Authorities say a traffic stop in Shenandoah Tuesday resulted in two people being arrested on drug charges. Shenandoah Police Department stopped a vehicle for having no license at Orchard Corners near Highway 59. Following an investigation and deployment of the K-9 Unit, officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle.

Taken into custody was 32-year old Kenton Schooling and 30-year-old Tiffany Wood, both of Shenandoah. They were being held in the Fremont County Jail on $100,000 bond each, on charges that include possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The driver of the vehicle, Monte Newton, of Shenandoah, was cited for operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The office of U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) is seeking Iowa college students and recent graduates for internship opportunities in the Washington, D.C. and Iowa offices for fall 2017. Internship applications are available here:

https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/internships

Ernst said in a press release, that “Whether in Washington, D.C. or one of our state offices, a congressional internship provides the next generation of leaders with insight into the issues most important to Iowans and gives them the opportunity to learn more about policy, constituent services, communications and more. She encourages any Iowa college students and recent graduates that are interested to apply for an internship.

Interns will have the opportunity to experience a wide-range of responsibilities. In the Iowa offices, interns will assist constituents and attend local events. In the Washington, D.C. office, interns will learn about communications, the legislative process, give tours of the U.S. Capitol and help with constituent services.

Applications for fall 2017 can be submitted to Ernst_Internships@ernst.senate.gov. For student/parent questions, please contact Erica Wenig at Erica_Wenig@ernst.senate.gov.

Senator Ernst was elected as the first woman to serve in federal elected office from the State of Iowa and also became the first female combat veteran elected to serve in the United States Senate. In Washington, Senator Ernst serves on four Senate committees: Armed Services; Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Environment and Public Works; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Officials with Exira Fire and Rescue report Washington Street in Exira is once again open to traffic. The street had been closed since early last Friday morning, when crews from at least 30 different departments from as far as 45 miles away battled a stubborn blaze that destroyed four businesses on a city block.

Exira Fire Chief Mike Bintner said today (Wednesday), that the State Fire Marshal is expected to update him on the status of the investigation later today, and that some insurance company investigators will be in town as well. No new flare-ups have been reported since Sunday.

The incident remains under investigation.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A psychiatric evaluation has been ordered for a Nebraska man accused of threatening Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa. U.S. Magistrate Judge Helen Adams on Tuesday ordered the transfer of 64-year-old Robert Simet, of Omaha, from the Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs, to the Douglas County Jail in Omaha, where he’ll be held while undergoing an evaluation. Simet is charged with threatening a U-S official.

An arrest affidavit says employees of a motorcycle shop in Pacific Junction, Iowa, told an FBI agent that Simet had been there July 5th. During that visit, Simet made several statements about Ernst, including that he believes she is a member of the Islamic State group and that he “could kill” her during a July 10 event at the motorcycle shop.

Officials with the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC) have announced the release of the Community Services Network (CSN) 3.0. The system is used by county community services professionals and providers to manage budgets, payments, client information, and outcomes data.

CSN is a robust, web-based management information system that is currently used by 98 counties in Iowa. Polk County will begin using the system this year. CSN launched in January 2010 for the primary purposes of tracking and managing mental health data by county community services departments. CSN now handles all aspects of client care coordination including case notes, funding authorizations, financial services such as claim payments, integration with county auditor’s accounting systems and budgeting.

Within the past two years the system has expanded to offer functionality to additional county departments including General Assistance, Substance Abuse, and Veteran Affairs. The latest release has improved the experience of the end user, enhanced and improved security, added many new features, as well as integrated community services providers into CSN.

CSN is regularly audited and has been certified as fully HIPAA compliant. The system also incorporates the additional Iowa Code security regulations, and users are required to follow strict security guidelines to keep consumer information safe and secure. The mental health disability services system recently shifted from a county to a region-based system. CSN helped to allow counties to undertake the transition more easily.

Bill Peterson, ISAC Executive Director stated, “CSN 3.0 will continue to help government employees do their job efficiently and accurately while saving costs for the tax paying citizens of Iowa.”

If interested in learning more about how your agency or entity can use CSN, please contact ISAC’s IT Manager, Jeanine Scott, 515.244.7181

The Creston Police Department reports a local woman was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a Union County warrant for Assault. 20-year old Mandee Barnes, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 1:45-p.m. and subsequently released on a $300 bond. And, 19-year old Isaac Hayes, of Johnston, was arrested in Creston a little 12-a.m. today (Wednesday) on a Guthrie County warrant for Probation Violation. Hayes was being held in the Union County Jail while awaiting transport to Guthrie County.

Creston Police said also, a woman living in an apartment in the 100 block of Manor Drive, in Creston, reported on July 5th, that sometime between July 2nd and 4th, her debit card was fraudulently used to purchase digital downloads from Microsoft through her old XBox account. The loss was estimated at $25.

PIERCE, Neb. (AP) – A pilot has been flown to an Iowa hospital after the crash of his crop-dusting plane in northeast Nebraska. The Pierce County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Office says first responders were sent around 2 p.m. Tuesday to a field 7 miles west and 2 miles north of Pierce. The plane was spraying fields before the crash.

The unidentified pilot was taken to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City for treatment. The Sheriff’s Office says the plane is owned by Bloomfield Ag & Aerial Service. The cause of the crash is being investigated.