DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Some Iowa residents who face steep health insurance bills are turning to faith-based ministries in which religious Americans help each other pay medical bills. The Des Moines Register reports that the arrangements count as coverage under the Affordable Care Act, even though they aren’t exactly insurance.

Some of the groups’ monthly costs are much lower than what insurance would run, but there are limits on the types of bills they will cover. Outside health policy experts warn that the “health sharing ministries” have little oversight, and plans are not required to cover pre-existing health problems, such as diabetes or cancer. And unlike health insurers, the groups are not regulated by state officials.

An Audubon County man was arrested Sunday night on drug and alcohol charges. The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports 19-year old Chandler Joel Behrens, of Audubon, was pulled-over on Highway 71 and Chicago Street in Audubon. An investigation resulted in him being taken into custody for Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Alcohol/2nd offense. He later posted bond and was released, with a court appearance set for Dec. 14th.

Late Saturday night, 56-year old Dwight Dean Elm, of Coon Rapids, was arrested for Driving While Barred, Open Container, and for Violation of a Restricted License. The charges are the result of a traffic stop near Highway 71 and Highway 44. Elm was later released on bond and is set to appear in court on Dec. 18th.

Friday night, Audubon County Deputies arrested 30-year old Laura May Pepple, of Manning. Pepple was charged with OWI/2nd offense, Open Container, No Insurance and Failure to carry a Registration Card. The charges are the result of a traffic stop near Bluebird Avenue and 130th Street. Pepple was later released after appearing before a magistrate. Her next appearance in court was set for Dec. 28th.

Sheriff’s officials in Pottawattamie County say a man and his mother were arrested Saturday night for Domestic Assault with injury. 34-year old William Joseph Bullock, and 54-year old Diana L. Bullock, both of Avoca, were arrested at around 8:20-p.m., following an argument that turned physical. The report indicated Diana Bullock had been drinking, while William Bullock was sober. Both suffered minor injuries.

And, 51-year old David Nickolas Paulson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested early Saturday morning for Stalking, and two counts of Violation of a No Contact Order. His arrest took place following a traffic stop. The arrest was the result of an ongoing investigation where Paulson was believed to be causing Criminal Mischief and violating no contact orders against his girlfriend.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources investigated three hunting incidents over the past week. Iowa DNR Conservation Officers are investigating a shooting involving a New Market man who was searching for an injured deer when he was shot by another hunter who had mistaken him for a deer. The shooting happened at around 9:15-a.m. Sunday, north of New Market on private property. 28-year old Justin Scroggie, of New Market, was hunting with 42-year old Brooks Lambert, of Clarinda, while both were attempting to locate an injured deer in a tall, dense CRP field. Lambert mistakenly identified Scroggie as a deer in the dense vegetation and shot him from approximately 40 to 45 yards away, striking him in the left forearm. Scroggie was airlifted to University of Nebraska Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. He was wearing a camouflaged hat. This incident remains under investigation by the DNR. The DNR reminds hunters to not shoot at any movement without always properly identifying the target.

Officials said also, that on December 5th, 65-year old John Fish, of Villisca, was hunting five miles southeast of Nodaway when he was struck in the foot by a slug from another hunter in his hunting party. Fish and a 15-year-old boy were approximately 95 yards on opposite sides of the road (110th Street, east of Denver Ave.) when a doe ran between them. The 15 year old fired a shot, missing the doe and striking Fish in the left foot. Fish was sitting in a fence row of dense vegetation and brush. Fish was transported to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines and has undergone surgery. His injuries were non-life-threatening. The incident remains under investigation by the DNR.

An 11-year-old boy was injured in a hunting incident Sunday. It happened on private property near the intersection of 320th Street Northeast and Prairie Du Chen Road Northeast in Johnson County. Both minors (11 and 13) were brothers from Iowa City and were deer hunting with their grandfather. The brothers were standing along a fencerow between a stretch of timber and a field approximately 160 yards apart. Meanwhile, their grandfather was walking through the timber, pushing any deer out in the field towards the brothers. A doe came in from the opposite direction of the timber and both brothers took a shot at the deer standing in the field.  The deer then ran between the boys when the older brother continued to shoot striking his younger brother in the hip.  The victim was transported to University of Iowa Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The incident remains under investigation by the DNR. The DNR reminds hunters to always be cognizant of the whereabouts of other hunters, at all times.  Avoid target fixation and always ensure there is a safe backstop before taking a shot.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater today (Monday), released his report on arrests and other activities. In the report, it was noted that 56-year old Brian Ray Kunkle, of Fontanelle, was arrested Friday evening following a traffic stop. Authorities had received complaints from another motorist that Kunkle’s 2012 Chevy Silverado was swerving all over Interstate 80. The other driver followed Kunkle as he exited the Interstate at the 88  mile marker and turned south onto Pinewood. The caller said Kunkle pulled off onto the side of the road and turned his lights off at 110th and Pinewood. A State Trooper located the vehicle and Kunkle. The truck’s motor was still running and the lights were off. An investigation and Field Sobriety Test indicated Kunkle had a Preliminary Breath Alcohol Content of .239-percent, or nearly three times the legal limit. Kunkle refused a couple of other tests at the scene and was brought to the Adair County Jail, where chemical tests showed a blood alcohol level of .207-percent, still more than twice the legal limit. He was charged with OWI/1st offense and released a few hours later on $1,000 bond.

