Sheriff’s Deputies in Page County, Thursday, arrested 19-year old Kortnee James Cordell Nelson, of Clarinda, following a traffic stop north of Clarinda. Nelson was arrested for Possession of a controlled substance and Driving under suspension. He was transported to the Page County Jail and held on $1,566.25 bond, pending further court proceedings. A 17 year old juvenile female with Nelson was picked up on a court order and transported to the Southwest Iowa Juvenile Detention Center in Council Bluffs.

(Radio Iowa) – Officials with the City of Spencer have fired an employee after the woman was accused of being part of a racial incident last week. An internal investigation was conducted after the City of Spencer received a complaint following the incident Wednesday evening at the Spencer Wal-Mart that led to the employee being fired effective immediately as of Thursday afternoon. According to a social media post about the incident, the employee reportedly made racial slurs and attempted to ram the victim’s cart with a motorized scooter while both parties were waiting in a checkout line. The post goes on to say members of the Wal-Mart staff were able to intervene and diffuse the situation.

(Radio Iowa) — Senator Chuck Grassley says he’ll attend events in 29 different Iowa counties over the next two weeks — and he’ll be wearing a face covering everywhere he goes and encouraging others to do the same. “To make sure everyone stays healthy and safe, we’ll be following CDC and Iowa state public health guidelines,” Grassley says, “including social distancing and wearing masks at all these meetings.” A crowd booed Muscatine’s mayor yesterday (Sunday) and called her a tyrant when she mandated face coverings be worn in public places in Muscatine. Grassley has recently been tweeting about the importance of wearing a face mask in the nation’s capitol.  “If you’ve followed me in my 40 years of politics in the Senate, you probably have heard me say: ‘Well, if there are no known negatives, you ought to do it.’ Now, that would deal with political and governmental things,” Grassley says, “but the same principle can apply to wearing a face mask.”

Grassley is encouraging all Iowans to wear a mask or face covering when they’re not at home. “I have a responsibility as a citizen not to infect somebody else, so if wearing a face mask might not protect me, but it’s going to protect somebody else, I ought to be doing it,” Grassley says.

Grassley has posted a picture of himself on Instagram wearing a purple face mask with the University of Northern Iowa emblem on it. “I don’t know of any negatives except it looks awful on people and I’d rather see their face than see a mask, but we’re in a whole different environment now and I want to do my share,” Grassley says. “…A US Senator…we don’t often get a chance to set a good example. This is one example we can set.”

Grassley says wearing a mask shows you are thinking about others and sacrificing for your neighbors and loved ones.

July 6, 2020 (DES MOINES) – Awards totaling nearly $22 million were announced today for historic preservation projects across the state, including conversion of the Red Oak High School into Low-to-Moderate Income housing. The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) registered 15 projects to receive state Historic Preservation tax credits. For the May 2020 registration period, IEDA received 23 applications requesting $33 million in tax credits. For this registration round, approximately $22 million was available for award. Projects are scored based on readiness, financing, local support and participation.

In Red Oak, Red Oak Partners, LLC. requested and were awarded nearly $1.36-million in grant funds. Other western Iowa projects received grant awards include the Motor Mart and Montgomery Ward Building, both in Sioux City. Those structures will be converted for Mixed Use. J Development Company, LLC, was awarded more than $5.4-million for the combined projects.

The Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program provides a state income tax credit to projects for rehabilitation of historic buildings. The program is designed to promote the retention of unique, character defining buildings and building features that contribute to a community and neighborhood. Rehabilitation must meet the federal Secretary of Interior standards. The Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program is administered by IEDA in partnership with the State Historic Preservation Office.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports 31-year old Nicholas Lee Steinhoff, of Shenandoah, was arrested Saturday in Shenandoah. He was taken into custody following an investigation into Sex Offender registration violations. Steinhoff was transported to the Page County Jail on $2,000 bond.

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two accidents took place over the past week. On July 3rd, authorities were notified of a motor vehicle accident on Highway 48 near A Avenue,  just north of the Shenandoah city limits. An investigation determined 35-year old Nathan Daniel Binau, of Shenandoah, was driving a 2019 Ford F150 pickup southbound on Highway48, and was unable to negotiate the curve near A Avenue. The vehicle struck a sign, culvert, and water line marker before coming to rest. Binau was transported to Shenandoah Medical Center with undisclosed injuries and later released. During the investigation Binau was arrested for O.W.I. 1st Offense. He was transported to the Page County Jail on $1000.00, pending further court proceedings. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Shenandoah Police Department, Shenandoah Ambulance service, and the Shenandoah Fire Department.

On July 2nd, the Page County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a single motor vehicle accident in the 2400 block of T Avenue, about two-miles south east of Clarinda. Officials say 32-year old  Travis Lee McClarnon, of Clarinda, was driving a 1999 Chevy Suburban north bound on T Avenue, when he lost control of the vehicle. The Chevy went off the road in to the west ditch where it struck a power pole owned by MidAmerican Energy. The pole broke and the vehicle came to rest on a fence owned by Kent Thorson, of Clarinda.

