(Des Moines, Iowa) – Approximately 80 Soldiers will be honored in a community welcome home ceremony for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 734th Regional Support Group, Friday, Oct. 29th at Noon. The ceremony takes place at the Des Moines International Airport, Endeavor Air hangar, 2811 Willow Creek Ave.m in Des Moines. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend the homecoming ceremony. Masks are required for this event.

Iowans can also view the ceremony live by going to the Iowa National Guard Facebook page @IowaNationalGuard.

The 734th Regional Support Group provided base support, commandant cell and base camp services across several bases in Central Command area of responsibility. The unit was responsible for ensuring the day-to-day operations of each base.

Additionally, the 734th Regional Support Group worked closely with Coalition members from more than 10 countries to support Operation Inherent Resolve. Col. Mark Coble, 734th Regional support group commander, served as a base commander. The HHC 734th RSG is currently based at Camp Dodge in Johnston.

(Radio Iowa) – The Story County Sheriff’s Office has started a criminal investigation after a state auditor’s report flagged significant issues in the City of McCallsburg’s accounting records. According to the State Auditor’s report, one person was responsible for depositing cash, checks and tax payments made to the City of McCallsburg. The same person handled payroll. Auditors reviewed records from April of 2016 through the end of March the following year. They found the general ledger for the City of McCallsburg was more than 120-thousand dollars higher than the actual balances in the city’s bank and investment accounts. Auditors found the City Clerk occasionally wrote and cashed paychecks before the end of the pay period.

The state auditor’s report also noted the city’s accounting records showed a street project and a water project in McCallsburg were claimed twice as expenses. The state auditor’s report was issued in April of last year. The Story County Sheriff’s Office announced today (Wednesday) it is conducting a criminal investigation based on the report, but provided no other details.

(Durant, Iowa) – One person died Wednesday morning during collision between two semi-tractor trailers, in eastern Iowa. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2005 Kenworth driven by 38-year-old Reynold S. Madara, of Woodward, OK., had just re-entered Interstate 80 westbound after Madara secured a tarp on his load. The rig was getting up to speed at around 7:10-a.m., when it was struck from behind by a 2022 Volvo semi. The second semi was driven by 52-year-old Jan Bisek, of LaGrange Park, IL.

The Patrol says when following the collision, both semi’s traveled off the road and entered the north ditch before coming to rest. Jan Bisek died at the scene. Madara was not injured. Both drivers were wearing seat belts. The crash remains under investigation. Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Durant and Walcott Fire Departments.

Des Moines, Iowa —The Iowa Department of Public Health released new COVID-19 data Wednesday. The health department reports 117 additional virus deaths, bringing the total to 6,965 since the start of the pandemic. IDPH said the most recent deaths were reported between Sept. 9 and Oct. 20. Health department data show positive tests continue to decline in Iowa. There were 6,340 positive tests in the last seven days, down from 6,542 at the last report on Monday. The state’s 14-day positivity rate remains at 8%.

The number of patients hospitalized in Iowa with COVID-19 ticked up slightly. There are currently 531 patients, up from 521 on Monday. IPDH reports 65.5% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated, while 81.4% of those listed in intensive care with the virus are unvaccinated. There are COVID-19 outbreaks in 30 long-term care facilities, down from 31 on Monday.

The health department reports 3,657,561 vaccine doses have been administered in Iowa, with 67.6% of those 18 and older fully vaccinated and 70% of those 12 and older with at least one dose. IDPH releases new COVID-19 data each Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

(Radio Iowa) – County election officials are urging Iowa voters to return their absentee ballots for next Tuesday’s election quickly. Adams County Auditor, Becky Bissell says changes by the Iowa Legislature now require your ballot to be received by your county auditor on Election Day to be counted.  “So now we have what we refer to as like a drop-dead date. So it has to be in the auditor’s office by 8 p-m on Election Day,” Bissell says.

She says depending on where you live, it might be too late to put your ballot in the mail.  “In southwest Iowa, I would not recommend putting it in the mail, because our mail goes to Des Moines and then back to us. And so I do fear that it’s not going to get back to me in time if my voters were to be putting it into the mail now,” according to Bissell.

Adams County (IA) Auditor Rebecca Bissell

Bissell says you should instead bring your completed ballot to your county auditor’s office or use the ballot dropbox in counties where those are available.

(reporting by Katarina Sostaric, Iowa Public Radio)