The Iowa G-O-P held its state convention Saturday, with key Republican office-holders signalling the party’s continuing shift toward its presumptive presidential nominee. Senator Joni Ernst did not say Donald Trump’s name, but she addressed the “Never Trump” movement and told the crowd the country needs a Republican in the White House.

Ernst said “I have heard a number of folks say: ‘I will not support this candidate.’ ‘I will not support that candidate.’ ‘Never this person.’ ‘Never that person. But I tell you what, folks. We’ve got to come together, because you know what my motto is going to be this year? Never Hillary! Never!”

Governor Terry Branstad called Clinton — the Democratic Party’s presumptive presidential nominee — the “ultimate insider.” He said “We need to unite. We need to support Donald Trump and his choice for vice president because he will make America great again.” A majority of delegates at the G-O-P event were Ted Cruz supporters. Republican Congressman Steve King backed Cruz and during his remarks King directly mentioned the “division” within the G-O-P.

He said “I am working with the Trump campaign to put together as many pieces of our values and belief system as we can,” generating applause, “and if we can get people around Donald Trump that reflect our values, that we can work with, I want to get to a place where in Cleveland I can stand up and say: ‘I’m confident that he will work with you and he’ll work with congress and that we can put our government back on the rails again.”

Senator Chuck Grassley earned a standing ovation from the crowd by promising he’ll continue to block President Obama’s nominee from filling the vacancy on the Supreme Court. Grassley did ont mention Trump, but he told the crowd electing Clinton would ensure a “third term” for Obama policies. Grassley said “Maybe makes the difference about whether or not we’re going to continue to enjoy the consetitutional democracy that you have.” Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann says ‘bruises” within the party are healing.

“We’re never going to have 100 percent unity,” Kaufmann aid. “We didn’t have unity for Ronald Reagan in 1980. That was a long, long process as well. We are a lot further ahead than I thought we would be at this point.” According to Kaufmann, Republicans are coming around to the idea that Trump is “one heck of a lot better” than Clinton.
Sixty-eight-year-old Tom Hill of Fairfax is a retired union member who has attended 11 Iowa DEMOCRATIC Party state conventions.

“I changed over my party to Republican because I liked what Trump had to say, because there’s some damn change needed and he’s going to give it,” Hill says. Hill isn’t happy that so many Ted Cruz backers from Iowa have been elected as delegates to the Republican National Convention. “They snow-stormed whole this thing all the way through,” Hill says. “…They didn’t give trump his fair share of delegates. They shafted him.” However, all those Cruz backers will NOT be able to vote for Cruz at the Repubkican National Convention.

New Iowa G-O-P rules spell out how the 30 delegates at the convention MUST vote, based on the outcome of the Iowa Caucuses. That means Cruz will get eight delegate votes from Iowa and Trump will get seven. Marco Rubio, who finished third in Iowa, will also get seven. Ben Carson, the fourth place finisher, will get three. Then
Jeb Bush, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul and John Kasich will each get one delegate vote from Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

In an update to our earlier report, authorities say one person is in custody following an altercation that led to shots fired early Sunday morning, in Adair. Following an investigation, 21-year old Keith Franklin, of Florissant, Missouri, was arrested on charges of Intimidation With a Dangerous Weapon, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Reckless Use of a Firearm, Disorderly Conduct, and Public Intoxication.

Keith Franklin

His arrest followed an investigation into fight in progress that took place at around 1:33-a.m. at 607 Stuart Street, in Adair. Authorities say alcohol was involved in the disturbance. Two men identified as Keith Franklin and Shawn Conn were asked to leave the home, but they refused. After police were called, both men left the home, with two shots being fired soon after. One of the shots was directed toward the residence, the other was fired into the air down the street.

Both men were arrested at around 2:05-a.m.  Shell casings from the gun were found behind the residence and Deputies found two shell casings and one bullet still intact that was rejected from the firearm.

Keith Franklin is being held in the Adair County Jail on $10,000 bond. Conn was released and no charges filed.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Deputies from Cass, Audubon, Guthrie and Shelby Counties. And the Iowa State Patrol.

A woman from Central Iowa was arrested Saturday evening in Adams County for driving under the influence. Sheriff’s officials say deputies arrested 60-year old Karla Colleen Kuhn of Grimes, following a traffic stop at Highway 148 and 220th Street, in Corning. Her vehicle was pulled over after Adams County Dispatch received a call from a motorist with regard to a car that had crossed the center line and nearly struck oncoming traffic.

