Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports four drug-related arrests. On Feb. 5th, 28-year old Andrew Jackson Rice, of Adair, was arrested for a felony Controlled Substance Violation. Rice was released three days later on a $10,000 cash or surety bond. On Feb. 6th, 55-year old Troy Eugene McKinney, of Creston, was arrested following a traffic stop in Adair County. McKinney was taken into custody on two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense (Meth and Marijuana), Possession of drug paraphernalia), and for Driving While Barred. He was released Monday on a $2,000 cash or surety bond. Also arrested Feb. 6th, was the driver of a straight truck, 30-year old Oliver Dante Caton, of Pompano Beach, FL. Caton arrested by an Iowa DOT Enforcement Officer on I-80, for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 2nd offense. Caton was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

On Feb. 8th, 60-year old Kalvin Craig Edwards, of Fontanelle, was arrested following the execution of a search warrant at his commercial/office buildings. During the search, about 1 pound, 6-ounces of marijuana was found in a dial lock safe. A weigh scale was located in a wooden box within the same safe. Plastic packaging material (Sandwich bags) was located in the same room as the safe. And, a text message from a woman by the name of “Amy” indicated the sale of “one-eighth” and the sale of another “one-quarter.” Edwards admitted to the marijuana being his. Authorities noted common “personal use” marijuana amounts are typically one-tenth of an ounce, one-quarter of an ounce, and upwards of one-half ounce, but NOT a pound. Edwards was arrested on a felony controlled substance violation (Unlawful manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance/marijuana, in an amount not to exceed 50-kilograms), and for possession of drug paraphernalia.  Edwards was cited and released.

And, 19-year old Koy Alan Brandt, of Greenfield, was arrested Feb. 8th to serve a court-ordered sentence. Brandt was released Sunday on time-served.

The area’s latest and/or top news stories at 7:06-a.m. From KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Creston Police arrested two people and cited another, Monday. 27-year old Brady Thomas Salberg, of Creston, was arrested at around 8:25-a.m. Monday, on an outside agency warrant for Probation Violation. His cash or surety bond was set at $2,000. And, at around 7:45-p.m. Monday, 70-year old Harry Gustaff Walter, of Creston, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense. His bond was also set at $2,000.

51-year old Vicky Romo, of Lenox, was cited Monday evening, for Theft in the 5th degree, following an incident at the Creston Wal-Mart. Romo was released after receiving her citation.

(7-a.m. News)

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — Federal charges have been filed against two Sioux City residents accused of robbing a bank in northwest Iowa. U.S. district court records say Phillip White and Karen Merrick are charged with bank robbery. Prosecutors say White robbed Iowa State Bank in Le Mars on Dec. 12 and Merrick drove a U-Haul van as the getaway vehicle. Officers managed to flatten the van’s tires and arrest the pair.

The two already have pleaded not guilty to robbery and other charges in the state cases, which have been dropped in favor of the federal prosecution. The next federal hearing for them is scheduled for Feb. 20.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man has lost his lawsuit against a store over use of a motorized store cart in Mason City. Shane Zahn, of Garner, is missing his right leg below the knee and most of his left foot has been amputated. He had sued in November 2017 for an unspecified amount. His lawsuit said he wasn’t allowed to use one of the carts in April 2017 to take his purchases out to his car, so he had to walk out on his hands and knees. The store chain sells a variety of home, outdoors and lawn and garden products.

Mills Fleet Farm says Zahn was informed store policy didn’t allow the carts out into the parking lot and that he could have used a manual wheelchair provided by Fleet Farm to return to his car. A Cerro Gordo County jury took just 15 minutes Friday to return a verdict favoring Mills Fleet Farm.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:45 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Democratic Party is proposing the biggest changes to the state’s famed caucuses in nearly 50 years. State party chairman Troy Price outlined a measure on Monday that would allow people to participate in the caucuses virtually by telephone or smart devices. The idea is to open the first 2020 presidential caucus to people who cannot attend the local political meetings.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A bill that would eliminate the requirement to obtain a permit to buy or carry a gun in Iowa has been moved out of a three-person Senate subcommittee. Two Republicans agreed to pass it on to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Democratic Sen. Tony Bisignano declined to recommend the bill. He disagrees with allowing the sale of handguns at gun shows and person-to-person with no permit or background check. Supporters say requiring permits and fees to own a gun contradicts the U.S. Constitution.

