(Pottawattamie County, Iowa) – Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department, Friday (today), would like to make you aware of crimes that have happened locally. Authorities say victims are leasing homes “sight unseen,” and paying remote landlords with gift cards or Venmo. They later find the home is owned by someone else. Police officials say, “When renting, make sure to inspect the property in person and meet with the leasing agent or property owner.” They say you should also check ownership on Pottco.org.

The P-D warns “Funds lost in these scams are rarely recovered.”

(Clarinda, Iowa) – Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer, Friday (today), reports his deputies on Thursday, arrested 40-year-old Crystal Cornett Messer, of Clarinda. The woman was taken into custody for Possession of Drug paraphernalia. Her arrest stems from another incident where the Sheriff’s Office was serving a court order at 1500 N 16^th Street, in Clarinda. Messer was transported to the Page County Jail where she is being held on $300 bond.

“A charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”

(Radio Iowa) – One-hundred-21 (121) workers are being laid off at the Siemens Gamesa plant in Fort Madison that makes wind turbine blades. The C-E-O of the company’s operations in North America says the wind energy industry has been waiting to find out what climate-related legislation will emerge from congress and that temporarily slowed the renewable energy market. A second factor involved a competitor’s patent complaint. Siemens Gamesa declined new orders as it awaited a decision from federal regulators, who recently ruled in Siemens’ favor.

Some of the 121 workers who’s been laid off from the Fort Madison plant may find other jobs within the company. The rest will be offered a severance package. Two-hundred-54 (254) employees will remain on the job in Fort Madison.

Des Moines, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections, Friday morning, said 28-year-old Ronald Kelly, who was convicted of Robbery 2nd Degree in Polk County, failed to report back to the Fort Des Moines Correctional facility as required, yesterday (Thursday). Kelly is a Black male, 5-feet 9-inches tall. He weighs about 228 pounds. Kelly was admitted to the work release facility on Dec. 28th, 2021.

Ronald Kelly

Persons with information on Kelly’s whereabouts should contact local police.