(Radio Iowa) – Temperatures are expected to be above normal the rest of this week in what has already been an up-and-down cycle in Iowa. The wide range of temperatures can impact the quality of ice forming on lakes and rivers. The D-N-R’s Pete Hildreth says you should be checking for a minimum of four inches of clear ice for fishing and at least five inches for snowmobiles and A-T-V’s. “Because ice conditions change constantly and its thickness can vary across the lake,” he says. Hildreth says it’s better to wait than risk a chance of going out on thin ice. “Always trust your instincts if the ice does not look right, and don’t go out,” Hildreth says.

The D-N-R has has several other tips for those venturing out on the ice this winter. “No ice is 100 percent safe. New ice is usually stronger than old ice. We encourage folks not to go out alone. If the worst should happen. Someone should be there to call for help or to help rescue,” he says. Hildreth says off-colored snow or ice is usually a sign of weaker ice.  “The insulating effect of snow can slow down the freezing process. And we encourage folks to bring along some basic items to help keep them safe such as hand warmers, ice cleats to help prevent falls, ice picks to wear around your neck to help you crawl out of the water if you do happen to fall in,” he says. “A life jacket or a floating safety rope, a whistle to call for help.”

Hildreth says you should also take a basic first aid kit and an extra set of dry clothes including a pair of gloves when you’re exploring the ice this winter.

(Creston, Iowa/KCCI) — A Lorimor man who cut-off his ankle bracelet monitor in November while on a pre-trial release, and who was on the run from law enforcement, was arrested over the weekend in Union County. 33-year-old Dalton Barber was wanted on a warrant for sexual abuse. A Union County Sheriff’s Deputy saw Barber on Saturday. Chief Deputy Chris Nouse told KCCI the deputy engaged in a pursuit of Barber. The Iowa State Patrol and Clarke County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the chase, which ended soon after Barber wrecked his vehicle in Clarke County, and took off on foot.

The sheriff’s office used a heat-seeking drone to search for Barber. Nouse said the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office also deployed a drone. A female who was with Barber was located, but Barber wasn’t found until later that afternoon. He was placed under arrest and is being held without bail in the Union County Jail.

(Radio Iowa) -What’s billed as a whimsical holiday spectacular will make one stop in Iowa this year, boasting an international cast of talented performers. Rebecca Shubart is the artistic director for Cirque Dreams Holidaze, which will be offering four shows over two days this weekend at the Des Moines Civic Center.

“We’ve got amazing acrobatic acts, aerialists. We have someone who hangs from the ceiling from their hair, it’s incredible,” Shubart says. “One of the great things about it is that there’s something for everyone. Some people are really going to be drawn into the music, there’s a lot of holiday music, some people are going to be drawn into the costumes.” The Broadway-style production promises to dazzle audiences with an infusion of contemporary circus arts — and the artists hail from around the globe.

“They come to us from Europe, from Canada, from all over the U.S. We even have some artists from Ethiopia and Mongolia,” Shubart says. “They are well-trained, well-disciplined and they know how to put on a great show time after time after time.” She says the show focuses on the imagination and offers fun for children to senior citizens and all ages in between.

“Our softer, quieter moments with ‘Carol of the Bells’ that are ethereal and lovely, and then there are some crazy, fun moments that are a little more kid-centric,” Shubart says. “We have an audience participation that is always a favorite, but if it’s not your kind of thing to participate, you don’t have to, you can just sit back, relax and enjoy.”

There are shows Friday and Saturday nights, along with two Saturday matinees.

