(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman from Red Oak was arrested following a traffic stop at around 7:30-p.m., Wednesday, in the 1000 block of Highway 34. Upon further investigation, deputies determined 29-year-old Hailey Marie Waters was driving while her license is denied or revoked. Waters was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Three of the state’s elementary schools and a middle school are in the inaugural 2025 class of “Iowa Blue Ribbon Schools.” Governor Kim Reynolds led a ceremony in Des Moines to honor schools in the Albia, Dubuque, George Little Rock and College Community districts. “Having a strong educational foundation early on sets students up for a lifetime of success,” Reynolds said. “…Congratulations!” Iowa Department of Education director McKenzie Snow says the four schools recognized are models of excellence.

“Providing all students what they need to meet high expectations and realize their incredible potential,” Snow said. Albia’s middle school was recognized for efforts to raise student test scores. The district’s junior high students, for example, exceed the statewide proficiency score in science by 22 points. Albia Superintendent Richard Montgomery says everyone on staff gets credit.

Photo by Radio Iowa: Governor Reynolds, the Iowa Dept. of Education’s McKenzie Snow and Jay Pennington, pose for photos with Albia school leaders

“Cooks, teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, secretaries, AEA staff, school board, nurses, med techs, bus drivers, administrators and coaches,” he said, “…they like, other educators across the state are the true difference makers for Iowa schools, recognizing that relationships and culture come before program and curriculum because in every great school, it’s the people make a difference.”

In 2018, George Little Rock’s elementary was identified as one of the state’s lowest performing schools, but state officials say all students are now performing at high levels. Amanda Miller is the district’s superintendent. “Our teachers and staff have worked to meet each student’s individual needs in a way that prioritized their learning and acknowledges and supports their challenges,” Miller said. “This is one of the great benefits of learning and growing in a small district — a personalized student experience.”

Prairie Hill Elementary in the College Community District in Cedar Rapids has been recognized for dramatically reducing chronic absenteeism. That’s 10 points below the state average. Principal Scott Schipper says a few years ago, 17 percent of students had been chronically absent — and it’s now five percent. That’s 10 points below the state average.  “We live by our school motto every day: ‘Work hard, be nice and have fun,'” he said. “This honor validates the notion that when we work hard together, when we are nice and supportive of every student and family, and when we create a fun and engaging learning environment we can achieve transformational results.”

The Dubuque Community School District’s Bryant Elementary is being recognized for the rising reading scores of kindergarten through fifth grade students, as two-thirds of those students are exceeding expectations according to state officials. Megan Richardson is the school’s principal. “We have cultivated a culture of consistency and clarity,” she said. “…Our staff are persistent in making students feel safe, understood and challenged. They go above and beyond to create meaningful growth for our students.”

The Trump Administration ended the national “Blue Ribbon” program honoring high-performing schools this summer. Iowa officials announced the winners of their inaugural Iowa Blue Ribbon Schools program yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.

(Greene County, Iowa) – A crash east of Coon Rapids Wednesday afternoon resulted in three people – all from Coon Rapids – being transported to hospitals in Carroll and Des Moines. According to the Iowa State Patrol, an SUV driven by 34-year-old Robert Edward Everett, III, was traveling south on Apple Avenue at around 4:35-p.m., just south of 320th Street, when for reasons unknown, the vehicle crossed the center line of the road and collided head-on with a Chrysler van.

Following the collision, the SUV continued southbound as it came to rest, overturned. The van entered the east ditch and also came to rest overturned.

The driver of the van – 41-year-old Curtis John Hofbauer, Jr., was transported to St. Anthony Hospital in Carroll. His 76-year-old passenger, Curtis John Hofbauer, Sr., was transported to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines by air ambulance. He was not wearing a seat belt. Robert Everett, III, was transported to the hospital in Carroll.

The crash remained under investigation.

PERRY, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Perry Police Department said Wednesday (today) a Belmond, Iowa woman – 41-year-old Amanda Jean Goff – is charged with one count of Human Trafficking in the First Degree. Goff was taken into custody without incident at the Sac County Jail where she had been held on related offenses. Human Trafficking in the First Degree is a class A felony.

As detailed in the criminal complaint, it is alleged that in January 2025, Goff took a 14-year-old female to a Perry hotel for the express purpose of having the victim engage in commercial sexual activity with another person.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between city, county, state, and federal law enforcement partners. Technical support was provided by the Iowa Office to Combat Human Trafficking (OTCHT). Since 2023, the OTCHT has provided training and resources to educate our communities and businesses on the signs of human trafficking and to law enforcement and prosecutors on the effective investigation and prosecution of human trafficking offenses.

This is an ongoing investigation. No additional information will be released at this time.

(Radio Iowa) -Forty-eight Iowa small business owners are in Washington, D.C. to speak with lawmakers as part of the Goldman Sachs Small Business Summit. Brandon Dahms is co-owner and partner of Innovative Manufacturing and Engineering in Des Moines.

