The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests occurred over the past week. Most recently, a traffic stop Monday afternoon on a vehicle with no license plates and speeding on Highway 92 near Treynor, resulted in the arrest of 25-year-old Daryl Cleveland Smith-Watkins, from Council Bluffs. He was taken into custody for Operating a Non-Registered Vehicle, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a controlled substance/marijuana – 1st offense. Bond was set at $1,300.

Late Sunday night, 31-year-old Richard Allen Petersen was arrested at a residence on State Orchard Road in Council Bluffs, with regard to an adult male who allegedly assaulted a minor. Petersen was charged with Child Endangerment with bodily injury, Child Endangerment with Substantial Risk, and Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense – causing bodily injury.  Sunday morning, Pott. County Deputies arrested 22-year-old Liam M. Fahey, following a traffic stop in Avoca. He was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Poss. of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Speeding.  And, a little before 2-am Sunday, a traffic stop on a vehicle in Council Bluffs, resulted in the arrest of a 17-year-old female for Possess/Purchase of Alcohol by a Minor. She was turned over to Juvenile Court Services. 19-year-old Erika Kay Miller, of Missouri Valley, was arrested for OWI/1st offense, and Willful Failure to stop for law enforcement. Her total bond was set at $6,000.

At around 9:50-am, Saturday, a traffic stop in Council Bluffs resulted in the arrest of a wanted subject. 28-year-old Jonathan James Gruber, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody for Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree, and Domestic Abuse Assault/Strangulation. He was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a $2,000 bond. Late Friday morning, a Pott. County Deputy engaged in the pursuit of a 2012 Toyota RAV4, in Council Bluffs. At the conclusion of the pursuit, 28-year-old Roland Leland Nelson was arrested for Eluding, having no valid driver’s license, and speeding.

The body of a Fort Dodge man was discovered over the weekend inside the freezer of a vacant restaurant. KCCI reports Police in Fort Dodge said the body of 56-year-old Terry Brogan was discovered at around 2-p.m. Saturday, at the restaurant in the 100 block of South 25th Street., in Ft. Dodge. Authorities said since the business closed, it had become an area where homeless individuals would occasionally seek shelter.

In a news release, Police said “While there were no immediate signs of foul play, we are exploring all avenues to determine the timeline of events that led to Mr. Brogan’s death.” The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Fort Dodge Police Department.

(Radio Iowa) – Senator Joni Ernst was in Europe this weekend, meeting with U-S military commanders and Iowans who’re deployed overseas. Ernst spent the 4th of July with Iowa National Guard soldiers deployed in Kosovo. Ernst met with Kosovo’s president and other government officials on Saturday. On Friday, Ernst met with Iowans who’re in the Army and stationed in Germany and Belgium. Ernst got to Europe last Thursday and her first meeting was in Germany with the head of U-S military operations in Africa.

Senator Ernst and Iowa National Guard soldiers.

On Friday in Belgium, she met with the Supreme Allied Commander of U-S military operations in Europe. Ernst is a former Iowa National Guard commander and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Sen. Ernst with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

The 139^th Annual Old Soldiers Reunion is set to take place this weekend, in Griswold. The non-profit Old Soldiers Reunion started in 1882 as a Reunion of returning war Veterans. The Theme this year is “Coming Together – Griswold: Past, Present, and Future.” The three day event runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Ted Marciniak is one of the event organizers and Griswold City Manager. He says opening ceremonies begin 5:15-pm, Friday at the Griswold Community Building, followed by the Queen Contest at 5:30-pm, and fun, musical entertainment.

At around the same time the Queen Contest is underway, there will be registration for the Neon Fun Run at the school, and at 6-pm: Adult Water Fights at the Fire Station, a run/walk for kids ages 6 and under at the school, and at 6:30, a 2-mile run/walk and 5K run, also at the school. A sundae bar can be found at the Griswold Community Building from 6-until 8:30-pm, Friday. There will be a boys/girls State Flag presentation at 8:15-pm, at the Community Building, and Fireworks at 10-pm, at the Football Field.

Saturday’s activities during the Old Soldiers Reunion begin bright and early with a Pancake Breakfast at the Fire Station, from 6-until 10-a.m., followed by a Tractor Show on Cass Street, from 8-am until 2-pm There’s also an American Legion Auxiliary Membership Drive from 8-until 9:30-am, at the Legion Building, and a Road March at 9-am. A big change from years past, according to Marciniak, is the Grand Parade was moved from the afternoon, to 10-am, Saturday.

