(Des Moines, Iowa) – State Treasurer Roby Smith reports businesses will soon be doing their due diligence to inform Iowans they may have unclaimed assets. “Before an inactive bank account, uncashed check or other form of unclaimed property is sent to my office, the business holding the asset must perform their due diligence,” said Smith. “This is usually done by a letter to the last known address of the owner and gives a deadline for the owner to contact the business.”

Property that remains unclaimed after a specific period of time is sent to the State Treasurer’s Office for safekeeping. The Treasurer then works to reunite the owner or rightful heir with their property through the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt. “If you receive a due diligence letter, I encourage you to reach out to the business and take action,” continued Smith. “However, if your assets are turned over, it’s important to know you can always make a claim for them at GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov.”

The Great Iowa Treasure Hunt is Iowa’s only legitimate source of unclaimed property. Over $485 million in forgotten checking and savings accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility refunds, safe deposit box contents and other forms of unclaimed property are waiting to be claimed at GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov. The website is free and secure, and allows you to search for your name or for businesses and people you know.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports five recent arrests. On Monday, July 24th, deputies arrested 18-year-old Rexon Teruo, of Atlantic, on the charges of Burglary 3rd Degree (2 counts), Theft 3rd Degree, Carry Weapons while Intoxicated, Unauthorized Possession of Offensive Weapons, Theft 5th Degree, Criminal Mischief 5th Degree and Public Intoxication.  Teruo was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

Last Friday (July 21), 43-year-old Nicholas Brix, of Marne, was arrested on the charges of Drug Trafficking, Drug Tax Stamp Violation, Possession with Intent to Deliver and Possession of a Controlled Substance – 3rd or subsequent offense.  Brix was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On July 19th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 29-year-old John Topham, of Griswold, on a warrant for Child Endangerment.  Topham turned himself in to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On July 17th, 55-year-old Kenneth Klindt, of Griswold, was arrested in Cass County on a warrant for Theft 5th Degree.  Klindt was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

And, on July 15th, 41-year-old Aron Dark, of Kansas City, MO, was arrested by deputies in Cass County, for OWI/2nd Offense, and Child Endangerment.  Dark was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion is proposing an expansion of the federal child tax credit, so parents would be able to retroactively claim it after a child is born. “Providing for your baby begins the moment you learn you’re pregnant, whether that means making those prenatal appointments, stocking up on diapers, or searching for child care. It all costs money,” Hinson says. “Unborn babies are human lives and they deserve both protection and support through our policies.” The proposal is part of the “Providing for Life Act” that Hinson has introduced in the U.S. House. It would raise the annual child tax credit to 45-hundred per child under the age of six and then 35-hundred dollars until the child turns 18.

“This will provide financial stability for families,” Hinson says, “and give parents the means to provide abetter future for their children.” The child care tax credit was raised to similar levels in the American Rescue Plan Act, which Hinson opposed, but reverted to two-thousand dollars per child at the end of 2021. Hinson’s plan would require parents to be employed in order to qualify for the credit and the credit would be reduced for higher income households. Other parts of the package would expand some federal food aid for mothers with small children and let parents withdraw their Social Security taxes to finance up to three months of parental leave.

“The pro-life movement was never to me solely about ending abortion. It has always been about how we look at valuing life at every single stage,” Hinson says. “When Roe v Wade was rightfully overturned last year, the next chapter of the pro-life movement began and I think we were all really given an opportunity to do more for unborn babies and also for new families.”

Hinson’s legislation calls for programs to support young parents on college campuses and would require food stamp recipients to cooperate with any child support obligations. Florida Republican Marco Rubio has introduced identical legislation in the U.S. Senate. Democrats in congress have been pushing to revive the temporary 36-hundred dollar per child tax credit that expired two and a half years ago. Democrats have also proposed a payroll deduction for employers AND employees that would finance up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave.

(Dubuque, Iowa) – The Iowa Department of Corrections, Wednesday, reported that 29-year-old Alan Denzel Ellison, who was convicted of Domestic Abuse Assault – 3rd or Subsequent Offense in Dubuque County, failed to report back to the Dubuque Residential Facility as required earlier this week.

Ellison is a black male, 6-feet 2-inches tall. He weighs 207 pounds. Ellison was admitted to the work release facility on July 6, 2023. Persons with information on Ellison’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Alan Denzel Ellison

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Guthrie County say no injuries were reported following three separate accidents that took place this week. Tuesday evening, vehicles driven by 58-year-old Debra K. Miller, and 35-year-old Jessica M. Wharton, both of Menlo, collided at the intersection of 6th and Panora Streets, in Menlo. The accident happened at around 7:42-p.m., when Miller failed to yield the right-of-way. Damage from the collision amounted to $11,000. Miller was cited for Failure to Yield from a stop sign.

Wednesday night, a 2012 Chevy Impala driven by 57-year-old Roberta J. Ashby, of Guthrie Center, struck a calf that was on 250th Street in Guthrie County. The calf – owned by Dale Clarke – died at the scene. Damage to the car was estimated at $2,500.

And, at around 4:50-a.m. Thursday (today), 22-year-old Erika M. Martell, of Jefferson, struck a deer on southbound Highway 25 near 160th Street, in Guthrie County. Her 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV sustained $3,000 damage.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston say three people complained of pain following an accident that happened at around 8:45-p.m. Wednesday, at the intersection of Spruce and Irving Streets. The injured parties were checked-out by medics and cleared. Authorities say the accident occurred when a 2004 Ford Freestar van driven by 32-year-old Brice Allen Maxwell, of Creston, struck a 2017 Infinity QX6, driven by 41-year-old Mika Marie Luddington, of Creston.

Police say Luddington was traveling south on Spruce Street and approaching the intersection with Irving Street. Maxwell was eastbound on Irving, and failed to obey the posted Yield sign. The crash caused a total of $7,000 damage. Maxwell was cited for Failure to provide proof of financial liability (Auto insurance), Careless Driving, Fraudulent registration, and Failure to carry registration.

(Nevada, Iowa) – A shots-fired incident Monday evening in the Story County town of Nevada, resulted in one person being hit by bullets, and two people taken into custody. A press release from the Nevada Police Department says Officers were called at around 6:42-p.m. to the intersection of 7th Street and R Avenue. Authorities say one adult male was transported to the hospital for treatment of gunshot wound to his calf and chest. He has since been released. The victim’s name was not released.

Police were able to identify two suspects in the case. Following an investigation, 18-year-old Tristyn William Rumbaugh and an unnamed juvenile male were arrested on Attempt to Commit Murder, charges. According to a criminal complaint, investigators believe the shooting was in retaliation for another incident between the victim’s family and the suspects.

Nevada Police were assisted in the investigation by the Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DCI, Ames Police, the Story County Sheriff’s Office and Story County Conservation.