Lisa Techel was shot to death in her own home in Agency on Saturday. Techel was a 23-year-old Wapello County reserve sheriff’s deputy. She was five months pregnant with her first child.

Wednesday night, police arrested her husband, 21-year-old Seth Techel, outside of the funeral home where a memorial service for Lisa was being held.

Sheriff Don Kirkendall says his office has no doubts Lisa’s killer is in custody, “Everything we would do would lead us back to Mr. Techel and it became very obvious he was the perpetrator of the crime.”

Techel was arraigned Wednesday night and charged with first degree murder and non-consensual termination of a pregnancy. Techel is now behind bars at the Monroe County Jail.

He had just been offered position at the Wapello County Jail but had not started yet.

Sheriff Kirkendall says Seth Techel was the one that made the 911 call Saturday morning. He says Lisa Techel was already dead by the time officers got to the home in Agency.

Seth was interviewed and offered his own leads into her shooting. The sheriff says they did follow the information he provided.

The Wapello County Sheriff’s Office is holding a news conference Thursday afternoon with more details on this case.

Lisa Techel is being laid to rest Thursday morning.

It’s a philosophy that’s kept Curt Hedrick active into his 90s.  Active and healthy.

“Really,” he says, “you don’t have any idea how wonderful it is to be in my kind of health at my age.”

Hedrick donated his 56^th pint at the LifeServe Blood Center, today.  That’s seven gallons of blood in his lifetime—more than nine bodies’ worth.

“He comes here every week,” says Christine Hayes of the LifeServe Blood Center In Des Moines,” six hours a week to do a variety of tasks and he has become one of our Life Serve Family.”

When he’s not giving blood he’s delivering car loads of it to hospitals in the area, and when he’s not donating his services, he’s giving his time to other seniors.

“I’ll bet if you ask anyone that Curt has touched, they will tell you that he has brought great life to their day and that he has probably brought great wisdom to the way that they live their lives,” says Anne Peters of Home Instead Senior Care.

So today, Home Instead honored Hedrick for his time at LifeServe.  He gets a plaque, and ovation and a minute with the mic.

“Not only am I privileged to be a volunteer at the Blood Center,” Hedrick said, ”this group of people, both the employees and the volunteers, is absolutely the nicest bunch of people I have ever worked with.”

“You know,” says Hayes, ”Curt truly is living proof that no matter how old you are, you have some talent or service that you can lend to your community.”

And Curt Hedrick lends a lot of both—because, like he said, he still can.

“I’m better than a lot of people half my age.  I don’t know why, but I thank God every day for it.”

“No mother should have to bury her son. It should be the other way around,” said Alisha Hutt, Nathan’s mom.

As Alisha Hutt plans her 3 year old son’s funeral, she remembers what he was like, and all the lives Nathan touched.

“He knew no stranger, he’d walk up to anybody, hug everybody, ask you if you were ok. Daddy couldn’t even go out the door without getting help. Wait daddy wait! He’d say,” said Hutt.

The small memorial set up in front of the house, with all of Nathan’s favorite toys, is a constant reminder for Alisha. Still, she said, it still doesn’t seem real.

“I know he’s gone. But I just haven’t accepted it. Like I said, I’m still waiting for him to yell mama get over here or come here mama you know? I just haven’t accepted it,” said Hutt.

The accident happened Sunday afternoon. Alisha says she was watching Nathan play with his new puppy. “Both of them were underneath the tree playing and a big gust of wind came. I was outside watching him and came inside to use the restroom. And I heard a big crack,” Hutt remembered, “I thought it was daddy on the back porch. He dropped something. Something. I never thought about a tree. He came around the corner and saw the roots of the tree and darted out the doors. Saw Nathan’s feet under the tree. He slid under the tree and screamed- call 911.”

When the paramedics arrived, it was already too late.

The Hutt’s had just moved to this home a few months ago, and neither they nor the landlords had any reason to suspect the tree was anything but healthy. But on the inside, the tree was hollowed out.

“You see a tree and you see how wide it is, you think it’s sturdy. You don’t think it’s going to fall,” said Alisha in disbelief.

Now Alisha is determined to share her son’s story, and make sure the unthinkable never happens to any one’s else’s family.

“It’s hard to bury your child. You shouldn’t have to. Spend as much time as you can with them. Cherish them. Because you never know, one day they could be gone,” said Hutt.

Nathan was an organ donor. His parents say he has already helped save six children’s lives with that gift.

His family says Nathan’s nickname was “Tader” because potatoes were one of his favorite foods. Nathan also loved horses.

Nathan’s visitation is Monday, from 4:00-8:00, and the funeral is Tuesday at 3:00. Both are at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fontanelle.

His parents have set up a memorial fund for him at First National Bank in Fontanelle. The money will help with funeral costs. Their goal is to buy Nathan a headstone with his picture on it, as well as a plot of land in a part of the cemetery specifically for children.

Sources told us there was video tape of the entire incident.  The police department refused to turn over that tape, even though it should be a matter of public record.  Still, we were able to get a copy of it.  We warn you though, it is disturbing.

The video shows the police officer’s perspective of Sergeant Tyler Ruble of the Chariton Police Department tasing a woman, even though she is hog tied in the back of his cruiser.

The incident happened two years ago, and started, ironically, as officer Ruble was investigating whether the woman was a victim of abuse.

Sergeant Ruble decides to detain the woman to determine if she is the victim of domestic abuse. We are not revealing her identity to protect her privacy.  Ruble asks the woman to talk to another officer.  She does, sits down, but then according to police reports, decides to get up and leave, so she is handcuffed and tased the first time.

The woman then says, “What did I do?  What am I under arrest for?”  The officer responds, “Interference and assault.  Now sit.”  She answers, “Assault?  Who’s assaulting who?”

The woman is put into the police car, but begins kicking her feet, so she is tased again.

Police put what is called a hobble on the woman, cuffing her hands and ankles, and hog-tying her from the back, but because she is banging around in the back of the car, according to police reports, Ruble tases her again.

The woman is finally brought to the hospital for evaluation where she is heard saying, “You guys just love beating women.  I bet your wives love it.  Beat on your wives too?”

We obtained this police report, dated just two weeks after the tasing incident, showing Lucas County Sheriff`s Deputies responded to a domestic complaint at Sergeant Tyler Ruble`s home.

According to the report, Ruble`s wife said “Tyler (was) shoving and slamming her against the east wall whenever she would try and move’ and ‘(he) grabbed (her) right hand and twisted her wrist’.  The report indicates Ruble`s wife had visible injuries and redness. But even though Iowa law requires police to arrest Ruble, he wasn`t charged.

We repeatedly tried to get a comment from the police and the City Manager on the domestic abuse complaint and the tasing incident, but no one is willing to defend the officer`s actions.

We also took the tape to the American Civil Liberties Union.  They say these tasings were way out of line.

Randall Wilson, ACLU Iowa Legal Director says, “There he used the taser first.  Then told her what he wanted her to stop doing.  So obviously this guy doesn’t know how to work with someone who has alleged mental problems.”

The ACLU also believes the Chariton Police Department does not have the right to withhold the video tape from us.  The department cited HIPAA regulations, and in an e-mail claimed “the video is not included because it contains confidential medical information and cannot be edited.”

Wilson says, “I am not convinced that these are medical records falling within the definitions of HIPAA.”

He adds, “I suspect he’s also concerned he might be releasing embarrassing information about his officers.”

As for officer Ruble, the ACLU says he should be trained better, and no officer should ever use a taser as a punishment.

“I think this officer could have used more training and professionalism in this instance.  I think that for a number of reasons the tasing got out of control,” says Wilson.

Under the state`s freedom of information law we requested a copy of any disciplinary action taken against Sergeant Ruble and a copy of the department`s policy on the use of tasers.

We were told sergeant ruble was not disciplined and the department does not currently have a policy in place regarding the use of tasers.

Kings just scored. Game 1 to L-A. Nothing says ice hockey like Los Angeles in late May.

The Spurs are doing something special. 20 straight wins without much fanfare. Interesting that the Spurs Big 3 all learned basketball somewhere other than the United States. No wonder they play team ball.

Good thing Ray Allen wouldn’t allow Doc Rivers to rest him. That was a big 3.

Never mind. Heat took over in OT. Still, Rajon Rondo had one of the great point guard playoff performances of all-time.

The most extroverted city in the USA is Keota? We talked to the mayor of Keota. He didn’t seem real outgoing, but he was nice. He says everyone waves and helps in Keota, so I guess it’s full of extroverts.

The Government rests its case in the Roger Clemens perjury trial. And now one cares.

George Brett calls Twitter tweeter, but by any name, it helped Brett find his beloved Labradoodle, Charlie.

Ten teams in the MLB East divisions. All above .500

I’m headed to the Principal Charity Classic Wednesday. Of course it’s going to 59 degrees and raining.

Just before 9:00 p.m., Wapello County officials arrested Seth Techel outside the funeral home where a memorial service was being held for his late wife, 23-year-old Reserve Deputy Lisa Techel.

Techel was shot to death in her home in Agency on Saturday.  She was five months pregnant with her first child. 

