If you are driving on U.S. 34 from the east city limits of Creston to Thayer in the coming weeks you need to be aware of a road construction project that may slow down your trip.

Starting on Tuesday, August 29, until Thursday, September 28, weather permitting, construction crews will need to close lanes on U.S. 34 so crews can mill the center line rumble strip and place new asphalt on the roadway with rumble strips.  A pilot car and flaggers will assist you through the work zone from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.  A 16-foot lane width restriction will be in place during this project.

Help keep everyone on the road safer.  Drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones.  As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

Tanner Cisar, an Atlantic HyVee Assistant Store Manager received company’s Legendary Customer Service Award in a surprise ceremony on Wednesday.

District Store Director Darin Turner described what the award means.

Tanner was surprised at his selection and humbled.

Turner says there are some prizes that go along with the award.

Tanner’s picture will also be placed on the side of a HyVee semi and he received a gold employee badge.

Atlantic Police arrested three people in connection with a robbery on Friday, August 18.

22 year old Rey Moton of Exira was charged with control of a firearm by a felon, first degree robbery, first degree burglary, first offense possession of a controlled substance and fifth degree theft.  Moton was booked and held on on 50-thousand dollars bond.

Two 17 year olds from Exira, Kyle Looper and Xavier Prine, were charged with first degree robbery, first degree burglary and fifth degree theft.  Both were charged as adults.  They were transported to a juvenile detention center in Council Bluffs.

In a news release, Police said they were notified Friday afternoon about a robbery at 1503 Ash Street.  The victim was able to provide enough information about the suspects and their vehicle for the police to get a description.  Soon after the report, an Atlantic Officer located a vehicle and suspects matching the description at a residence in Atlantic.  All three were detained for investigation.  Police executed a search warrant at 404 Olive Street and located a firearm that was suspected to have been used in the robbery.

Atlantic Police were assisted by the Cass County Sheriff’s office, the Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

No other details have been released.

Officials with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa announced in a news release that federal search warrants were executed on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 at a number of locations in the Des Moines metropolitan area:

• 8500 block of Warren Drive, Des Moines
• 1800 block of Logan Avenue, Des Moines
• 1200 block of 11th Street, Des Moines
• 6300 block of SW 12th Street, Des Moines
• 3300 block of Sylvania Drive, West Des Moines
• 5700 block of Allison Avenue, Des Moines
• 900 block of 8th Street SW, Altoona
• 600 block of Walker Street, Des Moines
• 7400 block of SW 12th Street, Des Moines
• 7000 block of Bloomfield Road, Des Moines

The searches at these locations were an official law enforcement action involving officers, agents, and investigators from the Des Moines Police Department Vice and Narcotics Control Unit, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), United States Postal Inspection Service, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, Metro Special Tactics and Response (STAR), Iowa State Patrol SWAT, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Mid-Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Mid-Iowa Narcotics Task Force East division, United States Marshals Service, West Des Moines Police Department, Johnston Police Department, Pleasant Hill Police Department, Altoona Police Department, and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

No other details were provided at this time.

Creston Police reported a few arrests in the last few days.

On Monday, August 21, 2023 at 12:00 pm 69 year old Francis Charles Weihs of 203 W. Montgomery St. in Creston was arrested at Maple and Montgomery.  Weihs was charged with Urinating and/or Defecating in Public.  Weihs was sited and released on a promise to appear.

On Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at 1:35 pm 36 year old Julian Albert Rex Allison of 610 New York Ave. in Creston was arrested at 608 N. Birch St.  Allison was charged with Violation of Parole.  Allison was taken to Union County Jail and held without bond.

Also on Tuesday at 8:09pm 36 year old Ashley Nicole Parmenter of 2426 Almond Ave. in Creston was arrested at 1102 N. Pine St.  Parmenter was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.  Parmenter was taken to Union County Jail.  Bail of $1,000 cash or approved surety was posted.

