(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – A large tree fell on two, occupied vehicles this (Tuesday) morning, in Council Bluffs, but only minor injuries were reported. According to Council Bluffs Police, emergency personnel were dispatched at around 8:48-a.m., to the area of Stahl and Madison Avenue, for a tree that fallen on two occupied vehicles. One person was still pinned inside one of the vehicles.

Upon arrival, emergency crews found a large full size tree had split near the base and a large portion had fallen across Madison Ave. The tree landed on top of two passing vehicles, a sedan traveling south bound and a full size pickup traveling north bound. Four people (3 adults and 1 juvenile) were in the south bound sedan. They were able to get out of their vehicle sustaining minor injuries to one of the occupants.

The driver of the north bound pickup was pinned inside of the vehicle for approximately 30-to 40-minutes while rescue crews cut the tree off of the driver and vehicle. The driver of the pickup was conscious and talking throughout the incident. He was transported to the hospital by rescue squad with what is believed at this time to be non-life threatening injuries. During the course of the incident numerous departments with the city including Council Bluffs Fire, Council Bluffs Police, & Public Works were involved. Arrow Towing also brought in a in a large articulating boom tow truck to stabilize the tree and eventually lift the tree off of the pickup.

South 1st and Madison Ave had traffic rerouted for a couple hours while the scene was cleared. This is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Council Bluffs Police Traffic Unit. (712)328-4948

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Harlan Police Department reports three arrests:

On Sunday, 19-year-old Trent James Ring, of Minden, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Poss. of drug paraphernalia, & public intoxication.

Police arrested 38-year-old Troy Dakota Weelborg, of Harlan, on Saturday, for Violation of a No Contact Order.

And, on Friday, 30-year-old Crystal Jean Oliver, of Harlan, was arrested for a Controlled Substance Violation, Poss. of drug paraphernalia, prohibited acts, failure to affix a drug tax stamp, failure to obey a traffic control device, and open container.

Harlan Police said also, no injuries were reported, when a 2011 Chevy Impala driven by Glenn Euchner, of Harlan, accelerated forward from a parking space and struck an apartment building on Hawkeye Avenue. The incident took place Sunday. There were no injuries reported also, following a collision Monday, between a 2004 Pontiac Bonneville driven by Rylie Wohlhutter, of Harlan, and a 2017 Ford Explorer driven by Brooke Wilson, of Avoca. The accident happened at 9th & Pine, in Harlan, as the car was traveling north on 9th Street after stopping at the stop sign. The car struck the SUV, which was traveling west on Pine Street, and making a turn onto 9th Street.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the U-S shouldn’t let China dictate the itinerary of any American traveling abroad, especially someone as high-ranking as U-S House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She’s in the midst of an Asian tour and is visiting Taiwan, which has prompted China to issue a series of threats while flexing its military muscles. Grassley says, “We cannot have any government telling any member of Congress what country they can go to — or not go to.”

China considers Taiwan part of its territory, and Republican Grassley says it’s -not- a mistake for Democrat Pelosi to visit the island, which would send a message the U-S supports Taiwan’s independence. A Chinese official reportedly said, “Those who play with fire will perish by it,” in regards to Pelosi’s travel plans. “It would show a very definite weakness on our part in our dealing with China,” Grassley says, “if we would lend credence to their threat that we better not go to China.”

Pelosi would be the highest ranking U-S official to visit Taiwan since then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich stopped there in 1997. “I’m a strong supporter of Taiwan as well, and it’s been 35 or 40 years since I visited Taiwan,” Grassley says. “I don’t have any desire to go back again, but if I wanted to, I’d do it regardless of what the Chinese government said about me.”

One report says China’s state-run media implied Pelosi’s jet would be shot down before it would be able to land in Taiwan.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors held a brief meeting this (Tuesday) morning, during which they accepted the resignation of Beth Peterson as Safety Coordinator. Peterson, also serves the an Election Clerk for the County. A Safety Coordinator basically serves as a responsible for planning, implementing and overseeing company’s employee safety at work. Their main duty is to ensure that the company is in compliance and adheres to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) guidelines to to reduce work-related injuries.

The Board currently has no candidates for the position. Anyone interested should contact the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office. The Board of Supervisors will eventually act on appointing a person to the position.

In other business, Barry Byers, with the Montgomery County Secondary Roads Department, gave a report on the department’s activities.

(Radio Iowa) – The operators of a Dubuque entertainment venue say they have recovered funds involved in an overseas hack. The Five Flags Center says hackers attempted to initiate a wire transfer of money from the Center’s account at MidWestOne Bank in late June to an account in Hong Kong. Five Flags Center says in a statement they worked with MidWestOne Bank, local authorities and the F-B-I to find the source of the attack and stop the transfer before it could be completed.

Published reports say the attempted hack involved 300-thousand dollars.