The Creston Police Department reports four arrests over the weekend.

On Friday at 3:10 p.m. Officers arrested 22-year-old Klay Evans of Earlham on an outside agency warrant. Evans was released from the Union County Jail on bond.

Also Friday at 8:11 p.m. Creston Police arrested 18-year-old Duane Cole of Creston near the intersection of Freemont St and Division St on a Union County warrant. Cole was released from the Union County Jail on a $500 bond.

On Sunday at 1:54 a.m. Officers arrested 43-year-old Toby Simpson of Creston near the intersection of Adams St and Elm St on the charge of OWI 1^st. Simpson was released from the Union County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Also on Sunday at 3:20 a.m. Creston Police arrested 26-year-old Patrick Iiams of Creston at his residence on the charge of Domestic Abuse 1^st offense. Iiams is currently being held in the Union County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Emergency Managers have been needed and appreciated more than ever in 2020, but more can be done to prepare Iowans for the next disaster. Recently, Governor Reynolds took action and signed a 2020 Emergency Management Appreciation Week Proclamation recognizing the week of September 21st as Emergency Management Appreciation Week across the state. Reynolds’ proclamation noted the timeliness of pausing and appreciating those who have dedicated their time to help Iowa recover from disasters. In 2020 alone, Iowa has faced the COVID-19 pandemic, a massive derecho storm system, tornadoes, and flooding.

Following the derecho storm, emergency managers across the state have been on the ground working tirelessly to help communities survey the damage and get on the path toward recovery. These same emergency managers have responded to 45 federally declared disasters in Iowa over the last 30 years. Emergency managers are key to helping communities prepare for disasters before they strike. From training to implementing processes to be used during disasters, county emergency managers work day in and day out to ensure their communities are prepared for any disaster that may strike.

Iowa Emergency Management Association (IEMA) members continuously work with first responders, jurisdictional executives, and legislators to improve the condition of disaster preparedness in Iowa. IEMA remains persistent in their advocacy efforts to extend the state’s Back to School sales tax holiday to include the purchase of disaster preparedness supplies in an effort to ensure families have the tools and supplies needed to be self-sufficient during any disaster they may face. IEMA supports expanding the tax-free holiday to include items such as portable generators, batteries, first aid kits, radios, and any other items that would be vital to Iowans during an emergency situation. Making this simple tax change will help countless Iowans be prepared to self-support and stay safe in their homes during the next emergency.

One person suffered possible injuries in a two-vehicle crash in Creston early Saturday morning. Officers responded to the crash near Casey’s General Store at 12:22 a.m. Saturday. After investigation it was determined that a 2015 Chrysler 200 driven by 29-year-old Lisa Marie Spore of Waterloo was leaving the Casey’s parking lot and making a left hand turn on US Highway 34 and pulled out in front of a 2003 Ford Explorer driven by 43-year-old Jason Patrick Lillie of Creston. Lillie then struck Spore broadside causing severe damage to both vehicles. Spore was transported by EMS to Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston for treatment of possible injuries.

Damage to the Chrysler was estimated at $6,000 and damage to the Ford was estimated at $3,500. No citations were issued at the scene.

A distracted driver caused a four-vehicle chain reaction crash on Thursday evening in Creston. At 6:09 p.m. Officers responded to a crash at Adams and Sumner Streets in Creston. Three vehicles were stopped at a red light heading southbound in the inside lane of Sumner Street. A fourth vehicle, a Jeep driven by 17-year-old Jackson Spencer Gerdes of Jefferson, was distracted and failed to stop behind the line of vehicles striking the third car in line in the rear. This caused that vehicle to hit the second vehicle and then the second into the first. The driver of the first vehicle, a passenger in the second vehicle, and the driver of the third vehicle were all transported Greater Regional Medical Center by GRMC and Afton EMS for the treatment of possible minor injuries.

No damage was observed on the first vehicle, the second vehicle sustained $1,000 damage, the third vehicle $3,000 damage, and the fourth vehicle sustained $10,000 damage and had to be towed from the scene by Hi-Crest Auto. Gerdes was charged with Failure to Stop in Assured Clear Distance.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, during their regular session, Tuesday morning, will act on a Resolution to establish speed limits, etc., on a roadway (including portions of 620th St. and Lansing Road), to and from the rock quarry, south of Atlantic. During last week’s meeting, the Board’s consensus was to establish 40 mph as the speed limit for roadways designated as hauling routes, and to place additional signage.

The Board, Tuesday, will also discuss the closing of a 570th Street at the I-80 underpass (52.6 mile marker, north of Marne), per a request to consider from the Iowa Department of Transportation. In a 2016 study, the DOT deemed the road a “Low Priority” for repairs/maintenance, due to the low volume of traffic.

In its I-80 Planning Study, the DOT says “It is the policy of the Iowa Department of Transportation to secure permanent closure of existing local (non-primary) roads/streets, when in the judgement of the Department, it is in the best interests to close these roads/streets.”

In other business, the Board will enter into a closed session as required by Iowa Code, to evaluate the performance of Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken, who was hired earlier this year, after a more than six-month search for a qualified person to replace former Engineer Charlie Bechtold. Wolken started working for the County in March, 2020.

The Board’s meeting begins at 9-a.m., Tuesday. It will be held in-person at the courthouse, and electronically, via Zoom (meeting ID 138 870 131   Password: 012064)

A traffic stop in Red Oak early Sunday morning resulted in a woman being arrested on multiple drug charges. At 1:50 a.m. Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 1600 block of Summit Street. After investigation 28-year-old Priscilla Ann Jones of Red Oak was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Serious Misdemeanor), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Simple Misdemeanor), and Interference with Official Acts (Serious Misdemeanor). Jones also had an active warrant out of Douglas County, Nebraska for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Jones was further charged with False Identification and Fugitive from Justice. Jones was taken to the Montgomery County Jail where she was held on no bond.

The Red Oak Police department reports the arrest of a Red Oak man late Sunday night. At 11:40 p.m. Officers arrested 41-year-old Keith Benard Johnson Jr. in the 400 block of E Hammond Street for Child Endangerment-No Injury and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Johnson was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $2,000 bond. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest.