OTTUMWA, IOWA – The Ottumwa Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is seeking the public’s assistance in locating 63-year-old Gregory Allen Showalter Sr.  Showalter has an arrest warrant for Failure to Appear- Murder in the First Degree. The case was being held in Wapello County District Court. Showalter was not present when the jury found him guilty today, September 22, 2023, for the murder of his wife in August of 2021.

If you see Gregory Showalter Sr., or know of his whereabouts, please contact 911 or the Ottumwa Police Department at 641- 683-0661.

Showalter booking photo

Gregory Allen Showalter is 6-feet 2-inches tall. He weighs 160 lbs.  Showalter is considered armed and dangerous.

(Mills County, Iowa) – Officials with Glenwood Municipal Utilities (GMU), announced today (Friday), A BOIL WATER ORDER IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE for the entire City of Pacific Junction, and the following:

• 188th St.
• 190th St.
• 195th St.
• Hanna Ave
• Hemford
• Hyland Ave.
• I-29 Northbound and Southbound rest areas
• Ingraham Ave.
• Jesup Ave.
• Jinkins Ave.
• Kane Ave.
• Kelting Ave.

GMU said “We are working to make the water main repairs as quickly as possible. If you have been without water or are experiencing low pressure, we are working to restore your service. REMEMBER THE BOIL ORDER IS IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!!!! BOIL BOIL BOIL! Thank you to everyone for your patience and cooperation during this time.”

State officials are repairing an electric fish barrier in Lost Island Lake, which is near Ruthven in northwest Iowa. Mike Hawkins, a fisheries biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says the barrier is targeting a fish that’s considered a nuisance.

Lost Island Lake is just 16 feet deep. Hawkins says carp destroy native aquatic plants and increase sediment in the water by rooting around the bottom of a lake.

Over the past several years the D-N-R has stocked Lost Island Lake with walleye, northern pike and even large mouth bass.

But Hawkins says they’re incredibly effective and use a fairly low amount of electricity to create the electrical field in the water to keep the fish from swimming. Over time, though, the water causes erosion damage on the electrodes. Hawkins and his team began replacing those electrodes yesterday (Thursday).

(Radio Iowa) – A video appeared Thursday on Facebook of what appears to be a young bull moose crossing an empty field in northwest Iowa, and Sioux Center’s Police Chief issued a warning that the moose was near Dordt University this (Friday) morning. D-N-R Regional Conservation Officer John Sells hasn’t seen the moose in person, but has seen the photos.

Sells says moose sightings are not as unusual as you would think.

He says if moose come this far south, it’s usually because of one thing.

Moose in a field in Sioux County. (Sioux Center PD Facebook photo)

Sells says moose are a protected species in Iowa, you cannot shoot or hunt them, and if you see a moose, you should stay clear

Sells says moose can travel five to tens miles a day, and have been known to travel up to 100 miles a week. He says the moose’s trajectory is in a southeasterly direction, which could put it in the Orange City and Alton areas Saturday, unless it decides to turn around and go back home. Sioux County Conservation Board Biologist Sunday Ford says there’s been an increase of unusual wildlife recently spotted in the area. She cites a report of a wild bull Elk in Plymouth County this week, and an Armadillo near Hospers in August.

(Radio Iowa) – What is there to see in Iowa? Plenty! A new book by a central Iowa woman offers dozens of entertaining options, including the world’s largest popcorn ball, the biggest bull, the most crooked street and the smallest church. Megan Bannister’s book is called, “Secret Iowa: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure.”

Originally from the Chicago area, Bannister moved to Iowa 14 years ago for school and says discovered she loved it and never left. And why would she? After all, the state boasts destinations like the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk, the only remaining Frank Lloyd Wright-designed hotel in the world, and the world’s largest strawberry.

The book is filled with suggestions for fun road trips that are strewn across the entire state, from the familiar and famous Field of Dreams in Dyersville to the lesser-known Lover’s Leap Swinging Bridge in Columbus Junction.

