(Radio Iowa) – One of the organizers of a southeast Iowa hayride has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in an accident that injured over a dozen junior high students. The accident happened near What Cheer in October of 2023. Former Keokuk County Deputy David Heady was in the passenger seat when the hayride’s driver lost control on a gravel road and 29 children were tossed out of the trailer.

A jury found Heady guilty of 13 counts of child endangerment last month. Prosecutors say Heady and the driver were drinking heavily before the crash. Daniel Brubaker was the driver. He pleaded guilty to three counts of neglect of a dependent person and 10 counts of child endangerment in July and has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has called the case truly heartbreaking because two adults who should have protected children recklessly chose to drink and drive. Prosecutors say Brubaker kept driving after he veered into the ditch and ran over at least one of the children.

(Shenandoah, Iowa – courtesy Ethan Hewett) — State officials have ruled that representatives of the Shenandoah Police Department violated “prohibited practice” regulations related to its union agreement.

At an early September meeting, the Iowa Employment Appeal Board determined that a designated representative of the city of Shenandoah, identified in the board’s documents as Police Chief Josh Gray, committed a prohibited practice in August 2024 under Iowa Code Chapter 20.10(2)(a) against then-employee Jeff Hoyt. The complaint was filed to the state board in November 2024 by the Teamsters Local Union no. 238. According to the order, the violation occurred when Gray told Hoyt during a meeting with City Administrator AJ Lyman and Union Representative Bryston Dunkeson that Hoyt should not have contacted the union regarding terms and conditions of his employment and that that he had “breached the chain of command” by involving the union and the city administrator.

The state order also indicates that Assistant Chief Ethan Johnson “reiterated that there is a chain of command in the police department” and that Hoyt should not have gone to the union. State officials say that “under these circumstances, it would be reasonable for an employee to feel pressured to not seek assistance from the union” and “fear possible retaliation” for doing so.

Per the order, Hoyt had started as a reserve officer with the police department in 2017, before beginning full-time employment with the city in the parks and recreation department in August 2020 and shifting to the streets department in 2021 and then working as a full-time water operator. The order states discussions took place in May and June 2024 about Hoyt becoming a full-time police officer, with wages approved by the city council that summer listing him at full-time pay upon a fall hiring. State officials indicate the August 2024 meeting was prompted by disputes over when certain pay levels would begin related to certification with the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. The order states that Hoyt was then suspended from the police department in November 2024 for “not completing the ILEA requirements.”

To remedy the violation, the city was ordered to “cease and desist” from further violations of Chapter 20 and to post a notice in a prominent place in its main offices accessible to the general public and customary areas for information to employees in the affected bargaining units for no less than 30 days.

Shenandoah Mayor Roger McQueen said the city is not providing comment on the matter at this time. A copy of the complete order from the Iowa Employment Appeal Board is available below:

68efd40a7ffb0.pdf

(Radio Iowa) Officers and emergency responders from eight northern Iowa agencies were involved in the arrest of a Plymouth County man who’s accused of removing an ankle monitor. The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were notified that 46-year-old Jamie Lee Wiersma of Merrill was staying in a house about 90 miles away in Ruthven. Officers from the Emmetsburg Police Department and the sheriff’s departments in Palo Alto, Emmet, Kossuth and Hancock Counties were joined by staff from three emergency management agencies in the areas in arresting Wiersma last Thursday

In June, Weirsma was arrsted in the small Osceola County community of May City for violating a no-contact order. He’s now charged with Interference with Official Acts related to his arrest in Ruthven. Wiersma was wanted on previous charges of Escape from Custody and a parole violation that an Osceola County official says are related to removal of his ankle monitor.

Court records show Wiersma will have a preliminary hearing in Osceola County on Friday, October 31st.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate released the following statement regarding an emerging situation in multiple Iowa counties: “My office is aware of reports that an individual or group is sending mass texts to Iowa residents impersonating local elected officials and candidates. These messages are not authentic and were not sent by the officials or candidates named.

The reported impersonated messages read:

Hello, [NAME]. I’m [NAME], your [CITY NAME] [GOVERNMENT ROLE OR OFFICE SOUGHT], and I’m listening to residents about what matters most in our community. What issues do you think should be our top priority? Reply with your thoughts or text STOP to opt out.

