(Bedford, Iowa) – The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office reports today (5/23), the arrest on May 10th, of 27-year-old Jesus Alvarez-Diaz, from Council Bluffs. Alverez-Diaz was arrested in the 100 block of south Walnut Street in Lenox, on charges that include: Going armed with intent; 1st Degree harassment; Assault while displaying a dangerous weapon; Assault; disorderly conduct; public intoxication, and interference with official acts. Alvarez is being held in the Taylor County Jail on $10,300 bond.

Des Moines, Iowa — A man who served more time than any other Iowan as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War died this weekend. Naval aviator Larry Spencer was 82. Commander Spencer grew up in Earlham. He joined the Navy in 1963.

During a reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam, Spencer was captured. He spent nearly seven years as a prisoner.

Larry Spencer

During his Naval service, Commander Spencer was awarded many military honors including: two Silver Stars, Legion of Merit with Combat “V”, four Bronze Stars, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with six strike flights, two Purple Hearts and the Prisoner of War Medal. He was a member and past officer of the Military Officers Assn. of America and Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Funeral services for Larry Spencer will be held next Tuesday at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines. Read his full obituary HERE.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report two separate arrests took place early Saturday morning. At around 2:14-a.m., 36-year-old Dulce Estrella Pantoja, of Lenox, was arrested on an Assault charge. She was cited and released from the scene. And, and around 5:43-a.m., 18-year-old Colby Wayne Burg, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/1st offense. He was later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

(Emerson, Iowa) – A traffic stop east of Emerson at around 1:25-a.m. today (Monday), in Montgomery County, resulted in the arrest of three people on drug and/or other charges. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports Deputies stopped a vehicle on Highway 34 and Boxelder Avenue. During an investigation, 60-year-old John Henry Doyle, of Omaha, on a felony warrant for domestic assault a felony warrant for theft. Doyle was being held in the Montgomery County Jail while awaiting extradition to Nebraska.

Deputies also arrested 51-year-old Buffie Lynn Kackley, of Omaha, for Unlawful Possession of Prescription pills, a serious misdemeanor. Her bond was set at $1,000. And, 29-year-old Jesse Robert Schleip, of Red Oak, was arrested during the same traffic stop, for Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Methamphetamine, a Class-B Felony. His bond was set at $50,000.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies were assisted by Red Oak Police and the Montgomery County Communications Center.

(Radio Iowa) – The stock market has seen dramatic downturns in the last few weeks. Clarion financial planner, Jim Tausz says there are a lot of factors involved — but one stands out. “We are seeing a lot of inflation. Inflation is the biggest thing happening right now. And that is caused by food prices and gas prices, which by the way, aren’t even in the basic information that you get from the government saying, you know, what inflation factor is,”Tausz says. He says the inflation figure is much higher with those things included.”We probably have inflation in the neighborhood of anywhere between 13 and 15 percent.. Stocks don’t like that. We’re gonna see a continued downtrend, because we’re seeing interest rates also go up,” he explains.

Tausz says increasing gas production would be a big help. “The two big things that would really change things and turn things around really fast — one of them without a doubt is you got to open up production, gas and oil production,” He says. “you have to do it because we’ve got to take care of also the Western world, and I’m talking about NATO.” He says we’ve got to – in his opinion – get inflation under control. The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates to try and do that — and he says interest rates will come back down eventually. But it could take some time. “And I think we’re going to see this for some time to come,” Tausz says.

He says one strategy would have been to get out of the stock market and put funds in insured money markets in your brokerage account. Then get back in when things turn around — the old buy low, sell high strategy.

(Lewis, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board is holding a “Movie in the Park” Campground Program this Friday night, featuring the 2021 release of Tom & Jerry. The public program will be held at the Campground Shelter at Cold Springs Park in Lewis, Friday May 27th 2022, beginning at 9-p.m. There is no charge to attend, and you do NOT have to be a registered camper to attend! Enjoy a chaotic battle ensues between Jerry Mouse, who has taken refuge in the Royal Gate Hotel, and Tom Cat, who is hired to drive him away before the day of a big wedding arrives. 

Come out for a great movie under the stars! Bring a blanket or chair, dress for the weather, and note that the show may be rescheduled for a later date, if it rains.

(Lewis, Iowa) – The Cass County Conservation Board is holding “Stand Up Paddleboard” (SUP) Demonstration this weekend and for one weekend in June. The first public demonstration will be held Saturday May 28th, from 1-until 4-p.m, at the Cold Springs Park- Beach. There is no charge to attend or participate. SUP is the fastest growing sport in the paddling community not only across the country, but especially in land-locked areas like Iowa.

