(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Police report the arrest on Monday, of 29-year old Amanda Joy Williams, from Red Oak. Williams was taken into custody in the 2300 block of Eastern Avenue, on a Montgomery County Warrant for Harassment in the 3^rd Degree. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300.00 cash bond.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are being warned to look over their credit card statements during this first month of the new year as there may be charges for unwanted subscription services. Consumer protection advocate Michael Domke says many people agree to sample services for an introductory fee and don’t realize they’re being charged every month — or that the price went up. “You may have signed up for online streaming service two or three years ago when it was a good deal,” Domke says, “and it’s auto-renewing and you’re not even recognizing that that fee has increased annually.”

The fine print can sometimes be tricky, and Domke says you also might have signed up for a subscription without even realizing it. “Even myself, I’ve fallen victim to that, thinking I was just signing up to explore something and next thing I know, there’s a monthly fee on the credit card,” he says. With so much click-bait on social media outlets, Domke says it’s very easy to get duped into paying — or overpaying — for an app or service these days.  “I think people would be surprised how many times they may sign up for that free trial, and either forget to cancel it or went past the trial,” he says, “or started paying for something they didn’t realize they were gonna get into.”

Domke says to go through your credit card and bank statements, line by line, to make sure you’re not paying for something you don’t use or don’t want.

(Radio Iowa) – The Lakeside Casino near Osceola was recently fined 20-thousand dollars for an underage gambling violation. Information presented at the Racing and Gaming Commission meeting last week said the minor was able to get on the gambling floor and gamble after using a picture on a cellphone. Lakeside General Manager, Damon John. “I just want to say that this is unacceptable to us, and it is a situation that we take very seriously,” John says.

He says they took action to correct the breach. “The employee in question was immediately and concisely retrained to ensure that when they do ask a guest for an I-D they are doing so in accordance with our S-O-P to make sure that I-D is an appropriate and approved I-D,” he says. John says the casino also took action against the minor and a companion. He says they contacted local law enforcement to make sure the minor was charged and the minor and adult companion were permanently banned from the casino.

The violation happened in August.

(Des Moines, Iowa) — Positive COVID-19 tests are on the rise again in Iowa after dipping slightly late last week. The Iowa Department of Public Health reports 36,731 positive tests in the last seven days, up from 33,502 at the last report on Friday. The state’s 14-day positivity rate has climbed to 24.3%, up from 23.5% on Friday.

IDPH reports virus hospitalizations have decreased from 998 on Friday to 953 Monday. Of those hospitalized with COVID-19, 68.4% are unvaccinated, while 77.1% of those listed in intensive care with the virus are unvaccinated.

The number of long-term care facilities reporting a virus outbreak in Iowa climbed from 50 to 56 since Friday.

(Radio Iowa) – Advocates are raising concerns about regulatory changes that would increase staff-to-children ratios in Iowa child care centers. House Republicans have drafted a plan to let one employee oversee up to eight two-year-olds. The president of the Iowa Child Care Coalition says it would lead to more staff burn-out and turn-over, which ultimately would harm the brain development of two-year-olds. “You are going to significantly stress them, which leads to additional behavior problems,” she says.

A child care task force assembled by Governor Reynolds recommended raising the staff-to-child ratio in day cares as one way to increase the number of available child care slots without hiring additional workers. Janee Harvey, a Department of Human Services administrator, says under current law, the ratio is one worker to a maximum of six two-year-olds. The agency is proposing a more modest increase of one staff member for up to seven two-year-olds. “There is a high level of biting among that age, which does create risk to other kids,” she says. “That is not a good situation.”

And Harvey says many two-year-olds are not yet potty trained, creating a greater need for staff in a room of two year olds. The agency is proposing one day care worker be allowed to oversee up to 10 three year olds. House Speaker Pat Grassley says the proposals are options, not requirements, and part of a broader conversation about addressing workforce issues.

“I think we’re in a position where we have to be putting all of the options on the table…whether it’s child care, housing, attracting people to the state,” Grassley says. “We need to have to have these kind of hard conversations and find out what we really think the long term solutions and part of that plan is going to be.”

Grassley made his comments during an appearance on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.

(updated) (Atlantic, Iowa) – The City of Atlantic’s Parks and Recreation Board, Monday night, approved a contribution of $4,000 toward the $12,000 cost of a study designed to move forward on getting a Splash Pad at the Sunnyside Pool and other renovations/remodeling at the pool. Prior to approving the funds, the Board heard from Quality of Life Committee members Brigham Hoegh (Cass County Wellness Coordinator), and Dave Chase (with Nishna Valley Trails), who said there were numerous members from various groups who comprised the committee that spearheaded the 2021 Cass County “What people want and Need” study, which covered several areas, including Physical and Outdoor Recreation. Chase says..

That’s where the studies come in, and Chase said “those studies don’t come cheap.” The committee, he said, is asking everyone with a stake in the endeavor, “to kick-in a little bit.”

Chase said the Nishna Valley YMCA “has provided the leadership to call meetings and get the ball rolling, but it’s gotta be a community effort.” Chase said those persons who sat-in on the committee were asked to go back to their respective organizations and ask if they can kick-in something for the studies. He included himself and the NVT group as part of the funding stream. The YMCA he said, he agreed to chip-in $6,000. Parks Board member John Krogman, speaking via video conference, said he hopes others kick-in on the study or later, when the projects are ready to come to fruition.

Parks Board Chairperson Jolene Smith agreed.

Other sources of funding could possibly include the Community Promotion Commission (CPC), Cass County Community Foundation and various grant opportunities. Parks and Rec Director Bryant Rasmussen said in discussions with City Administrator John Lund, it was clear having the Parks & Rec Board chip-in for the study wouldn’t impact the department’s projects planned for this year or next year.

