ALLISON- A Butler County man accused of murdering his wife and kidnapping his son last June made a first Iowa court appearance Friday morning. Thomas Petersen, 39, of Greene, returned to Iowa from South Dakota custody on Thursday.  He was arrested June 5 after fleeing to South Dakota with his 2-year-old son Jacob.  Petersen was [...]

By Rebecca Groff, correspondent Name: Cathy Petersen Title: Owner Company: Witte’s End Coffeehouse Address: 630 10th St., Marion Phone: (319)573-2277 Website: www.wittesend.com Elevator pitch: “A delightful place to stop, sit, savor and begin again.” Freshly ground coffee isn’t the only pleasant aroma that awaits you inside Witte’s End Coffeehouse on Fridays and Saturdays. On those [...]

An Iowa City man was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment with no injury and first-degree harassment after authorities say his ex-wife found him passed out on the floor of her home Sunday while their two children were in his care. Reports indicate that Chad A. Petersen, 44, of 1631 Muscatine Avenue Apt. B, was at [...]

The man suspected of killing his wife and fleeing to South Dakota earlier this month told investigators he “lost it and blacked out” during an argument in their Greene home. Thomas J. Petersen, 39, of Greene, now faces a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the June 4 stabbing death of his wife, Judy [...]