase.

Sheriff’s officials say that the high-speed chase included a swing through the town of Larchwood back on February 24, 2023. Sheriff Stewart Vander Stoep says that 20-year-old Isaiah Joseph Hines of Sioux Falls was able to elude law officers in February, but he was taken into custody from Minnehaha County Jail in Sioux Falls, where he had been picked up on other charges. He was transported to the Lyon County Jail on Monday.

Three warrants were issued for Hines with multiple charges tied to each. Hines was charged with class D felony counts of Possession of Controlled Substance w/ Intent to Deliver, Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp, and Eluding-While Participating in a Felony-Drugs. If convicted, Hines could face five years in prison on each count. He also faces misdemeanor charges of Possession of Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine 1st Offense, Possession of Controlled Substance- Marijuana 1st Offense, Possession of Controlled Substance-Cannabinoid, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Interference with Official Acts. Hines is currently housed in the Lyon County Jail and has a bond of $18,500.

He faces a preliminary hearing on the charges on Friday, September 8th.

Rock Rapids, Iowa — Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis took a three-day campaign swing through Iowa following this past week’s debate with seven other candidates. DeSantis says he chose to emphasize his record as Florida’s governor rather than quarrel with the others.

DeSantis spoke to a crowd in Rock Rapids on Friday morning.

DeSantis also has promised to classify Mexican drug cartels that are shipping fentanyl into the US as foreign terrorist organizations.

Former Iowa GOP co-chair Cody Hoefert also spoke to the crowd and said after watching Wednesday’s debate, he decided to endorse DeSantis.