“You know, there’s a lot of businesses that are pretty excited about 2026. We have a lot of growth opportunity. But there’s a lot of challenges that are coming our way with the uncertainty with government shutdown, with tariffs,” he says. Dahms says they hope by talking with their lawmakers they can get them to address that uncertainty.

“We’re just looking for overall clarity and stability moving forward on knowing that 2026 can’t have the growth opportunity that we’re having and our customers need to see the stability as well,” he says. Dahms says they can also talk with lawmakers about other issues that impact small businesses. He says being able to match benefits to get good employees is one issue.

“I’ve lost employees due to not being able to compete against large corporations through their benefits package,” he says, “and is there something that can be done for small business owners to be able to get a more affordable healthcare package and benefits to compete against the yeah, larger businesses that have a larger buying pool?”

The Iowans are part of a group of two-thousand nationwide business owners attending the event.

(Creston, Iowa) – A collision Wednesday afternoon (Oct. 29) in Creston, caused a police-estimated $8,000 damage, but no one was injured. According to Creston Police, the accident happened a little 12-p.m. at the intersection of Highway 34 and Elm Street, when the driver of a 2026 Nissan Rogue SUV, 19-year-old Zoey Lynn Shelley, of Diagonal, failed to yield as she left a stop sign heading south on Elm Street.

Her SUV was struck a 2011 Buick that was traveling west on Highway 34, and driven by a 17-year-old female from Creston. The Buick became disabled from the collision and was towed from the scene. The SUV was able to be driven away.

Creston Police cited Zoey Shelley for Failure To Yield the Right of Way.

CLIVE, IOWA — The Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA), in partnership with Fareway Stores, Inc., delivered $20,000 worth of ground pork to six regional food banks across Iowa and western Nebraska this week as part of an ongoing effort to fight food insecurity and support local communities. The donations equal more than 9,500 lbs. of ground pork and will provide more than 38,000 servings of valuable protein to people in need. (Photos: IPPA donation of ground pork to the Food Bank for the Heartland, in Omaha)

The organization said in a new release, the deliveries took place October 28–29 to the Food Bank of Iowa in Des Moines, River Bend Food Bank in Davenport,, Northeast Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo, HACAP Food Reservoir in Hiawatha, Food Bank of Siouxland in Sioux City, and the Food Bank for the Heartland in Omaha. The donations were made possible through funds raised at IPPA’s annual BBQ & Brew at the Ballpark event, held earlier this year.

“This effort is about more than just delivering pork. It’s also about caring for our neighbors,” said Aaron Juergens, an Iowa pig farmer from Carroll who serves as president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. “Through the We Care principles, Iowa pig farmers are committed to supporting people, animals, and the communities we call home. Working with partners like Fareway and our state’s food banks allows us to help ensure families have access to nutritious, high-quality protein.”

Fareway, a long-time partner in community giving efforts, provided the resources to deliver the ground pork to the donation centers. “Fareway is proud to partner with Iowa’s pig farmers and the Iowa Pork Producers Association to help fight food insecurity across our state,” said Jeff Cook, VP of retail market operations at Fareway Stores, Inc. “Providing ground pork to local food banks aligns with our long-standing commitment to supporting Iowa agriculture and strengthening the communities we serve. Together, we can make a meaningful difference for families in need.”

According to the Iowa Food Bank Association, donations of protein are among the most valuable contributions to food pantries across the state. “Protein donations like this make a tremendous difference for the families we serve,” said Linda Gorkow, executive director of the Iowa Food Bank Association. “We’re grateful to the Iowa Pork Producers Association and Fareway for their generosity and partnership. Their support helps ensure that Iowans facing food insecurity can put nutritious meals on their tables.”

The effort is part of IPPA’s ongoing Pork in the Pantry initiative, which encourages county pork producer organizations and partners to donate pork products to local food pantries throughout the year. “Fighting hunger is one of the most meaningful ways we can live out our We Care commitment,” Juergens said. “We’re proud to see Iowa’s pig farmers stepping up again and again to make sure no one goes hungry.”

(Radio Iowa) – State prison officials are evaluating the cost of installing air conditioning in the state prison in Mount Pleasant. Steve Dick — the financial manager for the Iowa Department of Corrections — says the agency’s officials have discussed the project with Governor Reynolds’ staff. “We have put forth a study at Mount Pleasant for the air conditioning and the feedback we got when we met with the governor’s office was pretty positive with that,” Dick says, “so we’re hopeful that will be possibly put forward.”

In January, Governor Reynolds will submit a state budget plan to the legislature and prison officials are suggesting the project be part of next year’s infrastructure spending that’s financed with gambling taxes. Dick says prison officials are updating the estimated cost of installing air conditioning in the Mount Pleasant prison, plus how much utility costs will rise once the A-C is running.

“Not just the upfront of what it would cost to do the project, but also want are we looking at as far as ongoing costs,” Dick says. The Iowa Department of Corrections website shows there are about a thousand inmates inside the Mount Pleasant facility today (Wednesday). A recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found a 20 percent jump in violent incidents inside un-air conditioned prisons during heat waves.