It’s the third straight day of a statewide extreme heat warning, and highs in the low hundreds are tough on people — and pets.  At this stage, some folks may be getting used to the steamy weather, but it can still be deadly, quickly, to enclosed animals.  Joe Stafford, Director of Animal Services at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says if you leave a pet in a parked car, cracking a window open does virtually no good, and neither does parking in the shade.

In his 20-plus years in the industry, Stafford says he hears about such cases every summer and he’s confounded as to why some pet owners don’t ever seem to get the message.

He urges Iowans, if you see a pet (or a child) alone in a car, call 9-1-1, as your action could save a life.  Many dogs love to go on walks, but during this heat wave, it’s wise to limit their time outdoors, perhaps just to walks in the morning and evening when it’s cooler.  K-C Routos (ROO-diss), the A-R-L’s director of development, says to test the sidewalk before bringing your pooch out on a leash.

If your dog is spending a lot of time outside, she says to keep them out of direct sunlight or consider using a sunscreen for dogs.  For more information on summer pet safety tips: https://www.arl-iowa.org/news/pet-tips-/5-summer-heat-safety-tips-for-pets/.

State Treasurer Roby Smith announces the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt had an active year at the Iowa State Fair. “In a short 11-day span, over 2,800 claims were filed at the Iowa State Fair and more than $538,900 was claimed. One individual even found $24,385 belonging to them,” said Smith. “As the State Fair would say, ‘Nothing Compares’ to finding your lost money!”

Smith utilizes the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt to reunite owners and heirs with their unclaimed property. Under Iowa law, these assets are turned over to the State Treasurer’s Office after businesses and financial institutions have lost contact with the owner for a specific period of time. Common examples of unclaimed property include forgotten checking and savings accounts, stocks, uncashed checks, life insurance policies, utility refunds and safe deposit box contents.

“Thousands of fairgoers took advantage of our convenient, easy-to-navigate process to search for themselves, family members, friends and local businesses,” Smith continued. “But there’s no need to wait until next year’s State Fair; search online all year round! New names are continually being added, so even if you have claimed in the past, try searching again.”

To see if the State has any unclaimed property waiting for you, visit GreatIowaTreasureHunt.gov to complete your search. Stay up-to-date with the Treasurer’s Office on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The National Weather Service has extended the Excessive Heat Warning.  It is now in effect until Thursday, August 24 at 7:00 pm.

Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values peaking around 105 to 110 degrees are expected each day in all of Iowa.

Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities.  The long duration of the heat can be particularly hard on the very young, the elderly and those with medical conditions.

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9-1-1.

The Iowa Association of Realtors report for July says the state housing market continued to see sales and inventory drop.

Home sales were down by nearly 21 percent in July compared to last July. That’s a drop of 677 homes sold for a total of three-thousand-11 in the month. The number of sales from June to July of this year mirrored the yearly trend, down 20 percent.

The report says higher interest rates and a lower inventory led to the decline. The number of homes on the market in July decreased by a little more than 12 percent compared to July of last year. Homes sat on the market for 33 days this July before a sale — compared to the 23 day average of July 2022.

This (Wednesday) is the first day of school in many Iowa districts and motorists are being warned to slow down and stay alert for darting kids and for school buses. Hamilton County Supervisor Rick Young of Jewell says there’s been a recent rash of bad behavior from behind the wheel.

Speeding on gravel roads can be very risky, especially if a school bus is making a stop over the next hill, or as you’re approaching a rural intersection that’s partly obscured by crops.

The Iowa legislature unanimously passed Kadyn’s (KAY-dinz) Law in 2012, targeting motorists who pass a stopped school bus with the stop arm extended. On the first offense, a conviction could bring a fine of up to 675 dollars, up to 30 days in jail, and a 30-day suspension of the driver’s license.

In Sioux City alone, police report issuing 32 citations last school year to motorists who passed a parked school bus with its stop sign extended.