McClarnon was transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Center by private vehicle with undisclosed injuries. Damage to the power pole was estimated at $5000. Damage to the fence was estimated at $1500. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $4000. McClarnon was cited for Failure to maintain control of vehicle.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), released a backlogged report on arrests and incidents dating back to June 25th. Beginning with the most recent:

• At around 2:24-a.m. Sunday, 40-year old Bradley Shea Eaton, of Booneville, MS., was arrested following a report of a possible burglary and criminal mischief in progress at Arrowhead Campground, site 33. A Deputy met with the victims and took a report. Authorities say four tires were “slashed” on a GMC Yukon. Witnesses said the suspect, identified as Bradley Eaton, allegedly tried to enter a camper through the bunkhouse emergency exit window. A records search indicated Eaton was wanted. He was taken into custody for Burglary in the 2nd Degree; Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree, on a warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice, interference with official acts, and (Felony) Theft in the 2nd Degree. His bond was set at $5,300.
• Late Saturday night, three 17-year old’s (2 male, 1 female), were cited at 31581 Elmtree, for Possession of Alcohol as a minor.
• Saturday evening, 27-year old Dylan Zachary Russell, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender, after a Pottawattamie County Deputy stopped to offer assistance to a motorist. Bond was set at $2,000.
• Friday night, 36-year old Jonathan Timothy Bunten was arrested for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender, following a traffic stop on a pickup with no registration plates. Bunten was also cited for failure to have a driver’s license.
• At around 2:30-a.m., Friday, 36-year old Allen Gerard Hug, II was arrested for OWI/1st Offense, following a traffic stop for excessive speed.
• Thursday afternoon, 64-year old Timothy Joe Smith was arrested for Interference with Official Acts and Disorderly Conduct, when a Pott. County Deputy tried to serve a Temporary Protective Order against Smith.
• At around 9:15-p.m. on July 1st, 33-year old Emily Frances Wickman was arrested for making a False Statement on a Gambling Application. She was taken into custody following a traffic stop near Underwood.
• On June 29th at around 8:20-p.m., 30-year old Cornelius Cooper Stanley, III, of Council Bluffs, was arrested near Shelby, for: Child Endangerment; Domestic Abuse Assault/1st offense causing injury, and for being a Fugitive from Justice. Bond was set at $2,000.
• On June 28th, 54-year old Todd Michael Walker was arrested in Hancock, for Domestic Abuse/Simple Assault.
• 34-year old Jacob Dale Bussing was arrested June 28th at the Underwood Truck Stop, for being an employee who allegedly provided tobacco/vapor product to a minor. The incident took place in cooperation with the I-Pledge Program.
• June 27th: 48-year old Robin Lee Narmi was arrested for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender, following a traffic stop on a motorcycle, in Council Bluffs; 23-year old Lorne J. Hart was arrested in Crescent for Disorderly Conduct and Interference with Official Acts, following an investigation into an incident whereby a man jumped out of a vehicle and was bleeding.
• On June 26th, 34-year old Ryan Dean Beckwith, JR., of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Violation of Probation, after he turned himself-in to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office.
• Authorities say on June 25th, 58-year old Clayton Wade Schmitt, of Atlantic, was arrested following a traffic stop near Walnut. Schmitt was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a Felony charge of Intent Manufacture/Deliver Meth Over 5g Under 5kg, and Possession of Controlled Substances/2nd or subsequent offense w/enhanced penalties. And, 29-year old Terrance Nathaniel Allen, of Council Bluffs, turned himself-in to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office June 25th, on a warrant for Violation of Probation.

(Radio Iowa) — A long-shuttered Sioux City hotel will reopen in August and reservations are already being taken for its luxury apartments. The Warrior Hotel and the adjacent Davidson Building will be an Autograph Collection by Marriott hotel with 148 rooms. Alex Cherubin, with Restoration Iowa, says demand is down for hotel rooms because of the pandemic, so only the 92-room Warrior side of the property will open initially. “We moved almost all of our teams from the Davidson over to the Warrior,” Cherubin says, “and because of that, the Davidson will open about a month after the Warrior will.”

The Warrior Hotel will reopen on August 27th and people who want to rent one of the 22 luxury apartments in the Davidson Building won’t be able to move in until mid-to-late September. Cherubin says people have already been putting down deposits to secure apartments, but several remain. He says renters will be able to use all of the Warrior’s amenities. “You would have access to the pool and the fitness center and the sauna as well,” he says. “You’d be able to just walk over without going outside and access the bowling alley, the bar, the restaurant, the salon.”

The 10-story downtown Warrior Hotel was built in 1930 and closed in 1976. It’s been vacant ever since.

Story & photos by Katie Peikes, Iowa Public Radio

One person died late Sunday morning during a single-vehicle accident in eastern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports 81-year old John L. Hintermeister, of Muscatine, was traveling south in the 2500 block of Pettibone Avenue in Muscatine County, when his 2003 Ford Thunderbird left the road and collided with a pile of rocks. The accident, which happened at around 11:36-a.m., Sunday, remains under investigation.

And in northern Iowa’s Winneshiek County, four people were injured during a collision that happened at around 7:35-p.m., Sunday. The Patrol reports a 2009 Chevy Equinox SUV was traveling west on 210th Street, when it collided with the left side of a haybinding machine pulled by an eastbound 1977 International tractor. Afterward, the SUV went out of control and entered the south ditch. The driver, 22-year old Joshua D. Willie, of Cresco, was not injured, but four of his passengers were. The driver of the tractor, 61-year old Alan J. Elsbernd, of Calmar, was not hurt.

The injured passengers in the SUV were identified as 16-year old Jay Gossman, 21-year old Laci Albert, and 22-year old Willie Gannon, all of Cresco, and 24-year old Zoe Thibadeu, of Clermont. All were wearing their seat belts. Gossmann was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Cresco. Thibadeau and Albert were taken by ambulance to the hospital in Decorah, while Gannon was flown to Gunderson Hospital by Gundersen Air Ambulance.