(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.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Montgomery County report a woman from Adams County was arrested at around 8:35-p.m., Tuesday, on several Adams County warrants. 34-year-old Christine Whitney McGlade, of Carbon, was wanted on warrants for: Failure to Appear on serious misdemeanor charges of Gathering where marijuana is used, Driving While Revoked and OWI/1st offense; An aggravated misdemeanor charge of Driving While Barred; and Simple Misdemeanor charges that include Possession of drug paraphernalia, Operating without an ignition interlock device, and Operating without registration.

McGlade was transported to the Montgomery/Adams County line, and transferred to the custody of Adams County Sheriff’s deputies.

IOWA (KCAU) — Another Republican candidate has announced they are running for Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District. Veteran, military spouse, and construction executive, 40-year-old Douglas Jensen, of Silver City, announced his campaign on Friday.

In a press release, Jensen said “The legislative branch is the first article of the constitution for a reason. Our Founders built a government of the people, by the people, and for the people – yet Congress today can’t even fulfill its most basic duty of passing a budget. That failure shows just how far Washington has drifted from serving the American people.”

He said if he were to be elected, his focus will be on balancing budgets, working across differences, and rebuilding public trust.

The race, so far, includes Republican-aligned candidates: Siouxland Chamber president Chris McGowan; Iowa State Representative Matt Windschitl; software consultant and volunteer firefighter Christian Schlaefer, and Iowa Tea Party member Ryan Rhodes.

Three Democrats have also joined the race for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District seat: Ashley WolfTornabane of Storm Lake;  Stephanie Steiner of Sutherland, and Dave Dawson of Lawton.

(Radio Iowa) – A Midwest biosecurity expert says bird flu was spread from farm-to-farm in 85 percent cases identified during the 2015 outbreak, but only 15 percent of current bird flu outbreaks have been traced to nearby poultry operations. Abby Schuft, a poultry education trainer for University of Minnesota Extension, says that means it’s time to dig deeper into biosecurity measures.

“We are now beyond having clean boots and clean clothing when we enter the housing where our birds are,” Schuft said. “There are so many other environmental…factors that are playing into this on how the virus is spreading and being introduced to farm sites.” In September, Iowa officials confirmed Canadian geese in ponds in Dubuque County had bird flu.

Last week, U-S-D-A officials confirmed bird flu had hit a commercial operation in Calhoun County with 42-thousand turkeys. Schuft says poultry operators and people raising chickens in their backyard need to consider outside factors that could introduce bird flu to their flock. She notes standing water after a heavy rain can be a resting spot for migrating birds and harvested fields nearby offer a food buffet to wild birds.

“That’s a challenge then for our poultry producers when there’s wild waterfowl in lots of different places,” Schuft says, “which simply means then there’s opportunity for the virus to really just be everywhere.” Schuft suggests farm vehicles driven near poultry barns be washed frequently to prevent the spread of bird flu.

“Even as the weather’s cooling down, we don’t necessarily want to have to power wash our vehicles outside or our farm equipment, but we still need to be diligent about that truly until we absolutely can’t when the water might be freezing in the hoses,” Schuft said, “really ensuring that you’re not taking any shortcuts when you notice some of those seasonal changes that are happening.”

Federal records show eight poultry flocks in Iowa had been hit by bird flu this year — but last week’s Calhoun County site was the first since April. Bird flu has recently been confirmed in poultry at 13 commercial sites in Minnesota, in three commercial flocks in South Dakota and at two commercial operations in Wisconsin.