Seth Techel is charged with Murder in the 1st Degree and Nonconsensual termination of a human pregnancy.

More details about the arrest will be released at a press conference Thursday afternoon in Ottumwa. 

After five days, the USS Iowa pulled into San Pedro, California Wednesday.

A non-profit group is turning the retired battleship into a museum.

The ship will undergo extensive cleaning and renovations over the next month before opening to the public on July 7th.

The chase started when the driver sped through a speed trap on Euclid Avenue.  It continued down East Ovid Street at speeds topping 80 miles per hour.

It came to an end when the driver ran a stop sign and collided with another car.

The driver and a passenger were taken into custody.

The National Republican Congressional Committee is now stepping in, trying to make sure that doesn’t happen.

The committee says Christie Vilsack is yet to take a position on the issues facing Iowans, and they’re highlighting that claim with a new website.

The website duckingvilsack.com went live Wednesday.

The site uses Christie Vilsack quotes and says she’ll simply be another “yes” vote for the Obama administration.

The website could be a sign the Congressional Committee is worried Steve King could lose.

The latest fundraising reports show Steve King has a cash-on-hand advantage of more than $100,000.  However, the same records show Vilsack has outraised King by more than $140,000.

The two are vying for Iowa’s newly created fourth congressional district.

Meanwhile the two are still yet to settle on a series of debates.

In a news release earlier this month, King stated he had agreed to eight debates against Vilsack.  Vilsack then countered saying nothing was finalized and that several proposed moderators were yet to sign on.

According to Steve King, the first debate is scheduled to take place July 30th.

The snake escaped from Davis County High School over the weekend while its cage was being cleaned.

A search of the school and surrounding area came up empty.

Anyone who spots the snake should immediately call police.

Thursday, Toro Company will break ground on its 450-thousand foot distribution center.

It will be located on 30-acres along Southeast Delaware Avenue and Southeast 54th street.

One complete the center will create about 20 new jobs.

The tournament will honor military members and their families with free admission this weekend. Soldiers will also enjoy a special hospitality tent that’s powered by technology used by the military. It’s part of the tournament’s effort to lessen its impact on the environment.

Showing a tent at the tournament’s entrance, PowerFilm President Tim Neugent says, “We’ve got what we call a power shade, which is 1 KW of power.”

The special tent welcomes visitors to the Principal Charity Classic. Neugent says, “They were designed for the military to actually cool the tents. They’re a structure that goes over the tents and then provide power.”

PowerFilm is a thin solar manufacturer based in Ames. The company started working on alternative energy projects for the military in 1988. Now, soldiers use products like these while serving overseas. Showing another tent, Neugent says, “This product is so light weight, it folds up into about the size of a sleeping bag, so it’s easily deployable.”

Neugent says the power films on top of the tent at the 18th hole will power part of the Patriots’ Outpost. It’s the special new hospitality area for members of the military and their families. Neugent says, “Much of our work has been done years ago based on military needs, so having us here combined with military recognition is the main reason were here, as well as the reduction of power. “

You’ll also find 10 solar powered golf carts. The tournament has solar trash compactors and several recycling stations. This is the second year the Principal Charity Classic is trying to “Shoot for Zero” when it comes to carbon emissions.

Principal Charity Classic Chairperson Mary O’Keefe says, “We decided, what is a golf tournament? It’s green. It’s all about being green.”

O’Keefe says they partnered with MidAmerican Energy and Waste Management to be the first carbon neutral tournament on the Champions Tour last year. O’Keefe says, “We did get to that point. We needed some of the credits to offset, so we really want to keep moving it along, we can make the actual tournament as environmentally friendly as it can be.”

MidAmerican Energy donated some of the company’s renewable energy credits to offset what the tournament couldn’t produce or save on its own. This year, organizers will also focus on education. Neugent says, “It’s great to have the ability to show different usages, so the consumers and people attending the golf outing can see these in action.”

The Principal Charity Classic runs through Sunday. The professional tournament starts Friday. Military members and their families can get in free Friday through Sunday. You just need to show your military ID.

On March 13^th, police found 70-year-old Kenneth Laverne McDaniel of Ottumwa dead inside the front door of the Cinema X.   Autopsy results indicated that McDaniel was killed as a result of “blunt force injuries to the head and neck with a probable component of asphyxia due to strangulation”. 

Police seized numerous items from the center where Bruce Darnell Pollard was staying, including pornographic material that was stolen during the murder/robbery, bloody clothing belonging to Bruce Pollard and a pry bar they say was used to kill McDaniel. 

Pollard has been held in the Wapello County Jail since March 15^th after being arrested in connection with the armed robberies at Sonic on March 12^th and the BP Station on March 15^th. 