Other individuals who were being held in the Adair County include:

• 23-year old Alex Lee Buckner, of Casey, who was arrested Dec. 8th. He was being held in the Adair County Jail until early Sunday morning, for failure to serve time on an earlier sentence, and then released.
• 45-year old Jason Edward Caldwell, of Stuart, was arrested Dec. 6th for failure to serve his full sentence.  He remains held until completion of time served.
• 45-year old Manuel Urbina-Mejia, of Adair, was arrested Dec. 6th on a warrant out of Polk County. He was transferred to their custody Dec. 6th.
• 38-year old Joseph Allen Bloom, of Des Moines, was arrested Dec. 5th. He was being held on a Department of Corrections warrant out of Polk County for being an escapee. Bloom was transferred to the custody of Polk County Deputies.
• 27-year old Dakota Shane Gaulden, of Orient, was arrested Dec. 5th on a Union County warrant, and held in the Adair County Jail until being transferred to Union County.
• And, 38-year old Joshua Michael Escritt, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Dec. 3rd and held in the Adair County Jail on a warrant for Pottawattamie County. He was released to their custody Dec. 4th.

Officials with the Omaha Foundation reports the Chairs of the Cass and Audubon County Community Foundations, have announced grant funds are available separately, for Cass County and Audubon County non-profit organization, and that the deadline to return applications is no later than February 1st, 2018.  In both counties, approximately $117,000 in grant funds are available. Detailed application procedures, fact sheets, and a link to the application form can be obtained online beginning December 15th at http://omahafoundation.org/swiowa. Applications will only be accepted through the online system.

Contact any board member for additional information. Please contact Dennis Nissen at 800-794-3458 or dennis@omahafoundation.org or Denise Cardos at denise@omahafoundation.org with grant application-specific questions. All completed applications will be considered at the March board meeting with notification of results in early April. Only organizations providing charitable services in their respective counties (Cass or Audubon) are eligible. Those organizations must be able to demonstrate broad community/county support and be an IRS approved 501(c)(3) Public Charity. Requests for general operational funds will not be considered.

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Board members of the Cass County Community Foundation are Chair, Nicholas Hunt of rural Atlantic, 243-5485; Vice Chair, Gary Maas of Anita, 762-3434; Secretary/Treasurer, Roland K. Landsness, Esq. of Atlantic, 243-4154; Royal Bierbaum of Griswold, 778-2586; John Curry of Massena, 779-0216; and Mark D. Kyhnn, CPA of Atlantic, 243-1800.

Board members of the Audubon County Community Foundation are Chair, Genelle Deist of Audubon, 563-4288; Vice Chair, Joel Hoegh of rural Brayton, 249-3692; Secretary/Treasurer, Barbara Johnson of Audubon, 773-5732; Shelley Burr of Audubon, 563-2644; Steven B. Hansen of Audubon, 563-2065; Daryl Olsen, DVM of Audubon, 563-2080; and Joseph T. Rasmussen of Exira, 268-6357.

A teenager from Union County suffered minor/non-incapacitating injuries during a rollover accident Sunday afternoon. The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports 14-year old Rachel Ann Boyer, of Kent, who was wearing her seat belt, was transported by a private vehicle to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston. Officials say Boyer was traveling eastbound on a gravel road…the Ringold-Union County line, when the 2009 Chevy Sebring she was driving went out of control as it passed over a small rise on the road.

When Boyer over-corrected, the car skidded across the roadway and entered the north ditch, where it rolled over and came to rest on its wheels, next to a culvert. Damage from the crash amounted to $3,000. No citations were issued.

UPDATE – Vehicle located at around 12:17-p.m. today. NO further details at this time.

Creston Police are asking for help in locating a stolen pickup truck. A Maroon 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 with a Hawkeye sticker in the back window was reported stolen. The vehicle has Iowa license plate DPW 150.  If you see this vehicle please call 9-1-1 or 641-782-8402.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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Police in Creston report seven arrests took place from early Friday morning through early this (Monday) morning. At around 2:40-a.m. today (Monday), 62-year old James Reese, of Bridgewater, was arrested following a traffic stop at Highway 34 and Laurel, in Creston. Reese was arrested for Driving While Barred, and later released on a $2,000 bond.

Sunday evening, 18-year old Michael Kauzlarich, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a charge of Simple Domestic Assault. His bond was set at $300. And, at around 3:45-a.m. Sunday, 28-year old Mitchell McKee, of Oskaloosa, was arrested in Creston for Public Intoxication. He was later released on a $300 bond.

Saturday evening, 20-year old Quintin Chumbley, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Violation of Parole, on an original charge of Lascivious Acts with a Child/Solicitation. His bond was set at $5,000. Last Friday, 19-year old Isaiah Foster, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County LEC on a Union County warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. He was later released on a $5,000 bond. At around 11:40-a.m. Friday, 18-year old Sebastian Sweat, of Creston, was arrested by Creston Police for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was later released on $300 bond. And, 20-year old Ranaya Folks, of Des Moines, was arrested Friday morning at the Union County LEC in Creston, on charges of Willful Injury and Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury accident. She was being held in the Ringgold County Jail on a $7,000 bond.

Creston Police report also, a woman living in the 1200 block of N. Poplar, informed authorities Saturday, that sometime between 11-p.m. Friday and 7:30-a.m. Saturday, a window was broken out at her residence by means of a rock. The damage was estimated at $400.