SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Sioux City police say they are investigating a death inside an apartment used by transients as a homicide. The victim’s body was found Tuesday. Police did not release the gender of the victim, who appeared to have signs of blunt force trauma. The person appeared to have been deceased for a week. A medical examiner has not yet determined the cause of death. The apartment is part of a complex where 33-year-old Solomon Blackbird was shot on Nov. 1. He later died. Police say the two deaths do not appear to be related.

JOHNSTON, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says there are no plans to use millions of dollars of unused state surplus money to help businesses and families experiencing financial stress due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some other states have approved state funding aid or are considering it. Reynolds said Tuesday there isn’t enough state money. She placed the burden on Congress to reach an agreement.

Pubic health data in Iowa shows signs that the coronavirus infection rate is slowing, but the number of people hospitalized and dying with the coronavirus remains high. Iowa reported 24 deaths and 1,906 new confirmed cases Tuesday. Hospitals reported 1,172 patients with the virus.

Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputies, Saturday afternoon, were called to Penn Drug in Sidney for a report of prescription drug fraud. Deputies made contact with 29-year-old Travis Locke, of Saint Paul, Minnesota and 35-year-old James Webb, of Chicago, Illinois.

Webb

Locke

Deputies allege that a fraudulent prescription was used in an attempt to procure a Schedule V controlled substance. Both parties were arrested for Prohibited Acts, a Class B Felony and Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense, a Serious Misdemeanor.

Both are being held on $26,000 10% bond. Locke is also being held on a felony no-bond warrant out of Minnesota. More charges are pending.

A traffic stop just before Noon, Sunday, in Fremont County, resulted in a man’s arrest on drug and other charges. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies stopped a vehicle near the Highway 2 Missouri River Bridge, and in the process, made contact with a passenger in the vehicle, 20-year old Dretavious Evans, of Lincoln, Nebraska. After

Evans

Evans provided law enforcement with fraudulent identification information,  a probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, and a loaded firearm was found in the vehicle as well as an undisclosed amount of marijuana. Evans was placed under arrest for Carrying Weapons and Providing False ID to Law Enforcement. He was being held in the Fremont County Jail on a $2,000 bond, with 10% acceptable. The driver was cited for traffic violations and released.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and the Fremont County Reserve Deputy’s Association is in its 34th year of sponsorship of Operation Santa Claus. Operation Santa Claus provides Christmas presents for children in families of need throughout the communities of Fremont County. In 2019, your generous donations made Christmas merrier and brighter for over 300 Fremont County children.

Throughout the natural disasters and global pandemics that have affected our community, our citizens have come together to assist their neighbors in need. Sheriff Kevin Aistrope says “We are currently seeking Tax Deductible donations to assist in our endeavor. Please contact the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office at 712-374-2424 or 1-800-432-9240 or, new this year, PayPal donations can be made to reservedeputy@co.fremont.ia.us. Please mark any donations care of Operation Santa.”

Aistrope says also, “We are currently accepting applications for participants receiving gifts this year. The children must reside in the home of the caller and must be a high school student or younger. Please call at 712-374-2424 or 1-800-432-9240.”

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports two arrests this past week. On Nov. 24th, 38-year old Chad William Johnson, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/3rd offense, Driving While Licensed Denied or revoked (OWI related), and Open container. He was released the following day on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

And, on Nov. 26th, 25-year old Shyanne Renee Bird, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. She was released the same day on her Own Recognizance.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man inside a Cedar Rapids home, and a person of interest was being questioned. Police say the shooting happened Monday morning, when officers were called to the home for a report of a shooting. KWWL reports that arriving officers found the body of 24-year-old Charles James Griffin. Police have not released other details of what may have led to the shooting and have not announced any arrests, although a person of interest was questioned.