(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report a Clarke County woman was arrested Friday morning on multiple charges. 26-year-old Roni Lynn Steil, of Woodburn, was arrested at the Creston Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC). Steil was charged on a Union County Warrant for Violation of Conditions of Pretrial Release. Original charges 2 counts Sexual Abuse 2nd Degree, Administering Harmful substances, Incest, 2 counts lascivious Acts with a Child-Permit/Cause to Fondle, Lascivious acts with a Child-Fondle or Touch, 2 counts Child Endangerment, 3 counts Indecent Contact with a Child a Class B Felony. Steil was taken to the Union County Jail and later transferred to the Adams County Jail, where her cash-only bond was set at $95,000.

Saturday afternoon, Creston Police arrested 44-year-old Lela Ann Churchwell, of Creston, at McKinley Park. Churchwell was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Consume Alcoholic Beverage in Public Place-1st Offense and a Union County Warrant for FTA (Failure to Appear) on a charge of Disorderly Conduct-Loud Raucous Noise. Churchwell was taken to the Union County Jail and later taken to the Adams County Jail. Her bond was set at $900, cash or surety.

Two people were arrested early this (Sunday) morning, in Red Oak. According to Red Oak Police, officers arrested 25-year-old Lyle Jordan Young, of Red Oak, in the 1200 block of E. Reed Street. Young was charge with Domestic Assault-choking/bodily injury.

Officers also arrested 42-year-old Tracy Ann Cody, of Red Oak, on an active Montgomery County warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. Both subjects were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $1,000 bond, each.

An investigation into a property damage accident Saturday in Montgomery County, resulted in the arrest of a man from Stanton. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports 68-year-old Wendell Keith Gourley was arrested in the area of Highway 34 at mile marker 47, and charged with OWI/1st offense. Authorities say Gourley was driving a vehicle that went out of control and left the road before striking a cable barrier, causing heavy damage to the barrier and the passenger side of the vehicle.

No injuries were reported.

(Corning, Iowa) – Sheriff’s Officials in Adams County report the arrest on four felony charges, of a man from Corning. 38-year-old Cole Justin Inman faces charges that include 3 Class-B Felony counts of Attempted Murder, and a Class-C Felony charge of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. Inman was also charged with 3 counts of Child Endangerment, and one count of Reckless Use of a Firearm, the latter two of which are aggravated misdemeanors.

Authorities say Inman allegedly fired a pistol at three teenagers. A criminal complaint said Inman was chasing after the teens in his white Chevrolet Traverse because he thought the teens’ tan Chevrolet truck was on his property the night before. After both vehicles stopped at the intersection of Highway 148 and 130th Street, deputies said Inman grabbed a .45 Ruger semi-automatic pistol from his car. The complaint said Inman shot the gun multiple times at the truck, leaving bullet holes in the rear bumper and tailgate.

According to deputies, Inman’s wife and his four children were also in his truck at the time of the incident.

Cole Inman was booked into the Adams County Jail, where he was being held without bond.

**”Any potential criminal charges identified above are merely allegations and any defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

(Des Moines, Iowa) – A man on a motorcycle died early Friday morning, during a collision with a pickup truck in Des Moines. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2015 BMW motorcycle operated by 26-year-old Daytin J. Bernal, of Waukee, was traveling east on Hickman Road at around 6:50-a.m., Friday, and a 2018 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by 54-year-old Carlos E. Gonzalez, of Des Moines, was traveling south across Hickman Road from Marbella. Gonzales had the green light.

When Bernal failed to respond to his steady red light traffic signal and did not stop, his motorcycle crossed in front of the pickup and was hit broadside. Following the collision, the motorcycle and Bernal traveled off the road to the southeast. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The crash remained under investigation.

Atlantic, Iowa – Southwest Iowa Planning Council (SWIPCO) is offering communities in the region a unique opportunity to obtain an affordable housing solution through the Homes for Iowa program. Reservations are needed now to ensure a spot for 2024 construction.

Housing in rural Iowa continues to be a struggle as demand continues to surge and supply remains low. Homes for Iowa (HFI) may help meet that demand for low to moderate income households. Pre-constructed homes can be reserved and delivered to be put on a prepped site and foundation.

HFI is a public-private partnership with Iowa Prison Industries. The non-profit organization trains and staffs a home building operation near the Newton Correctional Facility. The minimum-security offender crew builds the homes with training from Homes for Iowa. HFI sells the homes to the public through area Councils of Governments and coordinates moving logistics. The homes are quality 2×6 stick built construction that come ready for utility hook-up.

