WRIGHT COUNTY, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Safety, on behalf of the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, said that at approximately 9-a.m. Monday, June 17, 2024, the Wright County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible deceased person located at a rural Clarion residence.

Upon arrival, deputies located the bodies of a deceased male and female inside a residence. After further investigation, the incident is believed to be isolated and there is no threat to the public at this time.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was called to assist. An autopsy will be performed by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner.  This is an ongoing investigation. No additional information will be released at this time.

(Radio Iowa) – Heavy rains and high winds hit parts of northwest Iowa this (Monday) morning. There was widespread tree damage in Estherville and a 60 mile per hour wind gust was reporting at the Estherville Airport around 3:30 a.m. A downed tree briefly blocked Highway 4 in Estherville, but crews quickly removed the tree and the road was open to traffic by 4:30.
Damage was also reported in Dickinson County. Emergency Management Director Mike Ehret says crop damage was reported around Milford and there are rising concerns about flooding due to the heavy rain.

Ehret says there’s minor flooding along the Little Sioux River, mainly affecting pastures. He says the water levels in the Iowa Great Lakes are very high, but it’s not quite yet at the point where boats are restricted to going no more than 5 miles an hour on the lakes.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a man from Missouri was cited for Failure to Maintain Control, and arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/marijuana along with Possession of drug paraphernalia, following an accident that occurred just before Noon last Thursday (June 13th).

Authorities say 48-year-old Aaron Lee Becker, of Kansas City, MO., was driving a 2019 Ford F-150 pickup truck southbound on Talon Avenue near the intersection with White Pole Road.

A 2000 Peterbilt semi tractor-trailer driven by 22-year-old Nicholas Wayne Benshoof, of Winterset, was stopped at the intersection facing southbound. Becker failed to notice the stopped semi and rear-ended trailer, causing a total of $22,000 damage. No injuries were reported.

Becker was evaluated for driving under the influence and implied consent was invoked. A urine specimen was obtained and sent to the DCI lab for evaluation. Authorities say Becker admitted using his cell phone prior to the accident, but did not clarify if he was texting or calling someone.

DES MOINES, Iowa (June 17, 2024) – Food Bank of Iowa has received a $25,000 grant from State Farm to support mobile food distribution, helping Iowans to recover from the May tornadoes. The funds will provide the equivalent of 41,667 nutritious meals, supporting families recovering from these tragic storms.

“This generous grant from State Farm will help us to provide additional food assistance as we respond to the needs of residents in some of our hardest hit counties,” said Food Bank of Iowa CEO Michelle Book.

Food Bank of Iowa serves 11 of the 18 counties with disaster declarations: Adair (Greenfield), Adams, Clay, Dallas, Hardin, Jasper, Kossuth, Marshall, Palo Alto, Warren and Webster. The food bank stocks the shelves of more than 700 community and church pantries, school pantries and meal sites across 55 counties, as well as provides food assistance through mobile distribution and the elementary BackPack Program.

“At State Farm part of our mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life and recover from the unexpected,” said Apsara Sorensen, State Farm corporate responsibility assistant vice president. “State Farm is proud to team up with Food Bank of Iowa to help Iowans recover faster from these devastating storms.”

Food Bank of Iowa operates 46 mobile pantries across 30 counties. Families who need food assistance, including those recovering from disaster, receive a variety of shelf-stable and fresh foods, including produce, protein and dairy. Food is distributed at a prearranged site farmers market-style or in some cases, in a drive-through format.

In addition to mobile pantries, the food bank has been offering more frequent distribution, extra routes, additional distribution and other assistance to partners in the affected areas. Food Bank of Iowa also delivers and loans generators to partners to ensure food is kept safe and distribution can continue without interruption.