(Creston, Iowa) –  Police in Creston, late Thursday morning, arrested 40-year-old Mark Anthony Weems, Jr., of Creston. Weems was charged with Fraudulent Practice 4th Degree and 3 counts of Fraudulent Practice in the 5th Degree. He was served with the arrest warrant in the Union County Jail. Weems’ Jr.’s bond was set at $1,900.

And, at around 1:42-a.m. today (Friday), 38-year-old Jesse Edward Ramey, of Greenfield, was arrested in Creston. He was charged with Operating While Under the Influence 2nd Offense. Ramey was taken to Union County Jail and later posted a $2,000 bond.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Trial in the case of a Cass County (IA) woman facing felony charges of Murder in the 1st Degree and Child Endangerment resulting in death, is set to begin Monday in Pottawattamie County. 39-year-old Alison Dorsey, of Anita, is on trial for the death at a Massena day care, of an infant in her care in October 2019. Her trial was moved to Council Bluffs after the jury in Dorsey’s first trial ended in early November 2021, with a deadlocked jury, after which a mistrial was declared.

Her re-trial was originally set for January 2022, but it was continued twice thereafter until May 1, 2023. A ZOOM pre-trial conference in the case was held Thursday, April 27th. Dorsey is accused of shaking a baby to death at her Massena day care in 2019.

The baby boy, who died in October of 2019, was one of 11 children Alison Dorsey was caring for in a Massena day care on the morning the child stopped breathing. In her first trial, Dorsey testified 11-week-old Luka Hodges was gasping for air about three hours after the baby’s father dropped the child off, so she called the boy’s father. When the father walked into the home, the baby, which was being held by Dorsey, went limp. She immediately handed him to the father. The baby’s father and an off duty sheriff’s deputy who was nearby performed CPR and the infant was taken to a hospital in Atlantic, then transferred to a hospital in Omaha, where the boy died.

Shaken Baby Syndrome was initially identified as the cause of death, but the Iowa Medical Examiner’s report was inconclusive.

(Radio Iowa) – The only statewide fundraising event for Iowa’s chapter of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, or PanCAN, is this weekend in central Iowa. Katie Tigges, of Urbandale, is chairing what’s known as PurpleStride Iowa, which she’s hoping will draw at least a-thousand people, including cancer survivors, caregivers, families, researchers, and other supporters.
[mkpan1] :20 “for patients” “It’s a great event to really help those impacted by pancreatic cancer,” Tigges says. “It pays a tribute to their family members. It honors them, family and friends. And it also just raises the public awareness and, of course, the funds to support research and treatment options for patients.”

Pancreatic cancer is the nation’s third-leading cause of cancer-related death. It’s estimated 600 Iowans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year and more than 500 of them will die from it. Tigges’ father was diagnosed with inoperable, stage-four pancreatic cancer four years ago, and beat all of the very long odds.  “He is our miracle,” Tigges says. “The chemo and radiation worked for him, plus, a whole lot of faith and hope. He’s very positive. Just that journey, I feel like because I was blessed with my dad being a survivor that this is my way of making sure that others can have that hope as well.”

PurpleStride Iowa is scheduled for Saturday at Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines, with a three-mile walk around the lake. The opening ceremony starts at 9 A-M. The Iowa event is among 60 being held nationwide on the same day. The goal of PurpleStride Iowa is to raise 135-thousand dollars, which would go toward the national goal of 19-million.  “When I started getting involved with PanCAN four years ago, it was only at a 9% five-year survival rate and now it’s already grown to 12%,” TIgges says. “So the more we can raise, the more research and things we can do to help those that are facing pancreatic cancer.”

By comparison, the five-year breast cancer survival rate is 95-percent. This type of cancer is so deadly because its symptoms are often vague and can be mistaken for something else. That includes things like abdominal pain and back pain, changes in stool, yellowing skin, weight loss, appetite loss, and a feeling of being full after only eating a little food.

Learn more at: https://secure.pancan.org/site/TR?fr_id=2662&pg=entry

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Police report a 2018 Chrysler Pacifica was traveling east in the 600 block E. Coolbaugh Street, Thursday afternoon, when the vehicle sideswiped a legally parked 2016 KIA Sorento SUV. The accident happened at around 12:37-p.m.  No injuries were reported. The driver of the van, 61-year-old Caryn Ann Pedersen, of Red Oak, told police she simply got too close as she was passing the SUV. She claimed not to have been distracted when the mishap occurred.

Damage to the van was estimated at $4,500. The SUV sustained $4,000 damage. No citations were issued. Police noted in their report that Pedersen “Failed to keep in the proper lane.”

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest following a traffic stop, Thursday evening, of 29-year-old Shawnee L. Edwards. The Red Oak woman was taken into custody near the intersection of Broadway and Alix Avenue at around 6:30-p.m., for a Controlled Substance Violation – a Class C Felony. Edwards was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

(Omaha, NE) – The Community Foundation for Western Iowa was honored, Wednesday (April 26), to accept a regional award given for excellence in marketing material. The organization received a Pinnacle Award for “Total Marketing Campaign” in the Not-For-Profit category during AMA Omaha’s Pinnacle Awards at the Truhlsen Events Center at UNMC. The Omaha Chapter of the American Marketing Association annually hosts the Pinnacle Awards to celebrate area organizations and their most successful marketing campaigns from the previous year.

Campaigns were judged by three AMA Chapters across the United States — Charleston, Cincinnati, and San Diego — based on metrics and measurable tactics. Judges looked at results-based marketing campaigns and their impact in the community. The Community Foundation’s “Total Marketing Campaign” entry encompassed its recent name change and rebrand, including a new logo, updated website and social media posts — all designed and managed in-house — and with brand awareness videos from local producer, Craig Carlsen.

