An accident Saturday night in Red Oak resulted in the arrest of the vehicles’ driver on numerous charges. Police arrested 39-year old Jason Neal Beacham, of Red Oak at around 6-p.m., following an investigation into the theft and wreck of a vehicle.

Officers responding to a reported vehicle theft were advised enroute to the scene the vehicle, a 1994 GMC Sierra pickup, had crashed into a tree in the 400 block of west 2nd Avenue, and that the driver had fled on foot. He was taken into custody a short time later, and informed authorities his girlfriend put the pickup for sale in a local swap site, and he took the vehicle in an attempt to prevent it from being sold.

The pickup was totaled in the crash, with the loss estimated at $3,000. A fence that was struck during the crash and belonging to a Red Oak woman, was damaged as well. The loss was estimated at $150.

Beacham faces charges that include OWI/3rd offense, Careless Driving, No/or improper registration, No Insurance relating to an accident, and Driving While Suspended. He was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $5,000 bond.

The Red Oak Police Department is investigating a motor vehicle theft from the Bethlehem Lutheran Church parking lot in Red Oak. James Peterson of Red Oak informed police that he showed up for church at 2pm Saturday afternoon. He told officers that when he left the building around 2-50 his vehicle was missing. Peterson told officers he left the vehicle unlocked and the keys in the center console. The vehicle is a green 2007 Ford Escape with a license plate number of 1-3-7—R-Z-D and has a scratch on the rear right quarter panel.. Estimated loss listed at 18-thousand dollars.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — The former Argosy casino riverboat’s trip down the Missouri River has been hindered by electrical problems. The Sioux City Journal reports that the boat was forced to stop Friday just south of Nebraska City, Nebraska.

The three-deck vessel, a replica of a 1920s-era paddlewheel boat, left its longtime dock in Sioux City, Iowa, on Tuesday. It’s bound for Wood River, Illinois — a 730-mile trip down the entire length of the Missouri, then briefly up the Mississippi River at St. Louis.

The riverboat also lost power on Tuesday, stalling near Sloan, Iowa. The riverboat was bought by Mike’s Inc., which operates a large shipyard at Wood River.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man who jumped in the Missouri River in August to try to escape police has been sentenced to prison for choking and trying to kidnap his estranged wife. Sioux City television station KTIV reports that 40-year old Chance Michaels was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison after pleading guilty to false imprisonment and two counts of domestic assault.

Police say Michaels choked his wife and forced her into his vehicle in early August. The vehicle soon suffered a flat tire, and police say he jumped into the river as officers arrived.

Some people on a boat helped pull Michaels from the river.

A large group of runners and walkers gathered at the high school in Atlantic this (Saturday) morning to participate in the first of what’s hoped to be an annual event. The “Color the Town” Color Run/Fun walk began just after 8-a.m. with the bang of a starter’s pistol.

All photos by Color Run participant & KJAN News Director, Ric Hanson.

The 5k event ended at the high school with participants throwing open colored packets of corn starch into the air after the last runners/walkers crossed the finish line, creating a rainbow effect and splashing anyone with power who didn’t get hit at any of the four color stations along the 3.1-mile route.

Fresh fruit and water along with donuts were made available by the Atlantic Hy-Vee and Atlantic Fitness. The event served as a fundraiser for the Atlantic High School Student Council.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) – A Mississippi River bridge linking Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois should open soon after repairs that took weeks longer than expected. John Wegmeyer, an engineer with the Illinois Department of Transportation, told the Quad-City Times on Friday the Centennial Bridge should be open within a week. When the 74-year-old bridge was closed for repairs on August 3rd, the contractor was given 35 days to reopen the span. As of Friday, the bridge had been closed 67 days.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A jury has rejected an Iowa prison guard’s lawsuit that said she was sexually harassed after inmates were repeatedly allowed to watch sexually graphic and violent moves. The Polk County jury reached its decision Friday afternoon, a day after hearing closing arguments in the case of Kristine Sink, who filed the sexual harassment lawsuit in 2012.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – MidAmerican Energy Company says it plans to develop a wind farm in southwest Iowa and expand another operation in northwest Iowa. The Des Moines-based company announced yesterday it plans to build the wind farm in Adams County and expand an existing farm in O’Brien County. MidAmerican estimates the developments would result in 67 new turbines.

