The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a Denison woman on Saturday morning. At approximately 6:40 a.m. Deputies arrested 55-year-old Amy J. Ross of Denison on a charge of Driving While Revoked. Ross was arrested following an investigation into a reported car in the ditch at Ironwood Avenue and 180th Street. A check of Ross’ driving record indicated that her privelege to operate a motor vehicle in the State of Iowa was revoked. She was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $1,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — One of the largest jackpots in U.S. history is growing larger. There was no winner of Friday’s drawing for the Mega Millions $750 million jackpot. It would have been the fifth-largest jackpot ever drawn. Now, the next top prize is estimated to grow to $850 million. That would be the third-largest of all time. The drawing is on Tuesday. Lottery players still have a chance to win big this weekend. The Powerball jackpot is up to $640 million for the drawing on Saturday. No one has won either game’s top prize in months, and it’s been nearly two years since a lottery jackpot has grown so large.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has made another arrest following an investigation that began on Wednesday, January 13th. On Friday at approximately 3:40 p.m. Deputies arrested 58-year-old Donna M. Tiemeyer of Farragut for a Controlled Substance Violation, a Class C Felony.  Tiemeyer was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $100,000 bond.

The investigation had previously led to the arrest as well of Henry. B. Ballard. Ballard has now additionally been charged with a Drug Tax Stamp Violation.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Friday, said they spoke with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding expected increases in vaccine allocation. According to IDPH, they continue to be in close communication with their federal partners and will provide updates as they learn more.

Sarah Ekstrand says “At this time, we continue to move forward with our targeted plan to ensure a swift and equitable process. Iowa is currently vaccinating individuals in Phase 1A, which includes health care personnel and residents and staff of long-term care facilities. The next phase, Phase 1B, includes Iowans age 75 and over, as well as other high-risk populations. This next phase will begin receiving vaccinations no later than February 1. The Department created a timeline to help Iowans understand when they can expect to get their vaccination.”

According to Ekstrand, “This approach focuses on Iowans who are most vulnerable to exposure to COVID-19 or high-risk for illness as the result of a COVID-19 infection, with a significant focus on equity.  Some examples include individuals with disabilities living in home settings, correctional facilities, other congregate settings and meatpacking plant workers.” Definitions and examples of individuals included in Phase 1A and B can be found here.

As the IDPH moves into the next phase, more settings and locations for vaccination will become available. Some may receive vaccines at employer-based clinics. Others may receive theirs through health care providers, pharmacies and clinical settings that are equipped to handle screening and scheduling for vaccination efforts. There are approximately 1,700 enrolled vaccine providers in the state. County health departments may partner with these providers to ensure their residents have access to the vaccine when it becomes available.

Throughout the vaccine campaign, officials say, it has been the goal of IDPH to keep Iowans informed with accurate and confirmed details. The department will continue to monitor and evaluate updated allocation information during this time when the situation remains fluid. Iowa’s current allocation numbers can be found here and vaccine administration totals here.

IDPH continues to urge Iowans that while the vaccine is still a scarce resource, to practice virus mitigation efforts.

• Wear a mask or face covering
• Practice social distancing with those outside your household
• Clean your hands frequently with soap and water
• Stay home if you feel sick

Police in Council Bluffs report officers responded at around 3:40-p.m., Friday, to the Subway restaurant at 208 E. Broadway, following a reported robbery that had just occurred. Officers were given a description of the suspect (a black male, wearing a black hoodie, light colored pants with a light mask, who displayed a handgun), and a direction of travel. Within minutes officers located the suspect in a white Chevy impala with paper plates in the general area of the business.

Tyrees Brown

A traffic stop was made on the vehicle and the driver/lone occupant, was detained. He was identified as 30-year old Tyrees Abdalla Brown, a known transient. Officers reviewed the surveillance video from the business and matched up the offender of the robbery to the man who was detained. Upon a search of the suspect vehicle, elements of the robbery were discovered.

Robbery surveillance still-frame image

The employee of the business told officers that the suspect entered the business, displayed a handgun, made threats and demanded cash. The man took an undisclosed amount of cash from the business and fled the area on foot prior to officers making the traffic stop.

Brown was arrested for Robbery in the 2nd Degree, and Harassment in the 1st Degree.  No one involved in the incident was injured. There were no other witnesses to this crime. Brown was transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections and booked-in. Anyone with any information that was in the area at the time of the incident is encouraged to contact the Council Bluffs Police Investigations Division at 712-328-4728, or  Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.