DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa National Guard announces the funeral arrangements for the two fallen Soldiers who were killed in action on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Syria. Staff Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard of Marshalltown, Iowa, will be honored with visitation and funeral services on Saturday, December 27th in Marshalltown. All information on service details
and arrangements are available at Mitchell Family Funeral Home website. Mitchell Family Funeral Home will be recording the service. The link to view the service will be available on their website after the ceremony concludes.

Staff Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar of Des Moines, Iowa, will be honored with a visitation on Sunday, December 28 in Des Moines, followed by funeral services and burial on Monday, December 29. Specific information on service details and arrangements are available at the Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home website. There will be no recording or livestreaming of these ceremonies.

These services are open to the public; however, the families have respectfully requested no media coverage. Members of the media are asked to honor and respect the families’ wishes during this time of mourning.

The Iowa National Guard extends its deepest condolences to the families, friends, and fellow Soldiers of Staff Sgt. Howard and Staff Sgt. Torres-Tovar. We are grateful for their selfless service and sacrifice in defense of our nation.

(Glenwood, IA)  – Officials with the Glenwood Police Department report the arrest on Monday afternoon, of a man on a drug charge. 40-year-old Lucas Paul Jay, of Glenwood, was arrested at around 3:15-p. ., for Possession of Marijuana/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

(Radio IOwa) – A nonprofit dedicated to literacy and health education is placing 30-thousand books in pediatric clinics statewide for free distribution to Iowa children. Laura Holms, the Midwest regional director for Reach Out and Read, says each book helps spark language development, encourages positive behaviors, and strengthens the bond between kids and their caregivers through shared reading. Holms says the books are going to dozens of Iowa doctor’s offices.

“The main focus we’re working on are the federally-qualified health care centers and free clinics, and especially clinics across the state that serve children that are underinsured or uninsured,” Holms says. “Lots and lots of children just simply don’t have access to books, and so by using this model, embedding literacy in the Well Child visit, we’re able to reach 90% of children because 90% of kids go to their Well Child visit.” Some 20-thousand books were distributed in the past month, while another ten-thousand were mailed out in the past week or so.

Holms says books like “Susie’s Big Day” and “Doc the Dog’s Healthy Habits” will promote early literacy and healthy routines, plus, there are several other titles. “So for example, if we’ve got a lot of rural kids out there, they really might love books about farming. We’ve got great titles that talk about tractors and things like that, that our Iowa kids really can relate to,” Holms says. “And then we also have other books that are in our catalog that will relate to those kids that are in the urban setting that maybe want to learn more about zoo animals or spacecraft or things like that.”

Reach Out and Read Midwest partnered with Iowa Total Care to distribute the 30-thousand books, which will be able to reach many thousands of Iowa children to inspire curiosity, confidence, and good health habits. “During the Well Child visit, when a family comes in, the provider will actually select a book for that particular child,” Holms says. “Oftentimes, they have a great relationship with the family, so they know a little bit about them and they might even know if they’ve been given a book in past visits, so they want to make sure that they don’t duplicate that book.”

Holms says pediatricians and other healthcare professionals will encourage parents to crack open the books on the spot and start reading to their children. “The provider actually uses that as an assessment tool,” Holms says. “During the visit they can help with motor skills, that can help them determine if that child might need some other referrals. We’ve even had one provider explain a story where the child took the book and put it so close up to their eyes, they thought, ‘Maybe we really need to start looking at their vision,’ and they did in fact refer that child to a specialist for their vision.”

Holms says Reach Out and Read Midwest strives to ensure every child, regardless of ZIP code, has access to books and early literacy support in the places they already receive trusted guidance, pediatric clinics. She adds, donors who visit ReachOutandRead.org/Midwest can designate their gifts to help children in a specific county.

(Radio Iowa) – The military has announced the remains of the two Iowa National Guard soldiers who were killed in Syria on December 13 will be flown to Iowa tomorrow.

