(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports three, weekend arrests. At around 12:51-a.m. Sunday, Officers arrested 37-year-old Randy Clay Bolt, of Texas, at a bar in Creston. Bolt was charged with Disorderly Conduct-Fighting/Violent Behavior. He was later released on bond. And, at around 2:13-a.m., Sunday, 38-year-old Jackie Lynn Miller, of Idaho, was arrested at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center, for Public Intoxication/1st offense. Miller was later released on bond.

At around 2-a.m. Saturday, Creston Police arrested 30-year-old Diego Richardo Manzanarez, of Creston, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense – Marijuana. He was later released on bond from the Union County Jail.

Officials with the Council Bluffs Community School District recently put out a message to parents outlining the dangers of pellet / airsoft guns in the school environment. Council Bluffs Police shared the message on social media, and warned parents “Officers treat all weapons as real until they can safely prove otherwise.” Police urge parents to “Please make sure your child uses these devices wisely and safely.”  (Read the letter to parents, below)

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Red Oak Police Department says no injuries were reported following a collision that occurred at around 1:10-p.m., Sunday. Authorities report a 2020 GMC Acadia (SUV) driven by 65-year-old Phillip B. Johnson, of Essex, was stopped at the flashing stop signal at Broadway and Corning Streets. A 2021 GMC Canyon (Pickup) driven by Michael K. Thomas, of Red Oak, was following too close, and ran into the back of the SUV.

Damage from the collision amounted to $6,000. Police cited Thomas for following too close.

(Radio Iowa) – The only Democrat to win a statewide race this year says it’s time to give independent voters a voice in choosing General Election candidates. State Auditor Rob Sand supports open primaries. “I mean the bottom line is we have a system that disenfranchises a third of Iowans,” Sand says. “If you’re a registered independent, you’re told that you don’t get to participate in the primary.” State law requires Iowans to be registered as a Democrat or a Republican to vote in the June Primaries that determine the top two candidates listed on the General Election ballot.

“Here we are in a country that celebrates Independence Day every year, and yet we tell actual independents that they’re not allowed to participate equally,” Sand says. “I think that’s ridiculous.” In an open primary, voters choose the top two candidates for each race. Sand also supports ranked choice voting, with voters ranking the list of candidates for each office. Sand says Alaska’s system of open primaries AND ranked choice voting is promoting bipartisanship.

“Look at this, you had Mary Peltola, who’s the Democrat who holds the congressional seat, and Lisa Murkowski, the Republican who holds the Senate seat, endorse each other. A Democrat endorsed a Republican and a Republican endorsed a Democrat…That’s the sort of focus that we need,” Sand says. “We need to be focused on who the people and whether or not they’re actually interested in public service as opposed to just being interested partisanship and games.”

A candidate who wins a majority of the vote is automatically declared the winner in a ranked choice system. However, if no candidate reaches that threshold, the second and third choices of voters are tabulated to determine a winner.

(Creston, Iowa) – A tire blow out on one vehicle caused $2,000 damage to another vehicle, Friday morning, in Union County. The Sheriff’s Office says a 2002 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 55-year-old Chris Ray Pickering, of Phoenix, AZ, was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 7:30-a.m., when the left front tire blew out. The tire flew off the truck and struck the driver’s side of a westbound 2019 Dodge RAM pickup, driven by 60-year-old Thomas Aaron Day, of Creston.

No injuries were reported. The damage amounted to $2,500 altogether. Pickering was cited for failure to show proof of insurance, and a verbal warning for not registering his vehicle after having bought it on October 24th.

(Belle Plain, Iowa) – A head-on crash between a car and a semi left one person dead Sunday evening, in eastern Iowa’s Benton County. The Iowa State Patrol says the collision happened on Highway 30 near 14th Avenue, northeast of Belle Plain, at around 6:20-p.m.

Authorities say a 2004 Honda CRV was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of U-S Highway 30, when it struck an eastbound 2014 Freightliner, driven by 52-year-old John J. Schaufenbuel, of Fredericksburg. Both vehicles came to rest in the south ditch.

The driver of the Honda died at the scene. Their name was being withheld by authorities, pending notification of family.