(Sidney, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County report the arrest of a man on Sexual Abuse and other charges. 29-year-old Donald Wayne Riggins, Jr., of Sidney, was arrested Tuesday at his residence. He faces one-count each of Sexual Abuse 3rd Degree, against an incapacitated individual, a Class C Felony; Sexual Abuse 3rd Degree, a Class C Felony; and two counts of Indecent Exposure, Masturbation, a Serious Misdemeanor.

Donald Wayne Riggins, Jr.

Authorities say at around 5:16-p.m., Tuesday, Fremont County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a business in Sidney for a report of a sexual assault. Upon arrival, deputies met with a victim who reported on Saturday (Oct. 7), the victim observed a man allegedly masturbate in a city park and then again at the victim’s residence, against the victim’s will. On Tuesday (Oct. 10), the same male entered the victim’s residence and allegedly committed a sexual assault. A suspect (Donald Riggins, Jr.) was quickly identified.

During the investigation, deputies made contact with a second victim who also reported a similar incident with Riggins, Jr., in the early summer of 2023 and allegedly assaulted by him in July of 2023.

If you have any information regarding any alleged sexual misconduct by Riggins, you are asked to contact the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office at 712-374-2424, ask for Sgt. Andrew Wake, or your local law enforcement agency.

DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Tuesday) announced her appointment of Hunter Thorpe as a district associate judge in Judicial Election District 2B.   Judicial Election District 2B includes Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Marshall, Pocahontas, Sac, Story, Webster, and Wright counties

Thorpe, of Ankeny, Iowa, is an assistant county attorney at the Boone County Attorney’s Office.  He received an undergraduate degree from Central College and his law degree from Drake Law School.

Thorpe fills a vacancy created following the retirement of the Hon. Steven Van Marel.

The latest Iowa Climate Statement signed by more than 200 scientists and researchers at Iowa colleges and universities says the state needs to invest more in solar power. Retired Iowa State University climate scientist Gene Takle says when wind is paired with solar, they tend to make up for each other’s weaknesses.

Around 60 percent of electricity generated in Iowa comes from wind. University of Iowa environmental health professor Peter Thorne says solar could potentially overtake wind.

Several large-scale solar projects are under development, including a 200 mega-watt solar farm in Linn County at the former Duane Arnold nuclear plant. Iowa’s electric wind production is higher share than any other state, but Iowa solar energy capacity is well below the national average.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Joni Ernst has met in person with Israel’s top leaders as they respond to terror attacks that started over the weekend. Ernst says Hamas needs to be destroyed.

Ernst spoke by phone with Radio Iowa from Jordan after spending much of today (Tuesday) in Israel.

Ernst, a Republican, and three Democrats from the U-S House met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as the leader of the opposition party in Israel. Ernst says having a bipartisan delegation from the U-S meet with Israel’s leaders sends a powerful message.

Ernst, a retired Iowa National Guard officer who did a tour of duty in Iraq, says Hamas chose this weekend to strike knowing it was a major Jewish holiday and there would be many Americans visiting family in Israel. Israel declared war on Sunday.

Ernst left the U-S on Wednesday, originally planning to attend a conference with Israelis, Palestinians and Arab state leaders. Her first stops, though, were in places like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince this week has pledged to stand by Palestine, dealing a blow to efforts to form a diplomatic relationship among the U-S, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Hamas burst through border walls in Saturday’s attacks and has been firing rockets at Israel’s capital this week. Israel’s Iron Dome defense system has repelled thousands of rockets. Ernst says the U-S must provide Israel with additional intelligence as well as munitions to restock the Iron Dome. Ernst, a part of G-O-P leadership in the U-S Senate, says House Republicans must quickly select a new speaker so congress can act.

Ernst is also calling for freezing six billion dollars of Iran’s assets, being held in South Korea, that were part of a prisoner swamp the Biden Administration arranged between the U-S and Iran last month.

Ernst says the sadness and terror in Israel is palpable. One of the Americans Ernst met in Israel had just attended the funeral of his 18-year-old son’s best friend.

Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks has been in some of the overseas meetings with Ernst, including a visit to Bahrain on Monday, but Miller-Meeks was NOT part of the delegation that visited Israel Tuesday.

ATLANTIC, IOWA — Officials with SWIPCO (The Southwest Iowa Planning Council) welcome three new staff members to the organization.

Chris Parks

Chris Parks has assumed the role of Communications Coordinator, overseeing community outreach, public engagement, and media communications for SWIPCO and SWITA (The Southwest Iowa Transit Agency). Parks is a graduate of Glenwood High School and has a bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He has a wealth of journalism experience as a broadcaster for 16 years at KJAN Radio in Atlantic. Chris lives in Atlantic with his wife Mandy and their two children Carson and Greta.

Julie Hays is a new Transit Scheduler. Julie joins the team that connects area residents to the transportation they need. SWITA serves eight counties in Southwest Iowa with a fleet of 100 vehicles. Transportation provided includes work routes, student transportation, day habilitation routes for disabled individuals, medical transport, and a range of other services.

Julie Hays

To find out more about the transportation services provided by SWITA you can call 712-243-2518 or 1-800-842-8065 or get more information at www.swita.com.

And, SWIPCO welcomes Barb Boggs as a Grants Specialist. She will work with SWIPCO Disaster Recovery Planning to help with citizen claims and surveying for the agency. Barb will help clients navigate through application procedures and ensure the agency is meeting grant regulations.

SWIPCO and the Southwest Iowa Housing Trust Fund operate a wide range of programs including housing repair, down payment assistance, demolition of dilapidated houses, and lead abatement. SWIPCO also provides building inspection services and currently has more than 1,500 rental units in its inspection program. Boggs will assist with all of these programs and will be an asset to the agency.

Barb Boggs

Boggs has lived the majority of her life in Atlantic and graduated from Atlantic High School. She has a varied background with work in financing, a law office, the postal service, and more.