A solemn, private ceremony will be held at the Iowa Air National Guard base at the Des Moines airport for the families of 29-year-old Nate Howard of Marshalltown and 25-year-old Edgar Torres-Tovar of Des Moines.

President Trump, Gov. Reynolds, Iowa National Guard leadership and other officials observe the dignified transfer of Sergeants Nate Howard and Edgar Torres-Tovar at Dover Air Force Base on Dec. 17, 2025. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Zach Sheely)

Both soldiers have been posthumously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Obituaries have been posted online for Howard and Torres-Tovar. Both obituaries indicate the date of funeral services for the two soldiers will be announced later.

(Iowa DNR Outdoor News) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will release rainbow trout in nine locations across Iowa this winter in areas that would not support them during warmer months. Winter trout stockings are a great place to take kids to catch their first fish. A family-friendly event is paired with some stockings to help anglers have success and fun while fishing. The popular program is supported by the sales of the trout fee. Anglers need a valid fishing license and pay the trout fee to fish for or possess trout. The daily limit is five trout per licensed angler with a possession limit of 10.

Children age 15 or younger can fish for trout with a properly licensed adult, but together, they can only keep one daily limit. Children can pay the trout fee, allowing them to keep their own daily limit.

2026 Winter Community Trout Stocking Schedule

• Jan. 10, Blue Pit, Mason City, at 11 a.m.
• Jan. 22, Bacon Creek Lake, Sioux City, at 1 p.m.
• Jan. 23, Big Lake, Council Bluffs, at 3 p.m.
• Jan. 23, Moorland Pond, Fort Dodge, at Noon
• Feb. 7, Scharnberg Pond, Spencer, at Noon

Ada Hayden Heritage Park Lake (Ames),  Lake Petocka (Bondurant), and Triumph Park West and Triumph Park East (Waukee) will also be stocked this winter. These stocking dates will not be announced until ice conditions are suitable.

Winter trout stocking events are dependent on favorable weather and ice conditions. Check the DNR Trout Fishing website at www.iowadnr.gov/troutstocking for possible changes to the schedule. Trout will be stocked in several other locations later this spring. Dates and locations will be announced in February.

(Iowa DNR Outdoor News) – Iowa’s stretch of unseasonably warm temperatures has deteriorated the quality of ice across much of the state south of Iowa Hwy. 3, to the point where any remaining ice is considered unsafe and ice fishing is discouraged.

“Ice fishing in central and southern Iowa, is not advised,” said Colonel Craig Cutts, chief of law enforcement for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “We will return to more seasonable weather next week and that should put down a fresh layer of ice, but we have to give it some time to freeze.

“It’s better for the quality of ice to restart from open water, than to grow ice thickness over bad ice conditions.”

North of Iowa Hwy. 3, anglers are encouraged to check the ice as they go and to avoid any dark or discolored ice as these are signs of deteriorating conditions. The Iowa DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of quality ice for ice fishing. The weekly Iowa Fishing Report will have the latest information on ice conditions across the state.

(Atlantic, IA) – Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) and Regional Planning Affiliation 13 (RPA 13) is now accepting applications for its Regional Transportation Alternatives Program fund for projects in Cass, Fremont, Montgomery, and Page Counties. Applications are being accepted until February 13, 2026.

Local governments, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, school districts and local education agencies, natural resource or public land agencies, tribal governments, and non-profit entities are among those eligible to apply. Funds are limited to meeting certain project types. Those include but are not limited to construction, planning, and design of on-road and off-road trail facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized forms of transportation; conversion and use of abandoned rail corridors for trails; construction of turnouts, overlooks, and viewing areas; vegetation management; and historic preservation and rehabilitation of transportation facilities.

Projects and sponsors must provide a non-federal match of at least 20 percent of the eligible costs, comply with federal regulations, and maintain the project for 20 years among other requirements. Projects must be completed withing two fiscal years of the award. Approximately $400,000 is available for FY2027.

