(Radio Iowa) – The new Miss Iowa was recently crowned at the pageant in Davenport and says she is still getting used to the title. Twenty-two-year-old Grace Keller is a native of Illinois, who just graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in journalism. She says she fell in love with Iowa when searching for a college. “I always say that I was born and raised in Illinois and that was great to have that be my home. But, Iowa was the home that I got to choose. And I really got to see a lot of places and settled on Iowa because of that Iowa nice and the sense of community that we have here,” Keller says. Keller says she had been involved in pageants several years ago but had taken a break to be a college student. She decided to compete again, in part, because the Miss America program is a large scholarship program and she was low on funds.

She says she really wanted to just go and have fun and perform her talent, which is dance, with the hope of winning some scholarship money. Keller’s Social Impact initiative is to promote literacy in kindergarten thru third grade. She says she is passionate to promote the cause.  “I want to be that person for those people all across Iowa who are just looking for a mentor or an inspire to really push them into that love, so that they can reach those benchmarks and set themselves up for success later in their education,” she says. The new Miss Iowa is still getting used to the idea of the title — and says she still was not anticipating earning the title even after she was in the final two on the stage.

Miss Iowa

She says she was proud to even get first-runnerup. “And then they announced me as the winner. And I think in that moment I was like are they sure, is this actually happening? And then the Miss Iowa who was passing on her title came over and gave me a hug and that’s when I realized oh my gosh this actually happened, they called me up the winner,” Keller says. Keller had taken a position with a start-up podcast company and will go back to that. She says she’s excited to represent the state and meet people across Iowa.

Atlantic Police, Friday afternoon, released a report detailing numerous arrests that have taken place since May 31st. In order from newest to oldest arrest dates:

• 06/17/2021 – 21-year old Kyle Confere, of Atlantic, was arrested for Extortion and Violation of a No Contact Order.
• 06/13/2021 – 23-year-old Levi Reining, of Remsen, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts.
• 06/10/21 – 21-year-old Gaven Fell-Nichols, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Reckless Driving.; And, 27-year-old Benser Mark, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication.
• 06/07/21 – 52-year-old Edward Davenport, of Atlantic, was arrested on a Cass County Warrant for Theft 1st.
• 06/02/21 – 26-year-old Nicholas Renner, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred.
• May 31st – 35-year-old Christopher Castillo, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred.

All seven subjects were booked into the Cass County Jail. As of Friday afternoon, Confere remained in the jail, while the rest were released after appearing before a magistrate.

(Updated) The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests and a multiple injury accident. Authorities say the accident happened at around 2:30-p.m. Tuesday, June 15th. An investigation determined a 2020 Chevrolet driven by 53-year-old Amy Miller, of Shenandoah, was traveling east on Highway 34, when a 2007 GMC driven by 81-year-old Eduardo Mujica, of Omaha, pulled away from a stop sign on Levi Road. Authorities say he saw the approaching Chevy, but misjudged the distance.

The Chevy struck the driver’s side of the GMC, causing both driver’s side doors to be pushed into the cabin area. Following the collision, the Chevy came to rest in the median. The GMC continued across the east and westbound lanes before coming to rest in the north ditch of the westbound lanes. Mujica and a juvenile in the GMC were transported by Glenwood Rescue to Mercy Hospital. Two passengers in the Chevy, 79-year-old Kenneth and 80-year-old Lois Debaere, of Shenandoah, were also transported to Mercy by Glenwood Rescue.

Separately, those arrested over the past few days, include:

• On Thursday, June 17th, Samson Aregawi Alem – of Issaquah, WA – was arrested following a traffic stop on I-29 at around 4:50-a.m., for Carrying a Weapon and Theft in the 4th Degree – Bond: $3,000.
• On Friday, June 18th, at around 12:13-a.m., two people were arrested following a traffic stop on I-29 in Mills County: 37-year-old Gwen Marie Vanderhoof, of Clarinda, and 32-year-old Stuart Duane Haley, of Villisca, were both arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance. Their bonds were set at $1,000 each.

Two men were arrested Thursday on separate charges, in Page County. The Sheriff’s Office reports Matthew Sherman Olson was arrested for Criminal Mischief in the Fifth Degree. The charge stems from an incident that happened in the Page County Jail. And, Page County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Damion James Sadler on an active Page County Warrant. Sadler was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office. His cash/surety bond was set at $5,000.

Sadler

Olson