During an interview, Pollard admitted that he entered Cinema X with the pry bar, struck McDaniel in the head, strangled him, and stole the pornographic materials and an undisclosed amount of cash. 

Pollard remains in the Wapello County Jail charged with Murder in the First Degree in the death of McDaniel.  His bail is now set at $1,310,000.00. 

The Dallas County News is reporting that the vehicle was found after a tip from the public.

Authorities say Giedraitis was riding his bike near Dallas Center when he was hit.  Officials found his body the next day.

The paper report the suspect vehicle has been confiscated and the investigation is on-going.

Meanwhile, the Iowa Bicycle Coalition has called for a new law to protect cyclists on rural highways.  19 states have enacted legislation that requires drivers to put three feet of space between their car and a bicycle they pass.  “The three foot passing rule would make a great statement to say, (Iowans) value cycling.  We value the safety of cyclists.  So, it’s a great first step,” said Forrest Ridgway, owner of the cycling shop Bike World.

Last year, the Iowa Legislature passed a law in the same vein.  It requires motorists to move over a lane when they come upon an accident scene.  It was a response to the crash that killed two tow truck drivers on Interstate-80.

State Sen. Jack Whitver, (R) Ankeny, says that such laws have noble goals, but he questions whether they do anything to prevent crashes.  Sen. Whitver said, “A lot of the time, we (legislators) pass laws like (the three foot rule) and they aren’t really enforced until after the fact, after somebody’s already been hit and injured or even killed, and then we’ll go and write a ticket.  So, it doesn’t necessarily solve the problem.”

Both Whitver and Ridgway agreed that they want drivers and cyclists to have more awareness about sharing the road and obeying traffic laws.  Both said that they embrace the spread of cycling as a recreational sport in Iowa.

His job will be to reduce the use of illegal drugs in the state.

Lukan was elected to the Iowa House in 2002 and served five terms.

He will begin his duties immediately.

Lukan replaces Mark Shouten.

Shouten will serve as the new Director of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Right now, work is being done on the “missing links” of the promenade along the Des Moines River.

Two new buildings are going up on either side of Court Avenue.

People we talked to have plenty of ideas for these two buildings at Water Street and Court Avenue.  But are they right?

The glass building on the north side is called the Hub Spot.  The 1,000 square foot building is part of the Riverwalk.  The City of Des Moines wants to find a vendor to operate a coffee shop or cafe of sorts.

The concrete structure on the south side of Court is a new storm water pump station.  In times of heavy rain, it will help keep water out of the street and buildings and into the river where it belongs.

Rick Clark, Des Moines City Manager says, “When you drive by and look at these two things it’s kinda hard to distinguish one from the other.  But on the south sides is the pump station – that’s necessary to minimize street flooding in the area.  And on the north side is the Hub Spot.”

One of the missing links of the Riverwalk is across the street from the Des Moines police station.

If you drive by, you will see what was once the public parking lot is torn up and will become part of the promenade.

The Hub Spot should be finished by October.

The storm water pump station is expected to be complete sometime after that.

“Facing Mars is all about the physical, psychological, technological and ethical challenges of traveling to, and living on, Mars,” says Emilee Richardson with the Science Center of Iowa. 

The exhibit opens Saturday and includes 20 hands-on stations.  Visitors will learn what it would be like to live on Mars.

That includes finding out details of a Martian dust storm and seeing a Martian meteorite.

The exhibit also explains what it would be like to travel to Mars and the difficulties of communicating between the two planets.

The exhibit opens Saturday and runs through January.

The cost is $16 for adults and $13 for children age 2 to 12.

Three chicks are nesting downtown at the top of the American Republic building.

Workers from a local window washing company snagged the 21-day-old chicks.  The DNR banded the chicks to keep tabs on them as they grow.

Peregrine falcons were once an endangered species, due in large part to pesticides used on crops.  But over the past two decades, much of the population has been restored.

Now there are 16 nesting pairs in cities throughout the state and along the cliffs in northeast Iowa.

After the banding the chicks were returned to their nest.  Iowa DNR experts say the babies will lose their fluffy feathers in a few days.

They’ll take their first flight in the next few weeks.

It’s a four-wheel drive, off-road utility vehicle.

Deputies took it out for the first time to patrol at Big Creek over Memorial Day weekend.

You’ll see it again this weekend during the Dam to Dam race and at summer parades.

The mule will also be used to patrol the extensive bike trail network in the county.

Sergeant Jana Rooker with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office says, “If someone was to need assistance we wouldn’t normally be able to get to them quickly in our car.”

The machine is on loan to the Sheriff’s Office through October.