It’s prom season in Iowa and more online retailers are offering to rent formal dresses as an attractive and affordable option for high schoolers. Ellen McKinney, a professor of apparel, merchandising and design at Iowa State University, is studying the growing trend of renting gowns for big occasions. McKinney says most kids love the concept. “On the whole, they are extremely happy,” McKinney says. “They get to wear something that’s unique and special and they don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to do it. In general, they get a lot of positive feedback from other people at the event.”

McKinney says dress rental offers students who don’t have a lot of spending money an excellent advantage. “By renting a dress, they’re paying maybe 10 to 20% of what they would pay to buy it,” McKinney says. “For the same budget, they’re getting a high-quality dress that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to have.”

She says it creates an edge for internet-based merchants versus the brick and mortar businesses for formal wear. “Some of the competitive advantage of the rental service is that they offer all of this information of reviews that they can read,” McKinney says. “It lets people know, okay, how are other people liking this dress? Will I like it? It gives them confidence to order online.”

Consumers are moving away from owning clothes and other products, shifting toward more rental, trading and sharing and she expects the trend to continue. McKinney’s research can be found in the latest edition of the Clothing and Textiles Research Journal.

(Radio Iowa)

A pursuit that began in Washington County, NE early this (Monday) morning ended in Iowa with a crash and the arrest of a man wanted on a Fugitive from Justice warrant from Woodbury County, IA. 23-year old Alan C. Reyes, Jr., of Sioux City, was taken into custody after the SUV he was driving went out of control following a wild chase that saw speeds reach 100 miles per hour and ended near 152nd and Rosewood Road at around 1-a.m.  Reyes was charged with Felony eluding, distribution of narcotics, a drug tax stamp violation, driving while barred, and prohibited acts. Inside the vehicle, authorities found a large bag containing 115.5 grams of methamphetamine. Reyes was also wanted on a warrant out of South Dakota for Failure to Appear on dangerous drug charges.

Three passengers in the vehicle were also arrested: 23-year old Marcos Avila, of Sioux City, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp and prohibited acts; 34-year old Tiffany Radley, of Sioux City, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, no drug tax stamp and prohibited acts; and, 24-year old Victoria Eyer, of Hornick, was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, no drug tax stamp and prohibited acts.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 18-year old Sydnie Morgan Collins, of McClelland, was arrested Sunday morning for Interference with Official Acts, after authorities forced entry into a home where alcohol was being served to persons under the legal age. Collins, along with eight other individuals – one female and seven males – was also cited for consuming alcoholic beverages at the party, located at a residence in McClelland.

Early Saturday morning, Deputies arrested 40-year old Anthony Joseph Blotzer, of Avoca, following a traffic stop in Avoca, for expired registration tags. Blotzer was taken into custody for OWI/2nd offense, and cited for expired drivers license.  Also arrested Saturday, was 25-year old Matthew John Swanson, of Council Bluffs, who was charged with OWI/2nd offense, eluding, and cited for speeding.

A traffic stop on a motorcycle Saturday, in Underwood, resulted in the arrest of 30-year old Johnathon Daniel Kunze, of Underwood, for Driving While Revoked/OWI Test Failure, and two citations for moving violations.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest Saturday morning of 39-year old Timothy Duane Snyder, of Kimballton. Snyder was taken into custody for Domestic Abuse Assault, following an investigation into an incident in Kimballton earlier that same morning. Snyder was later released from custody after appearing before a magistrate.

In an update to our earlier report, the Iowa State Patrol says an 11-year old died and an adult male was injured during a UTV rollover accident Saturday afternoon in Winnebago County. The victim was identified as 11-year old Carter Trunkhill, of Woden. Carter, and 44-year old Matthew Trunkhill, also of Woden, were transported to the hospital in Britt, where the child died from his injuries.

The accident happened when they were riding a 2016 Polaris Ranger and turning left from a private driveway onto 100th Avenue. The machine went out of control and rolled onto its side. The driver was ejected. The accident happened at around 4:15-p.m.