ARLINGTON, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa couple faces animal neglect charges after malnourished horses were found on their property. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG-TV reports that Fayette County sheriff’s deputies executed a warrant Thursday at the Arlington home of Duane and Margaret Landis.

The Red Oak Police Department received a call Friday night regarding an individual purchasing alcohol for minors. Responding officers observed the vehicle described by the caller leaving a grocery store. The vehicle was stopped in the 100 block of East Walnut Street in Red Oak.

After the investigation officers arrested 21-year old Jacob Elwood, of Red Oak. Elwood was charged with Supplying Alcohol to a Minor, an aggravated misdemeanor. He was also cited for having an open container of alcohol as a passenger. Elwood was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held on a $2,000 cash bond.

19-year old Brett Martin, of Griswold, was charged with .02 (point oh-two) violation and cited for minor in possession of alcohol. Martin was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and later released. 17-year old’s Kenzey Nicklaus, Hannah Misner, both of Griswold and 17-year old’s Bridgett Sand and Morgan McFarland, both of Red Oak, were transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and cited into juvenile court for minor in possession of alcohol and were released to their parents.

The Red Oak Police Department was assisted by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Political experts say the phenomenon of “early” voting has changed the dynamics of modern campaigns. Ann Selzer is president of the company that conducts the “iowa Poll” for The Des Moines Register.  Both political parties in Iowa are engagined in a battle for those marginal voters who may not be enthusiastic about the two major parties, but can be convinced to vote early. And Chris Larimer, a University of Northern Iowa political science professor, says campaigns are using different strategies to reach different voters. Drake University political science professor Art Sanders says the campaigns are focused on finding “unlikely” voters. Sanders, Larimer and Selzer made their comments during taping of the “Iowa Press” program. Early voting in Iowa began on September 25th. Campaigns are telling voters if they cast their ballots early, they’ll stop getting campaign calls and mailings. Prospective voters for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst are also being invited to participate in telephone conference calls with rising stars in the G-O-P who encourage early voting.

(Radio Iowa)

First Lady Michele Obama spoke to a crowd of over 12-hundred at Drake University Friday afternoon, urging students and supporters to “show up” and “get to work” to elect Bruce Braley to the U.S. Senate. A satellite voting station on the Des Moines campus remained open for 45 minutes after the First Lady’s speech ended and some in the crowd said they were planning to go vote. During her 23-minute speech Obama reminisced about campaigning with her husband in Iowa for the 2008 and 2012 elections and she warned President Obama’s agenda would be stymied if Republicans win the U.S. Senate. Obama mispronounced Braley’s name as “Bailey” seven times before the crowd got involved as she was reciting a web address. The crowd cheered and applauded. Within half an hour of the event’s conclusion, Republicans had claimed the domain name “VoteBruceBailey.com” and linked it directly to the campaign website for Joni Ernst, Braley’s Republican opponent. The Braley campaign handed out cards at the rally, asking for more volunteers to sign up to canvas neighborhoods and turn out voters.

(Radio Iowa)

The Missouri River will be rising at least three more feet over the coming weeks as the U-S Army Corps of Engineers prepares for next year with above-normal releases from Gavins Point Dam. Jody Farhat (FAR-hot), chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division in Omaha, says the increased releases now will help lower the risk of flooding next season. Along with flood control, Farhat says excess water will extend the navigation season. She says it will also mean an increase in hydropower generation. Farhat says the Corps is holding public meetings on October 28th in Pierre, South Dakota, and on October 29th in Council Bluffs for people who are interested in the water management operations.

(Radio Iowa)