CHEROKEE, IA – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Friday, said the DNR has approved the City of Cherokee’s request to temporarily discharge partially treated wastewater into the Little Sioux River due to safety concerns at the city’s wastewater treatment facility.

In late June 2024, the wastewater treatment plant sustained significant damage as a result of floodwaters. While efforts were made to continue treatment operations, the facility is currently unable to process wastewater due to safety and reliability concerns. The city has been storing wastewater in equalization lagoons, which are now full and at risk of overflowing, which could impact their structural integrity.

On November 15th, the City of Cherokee began to discharge up to 2 million gallons of wastewater per day for a period of 25 days or until lagoon levels are lowered to a safe level. Throughout this period, the city will monitor the discharged wastewater.

In addition to the temporary discharge plan, the City of Cherokee is actively developing short-term treatment options utilizing the equalization lagoons and is in the planning stages for a permanent wastewater treatment facility.

(Lyman, Iowa) – One person was injured during a single-vehicle accident just south of Lyman, this (Saturday) morning. A dispatch by the Cass County Communications Center at around 5:27-a.m., said the accident happened at Highway 71 (630th) and Lyman Street. A woman in the vehicle was said to have been complaining of neck and back pain. Griswold Rescue and Cass EMS were called to the scene.

Additional information is currently not available.

(Red Oak, Iowa) — Officials with the Red Oak Police Department say that at around 6:15-p.m., Friday, 60-year-old Robert Wade Abraham, of Red Oak, was arrested on serious misdemeanor charges of Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd Offense, and Obstruction of Emergency Communications.

Abraham was being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – One person has been arrested and a University of Iowa fraternity chapter has been suspended as authorities investigate a potential hazing incident, university leaders said Friday. KCRG-TV reports, according to a statement from the university, the arrest and suspension came after first responders were called to the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity house early Friday morning for a fire alarm, and they found several dozen pledges blindfolded in the basement.

One person was arrested and charged with interference with official acts. That person was NOT a student, and does not live at the house where the incident took place. Their name has not been released at this time. University leaders did not say how they were involved in the incident.

The University of Iowa’s Office of Student Accountability has suspended the operations of Alpha Delta Phi, pending the outcome of the investigation. The fraternity’s national chapter has also suspended the charter until further notice. The university released a statement saying it is committed to protecting the health and safety of its students and will address any behavior that puts student safety at risk.

The university has also reached out to the students involved in the incident to offer counseling resources. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

(State News) – Two people died and two others were injured in separate collions on opposite sides of the State, Friday. The Iowa State Patrol reports a pedestrian died when she was struck by a pickup truck a little after 6-p.m. Fort Madison, which is in southern Iowa’s Lee County.

According to the report, a 2009 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck driven by 70-year-old Jeffrey Stephen Jordan, of Argyle, was traveling westbound on Highway 2 in Fort Madison, when the pedestrian – 70-year-old Nancy Lynne Kuhljuergen, of Ft. Madison – attempted to cross the roadway from the Fort Colonies Restaurant, and was struck by the pickup. Kuhljuergen died from her injuries.

The other accident happened on Highway 69 between 180th and 190th Streets in northern Iowa’s Hamilton County, at around 6:30-a.m., Friday. The State Patrol says the driver of an SUV died during a multi-vehicle collision north of Blairsburg, and the drivers of a pickup truck and a semi were hurt.

Officials say a 2021 Jeep Renegade driven by 27-year-old Cole Lantz, of Williams (IA) was traveling north on Highway 69 and was attempting to pass another vehicle traveling northbound. A 2011 Dodge RAM 2500 pickup driven by 51-year-old Carlos Vielman Castillo, of Postville, was southbound on Highway 69  and collided head-on with the Jeep in the southbound lanes. Both vehicles came to rest on the roadway.

32-year-old Justin Norton, of Belmond (IA), was traveling south on Highway 69 in 2024 Freightliner semi. He swerved to the center-line of the road to avoid striking the pickup truck but collided with the vehicle on the way through the debris. a fourth vehicle that was involved lightly struck the Jeep. Officials say weather appeared to play a factor. A dense fog advisory was in effect at the time.

The Patrol says Cole Lantz died at the scene. Carlos Castillo and has passenger, 28-year-old Jilmer Vielman Monroy, of Belmond, were injured, and transported to a hospital in Webster City. All of the crash victims were wearing their seat belts. The road was closed for several hours as a result of the wreck.