These new construction homes come with the affordable price-tag of $80,000 for a 2-bedroom and $95,000 for a 3-bedroom, delivery included. Several floor plans are available to choose from. The initial homeowner must earn below $113,000 taxable income (after credits and deductions) based off their most recent tax return. Some other requirements may apply.

Ft. Madison 2BR exterior

Ft. Madison Green Oaks

All offenders in the program enter voluntarily, typically through a recruitment and interview process. Crew members receive training in all aspects of the homebuilding process and can earn numerous certificates. Skills they can carry with them as they move out of the system.

Homes for Iowa has already successfully constructed and placed over 75 homes in 36 counties throughout the state of Iowa. Find out more about the program by visiting https://www.swipco.org/housing-swihtf/homes-for-iowa/ If an area county, community, or stakeholder is interested in procuring these homes in their area then contact SWIPCO’s Ann Anstey, Grants Specialist II in the office at (712)243-4196 or (866)279-4720 ext. 260 or email ann.anstey@swipco.org.

Homes need to be reserved as soon as possible if they are desired for a 2024 placement. It would also be a good time to get plans made and a place in line for projects beyond the next calendar year.

SWIPCO is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Des Moines — The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Friday (oct. 27), announced the first influenza-related death of the 2023-24 respiratory virus season. The individual was an older adult (61 to 80 years) from southern Iowa.

Influenza (flu) strains, along with other respiratory viruses are circulating in the state. Iowa’s most recent Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report shows the virus at a low level of activity, and hospitals are currently reporting low patient admission rates. Although flu activity in Iowa is currently low, Iowans can take a few simple precautions to keep themselves and their families healthy throughout the respiratory virus season.

“During respiratory virus season, it’s important for Iowans to prioritize their health and the well-being of their community,” said State Medical Director Robert Kruse. “Iowans should practice good hygiene, stay home when they’re sick and consult their healthcare providers about vaccines and other preventive measures against influenza and other respiratory diseases.”

Vaccination protects from serious illness and death from respiratory diseases like flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). HHS encourages Iowans to talk to their doctor or other trusted health care provider about vaccines, especially those with chronic health conditions who may be at higher risk for serious illness.

Additional Tips to Stay Healthy:

• Stay home if you are sick to keep others safe.
• Clean high touch surfaces in your home frequently with household disinfectants.
• Practice hand hygiene frequently with soap and water or hand sanitizer for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or if a tissue is not available, cover them with an upper shirt sleeve, not a hand.
• Avoid social gatherings if you or your children are ill.
• Keep children home from daycare or school who have fever, cough, congestion, runny nose, or sore throat, and until they are fever-free for 24 hours without medications that reduce fever.

If you or a loved one is sick and needs medical care, contact your healthcare provider. Your provider can offer advice on whether you or your child needs to be evaluated in person, tested for flu or other respiratory diseases, and the best location for care. Iowans should not visit a hospital emergency department for minor respiratory symptoms.

Iowans with questions about vaccines should speak to their health care provider. Locate healthcare providers with vaccines at https://www.vaccines.gov/.

A south-central Iowa town is looking at using treated wastewater as a potential new source of drinking water. The town of Osceola draws its drinking water from West Lake, but the lake is six feet below normal after three years of drought. City Administrator Ty Wheeler says the city’s treated wastewater is cleaner than the raw water of the lake.

The town will need approval from the Department of Natural Resources before it can begin including treated wastewater in the drinking water supply. Osceola residents are currently under water use restrictions. Wheeler says the new water treatment system is much different than what water treatment used to be.

Wheeler says the recirculated water source could come online as soon as next year if they get approval from the state. It would be the first city in the state to reuse wastewater for drinking water. Wheeler made his comments on the Iowa Public Radio program River to River.

Parts of northwest Iowa may get a few inches of snow this weekend, and the Iowa Department of Transportation is preparing its fleet of snowplows, end loaders, and motor graders to keep thousands of miles of roads safe for the rest of us. D-O-T spokesman Pete Hjelmstad (HELM-sted) says when you start adding it all up, they cover a lot of ground.

Even if your area of the state is only expecting a dusting of snow, Hjelmstad says you’d be wise to familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s break-down equipment.

Before the foul weather arrives, he says it would also be a good idea to gather a few important things in your trunk or cargo area, especially if you’ll be hitting the road this weekend.

On average, the Iowa D-O-T uses more than 136-thousand tons of salt and nearly 32-million gallons of brine each year to help maintain safe travel on the state’s primary highway system.