Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today (Monday), announced Union County, Mitchell County, Dubuque County and the City of Marion have met the criteria to become designated as Home Base Iowa communities. They also announced all three Regents Institutions—University of Iowa, Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa— Hawkeye Community College and University of Dubuque have become designated as Home Base Iowa Certified Higher Academic Military Partners (CHAMPs).

Union County, Mitchell County, Dubuque County and the City of Marion join the four existing communities – Greene County, Howard County, Clarke County and Floyd County – in becoming certified Home Base Iowa Communities. To become a Home Base Iowa Community, an area must meet the following criteria: 10% of its businesses sign on as Home Base Iowa Businesses; local government supports the effort; signage indicates the community is a Home Base Iowa Community and the community creates local incentives that offer additional benefits for Veterans and that complement those in the statewide Home Base Iowa Act.

The Union County Home Base Iowa Taskforce created a “Veterans Support Fund” in which a qualifying veteran can receive up to $2,000 to reside in Union County and be employed by a Union County Home Base Iowa Business. Additionally, qualifying veterans may receive up to $5,000 through the Southern Iowa Council of Governments Housing Trust Fund Military Homeownership Program, leveraging the state-wide incentive package.

A Creston man was arrested Saturday on drug charges. According to the police department, Gerald Lynn Lawrence, Jr., was taken into custody and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Public Intoxication. He was being held in the Union County Jail on $2,000 bond.

And, at around 11:30-p.m., Saturday, 37-year old Toby Jason Simpson, of Creston, was arrested at Fremont and Oak Streets, on a Trespass charge. Simpson was later released on his own recognizance.

Creston Police said also, a man who resides on 12 Mile Lake Road, in Creston, reported his 2000 Dodge Neon was stolen from the intersection of Maple and Adams Streets, sometime between 11-p.m. on Friday and 12:30-a.m. on Saturday. The vehicle has since been recovered.