ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — Flooding has been a consistent concern in the St. Joseph area, but this year, leaders of the community have the opposite worry — the unusually low level of the Missouri River. The St. Joseph News-Press reports that Buchanan County commissioners have sent a letter to U.S. Rep. Sam Graves raising worries about the river level, which was just about 3 feet on Monday.

It was just two years ago that record flooding along the Missouri River swamped parts of northwestern Missouri, southwestern Iowa, northeastern Kansas and southeastern Nebraska. But in recent months, shipments through the St. Joseph Port Authority have been grounded by low water.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Monday (today), reported several arrests over the past week. Friday morning, 40-year old Travis Lamar Kellogg was taken into custody (Prisoner transfer) from Page County Deputies, at the Casey’s Store, in Oakland. Kellogg was wanted on a Pott. County warrant for Violation of Probation. At around 2:55-a.m. Sunday, 38-year old Jeffrey Allen Stokes was arrested for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop in Council Bluffs.

Thursday night, 37-year old Raina Irene Meehan was arrested during a traffic stop on a vehicle with no license plates. Meehan was arrested for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. Friday afternoon, 19-year old Jeremiah Cortez Simmons, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, after he turned himself-in on a warrant for Violation of Parole. Simmons was transported to the Pott. County Jail.

Wednesday morning, 25-year old Daniel Edward Fitch turned himself-in the to Pott. County Sheriff’s Office. Fitch was wanted on a warrant for OWI/1st offense, and turned over to Corrections staff. Wednesday morning also, 59-year old Lee Jung Hoon Hansen was arrested in Avoca, following a traffic stop. Hansen was taken into custody for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender.

Tuesday afternoon, 46-year-old Courtney Derrell Bennett, of Council Bluffs, an inmate at the Pott. County Jail, was served with a warrant for Felony, Escape from Custody. Bennett was then returned to the custody of Corrections staff. And, 30-year old Jan Palubjak turned himself-in to the Pott County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday afternoon.  Palubjak was wanted on a warrant for Violation of Probation. He was booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail.

An overnight pursuit in a suburb of Des Moines has resulted in the deaths of three young men and injuries to two others. KCCI says according to Clive Police,  the incident started around 1:50 a.m. in the 3700 block of Patricia Drive when officers received a report of a someone going through a homeowner’s vehicle. The caller was able to relay a license plate number from a fleeing vehicle to police. Authorities stated the plate was listed as a stolen vehicle from Urbandale. Both Urbandale and Clive officers spotted the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop.

The driver fled from the attempted stop on 86th Streetat a high rate of speed. The pursuit continued south on 86th Street into Clive with speeds topping 100 mph. A Police news release said “As the vehicle crossed the railroad tracks at Swanson Blvd, the vehicle lost control and left the west side of the roadway. The car flipped several times, collided with a light pole, and launched across Walnut Creek, striking the south bank and coming to rest at the edge of the parking lot of the Cool Basil restaurant.”

Officers found multiple occupants ejected from the vehicle at the scene. Those same Officers provided lifesaving measures while awaiting help from medics. Three of the crash victims died at the scene, two others were transported to local hospitals. Their condition has not been released. No identities have been released. Clive police said the incident remains under investigation.

(Updated) The Creston Police Department reports a man was arrested on warrants at around 2:23-a.m., Sunday. Authorities say 49-year-old Michael Williams, of Creston, was arrested in the 300 block of W. Adams on Union County Warrants for:

• Failure to Appear on the original charge of Violation of Probation. Bond amount $5,000, and,
• Failure to Appear on the original charge of Domestic Abuse Assault- Impeding Air Flow. Bond Amount $10,000.

Williams was additionally charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a total bond on all charges, of $16,000. And, at around 10:35-a.m. Friday, 28-year-old Cody Hatfield, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston Police Department, on a Union County Warrant for Violation of Probation.  Hatfield was later released on $10,000 bond.

And, at around 3:40-a.m. on Jan. 4th, Creston Police were dispatched to Quik Pawn at 101 W Taylor St, for a commercial burglary alarm. Upon Officer’s arrival they discovered structural damage to the building and multiple items taken. Additional information was not provided.

(Mike Moen/Iowa News Service) DES MOINES, Iowa — As the new Iowa legislative session kicks off today, advocates for seniors hope lawmakers take another look at elder abuse and do more to prevent it. When the 2020 session abruptly ended in March because of COVID, the momentum evaporated for a bill to create a new criminal offense for financial exploitation and other harms against Iowans age 60 and older. The bill had cleared the state Senate, but didn’t get a vote in the House.

Anthony Carroll, associate state director of advocacy for AARP Iowa, said the current statute doesn’t cover a lot of ground, and this provision could stem a prevalent way in which elders are targeted. “It’s not the ‘stranger-danger’ or scams,” Carroll explained. “It’s more oftentimes the danger that can exist within your home; people that you’ve entrusted with your finances and care that have used that opportunity to physically abuse and financially exploit.”

The measure won unanimous support when it cleared the Senate last spring, but Carroll admitted because it’s a new session, advocates have to start over to gain support and get committee hearings. He acknowledged that might be difficult, since lawmakers still have to address pandemic-related matters. The legislation would also direct the Department on Aging to collect and store data on these incidents. Carroll pointed out in a report from last year, the Department of Human Services confirmed more than 50% of reported cases weren’t accepted for follow-up.
“We have a very narrow system that really only stops elder abuse in very specific situations,” Carroll contended.

Supporters of the bill said they fear the situation has gotten worse with so many older people isolated right now because of the pandemic. The previous bill had the backing of many law enforcement groups, financial institutions and long-term care associations.