(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports a woman from Afton was arrested Tuesday night. 18-year-old Kelsey Jo Aldrich Pope was taken into custody at around 9:07-p.m. at  the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center, and charged with Operating While Under the Influence/1st Offense. Pope was taken to Union County Jail and later released after posting a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

WATERLOO, Iowa (KCRG) – Officials with John Deere have announced 308 production employees with Deere’s Waterloo Operations, will be placed on indefinite layoff, beginning April 29th. Employees learned of the layoffs Tuesday during meetings led by factory leadership.

In a statement, John Deere says each of their factories “balances the size of its production workforce with the needs of the individual factory to optimize the workforce at each facility.”

Currently, John Deere Waterloo Operations says they have about 5,500 employees, 3,600 of which work in production and maintenance jobs.

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – An Iowa dentist with a history of alleged sexual misconduct with multiple patients has agreed to surrender his license. In December, the Iowa Dental Board declared that 65-year-old Dr. Calvin Weber, of Glenwood, posed “an imminent threat to public safety” and suspended his license on an emergency basis. The action came four months after Weber was criminally charged with assaulting a female outside his office. The board accused Weber of improper sexual contact with a patient or making lewd, lascivious or improper remarks or advances to a patient, and with violating Iowa law with regard to the practice of dentistry.

Police records related to the incident show that in July 2023, a woman came to the Glenwood Police Department and complained that she while she was in Weber’s dental office, he made comments on how sexy she was and grabbed her buttocks. As a result of the allegations, police charged Weber with assault, a simple misdemeanor, in August 2023. In December, a judge found Weber guilty of assault and fined him $855. Recently, Weber agreed to surrender his license.

Weber was first licensed by the state in 1983 and has a history of alleged misconduct with female patients. In July 1993, he was charged with unprofessional conduct in the practice of dentistry and accused of inappropriately touching two female patients during their dental appointments. One month after those charges were filed, Weber was accused of misconduct with two additional patients.

The board suspended Weber’s license indefinitely while ordering him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation within 60 days before being considered for reinstatement. Four months later, in April 1994, the board accused Weber of failing to submit to an evaluation and Weber agreed to surrender his license. After surrendering his Iowa license, Weber moved to Florida where he was employed as a golf professional, board records show.

In December 2006, after Weber submitted to an evaluation and agreed to undergo ongoing therapy, the board agreed to reinstate his dental license.

(Audubon Co) The Audubon County Auditor’s Office has released the names of candidates who filed nomination papers by last Friday’s deadline, for the June 4th Primary Election in Audubon County. (I=Incumbent)

Names to appear on Republican party ballots include:

Board of Supervisors (2 Seats)
Donald Mosinski
Kent Grabill

Sheriff
Todd Johnson (I)

Auditor
Lisa Frederiksen (I)

Those whose names will appear on the Democrat voting ballot in Audubon County, include:

Board of Supervisors (2 Seats)
Nathan Wahlert

Sheriff
No Candidates

Auditor
No Candidates

*There were no nomination papers filed by persons from the Libertarian party in Audubon County.

Audubon County Courthouse

Audubon County voters interested in voting absentee for the June 4 Primary Election may file requests for absentee ballots with the Audubon County Auditor’s Office. Voters have 20 days to vote absentee either by mail or in-person rather than 29 days. Voters are reminded that due to recent legislation the ballot must be returned to the County Auditor’s Office before polls close at 8 p.m. on June 4, in order to be counted.

Absentee voters are reminded that since this is a Primary Election the voter must choose which party’s ballot they would like to vote. The Primary Election in Iowa is a nominating process for the Libertarian, Democratic and Republican parties to determine who will appear on the General Election ballot in November.

In-person early voting in the Auditor’s Office and mailing of ballots will begin May 15th.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Lottery C-E-O Matt Strawn says sales were up just under one percent in February compared to last year.  “And of course that’s coming off a record year, so pleased that we still have a positive trajectory and sales. Early returns for March indicate that that is still happening,” he says. Strawn told the Lottery Board Tuesday that year-to-date sales were a little more than 331 million dollars. “Lottery product performance has been a little mixed thus far through fiscal 24.

With scratch tickets, Powerball, Lucky for Life, Pick Three , Pick Four, all are performing ahead of last year’s sales. While Instaplay pull tabs, Lotto America and Mega Millions, those games have not yet seen year over year sales growth,” Strawn says. He says the amount of money returned to the state is down slightly. “A total proceeds through February of 73-million-981-thousand and16 dollars are down three-point-three percent compared to FY ’23 proceeds through February. The most significant contributing factor to this modest decrease in year-over-year proceeds, as you will see in the budget is an increase in prize expenses,” Strawn says.

