(Radio Iowa) — A 22-year-old from Bettendorf is the new Miss Iowa. Emily Tinsman was crowned last weekend in Davenport in what was her third try at the competition. Tinsman says she’s already learned a host of valuable “life skills” by taking part in the contests, including the honing of her interviewing abilities and gaining in self-confidence. “It’s not just a beauty competition, it’s not just the beauty, how you look,” Tinsman says. “We’re now moving towards what’s called Miss America 2.0. It’s about your talent, it’s about your intelligence, your poise and your confidence with yourself. Win or lose, we gain those skills.”

2019 Miss Iowa winner, Emily Tinsman. (Radio IA photo)

Tinsman says it was “surreal” to hear her name called as the winner at the Adler Theater last Saturday night. “It was really just this moment of, ‘Oh my gosh,'” she says. “My time in this program has just rounded itself out. It’s come full circle and now I get to inspire people throughout the state and girls who will be competing this next year.” In discussing her platform, Tinsman says her “social impact initiative” is advocating for artists — and for funding the arts in schools. “It helps build so many important skills, confidence, self-esteem, cultural awareness,” she says. “They believe in themselves and have a passion, but allowing them to have the same opportunities as you would with sports or academics, supporting a well-rounded education.”

Tinsman will represent Iowa in the Miss America Pageant, which is not yet scheduled. For now, she’s keeping a close eye on how she uses Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. “I have to be super-careful about social media, who’s following me, what I’m posting,” she says. “I’m really, essentially, supposed to be a role model for young women and I really need to prioritize how I’m being viewed in my actions.”

Tinsman graduated from Drake University in May. She was ready to start as an elementary music teacher in the Des Moines Public School System in the fall, but had to resign that post after winning the Miss Iowa crown.

(Radio Iowa) — A Marshalltown man is under arrest, facing a variety of charges after a high speed chase that began near the Des Moines Airport early this (Wednesday) morning. Forty-six-year-old Casey Sheriff was wanted for a probation violation. A police officer spotted him in a vehicle at a major intersection south of the Des Moines Airport. A spokesman for Des Moines Police says Sheriff fled in his vehicle, quickly reaching speeds of 100 miles an hour. Sheriff was taken into custody about 10 minutes after the chase began. He’s been charged with three probation violation, driving while his license was denied, suspended, cancelled or revoked and eluding authorities.

In 2013, authorities had to search for Sheriff after he walked away from a work release program in Marshalltown. He had been sent to prison for a domestic assault conviction. Sheriff has previous convictions for felonies and aggravated misdemeanors in Marshall, Polk and Clarke Counties.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports several prisoners from other agencies were transported to the Pott. County Jail, Tuesday, to address warrants for their arrest:

• 32-year old Sean P. Bagby, of Creston, and 31-year old Jeri D. Shoemaker, of Council Bluffs, were transported from the Montgomery County Jail to address Pott. County warrants for Violation of a No Contact/Protective Order and Violation of Probation, respectively
• 36-year old Robert James McDonald, of Omaha, was transported to the Pott. County Jail from Douglas County, NE., on a warrant Sex Offender Registry Violation/2nd offense.
• 41-year old Daniel James Becerra, of Omaha, was transported from Douglas County Corrections to Pott. County, on a warrant for Violation of Probation.
• 23-year old Tyrelle Tymia Henderson, of Omaha, was transported to Pott. County from Douglas County Corrections, on a warrant for Theft in the 3rd Degree ($2,000 bond), and on a hold for another agency.
• 43-year old John J. Bergin, III, of Omaha, was also transported from DCC to the Pott. County Jail, on warrants for Burglary in the 3rd degree, and Theft in the 3rd.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A state board has ruled the Iowa Board of Regents didn’t negotiate in good faith with unions from two public universities because it delayed negotiations until passage of a law limiting public employee bargaining rights. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the Public Employment Relations Board ruled last week that the regents deliberately delayed holding meetings starting in mid-December 2016 with the Campaign to Organize Graduate Students at the University of Iowa and United Faculty at the University of Northern Iowa while it waited for lawmakers to approve limits on public-sector union bargaining rights.

The board ordered the regents to not repeat such delaying tactics. The regents also must post flyers at the universities in the fall notifying employees they violated the law. The changes approved by legislators reduced the number of mandatory subjects for negotiation to only base wages.