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

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CLINTON, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man has been accused of sexually abusing a woman and children and using his cellphone to record the acts. The charges against Clinton resident Timothy Geerts include seven felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, 40 felony counts of sexual abuse and dozens of misdemeanor counts of invasion of privacy.

Clinton County court records say a woman who knows Geerts reported last week that she found the photos and videos on his cellphone. The court records say Geerts later acknowledged taking the photos and videos and his participation in many of the sexual acts shown. He also acknowledged recording people using a bathroom in his home. His next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 11.

The Griswold Class of 2020 is collecting 100 bags with 25 pairs each, of gently worn used and new shoes. The shoes will be used to create micro-enterprises in developing countries like Haiti, Ghana, and others. The Class of 2020 will also receive $1000 to fund Jr. Class Prom in the process. You can help by collecting a bag with 25 pairs of shoes and returning them to any of the drop off locations by tomorrow (Saturday, Jan 5, 2019). Drop off locations include: The Griswold Community Middle School/High School, Houghton State Bank-Griswold, Rolling Hills Bank-Griswold & United Group Insurance-Griswold.

A man who attempted to hand his kids some food while driving, caused a collision Thursday morning, in Creston. Police in Creston say 34-year old Joseph Beaman, of Creston, was traveling south on Lincoln Street at around 7:40-a.m. Thursday, when his 2005 Buick van struck a legally parked 2004 Toyota Camry. Damage from the accident amounted to $11,000. There were no injuries, and no citations issued.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has hired former Iowa Department of Transportation director Paul Trombino III as her chief operations officer to provide leadership of state government agencies.
Trombino was Iowa DOT director for Reynolds’ predecessor Terry Branstad from 2011 to 2016 and briefly considered serving as President Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Federal Highway Administration in 2017 before withdrawing his name two months after he was nominated citing family reasons.

Reynolds said Thursday that Pat Garrett is her new communications director after serving a similar role in the campaign and former campaign field director Nick Boeyink is the governor’s director of boards and commissions. Nate Ristow, a former staffer for former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, is Reynolds’ policy adviser on public safety issues. Katherine Shaheen is executive assistant to Reynolds. Reynolds earlier named campaign consultant Sara Craig Gongol her new chief of staff. Kassidy Krause will serve as Gongol’s assistant.

FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say six people were treated for injuries after a fire at their apartment building in Fort Dodge. Firefighters dispatched just before 7 a.m. Thursday saw flames coming from  sixth-floor windows on the north and east sides of the Biltwell Apartments building. Fire officials say the blaze was caused by an unattended candle in a bedroom. Five occupants were treated at the scene, and a woman who lived in the apartment where the fire occurred was taken to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. Her name hasn’t been released.