DMPA.org

(Radio Iowa) – Sergeant Alex Dinkla, the spokesman for the Iowa State Patrol, says there’s been a huge increase in traffic fatalities in Iowa this year. “As of today (Monday), we are at 363 fatalities. That’s 33 higher than it was last year at this same exact time,” Dinkla says. “We continue to see fatalities go on the rise. It’s alarming to all of us.” Dinkla says an initial review appears to show an increase in fatal accidents involving vehicles that are drifting out of their lane. “What is that telling us? That driver is doing something to go into that lane that’s distracting them, making them not see something,” Dinkla says.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 27 states have laws that make it illegal for motorists to handle a cell phone while driving. “We have pushed for a hands free law and we are going to continue to push for that because here at the State Patrol we do believe there will be a reduction in crashes and fatalities if Iowa can get that hands free law passed and make oure state a safer place to drive,” Dinkla says. State troopers say it’s difficult to enforce the Iowa law that bans texting while driving because it is still legal for someone to have a cell phone in their hand while driving. Last year the Iowa Senate overwhelmingly voted to require hands-free or voice activated technology for making calls while driving in Iowa, but the bill stalled in the House.

Nearly 330 million people in the United States have a cell phone and a report from the National Conference of State Legislatures suggests at any given moment 800-thousand vehicles are being driven by someone using a hand-held phone.

In an update to our previous reports, Council Bluffs Police say a homicide suspect, 27-year-old Mensah OLLOWAY was booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail on charges unrelated to the Homicide that occurred on 12-17-2023. OLLOWAY’S current charges are Serious Assault, Aggravated Assault and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The Homicide case is still being actively investigated and detectives are continuing to interview witnesses and gather evidence. Further updates will be provided as they become available.

Previous story:

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – A man from Nebraska is being sought in connection with the shooting and death Sunday night, of a western Iowa man. Council Bluffs Police report 27-year-old Mensah Olloway, of Omaha, is suspected in the shooting of 62-year-old Gary Fredrick, of Council Bluffs.

Officers were dispatched to 127 Harrison Street in Council Bluffs at around 6:38-p.m., Sunday, following a report of a possible shooting that had just occurred. When Officers arrived, they found Gary Fredrick laying on the floor, suffering from what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. Fredrick was treated at the scene and then transported to the UNMC in Omaha, where he died from his injuries a short time later.

Initial information indicates Fredrick arrived at the residence, and after a short time a disturbance broke out. During the disturbance, witnesses saw Olloway produce a hand gun before he allegedly fired several rounds at Fredrick. Olloway then ran from the scene and as of the latest report, had not been located.

Information is still being gathered on this incident. If you have any information on possible whereabouts of Olloway please contact the Council Bluffs Police Department at 712-328-4765 or Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.

(Harlan, Iowa) – The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday), issued a report on arrests that occurred over the past two weeks.

On December 1st: Chelsea Jean Birtwell, age 30, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop in Harlan. Birtwell was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Controlled Substance 2nd Offense, Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability, and Fraudulent use of Registration; and, Albert Alexander Johnson, age 38, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop in Harlan. Johnson was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On Dec. 2nd: Ian Austin, Hill, age 19, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop in Harlan. Hill was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st, and Failure to Provide Proof of Financial Liability.

On the 4th of December: Albert Alexander Johnson, age 38, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County Warrant for Willful Injury. Johnson was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

The following day,  Joshua James Hendon, age 30, of Panama, was arrested following an investigation. Hendon was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Simple Assault. And, on the 6th, Cristian Daniel Ruiz Chanchavac, age 33, of Harlan, was arrested following an investigation. Ruiz was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Domestic Abuse Assault.

On Dec. 8th: Dustin Allen Hansen, age 35, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop on Hwy 59 & Hwy 37. Hansen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Driving while Revoked.

On the 12th: Kerry Wayne Lincoln, age 52, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on active Shelby County Warrants. Lincoln was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with 3 counts of Failure to Appear.

On the 14th, Shelby County Deputies arrested: Megan Ericka Hunt, age 28, of Council Bluffs, following an investigation. Hunt was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Child Endangerment, and OWI 1st; June Louise Christensen, age 63, of Harlan, was arrested following an investigation. Christensen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Child Endangerment; Camryn Rose Casebeer, age 18, of Harlan, was arrested following an investigation. Casebeer was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Child Endangerment; also arrested Dec. 14th, was Ethan Michael Jeffery Christensen, age 18, of Harlan, was arrested following an investigation. Christensen was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Keeping Premises or Vehicle for Controlled Substance, Possession of Controlled Substance Marijuana 1st, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Child Endangerment.

