(Radio Iowa) – Iowa’s Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner and AARP State Director have been traveling the state in an effort to educate people about scams. A-A-R-P state director, Brad Anderson, says gift card scams have become more prevalent and there’s an effort in the Legislature to help. “It is a bill that would require retailers that sell gift cards to put a warning sign up,” he says. Anderson says having the sign up at the kiosks where the gift cards are sold could prevent someone from being scammed. “Other states do have this type of legislation where it basically just warns consumers of gift card scams and then directs them to a number to call if they think they are being scammed,” Anderson says.

He says the gift card scams require interaction while the purchase is being made. “The scammer will literally be on the telephone with the consumer and have them purchase the gift card and then bring it to the counter to pay for the gift card while they’re still on the phone. They will then scratch off the number for the gift card and give it to the scammer and then the money is instantly gone,” Anderson says.

Anderson says the bill requiring the warning sign for gift cards has passed the first legislative deadline.

(Radio Iowa) – A former employee of a central Iowa nursing home is charged with stealing from residents.  The Story County Sheriff’s Department charged 44-year-old Bambi Cerka with first and second-degree theft, two counts of third-degree theft and four counts of dependent adult abuse.

The investigation determined Cerka had 23-thousand-500 dollars in retirement funds from one resident of the Zearing Health Center deposited into a bank account she controlled. The charges also allege she made unauthorized transactions from the accounts of three other residents totaling 45-hundred dollars.

The transactions alledgedly happened between July of 2022 and August of 2023.

(Oakland, Iowa) – Officials with the City of Oakland, Monday, issued a Boil Water Order to residents in the 300 block of Gates Street. The Order was issued following the loss of pressure in the City’s water distribution system. The City advises residents in the affected part of Oakland, to bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute, and then let it cool before using. Alternately, you may use bottled water. Either can be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and preparing food. The Boil Order is in effect until further notice.

The water pressure issue in Oakland occurred at around 11:45-a.m., Monday, following a water main break near the intersection of Walnut and Gates Streets. When a water main loses pressure, it increases the chance that untreated water and harmful microbes can enter the water supply.

Crews have conducted repairs to the damaged area and pressure has been restored, but until water samples come back from the lab to rule out the possibility of contamination, residents in the 300 block of Gates Street in Oakland, should take the aforementioned methods for their water – most likely for at least 24-hours – or until the test show you no longer need to boil your water. For more information, contact the Oakland City Hall at 712-482-6811.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Monday evening, arrested 48-year-old Jason Neal Beacham, of Red Oak, on a Harassment charge. Authorities say Beacham was taken into custody in the 2400 block of N. 8th Street in Red Oak, at around 6:10-p.m.  He was charged with Harassment in the 1st Degree, an Aggravated Misdemeanor. Beacham was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $2,000 cash bond.

(Shenandoah, Iowa) – A Shenandoah Police Officer who responded to an accident over the weekend, was assaulted, and the suspect transported to a hospital, with charges against him pending completion of an investigation. According to the Shenandoah Police Department, at around 8:40-a.m., Saturday, an Officer with the Department was dispatched to the 1200 block of West Nishna Road, following a report of a two-vehicle accident.

Authorities says upon the Officer’s arrival, a 41-year-old male from one of the vehicles, without provocation, attacked and began assaulting the officer. Police say the unidentified man was able to remove the officer’s service pistol from its holster during the assault, before the officer regained control of the weapon. Additional officers were dispatched and arrived on scene to help detain the individual.

The suspect was transported to the Shenandoah Medical Center by police and later to a medical center in Council Bluffs for treatment of injuries suffered during the accident. The officer suffered minor injuries in the altercation.

An investigation into the incident remains ongoing. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office along with several citizens assisted the police department at the scene.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa – Seventeen-year-old Deshawna Green has been safely located. Law enforcement thanks the public for their assistance. (updated 1:19-p.m. 3/5/24)

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Public Safety has issued an Endangered Person Advisory on behalf of the Marshalltown Police Department, for 17-year-old Deshawna Green. She was last seen at a Marshalltown residence around 11:00 p.m. on March 3, 2024. Deshawna is a black female with brown eyes and long black hair. She is 5 feet 7 inches tall and 135 pounds.

She may be with 20-year-old Davontrez McCuddin. Davontrez is a black male, 5 feet 7 inches tall and 185 pounds.

Law enforcement is concerned for Deshawna’s wellbeing and is asking for the public’s assistance in locating her.

Deshawna Green

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Deshawna Green or Devontrez McCuddin is asked to call their local law enforcement or the Marshall County Crime Stoppers at 641.753.1234. Tips may also be sent via text to 274637 and “Marshall” followed by tip message or submitted online at marshallcountycs.com.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Senate has voted to name the American Cream draft horse as the official horse of Iowa. It’s one of several breeds of work horses that pulled plows and harvesting equipment for Iowa farmers before horses were replaced by tractors. Senator Annette Sweeney of Iowa Falls says the American Cream draft horse originated in Iowa.

“The American Cream draft horse is the only breed of draft horse that can claim it is native to the United States,” Sweeney says. “In fact, it was foaled in my hometown of Radcliffe back in the early 1900s.”

The welcome sign to Radcliffe notes it is the “cradle” of the American Cream draft horse. Mature draft horses can be as tall as six feet and weigh well over a ton. American Cream draft horses have a cream colored coat, a white mane and, Sweeney says, they were not as tall or heavy as Clydesdales, Percherons or Belgians. “And they were more easily handled within our small farms that we had in the early 1900s,” Sweeney says.

American Cream Draft Horse (Photo from Horse Illustrated)

In the middle of the last century, the state of Iowa recognized the American Cream as a breed of draft horse. However, according to the American Cream Draft Horse Association, there are fewer than 400 American Cream horses alive today. Three senators voted “nay” on the idea of naming the American Cream as the state horse, but 43 senators voted yes. The proposal has to win the approval of the Iowa House, too, before this particular horse breed would official become the state horse. As you may have heard, the Iowa House voted earlier this year to name the Iowa Darter as the state fish.