Paddle Boarding

It’s fun, healthy as a total body work-out and offers a unique perspective when it comes to being on the water. After a quick demonstration try out the boards for yourself! If you do not bring a life jacket one will be provided to you. Children must be 16 years or older. Paddler must weigh LESS than 250 LBS. Due to Staff availability, May 28th and June 11th will be the ONLY Stand Up Paddleboard programs of the season.

Saturday May 28th:

1-p.m.- 5 spots

2:30-p.m. – 5 spots

June 11th

12:30pm- 5 Spots

1:15pm- 5 Spots

Cold Springs Park- Beach

You MUST CALL to get your spot! 712-769-2372 The CCCB staff hope you will join them! The program will be cancelled if there is unsafe weather conditions on the Lake.

Elkhart, Iowa — A Catholic priest has resigned, soon after he was reinstated at the Saint Mary Holy Cross parish in Elkhart. The diocese had suspended Father Jim Kirby in 2020 for making inappropriate comments about a Simpson College student. Kirby was a part-time track coach there. He is no longer affiliated with Simpson College. The diocese had reinstated Kirby in April, saying he had completed a rehabilitation program.

The parish announced the resignation of Father Kirby in a newsletter Sunday. The statement read in-part: “Fr. Jim Kirby tendered his resignation as pastor of St. Mary-Holy Cross, Elkhart, Iowa. The Diocese looks to fill this position; however, at this time no other priests are available to serve as pastor. I ask for your prayers for Fr. Kirby and the parish.”

(Nevada, Iowa) — Two former city officials in Story County have allegedly committed fraud. According to the Story County Sheriff’s Office, former McCallsburg Mayor Chris Erickson and former City Clerk Jennifer Heithoff are charged with felonious misconduct in office, a class D felony; fraudulent practice, a class D felony; and tampering with records, an aggravated misdemeanor. The investigation showed Erickson owed a total of $2,138.03 for water utility bills during a period between September of 2017 through July of 2019. During that time, Heithoff allegedly adjusted Erickson’s account giving the appearance of the balance being paid.

“Subsequent to Heithoff resigning, this amount was zeroed out,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. “Erickson was the only city official known to have access to the billing software during this time.” The investigation also revealed Heithoff was claiming over twice the amount of hours she was authorized to work. She provided no documentation to the city. Heithoff also claimed fraudulent mileage reimbursements. Erickson signed Heithoff’s payroll and mileage reimbursement checks, the Sheriff’s Office said.

(Radio Iowa) – The latest data from Iowa Workforce Development shows more than 10-thousand jobs were added to the payrolls at Iowa restaurants and hotels over the last 12 months. Jessica Dunker is C-E-O and president of the Iowa Restaurant Association. “It’s no surprise that we would be showing growth, but I can tell you we would show substantially more growth if there were more people out there to hire.” Dunker says the state’s restaurant industry still has about 10-thousand fewer workers than it did in 2019, before the pandemic hit.

Dunker’s also the president and C-E-O of the recently-formed Iowa Hotel and Lodging Association. “From a recovery standpoint, we are down about 10% from where we were pre-COVID on hotel employees,” Dunker says, “but in the restaurant industry our latest data tells us that 35% of the restaurants in the state are 30% below their pre-COVID staffing levels, so they are desperate to hire people.”

Mike Whalen, founder of The Machine Shed Restaurants, is president and C-E-O of the Heart of America Group which operates hotels as well. The company has job openings at properties in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Kansas. “We’ve clawed our way back and we’re probably down about 10% from where we were from 2019, but it’s been difficult,” Whalen says. “It’s been a real a challenge and our biggest challenge to get back in business.” Whalen says there is a national trend of people who retired at the onset of the pandemic deciding to go back to work.

“I think we’re probably at the top of that list,” Whalen says. “You know, restaurants and the hotel business can be tough and demanding jobs, but I think you increasingly see that people miss it and come back.” And Dunker says prior to COVID, the fastest growing demographic in the hospitality industry was people age 55 and above. “On the restaurant side, in particular, we are such a part-time industry, we were really seeing that people were un-retiring or doing fun jobs — ‘fun money’ for themselves — in our industry,” Dunker says.

Dunker suggests with a scarce number of teenagers available, older workers and those who may be “un-retiring” are ever more critical for the hospitality industry. Dunker and Whalen made their comments this weekend on “Iowa Press” on Iowa P-B-S.