Note: Criminal charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

(Radio Iowa) – Can poinsettias kill you? There’s a long-standing rumor about the red-and-green flowers traditionally associated with Christmas being deadly if eaten, but registered nurse Tammy Noble, at the Iowa Poison Control Center, says that’s simply an urban legend that is not true.

“Poinsettias have had a bad rap over the years,” Noble says, “but we’ve found that they’re not as toxic as what we thought 50 years ago.”

One study found that a child would have to eat as many as 500 poinsettia leaves to become poisoned, but aside from that, Noble says the leaves taste terrible so no one would likely ever eat a lethal dose of them. They’re a lovely plant, she says, and they shouldn’t concern you.

“We know that swallowing some of the leaves can cause mild upset stomach,” Noble says, “but it’s okay to have poinsettias in your house or to give to family members who are in nursing homes. They’re low risk.”

Other plants that may appear in your house during the year-end holidays could pose a more significant threat. Noble says to take care with holly berries and mistletoe as they -can- be poisonous.

If you have a question or concern, call the Sioux City-based Iowa Poison Control Center anytime at 1-800-222-1222.

The poinsettia is native to Mexico and dates back centuries to when the Aztecs cultivated them to be more like trees that grew to be ten feet high. Seventeenth-century Franciscan priests in Mexico used poinsettias in nativity processions, the first recorded use for a Christmas celebration, though they weren’t called poinsettias then. That didn’t come until Joel Robert Poinsette introduced the plant to the U.S. in 1825 while he was the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. The plants were later named to honor him.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue reports the A-PD’s Family Dreams Christmas was held Saturday, Dec. 16th. The Chief says “This year’s program served eight full families of shopping at local businesses around town as well as four additional families with a visit through our toy room. Each family also received a box with all items needed to cook a delicious Christmas meal. This program was able to assist 37 children and 17 adults from 12 families. We were also assisted by the Atlantic Girls Basketball throughout the day.”

In addition, local authorities conducted the “Shop with a Cop” program on Sunday the 17th. Chief Hogue said “We had 27 individuals on hand to assist with shopping. They represented the APD, APD Reserves, Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DNR, as well as a couple of retired officers. We also had members of officers families join in to help. In total we took 35 children shopping during this program.

Together, these two programs assisted 72 children and 17 adults from 24 different Cass County families in having a much more joyful holiday this year. Neither of these programs would be possible without the generosity of our community. Thank you to everyone who donated and supported these two programs in 2023!!” (Photos provided courtesy of Chief Devin Hogue)

(Omaha, NE) –  If you’re in search of a new family pet, you’re not alone. The demand for animal adoptions tends to rise during the holiday season, but so does the prevalence of scams. Numerous scams exploit online animal adoption platforms, some of which may not even be legitimate. As consumers turn to the internet to find new pets, experts say a shocking 80% of sponsored pet advertisements may be fake.

How the scam works:

Like many frauds, this one has adapted and evolved over the years. The early versions typically involved scammers posting a simple classified ad offering a free pet, with the owner explaining that he or she was being relocated to another country, or could no longer keep the animal for some other reason. But while there was no charge for the animal itself, the scammers insisted the potential buyer pay for transportation and other costs associated with getting the pets to their new owners.

More recently, these frauds involve the sale of animals at low prices – usually well below the charges of actual breeders. Similarly, later requests ask for additional money for shipping costs and other expenses that supposedly go to third parties.

How to avoid pet scams:

·         Do your research! Only purchase from a reputable dealer. Check BBB Business Profiles on BBB.org for complaints and customer reviews before you make the purchase.

·         Don’t buy a pet without seeing it in person. If that isn’t possible, request a live video call to view the animal, meet the breeder, and evaluate the facility.

