(Radio Iowa) – Several dozen veterans from 55 Iowa counties will board a chartered jet for a trip to Washington D-C next week on the region’s latest Honor Flight. Mary Lou Walker, who serves on the Brushy Creek Honor Flight committee, says they’ll spend the day visiting memorials. “The first ones that we’ll go to will be Lincoln, Korean and Vietnam. Then they will arrive at the World War Two Monument. They will also visit Arlington National Cemetery, observe the changing of the guard, and then go for Iwo Jima Monument after that point. They also will visit the Air Force Memorial.”

Walker says they’ll have 163 people on the trip, including all of the veterans, medical personnel and support staff. She notes many of the veterans who will be on this flight served in one of two conflicts. “We have Korean veterans, and people that are in between Korea and Vietnam, and Vietnam veterans,” she says, “so we’re talking anybody between June of 1950 through May 7th of 1975.”

Image from honorflight.org.

The charter will fly out of Fort Dodge Regional Airport early on the morning of May 22nd and return home late that night. The group’s next Honor Flight is scheduled for September 18th.

(Radio Iowa) – Planting progress was slowed again last week by wet conditions. The U-S-D-A crop report says there just two days suitable for field work due to the rain. The amount of corn planted went from 47 to 57 percent — which is now one week behind last year — after being just two days back the week before. Soybean planting moved from 30 to 39 percent complete, and is now also one week behind last year’s pace.

While the rain has slowed planting, it has helped continue to push back the drought conditions. D-N-R Hydrologist Tim Hall says the timing of the rain has been important. “We haven’t gotten you know a month’s worth of rain in one day. We’ve had several significant rainfall events that have been spaced out far enough so that moisture has time to get into the system,” Hall says. He says there has been some flooding, but the lack of soil moisture has kept that down. “The fact that the soil has been very dry has really taken the hard edge off some of the flooding,” he says.

The U-S-D-A weekly report shows 92 percent of topsoil moisture is now adequate or at a surplus — compared to 73 percent that showed adequate or surplus moisture one week ago.

(Lincoln, NE) – The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) reports a man from Harrison County was arrested Saturday following a traffic stop and a pursuit. Authorities say at around 9:15-p.m., Saturday, a Trooper with the NSP observed a motorcycle speeding on West Dodge Road in Omaha, near 192nd Street. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the operator – later identified as 28-year-old Brandon Kellar, of Woodbine – refused to yield. The trooper initiated a pursuit.

As the motorcycle reached 204th Street, it accelerated and continued westbound. The vehicle exited Dodge on Skyline Drive and began driving through Elkhorn. NSP pilots were monitoring from overhead in the NSP helicopter. After a short time, the motorcycle’s engine failed, and the rider came to a stop on 204th Street. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Brandon Kellar was booked into the Douglas County, Nebraska, Jail, for willful reckless driving, flight to avoid arrest, and traffic violations.

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Department, Monday (May 13) issued reports detailing accidents and arrests stemming as far back as March 25th. Last Friday (May 10th), the Adams County Sheriff’s Office received a report at around 6:50-p.m., about an accident with unknown injuries at 270th Street and Ironwood Avenue. Upon investigation, deputies found Dylan Dalton, of Imogene, was operating his vehicle “in a reckless manner,” before it collided with a vehicle driven by Blake Pritchard, of Corning. Dalton’s vehicle was a total loss. Damage to the Pritchard vehicle was estimated at $10,000. Dylan Dalton was charged with Child Endangerment, Assault, Reckless Driving, and Failure to use a seat belt. He later posted bond and was released from the Adams County Jail.

On May 7th, Deputies in Adams County conducted a traffic stop in Corning, and upon further investigation, arrested 49-year-old Jeanakay Gray, of Corning, for Driving While License Suspended (DUS). The woman was released with a summons to appear in court.

At around 12:50-a.m. May 5th, Adams County Deputies initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle not maintaining its lane, and was fluctuating in speed. The traffic stop occurred at 260th and Sycamore Avenue, but the vehicle did not stop, and a pursuit ensued, that entered into Taylor County. The chase ended at 110th and Idaho Avenue, when the vehicle went out of control and entered a ditch. The driver – later identified as Brad Allen Larson, of Bedford, took-off on foot, but was apprehended after a short foot pursuit. Larson was charged with Eluding, OWI/2nd offense, Interference with Official Acts, Reckless Driving, Failure to obey a stop sign, speeding, and having no proof of insurance. He was booked into the Adams County Jail and held until seen by a magistrate.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports that on April 19th, 25-year-old Noah Wardlow, of Corning, was arrested on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 3rd Degree. His bond was set at $2,000. A traffic stop March 29th in Adams County resulted in the arrest of 46-year-old Chad Hill, of Red Oak, for DUS. A passenger in the vehicle, 45-year-old Crystal Mack, of Creston, was arrested for Possession of a controlled substance and poss. of drug paraphernalia. Hill was released on a promise to appear in court, while Mack held on a $1,300 bond.

And, on March 25th, Deputies in Adams County conducted a traffic stop at 12:47-p.m. on Highway 34, near Brooks Road. They arrested 49-year-old Robert Greenwood for Driving While Barred, and issued a citation for running a stop sign. Greenwood was later released on a promise to appear in court.

Sheriff’s office disclaimer: **Any potential criminal charges identified above are merely allegations, and any defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law**

NEWTON, Iowa [WHO-TV] — Two Newton teens have been accused of stealing a car and leading police on a chase that resulted in a crash on Monday.

