The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says a man from Underwood was arrested following a traffic stop at around 12:05-a.m. today (Wednesday), on Interstate 29 at mile marker 35. 20-year old Bryan Vernon Gibson was arrested for OWI/1st offense and transported to the Mills County Jail, where bond was set at $1,000.

(Radio Iowa) – Vandals painted racist graffiti on the restroom building leading to the War Eagle Monument in Sioux City. The graffiti, which was discovered Tuesday, was directed at both the black community and local police. Police Sergeant Jeremy McClure says the area where this happened is more than just a city park. “We’ve been trying to address concerns brought up to us by the Native American community about the sacredness of War Eagle Park,” McClure says. “Not only is it a city park but it’s also held very sacred by a lot of the Native community because it’s also a graveyard for a Native family.”

The vandalized building is on the road that leads to the monument and the grave site of War Eagle and several members of his family. “When people go there and leave trash or deface property, they’re being extremely disrespectful to the memory of that family that had a huge part in the history of Sioux City,” McClure says. “We’re hoping to raise awareness so people will start treating that area with the reverence that it deserves.”

War Eagle was buried on the bluff in 1851, and later, two of his daughters and some of his grandchildren were also laid to rest there.  “We’re planning on trying to increase patrols of that area and try to curtail some of these issues,” he says. “We’re also working with local Native American leaders to increase the understanding of that park and hopefully do more to raise the reverence of that area.”

Anyone with information about the graffiti should contact Sioux City Crimestoppers at 712-258-TIPS.

The Creston Police Department reports the arrest at around 1:40-p.m. Tuesday, of 39-year old Jennifer Beard, from Creston. Beard was taken into custody on a Union County Warrant for Violation of a Protection Order. She was being held in the Adams County Jail while awaiting a bond hearing.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Des Moines are investigating the fatal shooting of a man in a city park. Police say officers were called to Prospect Park around 8 p.m. Tuesday for reports of a shooting and found a man critically injured with a gunshot wound. The man was later identified as 31-year-old Paye Blawou of Des Moines. He was taken to an area hospital, where he later died of his injuries.

Police have not released information on what may have led to the shooting, and no arrested had been reported by Wednesday morning. Police say Blawou’s death is the city’s 13th homicide of 2020.

(Radio Iowa) — The American Red Cross is now testing all blood donations from Iowans for COVID-19 antibodies. Red Cross spokesman Joe Zydlo says the tests will let donors know if they have been exposed to coronavirus, plus, it’s another way to encourage people to donate a pint. Zydlo says, “There continues to be an urgent need for blood donations as our hospital partners resume surgeries and treatments that require blood products.” The F-D-A-authorized tests will run until further notice. Donors are expected to learn the results in seven-to-ten days. Zydlo says Red Cross chapters have received several calls from people who reported coronavirus symptoms but never took a test.

“I think this gives people peace of mind, but it’s also a sort of two-way street,” he says. “Number one, they can help by donating blood right now when we have an urgent need. Blood drives continue to be canceled. Hospitals are doing more procedures and surgeries. They’re going to need more blood. More people are on the roads. There could be more of a chance of trauma situations.” Zydlo says the testing will let donors know if they have the antibodies in their bloodstream.

“If they have those in their plasma and they want to come back in and maybe donate some plasma to help COVID-19 patients recover, or they may not have it. But at least it gives them peace of mind,” he says. If you don’t feel well, postpone donating blood. If you think you might have COVID-19, wait until you’re symptom-free for at least 28 days and feeling well before making a donation.

Zydlo says it’s important to note, the Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. Also, a positive antibody test results does -not- confirm infection or immunity, but it does indicate potential exposure to the virus.