CENTERVILLE, Iowa (AP) — The father of a man charged with murder in the death of a deer hunter has testified that his son owned numerous guns and kept them “everywhere.” The Daily Iowegian reports Jamison Davis testified Monday in the first-degree murder trial of his son, Ethan Davis. Ethan Davis is charged with killing deer hunter Curtis Ross in November 2017 on public hunting ground near Rathbun Lake. Jamison Davis says his son owned shotguns, pistols, knives and more than one AR-15 style weapon.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Starting next year, those pork chops on a stick can be bought with a card. The Iowa State Fair says it will require all food and drink vendors to accept credit and debit cards beginning in 2020. Cash has long been the dominant form of payment for the fried cheese curds, corn dogs and other foods bought by fairgoers.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Democratic Party is proposing the biggest changes to the state’s famed caucuses in nearly 50 years. State party chairman Troy Price outlined a measure on Monday that would allow people to participate in the caucuses virtually by telephone or smart devices. The idea is to open the first 2020 presidential caucus to people who cannot attend the local political meetings.

The move is a response to criticism that the caucuses are difficult for evening workers and the elderly to attend. The six virtual sessions would begin in the days immediately before and on caucus night. The Iowa caucuses are scheduled for Feb. 3, 2020. The proposal won’t be finalized until the spring.

(in an update to our earlier reports, the Iowa State Patrol has identified the victim of a crash in Union County, Sunday, as a woman from Taylor County. Authorities say 66-year old Merna Padilla-King, of Bedford, who was not wearing a seat belt died, when her 2017 Chrysler mini-van was struck by a pickup truck on Highway 34, at around 12:17-p.m., Sunday.

The 1998 Dodge pickup was driven by 21-year old Emily M. Haidsiak, of Creston. She was traveling west on the highway, when her vehicle went out of control on the snow and slush covered road. The pickup crossed the center line west of Creston and entered the eastbound lane, where it struck the eastbound minivan. Haidsiak, and an infant passenger in her vehicle – who were properly belted-in – were transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston, for treatment of multiple, but non-life threatening injuries.

The accident remains under investigation.

(Radio Iowa) — A bill to get rid of permit requirements for buying and carrying a pistol or revolver in Iowa has cleared its first hurdle in the state senate. Scott Jones, a Virginia-based lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, was in Des Moines to speak at a hearing in the capitol today (Monday).  “Self-defense situations are difficult, if not impossible to anticipate and law-abiding citizens should not be required to pay government-mandated fees and navigate a licensing system in order to exercise a fundamental individual right,” he said.

Jane Robinette of Urbandale wore a t-shirt to the hearing that the read, “America Needs Gun Safety.” “Is a permit really such an onerous thing to be able to carry something that can kill someone else?” Robinette asked. “I’m a law-abiding citizen. I have to get a driver’s license. I haven’t had…a speeding ticket ever in my life.” Jim Hirschberg of Lohrville argued the fee infringes on a constitutional right to protect life and property.

“Iowa’s permit system to carry is a hold-over from Jim Crow laws designed to discriminate,” Hirschberg said. “…What is a prevent a future legislature from raising the fee from $50 to $100 or $1000 or more? Nothing.” Tim Coonan, a lobbyist for Every Town for Gun Safety, says Iowa gun laws already are among the most permissive in the country. “At this point in our country’s history, given all the events known and unknown, it’s hard to imagine a scenario pulling back on systems that have most likely and in many cases have been proven reduce or prevent gun violence,” Coonan said.

Two Republicans on a subcommittee voted to make the bill eligible for debate in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Democrat on the subcommittee said he was concerned about giving Iowans considering suicide, especially veterans, quicker access to guns.

FAIRFIELD, Iowa (AP) — A southeastern Iowa police officer has been charged with burglary after allegedly breaking into a veterinary clinic to steal powerful pain medications. The Iowa Department of Public Safety announced the arrest Monday of 31-year-old Ryan Mills, who lives in Washington, Iowa and works in Fairfield. A criminal complaint alleges Mills was caught stealing 57 tablets of Tramadol from the Veterinary Clinic in Fairfield before business hours on Jan. 1.

Later, he allegedly admitted to entering the clinic on multiple occasions to steal the opioids from a medicine cabinet. Tramadol is a controlled narcotic used to treat moderate to severe pain and is highly addictive.

The clinic began an internal investigation in November after noticing shortages of the drug in its inventory. An employee allegedly saw Mills commit the Jan. 1 theft and police were informed. The Division of Criminal Investigation and the Washington County Attorney’s Office are handling the case to avoid conflicts of interest. Mills was booked into jail Monday.