Iowa Senator Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids, the chair of the Senate Government Oversight Committee, and Senate Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs will take  a private tour the Glenwood Resource Center on Monday, November 30th.

Senator Hogg said he looks forward to “Learning how the people working here help Iowa individuals and their families.” The Glenwood Resource Center provides residential services for individuals who have struggled to be successful in their local communities. It also provides in-home support for residents transitioning back to their communities. The Center helps community-based providers by providing assessments, training and other technical support.

Mike Gronstal says “All of the services at Glenwood have the goal of helping individuals become successful in their own communities. In times of trouble, Iowa families in more than half of our state’s counties count on Glenwood for services unavailable elsewhere.”

The two senators are touring Glenwood in the aftermath of Governor Branstad’s unilateral decisions to close the Iowa Juvenile Home and mental health institutes in Clarinda and Mount Pleasant. Iowa’s Governor is also fighting to hand over the administration of Medicaid services to four out-of-state, for-profit companies.

Hogg said “Many family advocates and health care providers believe Governor Branstad’s hasty decisions are weakening Iowa’s safety net. Glenwood is an important part of the safety net. When hit by very serious health care challenges, Iowa families often depend on the services provided by the professionals working at Glenwood.”

Police in Harlan say three residents were charged with Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, after officers were called Nov. 12th to the 1000 block of 7th Street for Christmas decorations that were damaged by three persons. As a result of the investigation, 31-year old Andrew Smith, 35-year old Emily Labenz, and 25-year old Paige Lee,  all of Harlan, were charged.

An investigation in Harlan resulted in the execution of search warrants last week at residences located at 502 Willow Street and 606 Tarkington. Harlan Police say as a result, 25-year old Ashley McWilliams, of Harlan, was arrested Nov. 17th and charged with unlawful possession of prescription drugs and violation of a no contact order. Complaints were also filed with the clerk of court charging 29-year old Zachary Scheffler,  also of Harlan, with delivery of a controlled substance and violation of a no contact order.

Also as a result of a drug investigation, 29-year old Charles Hayes and 59-year old Daniel Hayes, both of Harlan, were charged with drug offenses. Charles Hayes, who was already in the Shelby County jail, was charged Nov. 19th with delivery of a controlled substance, while Daniel Hayes was arrested November 23rd on a charge of aiding and abetting in the delivery of a controlled substance.

Complaints, also as a result of a drug investigation, were filed with the Shelby County clerk of court charging 35-year old Terry Fields, of Harlan, with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance and ongoing criminal conduct. Fields was later arrested on the warrant that resulted from the complaints filed. At the time of his arrest, he was also charged with possession of a controlled substance. Complaints were filed as well on 29-year old Zachary Scheffler, for allegedly aiding and abetting in the delivery of a controlled substance and ongoing criminal conduct.

CORALVILLE, Iowa (AP) — An inmate convicted of a 1985 killing in Dallas County has died of liver disease. The Iowa Department of Corrections announced that 58-year-old Estel Wade Dunsmore died Tuesday at a prison hospice care unit in Coralville.

KCCI-TV reports Dunsmore was sentenced to life in prison after a conviction of first-degree murder in the death of Stephanie Vargas of Council Bluffs. Her body was found near Earlham.

Two adults and a child from eastern Iowa were injured during a rollover accident Tuesday night in Pottawattamie County. The Iowa State Patrol reports the driver of the vehicle, 24-year old Joshua Hindman, and his passengers, 24-year old Carissa Hindman and a 7-month old male, all from Iowa City, were transported by Missouri Valley Rescue to the hospital in Missouri Valley. All three  were properly restrained in the vehicle prior to the crash.

The Patrol says the 2005 Mazda Tribute SUV the trio was in was traveling westbound on Interstate 680 at around 9:30-p.m., when a deer ran onto the road. When the driver swerved to miss the animal and over-corrected, the SUV slide sideways across the number 2 lane and hit the metal posts and cable barrier before rolling over the cable barrier and down a steep bank through a small grove of trees before coming to rest on its wheels, with the right front tire off of the rim.

An Atlantic woman who has been instrumental in saving the lives of animals by contributing to their safety, health and welfare, was honored this (Tuesday) afternoon during a surprise gathering at the Buck Creek Dog Park located on the west side of the Schildberg Recreation Area, in Atlantic.

Mary Turner sits on the bench placed in her honor at the Buck Creek Dog Park.

