(Buena Vista County, Iowa) – A crash between a pickup and a small SUV Friday morning, north of Storm Lake, resulted in two deaths. The Iowa State Patrol reports the SUV driven by 30-year-old Mayra Lopez-Zavala, of Storm Lake, was travel east on 550th Street at around 7:10-a.m., Friday, at the same time a Dodge RAM 2500 pickup driven by 47-year-old Jeffrey Kies, of Sioux Rapids, IA, was traveling south on Highway 71.

When Zavala pulled away from the intersection stop sign, her vehicle was struck on the driver’s side by the pickup. Zavala, and her passenger, 62-year-old Maria Zavala-Saldana, of Storm Lake, were injured. Both women were wearing their seat belts. Mayra Lopez-Zavala died the scene. Maria Zalava-Saldana died at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. Kies suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

The Patrol was assisted at the crash site by the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office, Storm Lake Police/Fire and Ambulance, and the Buena Vista County Medical Examiner.

(Radio Iowa) – Requests for emergency housing and first-time homeless claims are up from last year across Waterloo, Cedar Falls and much of Black Hawk County. Grace Fee is the social ministries director for the area’s Salvation Army chapter, one of the groups that helps the homeless. Fee says more help means more denials and her agency’s shelters are already crowded.

Many Iowa communities are working to deal with a lack of affordable housing, and Fee says Black Hawk County is also struggling with the issue.

Over the past two months, the Salvation Army has sheltered about 150 individuals, and more than 30 of them were children.

(Audubon, Iowa) – Audubon Mayor Barb Jacobsen, today (Friday), announced that she has proclaimed Sunday, December 17th as firefighter remembrance day, in honor of firefighter Chaplain Dan Beattie and all other firefighters who dedicated their lives to protecting the community.

The Mayor said on social media, “I ask that you lower your flags at 8:00 am on Sunday, December 17 until Monday at 8:00 pm. Memorial service will be held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Audubon at 2:00 pm. Funeral service is at 10:30 am on Monday in Elsworth.”

Pastor Dan Beattie

Audubon Fire & Rescue Assoc. Facebook photo

“Pastor Dan,” as he was known, was one of five Fire Chaplains in the state of Iowa. He joined the Audubon Fire Department as a fire fighter in 2021 and achieved Fire Fighter I certification in 2023. He died as the result of injuries he suffered during a motorcycle accident on December 8th, in northwestern Dallas County.

December 15, 2023 (DES MOINES, IA) – The Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Board, Friday (today) approved awards for three companies, which will assist in the creation of 192 jobs and result in nearly $82 million in new capital investment for the state. These projects are located in Council Bluffs, Iowa City and Rock Valley.

Acadia Healthcare to construct new facility in Council Bluffs
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. offers behavioral health services, supporting patients in 39 states with over 250 treatment facilities. The company plans to construct a new 71,000-square-foot facility to provide resident care, specialized care and outpatient programming. The project represents a $64.5 million capital investment and is expected to create 144 jobs, of which 54 are incented at a qualifying wage of $26.35 per hour. The board awarded tax benefits through the Targeted Jobs Withholding program.

Austrian company to build training facility in Iowa City
Alpla, Inc., an Austrian company subsidiary, is an international leader in plastic packaging systems and bottles with operations in 46 countries. The company plans to build a learning and development facility adjacent to the existing Iowa City plant to support their newly developed apprenticeship program. The project represents a capital investment of nearly $13 million and was awarded tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs (HQJ) program. It is expected to create 36 jobs, of which six are incented at a qualifying wage of $30.65 per hour.

Kooima Ag to expand in Rock Valley
Kooima Ag, Inc. is an independent manufacturer of replacement parts for ag equipment machinery manufacturers. The company plans to expand their Rock Valley facility to accommodate growth, including both warehouse and production space. The project is expected to create 12 jobs, of which 11 are incented at a qualifying wage of $24.77 per hour. It represents a $4.5 million capital investment and was awarded tax benefits through the HQJ program.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors visited with Jocelyn Lawson, co-owner of Atlantic Treasures, on Thursday, December 14th, 2023, to celebrate the Grand Opening of the thrift store located in Downtown Atlantic.

William Lawson, co-owner, originally moved to Atlantic in the 1980’s and moved away to attend college, and his continued education took him to California where he met his wife, Jocelyn. Jocelyn and William moved back to Atlantic in early 2023 and began shopping at the Thrift Store Downtown. The couple learned that the previous owner, Janet Jordan, had plans to close the doors in late June and the couple quickly started the process of purchasing the building and business. Since the purchase of the building and business, Jocelyn and William have been tirelessly working to make the store their own.

Atlantic Treasures is currently accepting clean and lightly used donations such as clothing, décor, kitchen items, toys, etc. The store cannot accept mattresses, cribs, tube TVs, and various other items. Jocelyn shared that seasonal items sell quickly, especially Christmas items. The store is in need of gently used coats, blankets, and towels as they head into the winter months. The couple has adopted the motto of “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.” The couple wants to save as many items as they can from being disposed of in the landfill.

Pictured (Left to Right): Jim Kickland, Jeremy Butler, Steve Andersen, Bill Saluk, BJ Hart, Tori Gibson, Keith Leonard, Stephanie Steffens, Arlene Drennan, Elaine Otte, Jocelyn Lawson, Alisha Wagner, Dolly Bergmann, Krysta Hanson, Angela Walton, Colt Doherty, DeeDee Kalny, Sue Liston, Tonya Larsen, Connie Wailes, Steve, Donnie Drennan, Lana Westphalen, Jeff Christensen, Emily Kennedy, Megan Sramek, Rick Miricle, Kathie Hockenberry, Kelsey Beschorner, Anne Quist

Jocelyn has enjoyed visiting with shoppers stop into the store multiple times a month from all around the county. Jocelyn shared that many visitors have come to town for community Christmas events and have stopped and shopped at the store while they are in town. Jocelyn shared that it has been very beneficial to join the Chamber to learn about the community and be a part of the beautiful Downtown community.

Atlantic Treasures is open Monday through Saturday10AM-6PM. The couple is enjoying the holiday shopping season and plans to take some much-needed time off this winter to spend time with family.

Atlantic Treasures is located at 418 Chestnut Street in Atlantic. To learn more about Atlantic Treasures, call 712-326-5660 or visit their Facebook and Instagram pages.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – Two men were sentenced Thursday, for their involvement in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl which resulted in serious bodily injury to two victims.

According to public court documents, 23-year-old Curclund Jackson VanAernam, of Atlantic, and 31-year-old Luis Alberto Hernandez, of Omaha, distributed fentanyl pills in Omaha and the surrounding areas, including Atlantic, Iowa. At least two victims overdosed after ingesting pills containing fentanyl that VanAernam and Hernandez distributed. Both victims survived after receiving doses of Narcan.

VanAernam was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison and will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release following his prison term. Hernandez was sentenced to 22 years in prison, to be followed by a four-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement (SWINE) Task Force, Atlantic Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Omaha Police Department investigated the case.

Fentanyl has become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills often resemble pharmaceutical pills, but contain potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. Visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website to learn more about One Pill Can Kill.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Council Bluffs man was sentenced Thursday, to five years in federal prison for possession of a firearm a felon and possession of cocaine and marijuana with the intent to distribute it.

According to public court documents, 58-year-old Terrance Tethur Yager was on probation when probation officers visited his home and found cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, mushrooms, and prescription pills in his garage and a loaded pistol in his truck. After completing his prison term, Yager will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Council Bluffs Police Department investigated the case.