(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.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak report one arrest and one non-injury accident occurred, Monday. Officers arrested 51-year-old Sally Mae Petersen, of Red Oak, for Breach of Peace (a simple misdemeanor). Petersen was booked into the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $300 bond. And, a woman who told Police she had too much to drink, was involved in an accident Monday evening.

Authorities report 79-year-old Ladonna Marie Peterson-Figley, of Red Oak, told Police she was coming back from a restaurant. While pulling into a parking stall, her depth perception was off due to her state of intoxication. The 2014 GMC Terrain SUV she was driving struck a legally parked 2014 Nissan Altima, owned by Robert Fensterman. The woman told police she didn’t recall hitting the car, but due to her red vehicle and the red paint on the Nissan, Police said there was sufficient evidence to connect the damage to Peterson-Figley’s vehicle.

She was transported to the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital and informed about implied consent. Charges are pending the results of her blood test. Damage from the collision amounted to $1,700.00

(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department report the arrest at around 5:22-a.m. today (Tuesday), of a man wanted on a Council Bluffs Police Department warrant. 42-year-old Jullio Cesar Villapando Castro, of Creston, was wanted for Failure To Appear on an original Probation Violation charge. Villapando Castro was transported to the Union County Jail and held without bond while he awaits extradition to Council Bluffs.

Authorities said also, a man residing in the 500 block of N. Division Street, in Creston, reported Monday morning, that someone had stolen his backpack from his 1998 Jeep Cherokee, while the vehicle was parked at his residence. The backpack contained: a Kline wire stripper; Nebo pen light; 3 sets of Allen wrenches; A set of step bits, and three college text books.

The loss was estimated at $250.00.