Mary Turner, who for over 15 years, volunteered her services and much of her own money to the Atlantic Animal Shelter, has a bench with a plaque in her honor, located just inside the gates to the Dog Park. Mary was accompanied to the Dog Park by her husband Larry. He acknowledged she spent “An awful lot of time and effort and her own money…our money…into [the Animal Shelter]. And that’s fine, because she really believed in what she was doing.” Mary Turner said “I still believe it. I see a dog and I want to help them. Larry won’t let me take them home,” to which he responded “We’ve got one .” That drew laughs from those in attendance.

Mary said while she appreciates the recognition, she did what she did…writing grants for the Animal Shelter, buying food for the animals, and caring for them…because those dogs needed her. She said “I did it because those dogs didn’t have a home. If you look at a sad, sorry dog that doesn’t have a home and really needs one, how can you not [care]?” Larry Turner said her efforts led to a lot of dogs being adopted by loving families, but Mary said there were a lot of volunteers contributed toward the cause of finding homes for the animals. She praised the way the shelter looks now, and how much better it is for the animals.

The animals also have air conditioning for the warm months. Parks and Rec Director Roger Herring said Mary was a person who “made things happen” for the Shelter and the Animals it houses.

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say a woman’s body has been pulled from the Missouri River just south of Nebraska City. The Nebraska State Patrol said in a news release Tuesday that the body was sighted and recovered Monday. Nebraska City radio station KNCY reports that a trapper notified authorities about finding the body north of the Omaha Public Power District plant around 6-p.m.

The patrol says the body hasn’t been identified. An autopsy has been ordered.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – An activist is urging Sioux City and Woodbury County officials to open an alcohol treatment center for Native Americans. The Sioux City Journal reports that Frank LaMere told officials at a forum Monday that a facility could help lower the disproportionate number of Native Americans arrested for public intoxication in Sioux City.

The city did have a Native American Alcohol Treatment Program that was funded by the Indian Health Service before it closed in 2005. The meeting was a follow-up to a September round-table discussion that focused on what community leaders say is a growing problem of alcoholism and homelessness in Sioux City.

Sioux City Police Chief Doug Young said that a ban on single-can beer sales, which had been previously discussed to curb public intoxication, would not be possible because the state of Iowa regulates liquor sales.

Officials with the Southwest Iowa Mental Health Center (SWIMHC) have announced Sarah Herzberg is now a licensed psychologist and health service provider in the state of Iowa. Herzberg has been with Cass County Health System for 19 years, and has been with SWIMHC for the last 11 years.

In a press release, she said “The doctoral degree and licensure allow me to serve the community by doing something I truly love. I will be able to see a broader range of clients, and hopefully cut down on patients’ wait time for first-time appointments.”

Sarah Herzberg graduated from the CAM High School, has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Iowa State University, a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Northwest Missouri State University, and recently completed a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her background is in Counseling Psychology with training in diagnosing and treating a variety of issues such as depression, anxiety and other chronic mental health issues. Sarah also supervises clinicians who provide care through the SWIMHC school-based mental health program.

Southwest Iowa Mental Health Center (SWIMHC) partners with Cass County Memorial Hospital to meet the mental health needs of children, adolescents and adults. The treatment team includes professionals in the disciplines of psychiatry, social work, psychology and psychiatric nursing.

Many Iowans will be traveling across the state or across the country for Thanksgiving, but a few will be making international trips in the next week. The U-S State Department is issuing a rare global travel alert due to increased terrorist threats. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says America’s intelligence community is keeping closely attuned to any rumblings that may indicate trouble. “CIA, FBI use the word chatter,” Grassley says. “There’s a lot of chatter out there coming from all of the terrorist organizations that you can name, Boko Haram, Al Qaeda, ISIS, probably a dozen more you could name, seems to be a lotta’ chatter.”

There are reportedly no specific threats directed at the United States, but officials are warning Americans to be more vigilant after recent multiple attacks around the world. “I think it’s reasonable to take it very serious,” Grassley says. “I hope nothing comes of it. We had the same thing July the 4th, not too much came out of it. That’s because the FBI was on top of things and arrested several people before they had an opportunity to do any damage.”

The alert from the State Department says travelers abroad should avoid large crowds and crowded places, and exercise particular caution during the holiday season and at holiday festivals or events. Grassley says, “We saw what happened in Paris so I think we ought to listen to what the State Department says.”

The November 13th attacks on the French capitol for which ISIS claimed responsibility claimed 130 lives and injured hundreds. Other recent attacks struck in Denmark, Mali, Nigeria and Turkey. The travel alert will remain in place into late February.

(Radio Iowa)