Police in Red Oak arrested a local woman at around 8:35-a.m. today (Tuesday). 27-year old Joslin Nicole Davies, of Red Oak, was arrested for operating a vehicle on a public roadway while having a revoked Iowa driver’s license for an OWI. Davies was also cited for failure to provide proof of insurance. Authorities say she refused to sign the citation, and was jailed on that charge was well. Her cash bond was set at $1,000.

Sheriff’s deputies in Pottawattamie County made two arrests Monday night. At around 11:10-p.m., a deputy was dispatched to the area of mile marker 65 on I-29 northbound, for a suspicious male subject. Upon further investigation, 34-year old Andrew Bouma, of Des Moines, was arrested for Conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, as well as Criminal Mischief in the 3rd degree (For damage greater than $500 but less than $1,000), involving a 2003 Jaguar X-Type car. Bouma was being held in the Pott. County Jail on a total of $12,000 bond. And, at around 10:50-p.m., 63-year old Michael James Hunter, of Underwood, was arrested following a traffic stop in Underwood. Hunter was taken into custody on a Pott. County felony warrant.

Sheriff’s officials said also, 24-year old Johnathan Lee Jay Behrens, of Avoca, was transported Monday afternoon from the Shelby County Jail to the Pott. County Jail, to address a warrant for Driving While Barred/Habitual Offender. His bond was set at $2,000. And, 37-year old Larry Phillips, of Collierville, TN., was transported from the Shelby County Jail to Pott. County, by order of a warrant for Eluding while speeding, Flight to avoid prosecution, No valid driver’s license, and speeding. His bond was set at $7,000.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowans who plan a trip over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend will need to plot their route carefully as many roads across the region are closed either by flooding or by flood damage. Rose White, at Triple-A-Iowa, says the motor club is predicting this will be the second-busiest Memorial Day weekend on record for all forms of travel, which includes air, ship, rail and car. White says, “Memorial Day travel by automobile, however, will be the most on record, topping the previously recorded high set back in 2005 with 37.6 million people taking to the roadways.” That’s up more than three-percent from last year. More than 37-million people will be traveling by car nationwide over the weekend and Iowans might want to get online before getting on the road.

“Before you venture out, visit the 511ia.org site and there you can download a very helpful application that will provide you the latest information on detours, road closures and those that are under construction,” White says. We’ve seen photos in recent weeks of gas stations in southwest Iowa that were inundated by floodwaters, so it’s very possible some of our regular road trip pit stops won’t be open. “Keep a close eye on your fuel tank,” White says. “Many of the outlets may be closed due to the Midwest flooding situation. It’s always advised you keep at least a quarter of a tank as you are traveling about this holiday period.”

Gasoline prices for the first holiday weekend of the summer driving season are down from a year ago. “Fuel prices in Iowa are very favorable,” White says. “Compared to the national average, Iowa’s state average is 20 cents lower, currently at $2.65 a gallon. That’s down about 16 cents compared to the prices that were paid last Memorial holiday.” White says the busiest travel days will be Thursday and Friday, so try to avoid those days entirely or schedule it so you’re not going through big cities during rush hours.

Anita Fire and Rescue Wiota 1st Responders, along with Medivac Ambulance were called to the scene of a semi tractor-trailer accident this (Tuesday) morning off I-80 eastbound, in the median. The call went out at 8:13-a.m. for the incident that took place at the 75 mile marker, or just west of Adair. The driver was said to be conscious and breathing, but possibly suffering from a medical condition. (Update 8:22-a.m.: Anita Fire and Wiota Rescue were told to “disregard” the call).

Jim Tyler of Atlantic will talk about some of his experiences as a World War II P-38 fighter pilot Sunday, May 26, 2019 at 7:00 pm in an episode of “Air Warriors” on the Smithsonian Channel.  Sunday’s program will feature the P-38 Lightning.

Tyler served in the Army Air Corps after enlisting in 1942.  He was interviewed for the program last year while visiting the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota.

The Smithsonian Channel website describes the P-38 Lightning episode:

“It was one of the most unique and deadly warplanes of World War II, with devastating agility and unmatched speeds of over 400 mph. But before the P-38 Lightning seized control of the air from the Japanese and the Germans, some of its pilots were forced to learn on the job. Follow its dogfighting journey, from Alaska to Africa and from Berlin to Tokyo, as the Lightning earned its name, blazing into battle and delivering a killer strike into the hearts of its enemies.”

The Smithsonian Channel can be found locally on Mediacom channels 289/850, on Dish Network channel 367 and DirectTV channel 570.

Jim Field interviewed Mr. Tyler about his service for the “Freedom Friday” series that aired on November 22, 2013 on KJAN’s Heartbeat Today.  CLICK HERE to listen to that discussion.

(Radio Iowa) — Governor Kim Reynolds went to the “Candy Kitchen” in Wilton, Iowa, Monday to sign a bill that will boost state investment in rural Iowa.  “This iconic Iowa business really embodies the small town character that we’re famous for and it is the perfect example of why we should do everything we can to preserve, grow and strengthen our small town way of life,” Reynolds said. The Empower Rural Iowa Act includes 25 MILLION dollars in tax credits for home builders, for construction in rural communities.  “We have jobs that are available all over this state, but we can’t fill the jobs if there’s not a place to call home, so this bill….doubles the rural set-aside in workforce housing tax credits and, for the first year, the full $25 million will go to clear the current backlog for rural projects.”

State housing tax credits will no longer be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis either. Home builders will have to submit to a competitive bidding process to win the state grants. The Empower Rural Iowa Act also updates the rules for handing out another five MILLION dollars in state grants to companies that extend broadband to underserved rural areas. “We’re just getting started when it comes to that. I told ’em I’d take $5 million, but we’re coming back for more next year so we can continue to grow and expand and be the most connected state in the country!” Reynolds said.

The bill Reynolds signed into law creates a new “Center for Rural Revitalization” in state government. The center’s charge is to find and support leaders in Iowa’s rural communities.