Completed applications must be in to SWIPCO by 4:30 p.m. on February 13, 2026. Applications will be submitted to the Iowa DOT for review. The RPA 13 Technical Committee and Policy Board will meet to score applications and to award recommendations. Award letters will be sent to applicants and the Iowa DOT by August 1, 2026. Funds will be released by the Iowa DOT after October 1, 2026.

Application and criteria can be found online at https://www.swipco.org/rpa-13/funding-opportunities/ For more information or to obtain a hard copy of the application contact SWIPCO Grant Specialist III, Tammy DeBord at 866-279-4720 ext. 234 or 712-249-4300. You can also email tammy.debord@swipco.org

SWIPCO is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

(Radio Iowa) – Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s shocked the Treasury Department has abandoned a plan to issue a commemorate coin honoring the women’s suffrage movement. Special quarters will be issued by the U-S Mint as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence.  “In my view, this is a very big mistake,” Grassley said during a speech on the Senate floor. “The forthcoming anniversary is a perfect time to honor historical events that made America what it is today. The historic victory won by suffragettes after more than 140 years of fighting for the right to vote is as worthy as any.”

Special quarters will be issued by the U.S. Mint soon as part of the “America 250” celebration — but designs about abolition and the push to pass the 19th amendment have been replaced with designs of the Mayflower and Gettysburg Address. “The story of America is filled with acts of courage and righteous struggles,” Grassley said. “…The history of the suffrage movement has a special place in my heart.” Ruth Corwin Grassley — the senator’s mother — was one of the first women in Iowa, and perhaps in the entire United States, to vote in an election. Grassley’s mother was among a group of Black Hawk and Grundy County women who voted in a local election on August 30th of 1920 – just days after the 19th Amendment went into effect.

Grassley also notes Iowan Carrie Chapman Catt was president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association for 10 years — including 1919, the year women won the right to vote. “We take great pride in what it took to get the 19th Amendment adopted,” Grassley said, “so I hope I can get some reconsideration on the part of the administration about honoring the suffragettes with a coin.”

The U-S Treasury Secretary approved the final designs for the commemorative dimes, nickels and quarters. The designs will only appear on coins minted in 2026 and the U-S Mint will start circulating the coins in January. A commemorate penny and half-dollar will be sold to collectors.

(Winterset, IA) – The Winterset Police Department reports five people, including four juveniles, face Criminal Mischief charges, following an investigation into reported vandalism perpetrated on the historic Clark Tower, located in the Winterset City Park. Authorities say spray paint was applied to all three levels of the tower, resulting in extensive damage. “Removing the graffiti,” police say, “Will require a significant amount of time and labor.”

Winterset PD photos

The vandalism, Police Chief Ryan Pittman said, included phone numbers, racial slurs, names and inappropriate drawings. Officers reviewed security video from the area, and were able to identify a suspect vehicle. Additional investigation allowed officers to identify multiple suspects allegedly involved in the incident.

In addition to the four (unidentified) juveniles, 19-year-old Navin Lee, of Stuart, was charged in connection with the incident.

(Red Oak, IA) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, today (Tuesday) received a recommendation from the County Compensation Board, for elected officials’ salaries. Supervisor Alex Burton…

The Supervisors acknowledged receipt of the recommendation, after which, Supervisor Bryant Amos proposed – for budgetary purposes only – a increase somewhat along the same line as what the Comp Board recommended, with the exception of the Supervisors

Montgomery County BOS meeting 12-23-25 (Zoom Workplace image)

Supervisor Burton recommended a reduction based the individual offices, instead of across the board.

Supervisor Mike Olson…

The Board then discussed apparent inequities in comparable salaries in the various departments, but then settled on, by a vote of 3-to 2 (with Supervisors Burton and Peterson voting No) – and again, for budgetary purposes only at this time – a suggestion offered by Supervisor Amos.

The final budget will be set at a later date. In other business, the Montgomery County Supervisors discussed and approved various Board and Committee appointments as presented.