(Creston, Iowa) – A collision this (Monday) morning in Creston caused $5,500 damage, but no one was injured. According to the Creston Police Department, a 2024 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 72-year-old Charles Glenn Sinn, of Oskaloosa, was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 8:38-a.m., and preparing to turn left into the Casey’s parking lot, when the trailer the pickup was pulling was struck from behind by a 2011 Chevy Aveo, driven by 27-year-old Megan E. Banda, of Creston. The accident caused minor damage to the trailer, but the car driven by Banda was declared a total loss.

Sinn told Police his turn signal was on, but Banda told Police she did not see a turn signal. No citations were issued.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – Officials with the Page County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) released a report on arrests that occurred between November 27^th and December 16^th. Those arrested/Booked into the Page County Jail include:

11/27/2023 Mark Duane Harvey (64) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.

11/27/2023 Jesse Eugene Hutton (34) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for Burglary and Criminal Mischief (X2)

11/27/2023 Collin James Johnson (21) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for Theft and Lottery Theft. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office on an active warrant.

11/28/2023 Robert Edward Goforth (59) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for violation of probation. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office on an active warrant. Goforth was arrested at the Nodaway County Jail in Maryville Mo.

11/28/2023 Brandon Keith Stogdill (39) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for violation of probation. Stogdill turned himself in at the Page County Sheriff’s Office.

11/30/2023 Tina Marie Bak (55) of Brooksville Florida. Booked into the Page County Jail for operation without owners consent and possession of prescription drug.

12/02/2023 Jeffrey Richard Pape (61) of Emerson Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of controlled substance.

12/03/2023 Donte Dangelo Fuller (41) of Glen Carbon Illinois. Booked into the Page County Jail for disorderly conduct. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.

12/03/2023 Jillian Marie Metzger (42) of Braddyville Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for reckless use of a firearm. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office

12/05/2023 Mark Duane Harvey (64) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.

12/06/2023 Dawson Allan Squires (25) of Red Oak Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for contempt of court. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office. Squires was arrested from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

12/09/2023 Clinton Keith Glasgo (47) of Essex Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance.

12/09/2023 Nicole Marie Nicholas (38) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance and introduction of a controlled substance into a controlled facility.

12/13/2023 Juanesha Shanee Bivens (31) of Porterville California. Booked into the Page County Jail for possession of a controlled substance. Arrested by the Page County Sheriff’s Office.

12/14/2023 Shane Matthew Michener (34) of Norfolk Nebraska. Booked into the Page County Jail for interference with official acts, disorderly conduct, public intoxication, criminal mischief and attempted burglary.

12/15/2023 Aaron Craig Whitehill (26) of Clarinda Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for violation of probation.

12/15/2023 Gelena Ann Gladman (40) of College Springs Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail to serve time.

12/16/2023 Eric Delyle Smith (49) of Shenandoah Iowa. Booked into the Page County Jail for prohibited acts, possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and felon in possession of a firearm.

(Radio Iowa) – As Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn nears the end of his first year in the U-S House, he has no plans to retire from his other role in the U-S Air Force Reserve. “I think it’s probably one of the best things that a member of congress can do is to put on the uniform and remember where we rank in this entire thing,” Nunn says. “We’re here to serve and we have an entire country that’s depending on us to do this job.”

(File photo) Third district Congressman Zach Nunn (R-Bondurant) speaks Oct. 27, 2023, at a Des Moines, IA news conference. (RI photo)

In 2015, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst retired from the Iowa National Guard at the end of her first year in the U-S Senate. Nunn, who’s nearing the end of his first year in the U-S House, jokes that he hasn’t been able to do as many sit ups as he’d like, but has no plans to retire from the U-S Air Force Reserve. “The most important thing that I get to do now being a senior member of the military — I just hit my 20 years this year — is now I’m working with the next generation of great leaders,” Nunn says. “I now get to share some of my knowledge with them.”

Nunn entered the U-S Air Force in 2003. He’s been a commander of an Iowa National Guard intelligence squadron and is currently a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve. Eighty members of the U-S House are veterans or are currently serving in a branch of the military.

DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has announced the appointment of a Taylor County man, James Johnson, of Gravity, to serve as the next Superintendent of Banking in the Iowa Department of Insurance and Financial Services beginning January 1, 2024. Johnson currently serves as the President and CEO of PCSB Bank, a family-owned community bank located in Clarinda.  He has been with PCSB Bank in a variety of roles since 2000.  He has served on the Board of the Iowa Bankers Association, where he also chaired the group’s Agriculture Committee.  Johnson graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business.  He is also a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

James Johnson

Johnson will replace Jeff Plagge who has announced that he will retire at the end of the year.  Plagge has served as the Superintendent of Banking since September of 2019. Governor Reynolds says Johnson “Is a proven leader with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the banking industry that was forged in rural Iowa. His forward-thinking nature will serve him and the industry well as he protects the interests of those doing business with Iowa banks and other consumer lenders.”

Johnson said he’s “Excited and honored to be named the State of Iowa’s next Superintendent of Banking. Iowa’s banks play a pivotal role in the communities they serve and Iowa’s overall economy.  I look forward to serving the people of Iowa in this important role.”

Governor Reynolds said also, that she thanks Jeff Plagge “for his commendable service to the state of Iowa and ensuring that this transition of leadership at the Iowa Division of Banking will allow Iowa to continue our tradition of great banking regulation leadership.”

The Superintendent of Banking is appointed to a four-year term by the Governor and the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Iowa Senate.

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a man from Connecticut was arrested last week, following a traffic stop on Interstate 80, in Adair County. A Trooper with the Iowa State Patrol stopped a 2023 Chevy Tahoe at around 1:40-p.m. on Dec. 13th, for following too close to another vehicle. During interactions with the driver of the Tahoe, 40-year-old Jacob Brett Woodward, of Windsor, CT., the Trooper detected an odor of raw marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. While Woodward was looking for his vehicle paperwork, the Trooper observed in the center console of the vehicle, a plastic container with a zip lock bag that held a green leafy substance, as well as what appeared to be a rolled marijuana blunt.

A probable cause search of the vehicle resulted in the location of THC as well as raw marijuana. Jacob Woodward was arrested for Possession with the Intent to Deliver/Marijuana (2 counts of PCS), a controlled substance violation (Schedule 4 & 5 substances), Failure to Affix a Drug Tax Stamp, and Keeping a vehicle or premise for controlled substance(s).  Woodward was released later that same day on a $5,000 cash or surety bond.

And, at around 10:35-p.m. on Dec. 16th, Police in Stuart arrested 42-year-old Wendi Nicole Wright, of Stuart, on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. Wright was being held without bond in the Adair County Jail, pending an appearance before the Magistrate.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – A man from Nebraska is being sought in connection with the shooting and death Sunday night, of a western Iowa man. Council Bluffs Police report 27-year-old Mensah Olloway, of Omaha, is suspected in the shooting of 62-year-old Gary Fredrick, of Council Bluffs.

Officers were dispatched to 127 Harrison Street in Council Bluffs at around 6:38-p.m., Sunday, following a report of a possible shooting that had just occurred. When Officers arrived, they found Gary Fredrick laying on the floor, suffering from what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. Fredrick was treated at the scene and then transported to the UNMC in Omaha, where he died from his injuries a short time later.

Mensah Olloway

Initial information indicates Fredrick arrived at the residence, and after a short time a disturbance broke out. During the disturbance, witnesses saw Olloway produce a hand gun before he allegedly fired several rounds at Fredrick. Olloway then ran from the scene and as of the latest report, had not been located.

Information is still being gathered on this incident. If you have any information on possible whereabouts of Olloway please contact the Council Bluffs Police Department at 712-328-4765 or Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

December 2023 (DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Tourism Office announced the award of $398,800 in Iowa Tourism Grants to 45 organizations around the state. The program funds tourism-related marketing initiatives, meetings and events that benefit both local economies and the state’s economy with awards ranging from $2,500-10,000 with a 20% cash match. Amy Zeigler, manager of the Iowa Tourism Office says “We’re pleased to invest in campaigns that work to change the perception of tourism in Iowa and encourage more out-of-state visitation. These projects will help us continue the momentum and growth of our industry.”

Visitors spent more than $6.9 billion across Iowa’s economy in 2022, an increase of 13% over 2021 spending. This direct visitor spending sustained over 68,600 jobs and generated $1.1 billion in state and local tax revenues in 2022. “Tourism is a vital component to Iowa’s economy,” Zeigler said. “The $6.9 billion in visitor spending means nearly $18.9 million was spent daily by our visitors.”

The Iowa Tourism Office, part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, works closely with community partners, attractions and events, to promote the state’s beautifully vast scenery and unique history. For more information on everything Iowa has to offer tourists, visit traveliowa.com.