Scratch tickets were the Lottery’s first product and he says they’ve been doing well this year. “Over the last 52 weeks scratch ticket sales in Iowa are up nearly seven percent compared to what we’re seeing nationally across the lottery industry where scratch sales are a little closer to flat or even with the previous year,” Strawn says. “I think you can attribute that to some changes we’ve made and how we’ve approached the product portfolio.”

The Iowa Lottery has done several promotions surrounding scratch tickets and he says that has helped boost sales. Strawn says the large jackpots in the Powerball and Mega Millions games will help push ahead March sales.

(Radio Iowa) – The Oskaloosa School District plans to open what it’s calling the Oskaloosa Spirit Cafe on the downtown square this summer in an effort to foster entrepreneurship and empower students with special needs. Sarah Deronde, a special education teacher at the high school, says the ultimate goal is to provide opportunities for all students to thrive and offer a meaningful contribution to society.

Employment will be open to all students as well as to adults in the community with special needs who want to learn skills, from basic jobs all the way up to management. Deronde hopes to get culinary arts students involved in the cafe as well. The walls of the cafe will be a showcase for student art, and there will also be a “service wall” where students and others can advertise their talents, from making t-shirts to mowing lawns.

Oskaloosa Spirit Cafe under construction (OCSD photo)

(Red Oak Iowa) – A man from Cass County (IA) was arrested Tuesday afternoon, on a Montgomery County warrant. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, 23-year-old John  George Seyler, of Wiota, was arrested at around 1:17-p.m., on a warrant for Driving While Revoked. Seyler was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa House Republicans are proposing a constitutional amendment to set a higher threshold for any future state income tax hike. If Iowa voters approve the change, two-thirds of the members of the Iowa legislature would have to vote to raise the state income tax on individuals or corporations. Democrats like Representative Dave Jacoby of Coralville opposes the move.

“Think about what you’re trying to change,” Jacoby said. “If this amendment passes…it will destroy our form of government and implement a super majority.” Democrats say the proposal would give veto power to 17 of 50 senators and 34 of the 100 state representatives and hamstring the ability of Iowa General Assemblies to respond to conditions in the future. Republican Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton says other states led by Democrats have similar policies in place for decades.

“California, a blue state, put this into their constitution in 1979…Delaware 1980…This policy before us has been in the constitution of bright blue states. The sky did not fall,” Kaufmann said. “Every example of a (dystopian) future did not happen.”

A similar proposal has been introduced in the Iowa Senate. Proposed amendments Iowa’s Constitution must be approved by two General Assemblies before going on the ballot for Iowa voters to have the final say.

Des Moines – Officials with the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau, on Tuesday, said 40-year-old Trey Wysocki, of New Virginia, was sentenced on March 11, 2024, after pleading guilty to one count of Insurance Fraud – Presenting False Information (Class D Felony). And, 39-year-old Kristopher Stapes, of St. Charles, was sentenced on March 19, 2024, after pleading guilty to one count of Accessory After the Fact (Simple Misdemeanor). Both men were sentenced following an investigation by the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau.

The investigation began in February 2023, after the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau received information indicating that Wysocki and Stapes provided false information to an insurer in support of a workers’ compensation claim and received monetary benefits to which Wysocki would not otherwise have been entitled to.

The investigation determined that Wysocki was employed by Stapes when he cut his hand with a power saw while on the job. Wysocki submitted a workers compensation claim, stating that he was unable to work due to a severe injury to his hand.  The insurance company approved Wysocki to receive workers compensation benefits for the duration of time that he would be off work due to injury. The investigation found that Wysocki continued working for Stapes while also collecting workers compensation benefits. Wysocki received $1,055 in benefit payments he otherwise would have not been entitled to. Wysocki was arrested on September 6, 2023 and Stapes was arrested on September 7, 2023.

Photo L-R: Trey Wysocki, Kristopher Stapes – Photos courtesy of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Wysocki received a deferred sentence and was placed on probation for a period of two years. Wysocki was also ordered to pay a civil penalty of $1,025. Stapes was ordered to pay a fine of $105 as well as restitution.

Iowans with information about insurance fraud are encouraged to contact the Iowa Insurance Division’s Fraud Bureau at 515-654-6556.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – March 26, 2024 – If you are driving on U.S. 59 one mile south of Avoca in the coming weeks you need to be aware of a lane closure that may impact your trip.

Crews will begin replacing the other half of the bridge on U.S. 59 beginning on Monday, April 1, weather permitting. The roadway will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot lane width restriction. Trucks with wide loads traveling north of the work zone will be directed to use Iowa 83 and trucks with wide loads traveling south of the work zone will be directed to use U.S. 6.

You will be directed across the bridge with temporary signal lights.