(Red Oak, Iowa) – A man and a woman were arrested Tuesday evening in Red Oak. Red Oak Police says 40-year-old Susan Marie Wasson, and 38-year-old Anthony Charles Wasson, both from Red Oak, were arrested at around 7:45-p.m. in the east 200 block of Nuckols Street, in Red Oak. Both were charged with Violation of a No Contact Order. They were transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 cash-only bonds, each.

BURLINGTON, Iowa (KCRG) – A Burlington, Iowa man was arrested and faces charges of attempted murder and child endangerment for allegedly shooting his father in the face over an argument about stinky feet. KCRG-TV reports a criminal complaint says 48-year-old David Carpenter called police on Sunday, admitting to the shooting and that his child was in the room where the incident happened.

Police responded to a home in the 2000 block of Monarch Drive in Burlington at around 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 11. The father was taken to the hospital for his injuries. Officers at the scene said there were two children under the age of 14 at the home.

Detectives said the father was in the hospital when he told them that he and his son, David, were having a heated argument about David’s stinky feet. A criminal complaint for David Carpenter says he made a comment about shooting his father as the argument escalated. Then David allegedly went into his bedroom to retrieve a firearm, before walking back to the living room where his father was sitting in a motorized scooter.

The complaint says David was yelling at his father about guns when he pulled the firearm out from behind his back, pointed at his father’s face, and accidentally pulled the trigger. Detectives said David admitted that at least one of his kids was in the living room watching TV when the incident happened.

Carpenter faces charges of Attempted Murder and Child Endangerment. Officials have not reported the condition of the father who was injured in the shooting.

(Radio Iowa) – Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States is on a tour of Midwest states, to discuss the stakes in Ukraine’s battle with Russia. Ambassador Oksana Markarova says she was encouraged by conversations she had during her visit to the Iowa State Fair yesterday (Tuesday). “So many people just said that they keep us in their prayers and there is nothing more I want to hear because this is what we need in this moment, you know, more prayers and more weapons,” Markarova said.

Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022 and this past week thousands of Ukrainian troops have crossed into Russian territory.  “We are the army that actually is holding the ground against Russia, which was supposed to be the second most powerful army on the globe,” she says. Last week, the Pentagon announced the U-S has provided over 55 BILLION dollars in military assistance to Ukraine in the past two and a half years.

Markarova says the U-S is Ukraine’s number one strategic partner, but Ukraine’s war time experience is of value to the U-S as well as Europeans. “We have now the largest battle tested army among all our of friends and allies,” Markarov said. “…The reason why we want to be members of the NATO is not for NATO to defend us, but for NATO to become stronger because we will have a lot to contribute to it.”

Markarova also met with Governor Reynolds, Des Moines city leaders and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst yesterday (Tuesday). Her trip was arranged by the German Marshall Fund, an organization that promotes alliances among the U-S and European nations.

(Radio Iowa) – The Democratic candidate in Iowa’s second congressional district is calling for repeal of the IOWA law that bans most abortions and an end to the taxpayer funded accounts for private K-through-12 students in Iowa. Sarah Corkery of Cedar Falls, says those issues can motivate potential supporters of her bid to unseat Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson.

“I say: ‘If you’re mad about women’s rights and you’re mad about education, you’ve got to turn up in Iowa to get anything done,'” Corkery says. Corkery, whose father is a retired Lutheran minister, says Iowa’s private schools are lovely places, but the vast majority are Christian schools.

“We are Christianizing the next generation and it’s not right,” Corkery says. “We should all be able to have our own beliefs and our own thoughts.” Corkery would support a bill in the U-S House to make abortion legal in all 50 states, by putting the language from the overturned Roe v Wade decision in federal law.

Sarah Corkery, Democratic candidate in Iowa’s second congressional district, speaks at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 13, 2014 (RI photo)

“I truly believe all medical decisions should be between a person and a doctor and there should be no government involvement in this conversation at all,” Corkery says, “so we’ve got a long ways to go from a six week ban to where it’s just a protected health care decision.”

Corkery made her comments late Tuesday afternoon at the Des Moines Register’s Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair.