·         Conduct a reverse image search of the picture of the pet you are considering. If the same picture appears on multiple websites, it’s likely a fraud. You also can search for distinctive text from ads or testimonials, to see if the seller copied it from another website.

·         Avoid wiring money, or using a cash app or gift card. These payment methods offer no way to get your money back if you are the victim of fraud.

·         Do research to get a sense of a fair price for the breed you are considering. Think twice if someone advertises a purebred dog for free or at a deeply discounted price, it could be a fraudulent offer.

·         Consider reaching out to a local animal shelter. Many shelters are looking for fosters to help relieve animal stress and reduce overcrowding at their facilities.

If you think you have been scammed or have found a suspicious website, report it to:

·         BBB Scam Tracker

·         Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

·         Petscams.com - tracks complaints, catalogs puppy scammers and endeavors to get fraudulent pet sales websites taken down

For more information on puppy scams, see BBB’s full report on puppy scams.

If you’ve spotted a scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim to scams. Find more information about scams and how to avoid them at BBB.org/AvoidScams.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Four men with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office were honored this (Monday) morning at the State Capital in Des Moines, with the Sullivan Brothers Award of Valor. Sheriff Neil Gross, Chief Deputy Cody Eckles, Sgt. Jake Hoss, Deputy Bill McDaniel were presented with the award by Governor Kim Reynolds, Kelly Sullivan, representing the Sullivan family, Col. Nathan Fulk with the Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa DPS Commissioner Stephan K. Bayens.

Commissioner Bayens explained the origin of the award lies with five brothers from Waterloo who enlisted in the U-S Navy during World War II.

The award itself was established in 1967 and later renamed The Sullivan Brothers Award of Valor, to recognize the heroic efforts of First Responders, Peace officer and Firefighters. Commissioner Bayens said the award recipients are selected by a committee within the First Responder community. He said the award is for those who go above and beyond the normal expectations for their position in public service.

(from Left to right): Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg; Gov. Kim Reynolds; Chief Gross; Chief Deputy Eckles; Sgt. Hoss; Deputy McDaniel; Kelly Sullivan; Commissioner Bayens and Col. Fulk.

The four men from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Bayens said the incident they were involved in began to unfold on July 12th, 2021, when the Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a suicidal subject barricaded inside of a home in Elk Horn (IA).

Once contact was made with the barricaded subject, for more than two-hours, negotiators spoke with him and tried to reach a peaceful resolution and surrender, but gunfire erupted from inside the home. After another round of negotiations, it appeared the subject might peacefully surrender, but then black smoke was seen coming from a window of the residence, flames began to engulf the structure and authorities lost contact with the subject inside. Ammunition was heard going-off in the home as the result of the intense heat.

Putting their own safety aside, the four men breached the house in an attempt to rescue the barricaded subject.

Once the fire was extinguished, law enforcement learned all the exterior doors had been screwed shut from inside, and a fully loaded rifle was near the suspect when law enforcement made entry.

A Lifesaving award was presented to Caleb Crocker, who was working at a group home in Guttenberg for Iowans with disabilities when it caught fire last December.

Iowa Public Safety Commissioner speaking in Capitol rotunda as Caleb Crocker of Guttenberg and Andrew Kreig of Cylinder sit to the left and on the right are Shelby County Sheriff Neil Gross and Deputies Cody Eckles, Jacob Hoss and William McDaniel. (RI photo)

Commissioner Stephne Bayens says Crocker was treated for smoke inhalation after he rescued residents.

Another Lifesaving Award was presented to Andrew Kreig, of Cylinder, a farm hand in rural Palo Alto County, who rescued an elderly person from a burning home on November 28th of last year. Someone who noticed smoke coming from the home called Kreig and asked him to drive over and check. Bayens says when Kreig arrived, the home was on fire, the door was locked and he could see someone was inside.

Governor Reynolds opened the ceremony this (Monday) morning in the Capitol Rotunda.