Officers detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Kuhn and subsequently placed her under arrested on an OWI charge. She was taken to the Adams County Jail, where bond was set at $2,000.

Numerous law enforcement agencies converged on Adair early this (Sunday) morning, following a report of shots fired and a man with a gun walking down the street. Deputies from Adair, Cass, Audubon and Guthrie Counties had responded to the incident that allegedly occurred at or near 607 Stuart Street, and which was broadcast to law enforcement agencies at around 1:33-a.m.

Just after 2-a.m, two males, one white, the other dark-skinned, were taken into custody. According to scanner traffic, one of the men had allegedly fired a .40-caliber Smith and Wesson during the incident. Shell casings were located behind the residence, along with other evidence. Additional shell casings were located in front of 508 Stuart Street.

No injuries were reported. Additional details are currently not available.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City woman has pleaded guilty to hitting two pedestrians with her pickup while she was drunk behind the wheel. The Sioux City Journal reports that 32-year-old Kayla Decora entered the plea Thursday to third-offense operating while intoxicated, a felony, and two counts of misdemeanor aggravated assault.

According to a plea agreement, Decora will receive a five-year suspended prison sentence and be placed on probation for two years while she receives inpatient substance abuse treatment. Her driver’s license also will be suspended for six years, and she must pay restitution to her victims. Decora was ordered to remain jailed until sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled.

Court documents say Decora intentionally struck the two pedestrians on April 12, causing injuries that were not life-threatening.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Saturday, took a report of a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Highway 2 and Interstate 29.

Alan Campbell

52-year old Alan Campbell, of Thurman, was driving a 2005 Dodge 2500 eastbound on Highway 2 when a tractor trailer exited onto Highway 2 from the northbound Interstate 29 off-ramp. Campbell attempted to turn left onto the northbound on-ramp of Interstate 29 around the tractor trailer, when he struck 2006 Chevrolet Traverse being operated by 28-year old Kevin Walters,of Nebraska City.

A passenger in Walters vehicle suffered minor injuries. Campbell was arrested for Failure to Yield upon a Left Turn, and Operating While Intoxicated 2nd Offense. He was taken to the Fremont County Jail and later released on $2,000 bond.

The Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce reports “Coca-Cola Days” will be held September 23rd and 24th in Downtown Atlantic. The event is the second biggest collector’s show in the United States and includes a tailgate barbecue open to the public, a Show Swap & Sell, “Discover Atlantic Raffle” and many more activities for all ages. This year’s feature theme is “Coca-Cola – The Right Choice.”

Volunteer Committee Chair Dolly Bergman says “The theme is created by a volunteer committee each year. ‘Coca-Cola – The Right Choice’ was chosen because we wanted to tie into the election season.”

T-Shirts for the 2016 Coca-Cola Days Celebration featuring the theme, “Coca-Cola – The Right Choice” are now available for $16 at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce, and can be shipped for an additional fee. T-Shirts from 2015 and 2016 are available at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce., 102 Chestnut Street from 10 am – 5pm Monday- Friday. You can also call the Chamber office and order a T-Shirt to be shipped.

For more information on Coca-Cola Days or a full list of activities, please visit www.cocacoladays.com, call the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or email chamber@atlanticiowa.com.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of two people on Saturday morning after the execution of two search warrants.  Officers served search warrants at 205 E Corning Street Apartment B and 404 Highland Avenue in Red Oak.  As a result of those search warrants officers arrested 24-year-old Makayla Dawn Hudson and 28-year-old Travis Ray Thompson both of Red Oak.  Hudson was charged with Conspiracy to Deliver Methamphetamine and Possession of a Controlled Substance Methamphetamine.  Thompson was charged with Delivery of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Both suspects were taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $50,000 cash bond each.

The Red Oak Police Department was assisted by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Cass County Sheriff’s Office K-9, and the Iowa State Patrol.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Iowa State Patrol reports a woman from Cass County died during a rollover accident late Friday evening, in Adair County. 32-year old Jaime Lynn Mauldin, of Anita, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene of the crash that took place just before 8-p.m. Friday, southwest of Orient.

Officials say Mauldin was traveling south on Nevada Avenue (Adair County Road P-17), when she lost control of her 1995 Ford F-150 pickup on the gravel. The vehicle left the road just north of 320th Avenue and entered the east ditch before rolling once and coming to rest facing northeast.