(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports 59-year-old James Chandler Sash, of Creston, was arrested Monday, at his residence. Sash was taken into custody on a Union County Warrant for Failure to Appear, on an original charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance Methamphetamine/1st Offense, a Serious Misdemeanor. Sash was transported to the Union County Jail where he is being held on no bond till seen by a Judge.

And, on July 7th, an Afton man reported to Creston Police that someone had entered the cab of his Peterbilt semi-tractor, while the rig was parked at the hoop building on East Adams St., by the Under Pass. The victim stated numerous items were moved around, and it appeared that someone had slept in the bunk of the truck. Missing from the vehicle, were two, brand new Sony 5×9 car speakers still in the box, worth an estimated loss $80.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s housing market has been a boon for people selling houses — but the supply shortage of houses is also showing up in the rental market. Anne Bacon is the chief executive officer of IMPACT, which helps low-income residents in central Iowa. She said lower-income Iowans are seeing higher rent prices, with fewer options due to lower supply. “Many thousands of families were in apartments they could afford, who were living a life that was doable, and then the pandemic hit and suddenly they cannot afford where they’re living. But there aren’t any affordable housing units available in their price range,” she says.

Bacon says that creates a stalemate. “Everyone is currently stuck where they were before,” Bacon says. Many communities are trying to find ways to overcome the shortage of homes and rental options. The city of Ottumwa for example is offering an incentive for people who build a new home there. Bacon made her comments on the Iowa Public Radio program “River to River.”

(Radio Iowa) – As the world’s biggest online retailer celebrates its birthday today (Tuesday) and Wednesday with sales on a wide range of products, Iowans are warned to be doubly cautious before they double-click. Amazon’s two-day Prime Days event is compared to Black Friday or Cyber Monday, but Bao Vang at the Better Business Bureau says beware of phishing scams, misleading ads and lookalike websites. “We just cannot resist a sale and scammers know that,” Vang says. “They know our emotions are running high at this moment.” Vang says to read everything carefully, even on Amazon’s own sales, in case something seems too good to be true.

While Amazon may be offering some good deals, Vang says online shopping can be risky. “Amazon has now risen to the number-one spot, the number-one brand most impersonated by scammers,” she says. Vang warns Iowans to check the fine print on whatever it is they’re buying to make sure they’re actually paying for what they want and not a cheap knock-off.