(Radio Iowa) – Polk County’s auditor says he’ll issue a decision soon after hearing testimony over a challenge to the address Senate Republican Leader Jack Whitver listed on his voter registration — a decision that could nullify Whitver’s election victory last month. Grimes resident Ann Gale filed the challenge.  “I believe that Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians and independent voters deserve a senator who cares enough about the district to live in it,” Gale says.

Whitver ran in a newly-drawn district that includes a condo he owns in Grimes and he listed that address on his voter registration in August. Whitver also cancelled the homestead exemption on his home in Ankeny, which is not in the new senate district. Shayla McCormally, an attorney for Gale, says Whitver still lists his Ankeny address for his businesses and utility bills for the Grimes condo show little water was used there this fall.

“He did change the address on both his driver’s license and his voter registration solely for his election needs, but he didn’t have the intent to live or reside at the address provided,” McCormally said. Charlie Smithson, an attorney representing Whitver, says state law permits candidates to establish residency in a legislative district for an indefinite amount of time. “Or indeterminable length of time — a very permissive standard, frankly,” Smithson said. Smithson says smart phone tracking shows the condo was Whitver’s primary nighttime residence in the weeks leading up to the election.

“His spouse and three children still live in Ankeny. That’s an issue for Jack Whitver and his spouse,” Smithson said. “That is not an issue for the government to step in and say: ‘Why did you move and your wife and kids stay somewhere else?'” Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald says there have been very few challenges to someone’s voter registration in Iowa. “It’s kind of uncharted territory for me because in the 15 years I’ve been here, we’ve never had one,” Fitzgerald said, “so it’s going to take a little time to make sure we do everything right.”

Fitzgerald’s decision could be appealed to district court.

OTTUMWA – The Iowa Department of Corrections, Wednesday, said Owen Ray Spicer, who was convicted of Robbery 2nd Degree and other charges in Wapello County, failed to report back to the Ottumwa Residential Facility as required yesterday (Tuesday).

Spicer is a 23-year-old white male, height 5’11”, and weighs 194 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on October 10, 2022. Persons with information on Spicer’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Owen Ray Spicer

For more information on the state’s work release program, please see Iowa Code 904.901-904.910

(Radio Iowa) – Gas prices in the state are following the national trend and continue to drop. Triple-A says the average price of a gallon of unleaded gas in Iowa is three-dollars, 21 cents, down about 14 cents compared to last week. That price is down 31 cents from one month ago. Davenport has the lowest average price of two-98 a gallon.

Triple-A says the price of oil has dropped on fears of an economic slowdown, and that has led to the drop in gas prices. The national average price of a gallon of gas is three-dollars, 54 cents, which is down 12 cents from last week.

(Casey, Iowa) – Two pickup trucks went up in smoke and flames Monday night in Casey, during an attempt to withdraw fuel from one of the vehicles. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports an individual was given consent by the owner of a 2011 GMC Yukon XL C1500 pickup, to take gasoline from that vehicle.

In the process, the vehicle caught fire. The flames spread to an adjacent 2018 Dodge RAM pickup.The incident took place in a parking lot near the Baker Street Apartments in the 900 block of Baker Street, at around 10:40-p.m.

Both vehicles were a total loss, with the damage estimated at $30,000 altogether. No one was injured, and no citations were issued. No names were released.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – Two separate accidents in Guthrie County claimed the life of a Dallas Center man, and resulted in serious injuries to a woman from Guthrie Center. According to the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, 74-year-old Dennis Adrian Tatman, of Dallas Center, died during an accident that occurred at around 11-a.m. today (Wednesday), east of Panora.

A witness told a sheriff’s deputy that she was traveling eastbound on Highway 44 behind a 2016 Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup that was pulling a large utility trailer. The pickup was being driven by Dennis Tatman. The woman said she saw his vehicle quickly swerve into the south ditch and come to rest. Panora EMS administered life saving measures before Tatman was transported from the scene by Life Flight to Mercy in downtown Des Moines, where he died.

The pickup sustained an estimated $15,000 damage, and was declared a total loss.

Authorities say at around 12:19-p.m., Tuesday, a 2001 Chevy Blazer driven by 36-year-old Gwen Ellen Nickel, of Guthrie Center, was traveling west on 310th Street, when the SUV went out of control at the crest of a hill. The report said the vehicle was traveling too fast for conditions.

The SUV entered the eastbound ditch and overturned, ejecting Nickel, who was not wearing a seat belt. She suffered suspected serious, incapacitating injuries, and was transported by Stuart EMS to Mercy Hospital.

The Blazer sustained $2,500 damage and was a total loss.