The Grand Parade Starts at the high school and traverses down Main Street. The Legion Beer Garden runs from 10-am until 5:30-pm, with Mud Bogs at 5^th and Union Streets at 11:30-am with Junior Class offering food concessions. Other events scheduled throughout the day, Saturday, include but are not limited to: a rock climbing wall, military vehicle display, little kids’ water fights, fire truck rides, and a Street Dance at 7-pm.

Earlier in the afternoon, from 2-until 3-pm, Darrin Crow will speak with regard to Prisoners of War from Iowa, at the Community Building. On Sunday, a Church in the Park will be held beginning at 10:15-am, in the Griswold City Park Shelter. There’s a dunk tank, carnival rides, a petting zoo, food vendors, cotton candy and sno cones from Noon until 5-pm in the City Park and around town. And a Home Run Derby from Noon until 5-pm at the Byron Legg Sports Complex.

The Cass County Historical Museum will be open from Noon until 5-p.m. Sunday, as well.

For more information, visit www.oldsoldiersreunion.com.

(Radio Iowa) – A holiday weekend boat crash in central Iowa sent five people to the hospital. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says the pleasure boat hit a pillar of the Mile Long Bridge at Saylorville Lake north of Des Moines about 6 o’clock Monday night. After impact, the boat flipped, dumping all five passengers into the lake. All five were hurt though deputies say none of their injuries were life-threatening.

The Iowa D-N-R is looking into the accident and has NOT yet said whether alcohol was a factor.

The 8:05-a.m. broadcast News w/Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – Three people were found dead inside a house in Algona last (Monday) night. According to the Algona Police Department, a 911 call was received at 7:51 PM Monday advising officers that a homicide had taken place in a residence on the city’s south side. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered the bodies of three individuals inside the residence. Autopsies will be conducted on the individuals by the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s office.

Names are being withheld at this time awaiting notification of family members. In a statement released this morning, Algona Police say there is no threat to the public as a part of this investigation.

The 7:06-a.m. broadcast news from Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – There are some 24-million hogs in the state of Iowa, about eight times more hogs than people, but two hogs that are new residents of the state stand out and could never be mistaken for any of the others. Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines is now home to a pair of Red River hogs from central Africa. The zoo’s Ryan Bickel says these animals are reddish-orange with very long black snouts and curly tufts of hair at the ends of their ears. “These hogs look very different than what we’re used to here in Iowa,” Bickel says. “They’re completely covered with hair and have a rust color to them with a white stripe down their back. Very interesting looking and surprisingly photogenic.”

The pair, named Shallot and Truffle, came from San Diego and now live next to the rhino habitat. Visitors can identify the hogs individually. Shallot, the male, is three years old and has warts on his muzzle, and Truffle, the ten-year-old female, does not. “They love to dig and root, as you would expect any hog to be able to,” Bickel says. “We actually had to take that into thought as we designed their habitat. There’s actually a fence that’s several feet beneath the surface so they can’t dig their way out.” The main predators of these hogs are leopards — and humans. “How the keepers work with them is the same way we would work with an animal such as lion or a giraffe or a rhino,” Bickel says. “We’re never in the exhibit area with them because they could be dangerous. You don’t think of that when you think of a hog but it’s called protective contact.”

The Red River hogs are most active at dawn or dusk and spend their days wallowing in mud to stay cool and to protect from sunburn and bugs. “Their favorite treats are nuts and meal worms,” Bickel says. “At the zoo, they have a diet of special formulated grains, fruits, vegetables, bugs, eggs, hay and alfalfa, which is similar to what they’d have in the wild.” These creatures grow to between 40 and 50 inches in length and may weigh up to 285 pounds. They’re the only African hog that is fully covered in hair and have no bare skin showing. Zoo officials hope the pair will breed and have piglets.

A man from Promise City, Iowa, died Sunday afternoon, after he was struck by a car in south central Iowa’s Wayne County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, the accident happened at around 12:57-p.m., on Highway 2 in Promise City.

Authorities say a 2018 Kia Forte driven by 25-year-old Page Marie Mitchell, of Seymour, was traveling east on Highway 2 at the same time 67-year-old David Ray Curtis was walking southbound across the highway, just east of Center Street. Once Mitchell saw Curtis crossing the street, she tried to avoid hitting him by braking and swerving to the left, but was unable to avoid striking him with her vehicle.

Curtis was transported by Wayne County Ambulance to the Wayne County Hospital, where he died from his injuries.