Telephone company representatives are asking the Iowa Utilities Board for new rules they say will bring telecommunications in Iowa into the modern era. For example, phone companies would no longer be required to deliver paper phone books to their customers. Michael Sadler, with CenturyLink, says the paper books are getting used less frequently all the time.

“The reality is, the vast majority of folks don’t use the paper books any more,” Sadler. “I can’t recall the last time I opened up a paper phone book. I have a tablet and a phone that I can Google and search for things I need to find.” Proposed new rules would require phone companies to deliver paper phone books only upon request. Anthony Carroll, with A-A-R-P, argues many elderly Iowans and others don’t have internet access to look up phone numbers, so there should be a gradual phaseout of the paper books.

Carroll says, “That is going to ensure that the over 200,000 Iowa residents that do not have a computer are adequately transitioned, especially when they rely on the phone book for their basic needs.” AARP also opposes proposed new rules that would give phone companies more time to restore service when landline phones go down.

(Radio Iowa)

w.Chris Parks.

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The Creston Police Department released details Thursday on a warrant served and two other incidents.

On Tuesday, August 16th at 11:00am 18-year-old Kane Farlow of Creston was served a Union County Warrant for OWI 1st Offense at the Union County Jail. He continues to be held in the Union County Jail on an $11,000 bond.

On Wednesday, August 17th at 11:33 pm a Creston resident reported that sometime between 8:00pm Monday and 11:30pm Wednesday someone broke into their home at 617 Pine Street and stole a 42-inch television and attempted to gain entry into a safe, causing damage to it.  The damages and loss was estimated at $430.

This (Thursday) morning at 6:29 am a Creston resident reported that between 9:00pm on Wednesday evening and 6:25am Thursday someone had shot out the drivers side window of her vehicle.  The vehicle was parked at a residence at 400 South Vine Street.

The Atlantic City Council is still one member short after Wednesday night’s meeting.  The council was not able to fill the vacancy last night because of a procedural issue.  They needed to formally inform the public of their intention to fill the vacancy by appointment, created by the resignation of Bob Cord, before they could actually name someone to fill the at-large seat.  They took that action Wednesday.    The council’s personnel and finance committee met with three of the four who showed interest in the seat on Tuesday night, and they recommended that the council appoint Gerald Brink to fill out the remainder of the term.  They intend to make the appointment at their next meeting on September 7th.  Members of the public who would prefer an election instead of an appointment have until September 21 to collect the needed 39 signatures on a petition asking for an election.

The Red Oak Police Department released details on multiple arrests on Wednesday.

At 1:09pm officers arrested 30-year-old Katie Marie Pierce of Red Oak in the 300 block of 2nd Avenue on a valid Pottawattamie County Warrant for 1st Degree Theft, 3rd Degree Burglary, Identity Theft, and Credit Card Fraud.  She was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held pending extradition to the Pottawattamie County Jail on $20,000 cash bond.

At 1:37pm two inmates at the Montgomery County Jail were arrested on charges from Pottawattamie County. 21-year-old Timothy Allen Stubbs of Red Oak and 28-year-old Richard Dean Pierce III were arrested on valid Pottawattamie County Warrants.  Stubbs was charged with 1st Degree Theft and 3rd Degree Burglary.  He was being held on prior local charges and $15,000 cash bond for Pottawattamie County.  Pierce III was charged with 1st Degree Theft, 3rd Degree Burglary, Identity Theft, and Credit Card Fraud.  He was being held on prior local charges and $20,000 cash bond for Pottawattamie County.

A Nebraska man faces an OWI and Carrying a Concealed Weapon charges following a traffic stop Tuesday night, in Pottawattamie County. The Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday, 32-year David Charles Tozer, of Pawnee City, NE., was arrested at around  10:20-p.m. after he was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 29 southbound. The deputy also reported Tozer’s 2013 Ford Fusion was swerving over the fog line several times before it was stopped. After he was arrested on the OWI/1st offense charge, authorities searched Tozer’s vehicle.

Inside the car they found a 9-mm handgun in the center console. The gun was not loaded but ammo was located in the tray area of the center console along with fully loaded magazine in the glove box. There were also two rifles taken and placed into evidence for safe keeping.

Red Oak Police report the arrest of a man on Thursday for Failure to Appear on a trespassing charge. At 4:09 PM officers arrested 54-year-old David Lawrence Howe of Red Oak on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Failure to Appear on a trespassing charge in the 2400 block of N 8th Street in Red Oak. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 cash bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge has re-sentenced a man who killed two people at a Des Moines restaurant in 1992 to life in prison with the possibility of parole. The Des Moines Register reports District Court Judge Jeanie Kunkle Vaudt on Wednesday altered Joseph “Jo-Jo” White’s two life terms to give him the right to seek his freedom from the Iowa Board of Parole. White was sentenced to life without parole, but he sought the resentencing after rulings by the U.S. and Iowa supreme courts banning such sentences for people who committed crimes as juveniles.

White was convicted of gunning down 25-year-old Cara McGrane and 28-year-old Tim Burnett during a robbery of the Drake Diner, where both were managers. White, then 17, grabbed less than $500 from the cash register.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) today announced testing at the State Hygienic Laboratory (SHL) has confirmed the first human cases of West Nile virus disease in Iowa in 2016. A female child (0-17 years of age) and an adult male (41-60 years of age), both of Sioux County, were hospitalized due to the virus but are now recovering. “West Nile virus season typically lasts from late summer into early autumn,” said IDPH Medical Director, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk. “These cases serve as a reminder to all Iowans that the West Nile virus is present and it’s important for Iowans to be using insect repellent when outdoors.”

Iowans should take the following steps to reduce the risk of exposure to West Nile virus:

• Use insect repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Always read the repellent label and consult with a health care provider if you have questions when using these types of products for children. For example, DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months old and oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under 3 years old.
• Avoid outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, pants, shoes, and socks whenever possible outdoors.
• Eliminate standing water around the home because that’s where mosquitoes lay eggs. Empty water from buckets, cans, pool covers and pet water dishes. Change water in bird baths every three to four days.

Approximately 20 percent of people infected with West Nile virus will have mild to moderate symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and vomiting. Less than one percent of people infected become seriously ill and rarely, someone dies.

Since West Nile first appeared in Iowa in 2002, it has been found in every county in Iowa, either in humans, horses, or birds. In 2015, 14 cases of West Nile virus were reported to IDPH. The last death caused by West Nile virus was in 2010, and there were two deaths that year. For more information about West Nile virus, visit idph.iowa.gov/cade/disease-information/west-nile-virus.

The Creston Police Department received a report of the theft of a utility trailer on Tuesday. Sometime between Saturday, August 13th and the afternoon of Tuesday, August 16th a utility trailer was stolen from 710 West Taylor Street in Creston.  The loss was estimated at $1,000.