The Creston Police Department reports a Creston man was arrested Tuesday afternoon at the Union County Law Enforcement Center. 25-year old Nathan Vicker was taken into custody on a Union County warrant for Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. Vicker, who was already being held at the jail, remains there on $1,300 bond.

And, a Creston woman was cited Tuesday morning for Allowing an Animal to Run At Large. 32-year old Sara Bagby was released on a Promise to Appear later, in court.

An investigation into a Theft that took place Dec. 10th at the Casey’s Store south in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest Tuesday night of 40-year old Robert Lee Best, of Red Oak. Best was employed at the store when the theft allegedly occurred. He was charged with 5th Degree Theft (the loss amounting to less than $200), and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $300.

A man and woman from Montgomery County were arrested Tuesday night for Harboring a 15-year old female runaway, against the will of the juveniles’ parents. Red Oak Police say 45-year old Billy Joe Miflin and 19-year old Dakota Lynn Giroeux, both of Red Oak, were arrested at around 7-p.m. at a residence in the 200 block of E. Joy Street. Miflin and Giroeux were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $2,000 bond, each.

With the spike in traffic fatalities in Iowa during 2016, the state senate’s Democratic leader says traffic safety should be a priority issue for the 2017 Iowa legislature. Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids was elected leader of Senate Democrats after the November election.  “In 1970, Iowa had over 900 motor vehicle fatalities. Last year, we were down to 317, now we’ve jumped way back up to 400. That’s the wrong direction. We need to work together to continue to drive those numbers down, but that requires people who are committed to making state government work.”

Officials say the latest data indicates at least 401 people died in traffic accidents in Iowa during 2016. In southwest Iowa, Cass County had the most fatalities, at 14, followed by Pottawattamie County, with 13. Adams, Guthrie and Montgomery Counties had zero traffic fatalities last year.

Hogg says legislators need to make sure there are enough state troopers patrolling the state’s highways. “And, by the way, unfortunately Republicans are leading with this effort to take away health benefits from our law enforcement officers and other public workers. I don’t think that’s a solution to the problem. I think we need to support our state troopers,” Hogg says. “We need to add to their numbers.”

Hogg says the state needs “better” laws about distracted driving, too. “You’re going to see an effort to take away automated traffic enforcement in some places. Well, there are some places in the state where that’s important and then, finally, we need a stronger driver’s education system.”

Hogg made his comments during a town hall meeting stop in Mason City on Tuesday.

(Radio Iowa)