Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports two people were arrested on drug charges last week. Greenfield Police Dec. 12th, arrested 21-year old Ashley Nicole Kelly, of Des Moines, and 25-year old Shane Forrest Dugan-Jones, of Greenfield, on felony charges of Possession with the Intent to Deliver, 5-grams of methamphetamine. The substance was found in the ashtray of the vehicle they were in. Both subjects were also charged with Possession of Meth/1st offense, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Ashley Kelly faces additional charges of Interference with Official Acts, two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance/Prescription drugs without a prescription, and a Prescription Drug Violation. Dugan-Jones was also arrested on a Polk County warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree. He was being held in the Adair County Jail on $100,000 bond, while Kelly was being held on $50,000 bond, which was was reduced from $100,000.

Adair County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 28-year old Larry Joe Warrior, of Fontanelle, Dec. 14th, for Harassment in the 1st Degree. He was later released on $2,000 bond. The Sheriff’s report says Warrior and his sister got into an argument, during which he grabbed a kitchen knife and began to stab the door. He also allegedly threatened to kill his sister and hang her a tree in the yard if she called police. His sister fled the house out of fear for her safety. Warrior admitted to a Deputy that “His anger got the best of him,” and that he had threatened to harm his sister.

U-S Republican Senator Joni Ernst, from Red Oak, will hold a couple of public events in the area next month. Her office said today (Monday), Ernst will hold a Montgomery County Town Hall Meeting Jan. 7th, beginning at 9-a.m., at the Montgomery County Family YMCA (101 E. Cherry St.).

And, Ernst will be in Winterset Jan. 7th, for a “Coffee with Joni,” beginning 2:30-p.m., at the Northside Cafe (61 E. Jefferson St.). Ernst says one of her top priorities is to complete a 99 county tour of Iowa, so she can hear directly from residents across the state.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports a woman from western Adair County was injured during a rollover accident Sunday afternoon. 23-year old Jennifer Vandeboe, of Fontanelle, was transported by private vehicle to the hospital in Creston, after the 2003 Pontiac van she was driving went out of control after hitting a patch of ice as she was traveling north on Highway 25.

The vehicle entered a ditch and flipped over, coming to rest on its passenger side. Damage to the van was estimated at $5,000 (a total loss). A fence owned by Jeff Tussey, was also damaged during the crash. The damage was estimated at $200.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 58-year old Dubley Wade Nutt, of Des Moines, was arrested Sunday night at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County warrant for violation of probation.  Nutt was being held in the Union County Jail without bond, until seen by a judge.

Two people traveling in a single vehicle were injured during a rollover accident Saturday evening, in Mills County. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says 32-year old Steven Bilek, of Bellevue, NE, was driving a 2000 Ford southbound on 221st Street at around 5:45-p.m., Saturday, when the vehicle began to fish-tail due to the slippery road conditions.

The vehicle left the road and entered a ditch, where it rolled several times into a field and came to rest upright, about 100-feet from where it left the road.  Bilek and his passenger, 33-year old Catherine Bilek, were transported by rescue units to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in Omaha.

Oak Township Fire and Glenwood Rescue assisted at the scene.

The Iowa Democratic Party’s leadership is authorizing a “deep dive” to figure out why Democrats had such a “devastating” 2016. Congressman Dave Loebsack of Iowa City — the only Democrat in Iowa’s congressional delegation — is helping to raise the money for the research.

Loebsack says Democrats “have an opportunity in 2018” if the party goes to where people “live, work and play” and have a “two way conversation” with Iowans. Loeback made his comments Saturday during the Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee meeting.

The next Iowa Democratic Party chair will be elected in late January.

(Radio Iowa)

OMAHA, Neb. (Dec. 19, 2016) — As freezing temperatures and harsh weather grip much of the nation, the American Red Cross urges eligible donors to make an appointment to give blood or platelets to help meet the constant need for blood this winter. Millions of people are expected to take to the roads, rail and air to celebrate the season, which can cause fewer donors to be available and lead to a decline in blood and platelet donations.

In addition, severe winter weather and seasonal illnesses can temporarily prevent some from giving. Donors with all blood types are needed now to help patients. As a special thank you for taking the time to donate, those who come out to give Dec. 22 through Jan. 8 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.

Nick Gehrig, communications director, Red Cross Blood Services, says “Many of us celebrate this time of year with loved ones, but patients may spend the holidays and ring in the new year from a hospital room. Blood and platelet donors can bring joy to patients and their families by giving blood or platelets to help ensure patients receive the lifesaving treatments they need.”

Here are some upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Adair County:  Orient – 1/11/2017: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Orient-Macksburg High School, 201 School Street.
Audubon County:  Audubon – 12/28/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., St. Patrick’s Parish Center, 2050 Hwy 71 N
Cass County:  Atlantic – 12/22/2016: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cass County Memorial Hospital, 1501 E. 10th Street; 1/12/2017: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Atlantic YMCA, 1100 Maple Street. Griswold– 1/10/2017: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Griswold High School, 20 Madison.
Pottawattamie County:  Avoca – 12/27/2016: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Legion, 309 1/2 Elm; Carson – 1/3/2017: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Carson Community Center, 316 South Commercial St.
Shelby County:  Elk Horn – 1/10/2017: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Elk Horn Lutheran Church, 4313 Main Street.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Six Iowa residents will take part in the Electoral College vote as the nation elects the next president and vice president. The half-dozen people will cast ballots this (Monday) afternoon at the state Capitol. The process is expected to take about a half hour.

The Electoral College system was devised more than two centuries ago. While people around the country individually vote for the presidential ticket, the winners are technically selected by a “college” of 538 electors from the states. The general premise is to ensure one state doesn’t have outsized influence in the election.

Some of the electors say they’ve been lobbied to change their expected votes for Donald Trump, who won easily in Iowa. The Iowa electors told The Associated Press they intend to vote for Trump.