(Radio Iowa)- Trucking companies continue to be behind when it comes to finding enough drivers to get behind the wheel. Iowa Motor Truck Association president, Brenda Neville, says they’d been behind before the pandemic, and it didn’t get any better. “We had people that retired early during the pandemic, and then we have so many different jobs out there now that are fighting for the same people that we are trying to get into trucks,” Neville says. “Some of our members are reporting an even greater shortage of drivers than they have seen in several years. So, I certainly think that that is a problem we are seeing across all segments of the trucking industry.” Neville says

57 percent of all truckers today are over the age of 45 and 23 percent are over the age of 55. That trend would see nearly one-quarter of the current trucking workforce hit retirement age in the next 10 years, not including the nearly eight percent of truck drivers currently working above the retirement age. She says the industry has done a lot of things to try and lure people in. “We’re seeing an increase in wages, we’re seeing enhanced benefits packages. Some companies are looking at the amount of time that drivers are out on the road,” according to Neville. “I think they are really trying to be very creative, they are trying to be very aggressive, and we are seeing a number of different things. I think some companies are seeing some success with that.”

Neville says there are openings from the big rigs to smaller trucks. She says one positive is you can get into the industry relatively quickly. She says the training can be six months to one year depending on the program. “And you can be making some very good money very quickly without the debt of a two-year or four-year school,” Neville says. She says you can determine how long you want to be on the road. “There’s a variety of different routes that you can take on that will meet your specific needs. Trucking companies have been very good and very creative at making those jobs much more attractive to a wide variety of people,” she says.

Neville says the industry needs an estimated 60-thousand-800 truck drivers immediately to fill open spots.

(Radio Iowa) – Police in Laurens say they found nearly 300 lbs of marijuana and stolen items in storage in Spencer. A storage unit rented by William Cole, who was arrested in late July in Laurens, was searched. Laurens Police located and seized 260 lbs. of marijuana which has a street value of $550,000 to $750,000, a 9 mm handgun, a stolen generator out of California, a stolen 48-inch deck mower out of Des Moines along with a number of other items.

Cole is currently in the Pocahontas County Jail on previous charges. Authorities further charged him with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver marijuana, 1st-degree theft, 2nd-degree theft, failure to affix a drug tax stamp, and felon in possession of a firearm.

Photos by KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

(UPDATED 8:45-a.m., 8/9/21) (Atlantic, Iowa) –

One person was taken into custody following a reported “shots fired” incident in Atlantic, Sunday. The incident took place at around 10:06-p.m. at the Turkey Creek Lodge located at 1104 E. 7^th Street. As a result of the investigation, deputies arrested 53-year-old Julian Joe Gallegos, Jr., of Albuquerque, NM for reckless use of a firearm and going armed with intent.  Gallegos was transported to Cass County Jail where he is currently being held.

(Original story follows….)

One person was taken into custody following a reported “shots fired” incident in Atlantic, Sunday. A call about the incident at the Turkey Creek Lodge on east 7th Street came in at around 10:05-p.m. Atlantic Police Sgt. Spencer Walton told KJAN News a male suspect was arrested. The unidentified male was arrested at around 10:38-p.m.

Police were working with the victims and suspect to determine what transpired. Sgt. Walton said additional details will be released later, as an active investigation was underway late Sunday night. He said “There is no additional threat to the community, we’re very thankful for that.”

At least one or two shots, possibly more, were fired during the incident. The Cass and Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted Atlantic Police at the scene. Sgt. Walton said “Big props to everybody that showed up tonight. Obviously in southwest Iowa when a significant call comes out, everybody shows up, and we’re thankful for that.”

Coralville – An inmate serving a sentence out of Cherokee County has died in prison. The Iowa Department of Corrections, Sunday, said 28-year-old Anthony William Geltz was pronounced dead due to apparent suicide at approximately 11:04 p.m., Saturday, August 7th. His death occurred at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center, in Coralville.

Geltz had been serving a 2 year sentence for the crime Assault Causing Injury – Peace Officers/Others from Cherokee County.  His sentence began on December 17, 2020. The department investigates all suicides within its correctional facilities.

Red Oak Police report the arrest Saturday evening, of 36-year-old Joshua Andrew Fink, from Stanton. Fink was arrested for Driving While Suspended, and Domestic Abuse Assault/3rd or subsequent offense, a Class-D Felony. Fink was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held without bond pending a court appearance.