Donna Dostal, President and CEO of the Community Foundation said “This project is a culmination of 18 months of research, community engagement and internal leadership discussions resulting in not only a name change, but also a complete brand strategy. It is wonderful to be recognized for hard work that ultimately, we believe, will help result in building a culture of philanthropy, enhanced by better community engagement throughout the nine western Iowa counties that we serve.”

The following individuals attended the awards dinner and celebrated the Community Foundation’s highest honor in the “Total Marketing Campaign” category – Mick McKinley, current board chair and executive committee member; Kelly Summy, founding member, past board chair, and finance committee member; Tony Tauke, past board chair, investment committee member, and education committee member; Craig Carlsen, marketing and communications committee member; Catrina Trabal, Community Partnerships Manager at the Community Foundation; Rachel Morehead, Marketing and Engagement Manager at the Community Foundation; and Donna Dostal, president and CEO.

“We are delighted to be recognized as a Pinnacle Award winner by AMA Omaha – it is such a tremendous honor and moment of immense pride,” said Rachel Morehead, Marketing and Engagement Manager at the Community Foundation for Western Iowa. “To be able to create and coordinate the rebrand and name change with our marketing committee, board of directors and Foundation team was such a rewarding experience, and this award is a moment for our entire team to savor and celebrate!”

Community Foundation for Western Iowa,, formerly Pottawattamie County Community Foundation, is your connection to creating a lasting legacy and ensuring western Iowa is strong, vibrant, and attractive for years to come. The Community Foundation provides a highly personalized plan tailored to each individual or family’s charitable goals, financial interests, and desired impact.

The Community Foundation for Western Iowa is nationally accredited by the Council on Foundations (www.cfstandards.org), is overseen by a volunteer board of leading citizens, and run by professionals with expertise in identifying the needs of western Iowa.

Mission: The Community Foundation for Western Iowa is dedicated to creating a lasting legacy in our region by engaging our citizens and communities for durable change and fostering a culture of philanthropy. This is where giving grows.

(Creston, Iowa) – An SUV traveling west on Highway 34 in Union County, Thursday night, struck a deer on the road, but the driver of the vehicle was not injured. The Union County Sheriff’s Office reports the 2016 GMC Yukon driven by 42-year-old Scott Allen Pendegraft, of Creston, sustained $5,000 damage, but was able to be driven away. The accident happened a little after 8-p.m.

(Radio Iowa) – Republicans in the legislature have settled on a more than two BILLION dollar Health and Human Services budget that boosts state funding for nursing homes, mental health care and treatment for substance abuse. Senator Mark Costello, a Republican from Imogene, says the plan has the backing of the agency and House Republicans.

“This budget is expansive,” Costello says. “It’s sustainable and it will allow the department to do their work for Iowans.” Senate Republicans approved the bill Thursday. Democrats voted against it, arguing the state should provide a pay boost to those who provide in-home care for disabled Iowans AND spend more on the state’s child care assistance program. Senator Pam Jochum, a Democrat from Dubuque, says the budget fails the working poor.

“Excuse me but this brings tears to my eyes and makes my heart heavy,” Jochum said. “It is sad.” Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, says the budget plan fails to address Iowa’s high maternal death rate. She says the state should extend post-pregnancy care for women enrolled in Medicaid. “Save lives, not only of lives, but when moms are healthy, babies are healthier, too.” Costello, the bill’s floor manager in the Senate, says the spending plan is sustainable.

“Senate Republicans are being responsible with Iowans’ tax dollars,” Costello says, “and we’re not willing to drain all of our resources in one year for ongoing costs.” Republicans in the House and Senate have agreed on an overall plan for the next state budgeting year that spends about 89 percent of projected state tax revenue.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Utilities Board has indicated developers of an anhydrous ammonia pipeline in southeast Iowa will get a construction permit — if certain conditions are met.

The proposed NuStar pipeline would connect to the Iowa Fertilizer Company and stretch through nearly 14 miles in southeast Iowa’s Lee County. The company says it got voluntary access to most of the land along the anhydrous pipeline route.

The Iowa Utilities Board has denied the company’s request to use eminent domain authority to get access to two parcels of land, but regulators say eminent domain may be used to get contracts for six other parcels.

Regulators say NuStar must show they have at least $2.5 million worth of liability insurance for the project before the permit for construction, operation and maintenance of the pipeline will be granted. The company also has to revise property easements documents, based on the board’s ruling. The construction permit will be granted if the Iowa Utilities Board reviews and approves those changes.

The terms for two members of the board expire on Sunday. The Iowa Senate has confirmed two other members to begin serving on the board on Monday.

(Radio Iowa) – The technology that helps tally the votes in the Iowa Senate tanked this week. Lawmakers typically push a green or red button on their desk to vote yes or no. That speedy system got real sluggish Wednesday afternoon. “We are having technical difficulties,” Senate President Amy Sinclair announced. There was a reboot. “We’re going to try it,” she said. It still didn’t work, so Charlie Smithson, the secretary of the senate, had to read each senator’s name. Each senator had to say their vote aloud and Smithson punched those votes in from his desk in the center of the senate.

A thumbs up or thumbs down didn’t work. “I can’t hear your thumb,” Smithson said. At one point, Sinclair had to remind senators not to use the buttons on their desk to vote. “Everything is moving so slowly, when you push your buttons it crashes the system up here, so we need to you to leave your fingers off the buttons,” Sinclair said, as a few senators laughed. “Don’t be kindergartners…Let the secretary call the roll so the system doesn’t crash and we can get through debate.”

Senators got through debate on a dozen bills Wednesday and Thursday by individually announcing their votes rather than punching their buttons. Lawmakers hope the glitch is fixed next week for a flurry of votes — in what could be the last week of the 2023 legislative session.