(Radio Iowa) – President Trump has appointed a farmer and long-time state legislator from Rockwell City to serve as State Director for U-S-D-A Rural Development. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.

(Radio Iowa) – U-S Senator Joni Ernst says her decision not to run for reelection is the right one, for several reasons. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.

Ernst spoke with Radio Iowa this weekend and brought up her 2014 campaign pledge to serve no more than two terms in the U.S. Senate.

Ernst says her daughter was her main sounding board as she wrestled with the decision.

Ernst says she wants to spend more time with her aging parents.

Ernst, who is 55, retired from the Iowa National Guard a decade ago. Ernst says she learned during her 22-year military career that there are other people who are prepared to do the work.

On Saturday, at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition’s fall banquet, Ernst was applauded when she mentioned her pledge to term limit herself.

The U-S Senate’s Republican leader and other top Republican had been encouraging her to run.

Ernst will host her final “Roast and Ride” fundraiser for veterans groups on October 11th.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa League of Cities and the City of Massena have announced Massena Mayor Phil Przychodzin was named Mayor of the Year Award in the Under 2,000 in Population category, by the Iowa Mayor’s Association. The award was presented at the Association’s business meeting on September 17, which was held during the Iowa of League of Cities Annual Conference & Exhibit in Des Moines.

The Mayor of the Year Award was created to recognize individuals who have provided extraordinary public service to their community, the League, Iowa Mayors Association and local government. The award has three population categories: Under 2,000, 2,000-10,000 and Over 10,000. Mayors Kevin Van Otterloo of Rock Valley and Brad Cavanagh of Dubuque won the other categories.

Massena Mayor Phil Przychodzin

Mayor Przychodzin has been a driving force in improving Massena including new water mains and meter pits, new wells, new homes built, and many more projects. Przychodzin steps in again and again to support Massena to the point of helping with city mowing, putting up city Christmas lights, and any other task that needs doing, but doesn’t have the people to get it done. For small cities, this is public service that is above and beyond and strengthens Massena as a community.

The Iowa League of Cities recognizes and celebrates the engaging and thoughtful leadership of Mayor Przychodzin in meeting the unique needs of Massena.

The Iowa League of Cities is the oldest, continuously operating municipal league in the country. Founded in 1898, the League is a not-for-profit organization that serves as the unified voice for cities, providing advocacy, training and guidance to the cities of Iowa.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Sunday, said a man was arrested at around 9:15-a.m. Sunday, on a Montgomery County warrant. 64-year-old Ronald Dean Kammerer, Jr., of Red Oak, was arrested in the 600 block of N. 5th Street, on a warrant for Probation Violation. Kammerer, Jr., was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

(Ankeny, Iowa) – Five people were injured in a head-on collision between an SUV and a pickup early this (Sunday) morning, in Polk County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2012 Chevy Equinox SUV was traveling north in the southbound lanes of Interstate 35 near mile marker 87, when it struck a 2022 Ford F-150 pickup driven by 25-year-old Charles Joseph Williams, of Ankeny. The identity of the SUV driver was not immediately released. The accident happened at around 4:50-a.m.

Williams, and four others were transported by Polk County Rescue to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. They were identified as: 25-year-old Iliana Tijeros, of Webster City; 27-year-old Irina Catherine Hamelund, of Ankeny; 22-year-old Jonathan David McKeever, of Woodward, and 21-year-old Kadence E. Miller, of Gilman, IL. All of those injured were wearing their seat belts.

The crash remains under investigation.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report three arrests:

At around 1:30 this (Sunday) morning, 22-year-old Michael Daniel Hohl, of Red Oak, was arrested on two-counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor – A Simple Misdemeanor. He was arrested in the 900 block of N. 4th Street and transported to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $300.

Saturday afternoon, Red Oak Police arrested 37-year-old Zane Mikal Lamb, of Red Oak, for Violating a valid Protection Order – a Simple Misdemeanor. Lamb was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond. And, late Saturday morning, 35-year-old Lindsey Kylin Bricquel, of Red Oak, was also arrested for Violating a valid Protection Order. Her bond was also set at $300.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 1:20-a.m. today (Sunday), of 19-year-old Briana Gotto, from Stanton. Gotto was arrested in the 700 block of Halland Avenue, for Public Intoxication. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 bond. And, at around 9:20-p.m., Saturday, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 49-year-old Christina Castillo, of Stanton, following a brief incident in Stanton. Castillo was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense. She was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

(Marshalltown, Iowa) – Another case of Legionella has been confirmed in the Marshall County outbreak. State officials said as of Saturday, the total number of confirmed cases of the disease was up to 70. One death was associated with the outbreak.

On Thursday, the AGWSR school district postponed a field trip to Marshalltown due to the ongoing Legionella outbreak. District officials said around 100 students were planning on visiting some of the larger industrial and manufacturing facilities.

The source of Marshall County’s Legionella outbreak remains unknown, although state and local leaders suspect a cooling tower may be responsible. It’s the unknown that led AGWSR to postpone its field trip, a new date for which has not yet been set.

The Legionella bacteria occur naturally and can be spread through water droplets. Health professionals advise that there’s a low risk of catching Legionella, but to seek medical help if you have pneumonia-like symptoms.