(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.

(Creston, Iowa) – Two people from Creston were arrested on separate charges, Tuesday. According to the Creston Police Department, 20-year-old Nathan Lee Novotny was arrested a little before 3-p.m. at Highway 34 and Birch, in Creston. Novotny was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, and Burglary in the 1st Degree. He was taken to Jasper County Jail and held on a $21,000 cash or surety bond.

And, at around 8:50-p.m., Tuesday, Creston Police arrested 28-year-old Jordan Jensen Spare, at Howard and Grand Streets. Spare was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Controlled Substance Methamphetamine 1st Offense, and Person Ineligible to Carry Dangerous Weapon. A $2,300 cash or surety bond was posted before Spare was released from custody.

DES MOINES, Iowa [KCCI-TV] — Gov. Kim Reynolds is appealing a pre-trial decision requiring her office to provide emails in a lawsuit with the Des Moines Register.

Last month, a Polk County judge ruled that the governor’s office must provide the court with four emails central to an open records lawsuit. These emails are to be privately reviewed by the judge, with an Oct. 10 deadline set for handing over the documents. However, the governor’s office has appealed the decision.

The emails were withheld from an 825-page open records request made by the Register, following an exchange Reynolds faced on Capitol Hill concerning allegations made against Lutheran Services of Iowa.

Reynolds claims the emails were intended to be confidential and are protected under executive privilege. The Des Moines Register argues that there is no executive privilege under Iowa law.