Des Moines, IA – Butter sculptor extraordinaire, Sarah Pratt, on Monday bestowed State Auditor Rob Sand with the honor of naming the 2024 Iowa State Fair Butter Cow. Without hesitation, Sand paid homage to his cow-naming predecessor, Brogan Malcolm who grew up in Truro, Iowa. “Brogan named the butter cow for 10 years and her story can inspire all of us,” said Sand. “So, it makes perfect sense that this year’s butter cow be named after her.”

Malcolm, born without sight, made a tradition of attending the Iowa State Fair with her grandfather, who at the time, called Pratt with a special request. “He called and asked if there was a way that Brogan could have a hands-on experience with the butter cow,” said Pratt, who immediately agreed to allow her into the refrigerated unit housing the butter cow and her companions. “Being a special education teacher, I wanted her to feel the sculpture, to smell the butter, and it became a tradition that was just so lovely.”

Sand and Pratt with Butter Cow

Brogan with Butter Cow

Malcolm, now 20 years old, says she distinctly remembers the smell of the butter, which is recycled year after year. “It smelled old,” said Malcolm jokingly. The decade-long, Iowa State Fair pastime solidified the bond between Malcolm, Pratt, and Pratt’s two daughters who have helped sculpt the 600-pound butter bovine on and off since their mother took over the job in 2006.

Malcolm currently interns at a daycare center where she reads to children from books written in Braille, and will soon graduate from Des Moines Public Schools’ Secondary Transition Employment Program (STEP).  “Brogan teaches us an important lesson,” said Sand. “What some might view as a disability, is really just a different way of experiencing the world.”

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department says there were no injuries during a collision this (Tuesday) afternoon, but a brand new car sustained several thousand dollars damage. According to the police report, a pickup truck driven by 55-year old Shawn Bakken, of Creston, was stopped at the posted T-intersection of Devoe and Sumner Streets.

Bakken saw a truck with a trailer making a right hand lane turn in the close lane/right lane, with a vehicle behind it in the same lane. A 2024 Subaru Outback driven by 49-year-old Kerri Stode, of Orient, was traveling north in the left lane. The pickup pulled out to make a left turn south, but Bakken didn’t see the Subaru on the other side of the trailer.

When the pickup pulled out in front of the car, the vehicles collided. The accident happened at around 1:50-p.m. Police say the 2021 Chevy Silverado sustained an estimated $1,000/minor damage, while the Subaru sustained damage estimated at $7,000.

The Police report said Bakken failed to yield the right-of-way from a stop sign, but there were no citations issued.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Tuesday), released a report on arrests that occurred from July 26th to August 12th (today).

On August 12th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office arrested Andrew Nickum, 35, of Casey, on a warrant for Theft 5th Degree.  Nickum was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked; and 33-year-old Jennifer Avey, of Casey, was arrested on a warrant for Theft 5th Degree.  Avey was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release after her initial appearance.

Four arrests took place Sunday (August 11th), in Cass County: 54-year-old Craig Griffin, of Atlantic, was  arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance – 2nd Offense, Possession of Marijuana – 2nd Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Griffin was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance; 33-year-old Tera Reyes, of Atlantic, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Reyes was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.; 57-year-old Danny Devore, of Cumberland, was arrested on a warrant for a Controlled Substance Violation as well as an additional charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Devore was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held; and 49-year-old Stacey Ashton, of Elk Horn, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Ashton was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.

On August 10th, Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 36-year-old Timothy Chandler, of Atlantic, on the charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Chandler was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance. And, 33-year-old Morgan Leeder, of Lewis, was arrested on three charges of Child Endangerment as well as Interference with Official Acts.  Leeder was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on bond.

On August 7th, 2024, the Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Jeremy Nolan, 43, of Westville, IL, on the charges of Driving while Revoked, Providing False Identification to Law Enforcement and Speed.  Nolan was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On August 6th, 2024, 69-year-old Ricky Roby, of Atlantic, was arrested on two warrants for Possession of Methamphetamine.  Roby was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on bond.

On August 4th, 2024, 65-year-old Timothy Meyer, of Massena, was arrested on the charges of OWI 1st Offense, Driving Under Suspension and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.  Meyer was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On August 2nd, 2024, Edward Neff, 34, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Child Endangerment causing Bodily Injury.  Neff was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held.

