The Creston Police Department says a Creston resident reported early this (Thursday) morning, that someone had stolen his ATV, sometime between Tuesday and 1-a.m. today (Thursday). The yellow, 2000 Bombardier DS-650 taken from the residence in the 500 block of N. Walnut Street, was valued at $5,000.

Authorities said also, 28-year old Christopher Fannon, of Creston, was arrested Wednesday at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a Union County Warrant for the charge of Driving While License Denied or Revoked. Fannon was later released from the Union County Jail on $1,000 bond.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – Fake American money marked with Chinese symbols has been showing up in Mason City. The Mason City Police Department said Wednesday that bills were found at a business and in a bank deposit. Officials say the bills are not valid currency and are typically used to train bank tellers in China. The fake bills also have been reported in the Sioux City area.

One person is dead and three others were injured, during a collision Wednesday evening at 189th Street and Highway 370, in Mills County. The Iowa State Patrol says a 2012 Peterbilt semi driven by 56-year old Danny Lee Wells, of Oskaloosa, was traveling westbound on Highway 370 at around 5:35-p.m. and beginning to turn north onto 189th. A 2003 Chevy Cavalier, driven by 73-year old John Everette Miner, of Emerson, was also traveling westbound behind the semi, and pulled into the path of oncoming traffic, contrary to the highway markings.

A 2013 Dodge Dart driven by 23-year old Dallas Jean LePorte, of Coin, was traveling eastbound on the highway. The Dodge and Chevy collided head-on. Both sustained heavy damage. Also, during the collision, the rear end of the Chevy collided with the semi, causing minor damage to the semi.

John Miner, who was not wearing a seat belt, was transported to Creighton Hospital, where he died from his injuries. His passenger, 71-year old Mary Miner, who was wearing a seat belt, along with Dallas LePorte, and his passenger, 17-year old Cody Ray Gaylan, of Glenwood, were injured. Mary Miner and Dallas LePorte were both transported by Glenwood Rescue to Creighton. Gaylan’s injuries did not require him to be transported to the hospital.

Police in Council Bluffs said this (Thursday) morning, that over the last few days Council Bluffs Police Department has received several reports of multiple windows being damaged on vehicles and homes. Authorities say it appears a BB/Pellet gun is being used to cause the damage. If you have any information about the incidents, please call crime stoppers at 712-328-7867.

Listed below are the dates, report times, and general locations of the damaged vehicles:
Date          Time   Location                             Description
12-20-16   23:36   400 Block of Grace St.         2 vehicles multiple windows
12-21-16   00:24   600 Block of Grace St.         1 vehicle multiple windows
12-21-16   04:12   400 Block of Voorhis St.       2 vehicles multiple windows
12-21-16   23:33   600 Block of Franklin Ave.   5 vehicles multiple windows
12-22-16   01:07   800 Block of Grace St.          1 vehicle multiple windows

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say two people have been killed and another injured in a West Des Moines highway crash. The crash occurred around 8 p.m. Wednesday on Interstate 235. Authorities say an eastbound pickup ran off the roadway and rammed into a concrete bridge support. The man driving the truck and a small child were killed. Another child was taken to Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines.

The victims’ names haven’t been released. The crash is being investigated.

Advocates of a “voucher” program, so state tax dollars “follow the student” to a public OR private school, made their case to the governor last (Wednesday) night. Susan Fenton is a lobbyist for the Iowa Advocates for Choice in Education. She uses the phrase “Educational Savings Accounts” rather than “vouchers” — but it’s the same concept. Parents would get state tax dollars and use that money to send their child to a public OR a private school.

“An ESA program will allow true universal choice and inject the positive force of market competition into the Iowa educational system,” Fenton says. Fenton spoke Wednesday night in Governor Branstad’s office, during a public hearing on the state budget. Fenton envisions school vouchers being used for expenses beyond school tution, covering the costs of textbooks, tutoring and even fees for online courses. Audra Meyers of Clive, a former principal at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Des Moines, says it’s time for “robust education choice” in Iowa.

“Education Savings Accounts would allow parents who are enrolling their children in a non-public school to receive state funding into a savings account and parents would be free to use those funds for a variety of educational choices that would meet their child’s specific needs,” Meyers says. “…Many families are not in a financial position to select the type of education that is best for their child,” Meyers says. “Instead, their address determines the education that their child will receive.”

Meyers, who also taught in a public school in the past, has two young children who are currently enrolled in two different Catholic schools in the Des Moines area. Critics of school “vouchers” argue sending state tax dollars to private parochial schools is a violation of the separation of church and state. Governor Branstad and his wife sent their three children to Catholic schools in the Des Moines area.

Branstad told reporters Wednesday night that he is a “strong supporter” of private schools, but Branstad says in a “tight budget’ year, there are “a lot of issues” to consider. Others who testified at last night’s public hearing made appeals for increased state funding in a variety of areas — from remodeling Y-M-C-A facilities to assistance for brain-injured Iowans.

(Radio Iowa)