Impersonating public officials and candidates is unacceptable and must stop immediately. We have advised the county auditor’s offices to report to local law enforcement. Iowa voters should remain vigilant about messages claiming to be from officials or candidates. With the continued rise of election-related misinformation, we remind Iowans to always verify information through trusted sources: the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office or your local county auditor.

I also want to remind Iowans that it is election season, and candidates are also conducting legitimate outreach. Legitimate outreach from candidates and pollsters will not ask for sensitive information. We urge Iowans not to provide sensitive information over text, and if making plans to donate, to navigate separately to the candidate’s official donation channels. If Iowans have any questions, we encourage them to turn to trusted sources of information and reach out directly to campaigns to validate any outreach.

Iowans who receive suspected messages appearing to be impersonations should immediately report them to local law enforcement, their county auditor’s office, and our office at elections@sos.iowa.gov. Confirmed reports have come from Franklin, Johnson, and Madison Counties at the time of distribution.

CORALVILLE, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports a man serving time for times in Woodbury County has died. 63-year-old Matthew Scott Hallum was pronounced dead at 10:42 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025 in a hospice room of the Iowa Medical and Classification Center. His sentence began on Feb. 17, 1997.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – A woman from Red Oak was arrested at around 9:15-a.m. today (Wednesday). The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 26-year-old Samantha Patricia Lee Cunningham-Duffield was arrested in the 100 block of E. Prospect Street in Red Oak, on a Montgomery County warrant for Failure To Appear (FTA), on original charges that include Public Intoxication, and Theft in the 5th Degree. Cunningham-Duffield was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Creston, Iowa) –  A garbage truck collided with an SUV Monday afternoon in Creston, in what authorities said was similar to an (accidental) PIT-style (Pursuit Immobilization Technique) maneuver, that is used by law enforcement. The accident happened on westbound Highway 34 at around 12:30-p.m., Monday, as the 2026 International garbage truck driven by 72-year-old Thomas L. Christensen, of Lenox, merged from the inside to outside lane of the highway. Christensen was not aware a 2004 Jeep Liberty driven by 64-year-old Tami Jo Flowers, of Creston, was in the lane next to him because it was in his blind spot.

When the garbage truck merged into her lane, its right front bumper struck the left rear side of the SUV, causing the Jeep to spin into the path of the garbage truck. Both vehicles came a stop before pulling into the Creston Dollar General parking lot. No injuries were reported. Damage from the collision amounted to $4,500. There were no citations issued.

(Image: Creston PD accident graphic)

(Radio Iowa) – A statewide program to crack down on distracted drivers is set for Friday. State Trooper Paul Gardner says multiple agencies will participate. “We’re going to have a high visibility enforcement effort and we’re going to be focused on those violations that involve cell phones or entertainment or communication devices,” he says. Sergeant Gardner says they are still seeing a lot of drivers who haven’t adjusted to the change in law.

“Since July 1st, when the hands free law went into effect, Iowa law enforcement has stopped over six-thousand vehicles for violations with cell phone usage, 44 percent of those were addressed by the Iowa State Patrol,” he says. We are still in the grace period for the new law, so drivers who are stopped will only be given a warning. “Any interaction with the cellular device or an electronic device can get you pulled over if you’re caught by law enforcement,” Gardner says. “After January 1st citations can be issued , and that can result in 175-dollar fine, and will now be considered a moving violation.”

Iowa State Patrol photo

Gardner says use of phones and other devices causes distracted driving that leads to accidents, some of them fatal. This statewide effort is designed to be another reminder to drivers.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department says no injuries were reported following two separate accidents late Monday. At around 7:35-p.m., a pickup driven by 58-year-old Mark Saylor, of Creston, struck a deer that was crossing the road, as the vehicle was traveling west on Highway 34. Neither Saylor nor his passenger were hurt. The 2022 Chevy Colorado pickup sustained an estimated $5,000 (disabling) damage, and was towed from the scene.

The second accident happened at around 10:15-p.m., Monday, when a 2005 GMC pickup driven by 66-year-old Michael Fry, of Kent, went out of control on a curve along 255th Street. The vehicle left the road and rolled over, damaging a fence in the process. The pickup sustained an estimated $10,000 damage. When the accident scene was found by a passing motorist, no one was with the vehicle. Fry later called authorities to report he was driving the vehicle when the accident occurred.

No citations were issued in connection with either accident.