Last spring a federal judge ruled it’s unconstitutional for the State of Texas to house inmates in prisons that lack air conditioning and the inmates who sued the state can take their case to trial in March. The Texas legislature is considering a plan to install air conditioning in all of that state’s prisons by 2032.

(Harlan, Iowa) – A man convicted in the murder of a woman from Shelby County was sentenced today (Wednesday), to a maximum of 50-years in prison. 34-year-old Winston Joseph Leal will get credit for time already served (89 days) in connection with the death in late July, of 32-year-old Theresa Kenkel, of Earling. Her body was found when Deputies went to conduct a requested welfare check on her at her residence.

Leal was originally charged with First-Degree Murder in Kenkel’s death, but plead guilty to a lesser charge of Second-Degree Murder. His accomplice, 35-year-old Ashley McWilliams, was charged with Accessory After the Fact. She plead guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17th.

RED OAK, Iowa — The Montgomery County Memorial Hospital + Clinics (MCMH + Clinics) Board of Trustees have announced a planned leadership transition following the retirement announcement of current Chief Executive Officer, Ron Kloewer. In a press release, officials said at its October 29, 2025 meeting, the MCMH + Clinics Board formally accepted Mr. Kloewer’s retirement and approved a transition plan to ensure stability and continued success for the organization.

Current Chief Operating Officer, Michael O’Neal, will assume the role of CEO after a series of steps are completed from a formal succession plan that was presented to the Board. The MCMH Board of Trustees has instructed its Chairman and Executive Committee to bring transition documents to the November meeting at which time the Board intends to formally appoint Mr. O’Neal as CEO Elect. A transition timeline will be provided to the Trustees at the November meeting.

Mr. O’Neal joined MCMH in November 2021 after serving as CEO of George C. Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg, Iowa, for 13 years. His career also includes leadership roles in healthcare administration as Chief Information Officer at Thayer County Health Services in Hebron, Nebraska, for 10 years, service as a United States Marine, and work as a Nebraska State Trooper. He holds an MBA, is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and is known for his collaborative leadership style and commitment to rural healthcare. Since joining MCMH in 2021, Mr. O’Neal has served with distinction and meets all the necessary qualifications to be CEO of MCMH.

Ron Kloewer

Mr. Kloewer’s history with MCMH began in 1987 when he oversaw the construction of the “new” hospital facility, a project that shaped the foundation for patient care for decades to come. In 1992, he joined MCMH full time as Director of Campus Development, leading the addition of the “Doctors Office” building and many other facility expansions and upgrades over the years. He also held the positions of Chief Information Officer and Chief Operating Officer before becoming CEO in 2021.

Mr. Kloewer has been a steady and trusted presence at MCMH + Clinics for almost 40 years, guiding the organization through significant growth, technological advancements, and evolving models of care. His knowledge of the organization runs deep and his unique combination of technical expertise and strategic vision has helped modernize facilities, expand services, and strengthen the hospital’s role as a cornerstone for Montgomery County and a beacon of health for so many.

Most importantly, he has shown a steadfast dedication to people. Both those who rely on MCMH + Clinics for care, and those who make that care possible. Throughout his career, Mr. Kloewer has championed the health and well-being of the community while recognizing that the hospital’s greatest strength lies in its staff. He has invested in their growth, fostered a culture of collaboration, and built partnerships that strengthen both the organization and the communities it serves. Mr. Kloewer will serve as CEO Emeritus until his official retirement in June 2026, providing guidance and support to ensure a smooth transition.

Since becoming CEO in 2021, Mr. Kloewer has prioritized rebuilding community trust, strengthening the hospital’s operations, and ensuring a thoughtful leadership succession plan to guide MCMH into the future. “Serving others has always been at the heart of my work,” Kloewer said. “It has been the privilege of my career, and the honor of my life, to serve the people of Montgomery County and beyond, and to work alongside the incredible staff and providers who give their all every day. Together with our dedicated Board, we have faced challenges, celebrated successes, and built something truly special. As I prepare for retirement, I feel confident leaving this organization in the capable hands of Mike O’Neal and our exceptional leadership team, knowing they will continue to grow, innovate, and provide outstanding care for generations to come.”

“Ron has been a mentor to me and to so many others,” said O’Neal. “He has an extraordinary ability to combine operational knowledge with a deep understanding of what this hospital means to our community. I am grateful for his trust and look forward to building on the strong foundation he has created.”

Board Chair Kevin Cabbage added, “Ron’s leadership has been instrumental in creating the MCMH + Clinics we know today. He has led with integrity, vision, and a genuine care for the people we serve. The Board is confident that Mike will carry forward this same commitment while bringing new energy and ideas to guide us into the future.”

To honor this significant milestone, MCMH will host a Celebration of Leadership on Friday, March 13, 2026, at the Wilson Performing Arts Center. The community is invited to gather to celebrate Mr. Kloewer’s remarkable career, wish him well in retirement, and welcome Mr. O’Neal into the CEO role. More details about the event will be shared in the coming months.