The second phase study will specifically focus on how to raise funds for the project itself, once the price tags have been established. The total cost of both studies is estimated to be $33,000. The Parks and Rec Board will contribute additional funds in the upcoming Fiscal Year, once the funding streams come together.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports four recent arrests. On Jan. 13th, 26-year-old Andrew John Meissner, of Eagan, MN., was arrested by the Iowa State Patrol on I-80 near Adair. Meissner was taken into custody following a traffic stop for speeding at around 1:48-a.m., Thursday. A K9 Unit showed up at the scene and conducted a free-air search around the vehicle. After the K9 indicated the presence of drugs in the vehicle, a search was conducted, and resulted in the recovery of a jar with green, plant-like material, and a grinder. Meissner turned over another jar containing a similar material. He was subsequently arrested for Possession of Marijuana/1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was released later that same day on a $1,300 cash or surety bond.

On Jan. 11th, Stuart Police arrested 40-year-old Kristina Marie Johnson, of Stuart, for Poss. of drug paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Methamphetamine, and Child Endangerment – Meth Exposure. Her arrest was the result of a DHS Caregiver request, who was at Johnson’s apartment, visiting with the woman and her minor son. The DHS worker told Police there was visible drug paraphernalia in the bedroom of the residence.

After Officer Katherine Guisinger received permission to enter the bedroom, she saw a collection of glass bongs, pipes and baggies. One of the bongs and multiple pipes had a dried white residue consistent with meth. Prior to the Officer’s arrival, the DHS worker advised most of the items were located in a cabinet in the closet. A glass pipe was found in Johnson’s purse. Two other bongs were found that were filled with liquid, under the sink. Additional drug paraphernalia including baggies, pipes, a glass mirror with glass pipes, razor blade and tubing. Most of the items were accessible to anyone in the residence. Johnson was released at the scene on her Own Recognizance.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office says on Jan. 10th, 43-year-old Jereamy Lee Rice, of Stuart, was arrested on an Adair warrant for Driving While Barred, following an investigation into a domestic incident at a residence in Stuart. Rice was released after posting a $3,000 cash or surety bond.

And, 32-year-old Jennifer Nicole Troxel, of Adair, was arrested Jan. 9th in Casey, for Driving while license denied or revoked for and OWI test failure. Troxel was cited and released, and issued written warnings for vehicle equipment violations.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

(Radio Iowa) – Travel on the state’s roadways is back to what you’d normally expect in January after the big weekend storm that dumped more than one foot of snow in some areas. D-O-T winter operations administrator, Craig Bargfrede says clearing the snow was not easy as it started out wet and then froze.

“We actually saw a lot of compaction and a lot of freezing to the pavement, so we really had to adjust our treatment practices in or to really break up that snow and ice pack on the pavement, so that we could get back down to the bare pavement,” Bargfrede says. He says that made the job tougher in some areas.

“Took us a little longer than typical — but we are back to pretty much winter seasonal conditions all across the state,” he says. The sun has been out since the storm blew through, and temperatures rose above freezing today (Monday). “That actually does help tremendously when we can get that sunshine and get those warmer temperatures. That helps us with the treatment that we do have out there to continue to work, and make sure that we don’t get the refreeze,” Bargfrede explains.

He says there was some drifting in parts of the state and they have been also working on clearing in those areas today (Monday). “We’ve had a number of trucks out working on some of the known trouble areas. We’ve had some blowing and drifting, we’ve had some issues with some slick ramps — just those known kind of trouble spot areas that traditionally we have problems with. We’ve been out working on those all day today,” according to Bargfrede. There was a lot of advanced warning about the storm and Bargfrede says it appears drivers were paying attention.

“For the most part, they listened to the warnings — but as the snow let up and things started to clear up a bit, then traffic started to pick up quite a bit and we did have some issues out there with traffic and whatnot,” he says. “We did have some closures during the event as well where we had some semis that jackknifed. That caused some problems. Overall, we really got through this not too bad.” Bargfrede says it’s one of the biggest snowfalls we’ve had in a while.

(Radio Iowa) – This year’s inductees into the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame are being announced for what will be the organization’s 25th anniversary year. Executive director Clay Norris says one of the individual inductees will be the late Tommy Bolin, a Sioux City native, who was a guitarist and songwriter for bands including Deep Purple, The James Gang and Zephyr.

“He has not been inducted to date,” Norris says. “He had been through a band, but it is wonderful to finally give him the notoriety that he deserves from his career, and then also, his brother, Johnny, is being inducted the same year.” Norris says another Iowa artist who’s being honored with the association’s Spirit Award this year is 24-year-old singer Maddie Poppe from Clarksville.

“Maddie is one of these up and coming stars that has already reached national notoriety as being the American Idol champion in 2018,” Norris says. “What a wonderful young lady and a great ambassador for the state of Iowa and just music in general.”

The induction ceremony weekend at Arnolds Park is September 1st through the 4th. There will be an opening ceremony, the guitar marching band, an autograph party, Iowa Rocks Talent Contest and Inductee Meet and Greet. The Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Induction Ceremony and Concert will be on September 4 at the Roof Garden.

Learn more at www.iowarocknroll.com

Coralville – Two correctional officers were assaulted by an inmate at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center (IMCC) in Coralville, IA at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 15.

The correctional officer was working his post in one of the facilities living units when an inmate approached him and began assaulting the officer. Another officer in the area quickly responded and attempted to apprehend the inmate. At this time, the inmate assaulted the second officer with closed fist strikes. Additional staff arrived and were able to apprehend the inmate without further incident.

The first officer that was assaulted was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for treatment of his injuries via ambulance. He was treated and released. The other officer that suffered minor injuries in the incident was seen by IMCC medical staff and was sent home following his shift.

This incident remains under investigation.