(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa family is suing an online gaming company, alleging it played a role in the kidnapping of a 13 year old girl. According to the lawsuit, a 37-year-old man posed as a teenager on Roblox, a platform that lets users create and play games online. The lawsuit alleges the 13-year-old was sexually abused and trafficked across several states after the man kidnapped the girl from her grandmother’s home in West Des Moines in late May. The man is under arrest in Tennessee.

The lawsuit calls Roblox a “digital hunting ground” for predators that falsely markets itself as a safe online platform for kids. In a written statement, Roblox says the safety of children is a top priority and it invests significant resources in technology to protect the tens of millions of gamers who use the platform daily.

ATLANTIC, IA, AUGUST 1, 2025 — Since 1954, fire fighters have united communities to collect critical funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) – one dollar at a time – through the Fill the Boot program. This year, fire fighters from Atlantic Fire & Rescue will continue this legacy during MDA’s 75th anniversary, marking 71 years of support from fire fighters nationwide. Dedicated fire fighters from Atlantic Fire & Rescue will take to the streets and other locations with boots in hand, asking pedestrians and motorists to help transform the lives of children and adults living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and other related neuromuscular diseases. The event will take place on August 9^th during Atlantic Fest.

Over the past seven decades, fire fighters have raised more than $710 million for MDA, helping fund over $1 billion in research. These contributions have fueled significant advancements in medical research, including the development of more than 20 FDA-approved treatments for neuromuscular disease since 2015. “For 71 years, fire fighters have proudly supported the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s mission to help families live longer, stronger lives, and we are honored to continue this partnership during MDA’s 75th anniversary,” said Tom Cappel, Chief and Fill the Boot Coordinator for Atlantic Fire & Rescue. “Every dollar raised in our community helps fund life-changing research and care that makes a difference for families nationwide.”

In addition to Fill the Boot, fire fighters volunteer at MDA Summer Camp, providing children with neuromuscular diseases a week of fun and independence.

Community members are encouraged to visit fire fighters during Atlantic Fest or donate online at https://filltheboot.donordrive.com/teams/20140#donate (or scan the QR Code below) to support this vital cause.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Supervisors in Cass County, this (Tuesday) morning, discussed an Ordinance pertaining to the Veterans Emergency Assistance Program, and a burial policy. Cass County Veteran’s Affair Director Mitch Holmes said the policy was last updated in 2016, and this current version is simply an update and “clean-up” of the policy.

The Board approved the update as presented. The revised policy was previously approved by the County Veterans Affairs Commissioners. The Board voted to allow/disallow military, homestead, homestead 65 and disabled veteran tax credits and exemptions on a case-by case basis, as recommended by Cass County Assessor Shana Platt. And, the Supervisors set the (standard) credit card limit for Cass County Environmental Control Agency Director Chris Jahnke at $2,500.

In other business, the Board received Quarterly reports from Cass County Veterans Affairs Director Mitch Holmes, and Cass County Conservation Director Micah Lee for the Quarter ending June 30, 2025. In his report, Holmes said there were no new claims for the Quarter.

Board Chair Steve Baier asked Holmes, just out of curiosity, how many Federal dollars are coming into Cass County.

In his report, Micah Lee said with regard to new, modern beach area restrooms at Cold Springs State Park, there were recent issues affecting progress of the project.

Lee said also, the number of participants in the Cass County Conservation Board’s Youth Fishing Derby at Cold Springs Park on June 14^th, was down.

The Board received also, a monthly report from Cass County Community Services Director and Mental Health Advocate, Debbie Schuler, for the months of June and July, 2025. The Cass County Board of Supervisors next, regular meeting will be held August 26th, at 9-a.m.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Three people were injured over the past week in separate Guthrie County accidents. According to the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, 87-year-old Franklin Ray Mains, of Guthrie Center, suffered suspected serious/incapacitating injuries during an accident involving a riding mower at around 2:20-p.m. on July 31st. Authorities say Mains was riding a John Deere 4×4 tractor-sized yard mower westbound on a steep slope, while mowing the grass. The mower lost traction and rolled-over an unknown number of times and landed on Mains, who had been ejected from the machine. The mower came to rest on its wheels. It was still running, with the PTO (Power Take Off) running, when law enforcement arrived on the scene. Franklin Mains was transported by Panora EMS to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. The mower sustained about $500 damage, according to the report.

Sunday afternoon, a 13-year-old female from Guthrie Center and her 17-year old passenger, suffered suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries, after the vehicle she was driving left the road on a curve and entered a ditch before striking a tree. The accident happened as the pickup the teens were in was traveling north in the 2500 block of 160th Trail, in Guthrie County. Authorities say the vehicle was traveling too fast to negotiate the curve. Both teens were transported to Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines by Panora EMS. The pickup sustained $5,000 damage and was declared a total loss.

And, no injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident this (Tuesday) morning, in Guthrie County. According to the Sheriff’s Department, a 2023 Freightliner semi driven by 57-year-old William James Hounsom, of Indianola, was traveling north on Highway 25 at around 5-a.m., when the semi struck a cow on the road. The semi sustained $2,500 damage. The cow, owned by Austin Willms, of Guthrie Center, was valued at $750.

(MUSCATINE, IA) — Five small businesses from Main Street Iowa districts were awarded a combined $80,0000 in state grants Monday evening after successfully pitching their expansion ideas in the final round of the 2025 Open 4 Business contest.  The live pitch event, held at the National Pearl Button Museum in downtown Muscatine, featured finalists from Ames, Elkader, Mount Pleasant, Waverly and West Branch. Each entrepreneur had five minutes to present their growth strategy to a panel of judges. Awards were presented by Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and Iowa Finance Authority.