Bannister lives in Des Moines and this is her second book, following “Iowa Supper Clubs.” The author is holding book signings and presentations tomorrow (Saturday) in Pella and Des Moines, with more events in the coming weeks in: Windsor Heights, Muscatine, Cedar Falls, Van Horne, Marion, Bedford and Oskaloosa.

(Clarinda, Iowa) – The Clarinda Police Department would like to remind the citizens of Clarinda that no parking is allowed on the following streets from 7:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 30th , 2023 for the annual Southwest Iowa Band Jamboree Parade.

• The 100 through 800 block of W. Main Street
• The 100 block of E. Main Street
• The100 block of N. 15th St.
• The 100 block of E. Washington Street
• The 100 block through 300 block of W. Washington Street
• 24th Street (Cardinal Drive) from Garfield Street to State Street (*SCHOOL BUS PARKING*)

The police department appreciates the cooperation of all citizens in removing their vehicles from the parade route. Vehicles that are not removed from the parade route shall be towed at the expense of the vehicle’s registered owner.

Johnston, Iowa – The Iowa National Guard hosted Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam Veteran, Michael J. Fitzmaurice in Sioux City this past week. The visit included a tour of the 185th Air Refueling Wing maintenance facilities, meetings with leadership and a flight on a KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft.

Fitzmaurice first joined the U.S. Army in 1969. He was presented the Medal of Honor on October 15, 1973, for his heroic actions during a battle in Khe Sanh, Vietnam, in which, despite being seriously wounded and partially blinded, he fought in hand-to-hand combat to overcome the enemy.

Medal of Honor recipient Michael J. Fitzmaurice greets 185th Air Refueling Wing members after a flight on a KC-135 September 19, 2023. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Daniel Ter Haar)

“I’m just a lucky guy,” said Fitzmaurice when asked about the events that led to receiving the Medal of Honor.

During the visit Fitzmaurice and other local Veterans witnessed aerial refueling operations from the boom pod in the rear of a KC-135. The group saw a number F-16s assigned to the South Dakota Air National Guard’s 114th Fighter Wing refueled. The flight was also the first time Fitzmaurice had been in a KC-135. “Ive seen a lot of things in my life but I’m going to have to move this to the top of my list, it was awesome,” said Fitzmaurice.

After the F-16 fighters had received their fuel, Fitzmaurice was also given the opportunity to sit up front in the flight deck the during the landing back into Sioux City. “I liked watching the pilots, they have to know so many things, it was impressive,” said Fitzmaurice.

Upon landing Fitzmaurice was greeted with a salute by 185th members and after thanking Col. Sonya Morrison, 185th Wing Commander, he took the opportunity to shake hands and personally thank each Airmen for their service.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Falcon from the South Dakota Air National Guard’s 114th Fighter Wing flies next to a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker from the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing September 19, 2023. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Daniel Ter Haar)

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Auditor’s Office has released the final list of candidates whose names will appear on the Nov. 7th ballot for School Board elections. Auditor Jill Ozuna notes this is not the order of names that will be on the ballot for city or school- Lots will be drawn for the order Tuesday the 26^th at 8am.

Tuesday the 26^th is also the deadline for objections and withdrawals- Auditor’s office will be open until 5pm.

All Offices are 4-year terms Unless Stated Differently

Red Oak School Director at Large –Vote for 2: Aaron D. Schmid; Scott Bruce; Ashley York.

Stanton School Director at Large -Vote for 2:  Zachary Ward; John McDonald.

Villisca School Director at Large – Vote for 3: Jason Poston; Tom A. Williams; Richard Allen Mullen.

SWCC Director District #2 – Montgomery, Adams, Ringgold, Union, Taylor & Page Counties:
Fred Shearer.

SWCC Director District #3 (2-year term)– TFV: Portion of Clarke and Mormon Trail: Susan Stearns.

SWCC Director District #4 – Portions of Decatur, Lucas & Ringgold Counties: Carol Saxton.

SWCC Director District #7 – Portions of Decatur, Page, Taylor & Ringgold Counties: Amy Mobley.

SWCC Director District #8 – Portions of Union County: John Cass.