Police in Red Oak say a woman from Missouri Valley was arrested Tuesday on fraud and drug charges, following an investigation into bad checks written at two Red Oak businesses. 48-year old Delise Renee Steadman was arrested at the United Farmers Mercantile in Red Oak, after officers responded to a call about a woman writing checks on a closed account at the Mercantile.

Officials say Steadman allegedly wrote six checks at the United Farmers Mercantile and five checks at the Cubby’s Store in Red Oak. The checks amounted to a little more than $660. 

Steadman was taken into custody on 11 counts of Fraudulent Practices in the 3^rd Degree. While the woman was being searched, officers discovered a pipe used to consume illegal controlled substances. Steadman was subsequently charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports three people were arrested Tuesday night on drug charges, following the execution of a narcotics search warrant at a residence in Red Oak. 30-year old Stephen Adams, of Red Oak, was arrested on three counts of Delivery of Marijuana, and Possession with the Intent to Deliver (76.2-grams). His bond was set at $5,000.

47-year old Michelle Adams, of Red Oak, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $300. And, 53-year old Donald Charles, of Des Moines, was arrested on a warrant for Delivery of Methamphetamine and Possession with the Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine. His bond was set at $205,000.

The trio were arrested at around 8-p.m. Tuesday.

Voters in Taylor County, Tuesday approved a $3.8-million dollar bond issue for the construction of a new Law Enforcement Center. The facility will house a jail designed to hold prisoners for 20-years at a substantial cost savings to what is currently being paid to board them locally and in other counties. The bond also allows for the construction of new Sheriff’s Offices. The current jail in Bedford is more than 100-years old. The measure needed 61-percent approval to pass. Unofficial results show it was approved by 931 (or 61.21%) of voters. 590 voted against the bond issue. 

The Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, Tuesday, approved the issuance of $1.2 million in general obligation bonds for improvements in the courthouse and adjacent areas. According to the Daily NonPareil, the unanimous vote paves the way for the county’s Buildings and Grounds Department to seek bids for the sale of the bonds to help fund safety and security measures.

Proposed projects include the installation of fire sprinklers in the ceilings on the first and second floors, as well as the basement. A new air conditioning system will be installed at the same time as work is being done on the ceilings and new lights are installed. That project will cost about $510,000.

The building’s four elevators need replacements of some of the control mechanisms. Expected cost there is $400,000. And,  to improve security, electronic card access will replace keys for 31 doors throughout the building, as well as a nearby building used for storing election materials. The card access project is expected to cost $86,000.

Two other projects involving the paving of four county parking lots in the area,  and renovation of the courthouse restrooms to make them complaint with standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act, will add about $230,000 to the price tag. The bond funds will be paid back from the county’s debt services levy. The bonds are to be paid back over a five- to seven-year period.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa City voters say a three-year-old city ordinance that requires 19- and 20-year-olds to leave bars by 10 p.m. should remain in effect. Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected an effort to repeal the ordinance by a vote of 66 percent to 34 percent. The City Council adopted the ordinance in 2010. It makes exemptions for bars featuring entertainment such as live music and businesses that bring in most of their money from food.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Three candidates who faced intense criticism by the conservative group Americans for Prosperity have been elected in Coralville. Among them is Mayor Pro Tem John Lundell, a university researcher who defends the city’s role in ambitious developments. Americans for Prosperity, backed by the billionaire Koch brothers, had tried to turn Coralville’s election into a referendum on government spending and borrowing by focusing on Coralville’s $280 million debt.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (AP) — Jurors in the trial of an Iowa man accused of killing his pregnant wife have listened to audio and seen video of the former jail guard talking about the woman’s death. Seth Techel is charged with murder in the May 2012 death of Lisa Techel. The Ottumwa Courier reports that in the recordings played Tuesday, Seth Techel says he was in the shower when he heard a gunshot. He says he found Lisa Techel lying on the bed, and he ran outside to look for a shooter.

PRAIRIEBURG, Iowa (AP) — Linn County authorities are seeking the public’s help after several animals were intentionally poisoned in the Linn County city of Prairieburg. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office says pieces of meat laced with poison were placed between Oct. 23 and Oct. 24 in several spots near East Main Street in the city of less than 200 people. Several animals became sick and two of them died.