The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on July 1st, of 35-year old Mark Andrew Travis, of Sidney. Travis was arrested following an investigation by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office into the alleged falsifying of water testing records for the City of Sidney. Authorities allege that between 2009 and 2015, Travis falsified water testing records that were required to be performed by Iowa law.

Mark Travis

An investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources determined water testing records sent to the Iowa DNR, had been falsified. An investigation referral was made by the Iowa Attorney General’s Office to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

Travis was arrested for Felonious Misconduct in Office, a Class D Felony. Travis turned himself in to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, posted a $5,000 bond, and was released. Since the DNR investigation concluded in September 2015, Sidney municipal water has been tested and found to be within accepted standards.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County say an Adair County man suffered minor injuries during an accident Monday morning. 83-year old Harvey Wallace, of Fontanelle, was driving a 2001 Ford Windstar van northeast towards Prescott at around 11:40-a.m., when the van left the road and made contact with a BNSF railroad signaling mast. The impact caused the van to rotate and flip into its top across the tracks.

Wallace was transported by ambulance to CHI Health Mercy Hospital in Corning. The accident remains under investigation. Adams County Sheriff’s deputies were assisted at the scene by Prescott Fire and Rescue, Corning Rescue, and bystanders who volunteered to assist.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump spent part of his July 4th with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, fueling speculation about his vice presidential pick. Trump met with Ernst in New Jersey on Monday and praised her in a tweet.

Ernst is a first-term senator, combat veteran and the first woman elected to Congress from Iowa. She ran on a platform of cutting wasteful spending, with the slogan “Make ’em squeal.”

Trump also spent time over the weekend with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. In addition, the New York billionaire is considering former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions.

In a statement, Ernst says she had a good conversation with Trump but did not say whether the vice presidency was discussed.

AREA COUNTIES: AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS–CASS-ADAIR-MADISON–ADAMS-UNION–TAYLOR-RINGGOLD–POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT…

…HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM TO 8 PM CDT TUESDAY…

Heat Advisory Tuesday for Counties in orange on this map.

* TEMPERATURES AND HEAT INDEX VALUES…MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE IN THE LOWER 90S WITH DEW POINTS RANGING IN THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 70S. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND MOIST AIR WILL LEAD TO HEAT INDEX VALUES RANGING FROM 102 TO 110 DEGREES DURING THE AFTERNOON TUESDAY.

* IMPACTS…HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES MAY OCCUR SUCH AS HEAT CRAMPS…HEAT EXHAUSTION…AND HEAT STROKE…ESPECIALLY IF PROPER PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS…STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM…STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

The time most Iowans are spending outside has increased dramatically as we moved into summer. Iowa Department of Public Health Medical Director Patricia Quinlisk says with so many activities going on, it can be easy to remember to protect yourself from mosquitoes. Doctor Quinlisk says make it easy to remember the bug spray by keeping it along with the other items you take outside. It’s something she does for one of her favorite back yard activities.

“I just put my can of insect repellent right next to my gardening gloves, to make sure that when I go out to start gardening that I don’t forget,” Quinlisk explains. “Because it is easy to forget, but it is important because West Nile is around that they use insect repellent.” West Nile is spread by mosquito bites and in the most serious cases can lead to death.

Quinlisk says they have not had any cases of West Nile virus confirmed yet, but she says it is a little early. She says it first starts showing up in mosquitoes that are being monitored and in horses. Quinlisk says you may not have been bothered by mosquitoes yet while out in the yard, but she says it just takes a little bit of water to get them to become active and seeking out someone to bite.

“These mosquitoes don’t fly a long ways, so one of the best ways of protecting yourself from mosquito bites and the diseases they may carry is to make sure that they are not breeding anywhere in your yard. So that means getting rid of all the little puddles that may be in your yard,” Quinlisk explains. “And that may be things as simple as your children’s toys that our left out in the back yard, or the dog’s dish. In my case I have bird baths.”

Doctor Quinlisk says you can make sure mosquitoes are not breeding in the bird bath by periodically changing the water. You can find a lot of different products with insect repellents in them on the store shelf. Quinlisk has this advice to make a good choice. She says there are only three repellents that have been shown to work well, and the Department of Public Health recommends the one called DEET. Quinlisk says the DEET has the added advantage of being able to repel ticks, so you get a two-for-one benefit when you spray it on. DEET can also be used on infants starting at three months of age. You should carefully read the label and any restrictions.

“There’s one called oil of lemon eucalyptus — which sounds very natural — but it cannot be used in children less than three years of age. So that would not be the one to buy if you’ve got young children,” Quinlisk explains. She suggests you check with your doctor if you have questions about the best products for children.

(Radio Iowa)

Fireworks will be filling the sky tonight and while most people find them spectacular to view up close, for others, they can cause breathing problems. Iowa DNR environmental specialist Chris Maiers says it’s a good idea to keep a safe distance. “We’re not saying ‘don’t go to any fireworks displays,’ it’s just be aware of your surroundings and try to avoid that blow off smoke coming toward you at the end or during the displays,” Maiers says. “That can really hinder the enjoyment…not only will it be difficult to breathe, it’ll be difficult to see too.”

An air pollution monitor in Davenport detected unhealthy levels of fine particles following last year’s Fourth of July fireworks display. Maiers says that’s something to consider when you’re deciding where to sit during the celebration. “These actually have things like heavy metals in them because that’s what they burn to produce the colors and you really don’t want to breath that in…there’s all sorts of stuff in there that can make even healthy people have issues like coughing or even a little bit of chest pain,” Maiers says.

He suggests people with asthma or respiratory issues, children and the elderly should make sure to stay upwind and a safe distance away from the fireworks.

(Radio Iowa/IPR)

GREELEY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say an eastern Iowa woman was killed when a homemade cannon exploded at a backyard gathering. Davenport television station KWQC-TV reports that 55-year-old Lori L. Heims of Edgewood was flown to an Iowa City hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Department says Heims was injured at the gathering with friends in Greeley around 11:40 p.m. Saturday.

Investigators say the cannon was loaded and fired, and when it went off, the rear portion of the barrel blew out and sent fragments toward Heims. One of the fragments struck Heims in the head. Heims was taken to a hospital in Manchester before being flown to Iowa City, but doctors were unable to save her.

Greeley is about 80 miles north of Iowa City.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — The number of people killed or injured in accidents caused by use of electronic devices doubled in Iowa last year. The Globe Gazette in Mason City reports 14 people were killed in 2015, compared to seven the previous year.

The Iowa Department of Transportation says 601 people were injured in those types of accidents last year, up from 270 in 2014. The overall number of accidents caused by distracted driving rose to 1,100 last year, a 43 percent increase from 2014.

Pat Hoye, bureau chief for the Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau, says one reason for the increase is the growing use of cellphones.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office received a call Sunday night about a black Ford F-150 pickup that was running off the road on Corning-Carl Road. Deputies stopped the vehicle on 210th Street just after 11-p.m., and subsequently arrested 54-year old Guy David Matson, of Lenox. Matson was charged with OWI for refusing to give a sample of his breath. His bond was set at $2,000.

More area and State news from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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