On Monday morning the Newton Police Department received a report of two vehicles being stolen from a business. At around 8:58 a.m. officers were called to the northwest side of town after a report claimed one of the stolen vehicles was spotted in the area.

Officers located the vehicle and tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled westbound on Highway 6, the police department said. A pursuit ensued as the vehicle continued westbound. The vehicle finally stopped when it crashed at the I-80 159 mile marker on-ramp, police said.

The occupants were two 15 year-old males who both suffered non-life threatening injuries in the crash.

According to the police department, both juveniles were charged with second degree theft. The juvenile who was driving the vehicle was also charged with eluding.

MINDEN, Iowa [WHO-TV] — The tornado that struck Minden on April 26 damaged homes and businesses, and knocked over part of the American Legion Post. Now, there are appeals for funds to help the repair the building.

Post 437 had no insurance, and to repair the ceiling and wall damaged by the tornado, it will take approximately 50-60 thousand dollars.

The Minden American Legion Post sustained heavy damage to the building causing wall and ceiling collapse. Dean Olson, Commander of the Legion Post 437 said they have been talking to a contractor – who is also a veteran, and known for his construction skills – who can repair the fallen wall, reinforcing it, making it better than ever.

People wanting to contribute to rebuild the Legion Hall can send their checks to the Minden Legion directly. Their address is 211 Broadway St. Minden, Iowa 51553.

PERRY, Iowa [KCCI — The Jan. 4 school shooting is likely something Perry schools and the community will never forget, but through that grief, the district is choosing to honor a beloved staff member who died that day. Monday night, the Perry School Board voted to rename the court in the high school gymnasium in honor of Dan Marburger, the high school principal who lost his life in the tragedy.

Dan Marburger (Perry Community School District photo)

The Perry School Board voted to approve the resolution to name the gym court at its meeting Monday night.

(Radio Iowa) – The Republican who’s challenging Congressman Randy Feenstra in next month’s G-O-P Primary says Feenstra is not conservative enough to represent the fourth district. Kevin Virgil cites Feenstra’s support for the six budget bills that passed the House in March.

“He refused to stand with the conservative Republicans in congress and force the federal government to shut down as a way to force the corrupt Biden Administration to close the border,” Virgil said. Virgil grew up on an O’Brien County farm and served in the Army. He joined the C-I-A after 9/11 and, after leaving the agency, Virgil founded a software firm that has won multi-million dollar contracts with the U-S Defense Department. In December, Virgil moved from New York to his family’s century farm near Sutherland.

“I’ve always come back to Iowa frequently with my kids just because we enjoy the farm and we’ve maintained close contact with our family and friends and neighbors,” Virgil said. “…One of the reasons I decided to run for congress is because the…biggest threat our country faces isn’t necessarily from abroad, but it’s a federal government that is completely out of control.”

Virgil made his comments at the Iowa G-O-P State Convention. Virgil supports “drastic measures” to reduce the federal government’s budget, power and authority. Virgil says Feenstra failed to support limits on a program federal intelligence agencies say is used to disrupt terrorist activities and cyber attacks.

“Last month he voted against an amendment that would have required the federal government to get a warrant to spy on you and your families,” Virgil said. “That’s a direct violation of the Fourth Amendment.”

Feenstra, who is seeking a third term in the U-S House, says he supported the national security legislation because due to Biden’s failed foreign policy our enemies no longer fear us and our allies no longer trust us. The June Primary is three weeks from today (Tuesday).

(Radio Iowa) – A man from the northeast Iowa town of Winthrop is charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting his father. Thirty-two-year-old Ashton Wayne Root is accused of shooting his father on April 27th. He was arrested on Friday, 13 days after the shooting.

According to the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, Michael Root arrived at a local hospital’s emergency room with gunshot wounds to his abdomen and arm. Investigators say the father and son had been arguing for at least two days before the shooting, which happened at a home in Winthrop.

(Radio Iowa) – The groups Public Justice and the A-C-L-U of Iowa are suing Black Hawk County and the Sheriff on behalf of a Waterloo woman and others who have been forced to sign agreements requiring them to pay fees before being released from jail. A-C-L-U Attorney, Rita Bettis Austen says her client didn’t know a judge could rule on her ability to pay the fees.

“These agreements called Confessions of Judgment, result in people waving important legal protections that they would have and it allows the sheriff to garnish their wages without any right to a day in court,” she says. Bettis Austen says judges in many cases will waive the fees based on a person’s ability to pay. She says Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson is spending the fees to fund a shooting range for the enjoyment of department employees and families, including rentals of ice cream and cotton candy machines, and laser tag.

Public Justice Attorney Charles Moore says about two-thirds of counties charge fees to inmates. “In Iowa, the ability to charge these pay to state fees is discretionary. Some counties choose to charge these fees and others do not because they see how unfair it is,” Moore says. The sheriff in Black Hawk County has decided to go ahead and charge these fees at amongst the highest rates in the state 70 dollars per day.” He says the Sheriff sets the level of fees and controls everything without any check on that authority.

“In this case the sheriff pockets 300-thousand dollars a year without any court ever having reviewed the petitions,” he says. Moore says some of the money collected should not pay for things that aren’t related to jail costs. “I think that the statute is clear that it’s meant to reimburse for actual expenses that are at the jail and that’s not what’s being done here,” Moore says. Both attorneys say they are not trying to get the fees system overturned, they simply want the processed to be used fairly.