On July 29th, 2024, 45-year-old Ronnie Chandler, of Avoca, was arrested for OWI 1st Offense and Open Container.  Chandler was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

On July 26th, 2024, 22-year-old Walter Sanchez-Balcazar, of Kennesaw, GA, was arrested for Trespass 1st Offense.  Sanchez-Balcazar was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

All criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in the court of law.

(Radio Iowa) – A long-anticipated connection between two of Iowa’s most popular bike trails opens this weekend. The trail extension from Woodward to Perry creates a nearly-continuous 120-mile paved loop for bikers, runners and walkers on the Raccoon River Valley Trail and the High Trestle Trail. Andrea Boulton is the trails and community conservation director for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, one partner behind the nine-mile project that’s been years in the making.

“There’s so much excitement to see this project finally come to fruition,” Boulton says. The new segment links two iconic and nationally-recognized trails, and makes the network a destination for Iowans and out-of-state visitors. To mark the opening, the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association has organized a bike ride and ribbon cutting on Saturday and Boulton says there are more trails to come.

The High Trestle Trail (Natural Heritage Foundation photo)

“We’re not done yet as a state,” she says. “We’ve got a very big vision.” Linking Lake Red Rock to Saylorville, Eldora to Marshalltown, and filling in gaps across the Great American Rail-Trail are part of that vision. Boulton says developing long-distance, destination trails gets more people outdoors. “As they’re doing that, they’re discovering new places, new restaurants, new stores, new parks, and places that they’ve never been to before,” she says, “and they’re realizing they can make a whole vacation out of it.”

A 2012 study found cyclists and trails generate over 360-million dollars in direct and indirect economic impacts on the state. A new study is underway.

(Rachel Cramer, Iowa Public Radio)

DES MOINES, Iowa – Last year, during the final weeks of summer, there were 54 traffic fatalities in Iowa; 44% involved impairment.* To prevent future tragedies, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) is partnering with law enforcement across the state to decrease impaired driving. August 16-September 2, agencies will be participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement project. You’ll see officers working together to remove impaired drivers/motorcycle riders from the road.

“We want drivers to understand it’s law enforcement’s first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to make a plan,” says GTSB’s Law Enforcement Liaison Randy Kunert. “The drive sober/ride sober campaign is an awareness effort to spread the message that impaired driving is illegal, and it takes lives.”

There are plenty of options to get impaired drivers home safely. Designate a sober driver or call a taxi/rideshare service. If available, use your community’s sober ride program. If you see a drunk driver/rider on the road, contact local law enforcement.

GTSB works with city, county, state, and local organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce deaths and injuries on Iowa’s roadways using federally funded grants.

(Radio Iowa) – Officials in the City of Okoboji have made temporary changes to a key ordinance to assist property owners dealing with significant erosion along the shore of West Lake Okoboji. City Administrator Michael Meyers says it usually takes at least a month to get a lakeshore landscaping permit. but requirements for a public meeting and other administrative steps are being waived. “In the City of Okoboji we had between 10 and 15 just catastrophic lakeshore collapses,” Meyers says. “…Recognizing the emergent situation that we were in, the city made a decision that having a month long process was just too long.” Property owners will still be required to get an engineer’s evaluation of the project and follow other zoning rules.

“Those are all still intact, so it’s not necessarily a blank slate for folks to do whatever they want, but it is an opportunity to make things go a heck of a lot quicker because for some of these landowners, time is not necessarily in their favor,” Meyers says. Lake-adjacent properties in the City of Okoboji are in a zone where landowners are to follow landscaping methods allowed in the ordinance.

“The intent of the City of Okoboji’s lakeshore landscaping ordinance is really to make shorelines appear as before any of us were here,” We’re really promoting native shoreline restorations, deep-rooted plants and just making sure that these lakeshores are really set up for success in the long term.” The shoreline of both West Lake Okoboji and East Lake Okoboji are within the city limits of the City of Okoboji, but Meyers says the majority of intense flood damage has been along the West Lake Okoboji shoreline.