“These incredible business plans remind us why our Main Street programs matter so much,” Durham said. “They’re the engine that helps small businesses grow and stick around — and they play a big role in making our communities the kind of places where people want to visit, live and truly belong.”

Grant recipients include:  

• West Branch — The Honey Den, $25,000
• Waverly — Z’s Pizza & Diner, $20,000
• Elkader — DroneXperts, $15,000
• Ames — Torrent Brewing Company, $10,000
• Mount Pleasant — Preppin Mama, $10,000

Top honors went to The Honey Den, a boutique candy and gift shop opened in 2023 by Tiffany Frederick. Known for custom candy assortments with personalized labels, Frederick is expanding her wholesale and fundraising programs that support boutiques, nonprofits and schools nationwide. The grant will support professionally designed packaging, a commercial-grade label printer, expanded inventory, upgraded fundraising tools and targeted marketing.

This year’s contest drew 22 applicants. Of those, 12 were invited to interview virtually with a panel of judges, who then selected five finalists. On Monday, those finalists pitched live before Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark, who’s also president and CEO of the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Jacki Boldt, who leads the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program; Chris Deal, who serves on the Main Street Iowa board; and Karla Organist with the Institute for Decision Making at the University of Northern Iowa.

Open 4 Business supports the growth of existing small businesses in Iowa’s more than 50 Main Street communities. Now in its 11th year, the program has awarded dollars to more than 45 businesses. The grants are administered through IEDA’s Iowa Downtown Resource Center and Main Street Iowa programs.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports seven arrests took place between July 28th and the 31st. Two of the arrests occurred on the 31st: 53-year-old Scott Michael Hardman, of Malvern, was arrested in Malvern for Eluding and Driving While Barred (Bond $3,000), and, 49-year-old Lee Alfred Miles, of Tabor, was arrested in Glenwood, for Violation of Probation (Bond $2,000).

On July 30th, Mills County Deputies arrested 29-year-old Shyanne Marie Dominguez, of Glenwood, for Driving While Barred. Two arrests occurred July 29th in Mills County: 31-year-old Paige Rae Wooley, of Red Oak, was arrested on a charge of having contraband (a weapon) in a Correctional Facility (Bond $5,000). Wooley was being held in the Mills County Jail following her arrest on July 28th for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving While Barred, and OWI/1st offense (Bond on those offenses $3,000).

31-year-old Patrick Clayton Giesting, of Malvern, was arrested July 29th for Failure to Appear (in court) [Bond $2,000].

And, on July 28th, Sheriff’s Deputies in Mills County arrested 44-year-old Ashley Marie Hall, of Red Oak, for Violation of Probation (Bond $5,000).

(Knoxville, Iowa) – Police in Knoxville arrested a man on a Class-D Felony, Threat of Terrorism charge, following an investigation into an incident at a Walmart Store. Authorities say 44-year-old William David Kisling, of Knoxville, was arrested after a warrant was requested and received, for the search of his vehicle and home. Evidence gathered during the search resulted in the felony Terrorism charge and a simple misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charge.

Police say Officers and Marian County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a reported potential threat at the Knoxville Walmart Store. When the first law enforcement officers arrived on the scene, employees were evacuating customers. Evidence was collected at the scene, including video surveillance and discarded playing cards with hand-written messages threatening violence. Kisling and his vehicle were identified through a review of store video surveillance images. Afterward, officers went to the 200 block of Cinder Avenue in Knoxville, where they located both Kisling and his vehicle.

Kisling was being held in the Marion County Jail. Other agencies assisting in handling the incident included Knoxville Fire and Rescue, and Marion County Emergency Management.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston have arrested a man wanted on a warrant. Authorities say 20-year-old Nathan Lee Novotny, of Creston, was arrested on the outstanding warrant for Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, and a Controlled Substance Violation. Novotny was transported to the Union County Jail and held on a $7,000 bond.

ADEL, Iowa – Aug. 4, 2025 – The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), in coordination with the City of Adel and the ADM Schools invites residents, business owners, and motorists to attend a Public Information Meeting about the upcoming construction of a new roundabout on U.S. 169 at the intersection with Common Place and the entrance to the new ADM High School.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 12, from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m., at the ADM High School Auditorium. Staff from the Iowa DOT, City of Adel, and ADM Public Schools will be present to share information about the project and answer questions from the public.

You can learn more about roundabouts by visiting the Iowa DOT’s website at https://iowadot.gov/modes-travel/roads-highways/highway-safety-features/roundabouts..

(Radio Iowa) – Trees weren’t the only thing knocked down by the derecho that blew through Iowa last week. Gary Knight sells sweet corn at stands in Cedar Rapids and Marion, and tells K-C-R-G T-V he knew some of his corn would have damage. “You know I’m almost afraid to go look at the corn the next morning to see what happened,” Knight says. Over 60 mile and hour winds ripped through the farm, knocking down ten percent of Knight’s sweet corn. “The most vulnerable corn is the corn that’s just ready or ripe, and it has the heavy weight on it. So when it blows down, it’s not going to come back up again,” he says. Some of the corn from those fallen stalks is salvageable, but Knight says he can’t harvest the corn with a machine because of the damage and will have to use the old-fashioned method of picking.

“Go out there by hand, walk through it, bend over, pick them and get them in the wagon. So it’s just a whole lot more work, and hard to find people who’ll go out and do that,” Knight says. The farm lost a total of five acres from the storm that’s now been classified as a derecho. “I’m going to call it ‘monsoon weekend,” Knight says.

That loss of product means some stands are closed for now. As they work to pick up the damage and the crops he said they do still plan to have sweet corn available through September.