(Lebanon, Iowa) – The fight to win hearts and minds in the 2022 General Election continues until November 8th. And, while some in the political arena are sweating out these last few days over concerns Iowa may turns more blue or red, one candidate says he’s just looking forward in a positive light and is ready to accept the vote outcome, good or bad. Democrat Mike Franken is hoping to beat long-term Iowa Republican Congressman Charles Grassley in the upcoming election. He told KJAN News that he’s been trying to keep the rhetoric to a minimum, because it’s what the people want.

He says politicians should tone down the speeches and focus on what need to be done.

He says in some parts of the State, the “Iowa nice” mantra, seems to have been forgotten.

Retired Vice Admiral/Iowa Senate candidate, Mike Franken.

Franken says he isn’t a career politician. His advice for Iowans looking to get into politics on any level, is to remember “Don’t let power be corrupting.”

As for those who are heading to the polls on Tuesday, Franken of course, hoped you’ll vote for him instead of his opponent. But more importantly…

(Radio Iowa) – State officials are urging Iowans to be wary of scams that INCORRECTLY claim you can cast your vote online or by phone. Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens says his agency started investigating a Mahaska County case in September. “Phone calls were being made and attempting to gain either personal information or to leave a false impression that you could vote via the telephone,” Bayens says. “Obviously once that information gets passed up through the Mahaska County Sheriff’s office, it came into the Department of Public Safety and our FBI partners as well.”

As with most phone scams, Bayens says it’s been hard to track down the guilty party on the other end of the line. “Given current digital technology…they can bounce those numbers from across the United States or across the world and so we continue to kind of chase those breadcrumbs,” Bayens says. “In this particular instance, it does not appear that those calls generated in the state Iowa, but were from outside of Iowa.”

Election officials are reminding Iowans that every vote in Iowa is cast by paper ballot, either on Election Day or with an absentee ballot during the early voting period.

(Mount Ayr, Iowa) – The Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman from Clearfield was arrested Wednesday afternoon on drug charges. Authorities say 34-year-old Margaret J. Williams was arrested on an outstanding Ringgold County warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd offense (Class-D Felony), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She also faces Felony charges of Theft/1st Degree (a Class C Felony) and a Controlled Substance Violation (a Class B Felony). Williams’ bond was set at $40,000.

During a Taylor County search warrant for stolen items on the western edge of Ringgold County, multiple items were recovered, controlled substances and paraphernalia seized. Two individuals were arrested, but an arrest warrant was issued for the defendant (Williams). She was located during another search warrant in Ringgold County and arrested on the outstanding warrant and additional charges. Margaret Williams was taken into custody and booked into the Ringgold County Jail.

Margaret J. Williams (Ringgold Co. S/O photo)

Investigative Department/Officers: Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, and Union County Sheriff’s Office

*Any potential criminal charges identified above are merely allegations and any defendant are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police Investigators in Council Bluffs report an arrest was made Thursday in connection with an August injury accident on Interstate 29 southbound. Authorities say 20-year-old Evaristo Javier Garcia – who was wanted for two counts of Serious Injury by Motor Vehicle – turned himself-in to the Pottawattamie County Jail. Thursday (11/4/22). His next court date was set for November 10, 2022.

In our report following the Aug. 21, 2022 crash, authorities said the driver of a Dodge Challenger – now identified as Garcia – was operating the vehicle at speeds of more than 150-mph in a 70-mph speed zone when the car read-ended a Chevy S-10 pickup truck driven by 51-year-old Dorothy Drelicharz. The woman suffered multiple injuries during the crash. and was transported to the hospital by medical helicopter.

The passengers of the Dodge were transported to area hospitals by ambulance to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. Authorities said Garcia was being investigated for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

The Creston Police Department reports a traffic stop at around 2:50-a.m. today (Friday), resulted in the arrest of 30-year-old Taylor Parker, from Creston. Parker was taken into custody at Prairie Street and Sumner Avenue, on a charge of OWI/2nd offense. His bond was set at $2,000. And, at around 11:30-p.m. Thursday, 62-year-old John Edgar Dickerson, Jr., of Creston, was arrested at his residence for Possession of Controlled Substance – Marijuana 1st Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Domestic Abuse Assault – 1st Offense. Dickerson was being held without bond in the Union County Jail until seen by a Judge.