(Radio Iowa) – The population of the eastern Iowa community of Tiffin jumped 11 percent last year — making it Iowa’s fastest growing town. Tiffin is about a 15 minute drive from Iowa City. The latest estimates from the U-S Census Bureau indicate Tiffin’s population topped 58-hundred last July.

The population of the Des Moines suburb of Waukee grew 10 percent from mid-2021 to July of last year. Population growth in Des Moines was one-point-two percent. Sioux Falls, South Dakota was the only other Midwest metro that saw higher growth.

The U-S Census Bureau estimates Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Davenport, Council Bluffs and Sioux City have all lost population since the 2020 Census — while Iowa City and Ankeny saw population growth. In general, the U.S. Census found population decline in small towns in the Midwest and the overall population of the Midwest dropped one percent.

(Marion County, Iowa) – The body of a swimmer who went missing Saturday evening at Lake Red Rock was recovered late Sunday morning. The Marion County Sheriff’s office says the body of 21-year-old Irias Gbarjolo, of Johnston, was located using sonar, around 10:21 a.m. Sunday. His body was brought to shore, where he was pronounced dead.

Law enforcement received a 9-1-1 call at around 7:27 p.m. Saturday, informing them about a young man who went underwater at Lake Red Rock and didn’t resurface. Law enforcement from multiple agencies were involved in the search, which was suspended shortly after midnight on Sunday. The search resumed around 6 a.m. Sunday morning.

Gbarjolo’s was transported to the State Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy. In a news release, Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt said “My heart goes out to the family of this young man. It is always sad when an individual with such a promising future is taken from us at such a young age. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”

(Iowa City, Iowa) [Updated 5:54-p.m.]  – A crash Saturday night in eastern Iowa’s Johnson County, claimed the life of a 22-year-old woman. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2008 Saturn Vue driven by 17-year-old Keasean Ford, and a 2012 GMC Acadia driven by 17-year-old Elijah Seals, both of Iowa City, were traveling westbound on Court Street in Iowa City, when they failed to stop at the intersection with S. 7th Avenue. A 2017 Chevy Malibu was struck in the intersection. The car was driven by Jennifer Russell, of Waterloo. Russell, who was wearing her seat belt, died at the University of Iowa Hospitals (UIHC) in Iowa City.

Both drivers, and a passenger in one of the vehicles, 17-year-old Michel Mbokolo, of Iowa City, were injured and transported by Johnson County Ambulance to the UIHC. The crash happened at around 10:54-p.m., Saturday. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Iowa City Police and Fire Departments, and Johnson County Ambulance.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston said Sunday, no injuries were reported Saturday, following an accident at an uncontrolled intersection. Authorities say a 2019 Mazda CX5 driven by 73-year-old Diane Lynn Lydon-Poore, of Creston, was traveling north on Maple Street at around 10:19-a.m. When she failed to yield to a 2007 Chevy Equinox that was traveling west on Page Street, and driven by 33-year-old Cornelio Rodriguez, of Lenox.

The Mazda struck the Chevy in the intersection, causing a total of $7,000 damage. Rodriguez was cited for having no valid driver’s license. No other citations were issued.

(Iowa DNR News) – The calls have been coming in to Iowa DNR field offices and conservation officers for the past few weeks and deer fawning season. Officials say those called are expected to increase, as the first few weeks of June marks the peak of the deer fawning season. Callers report finding an “abandoned” fawn in an unusual place, like a flowerbed or small patch of cover. Rest assured this is normal deer behavior. Jim Coffey, forest wildlife research biologist with the Iowa DNR, says “The doe searches out an isolated location where she feels safe and on occasion those places are not what we may think of as ideal. She chose that location because it made sense to her. The worst thing someone can do is to ‘rescue’ the fawn. Mom is likely nearby and watching you. Leave it be or if you did handle the fawn, return it to where you found it and walk away.”

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will not be rehabbing or co-mingling fawns with other deer to avoid the potential of spreading chronic wasting disease – or other disease – to new areas. The spindly legged newborn fawn is designed with a few survival tools built in –its spots are cryptic camouflage that emulates the sunlight spots on the leaf litter on the forest floor and its lack of movement the first two weeks helps to reduce scent patterns. This combination is its best chance at survival until it is able to follow the doe. After the fawns are born, the doe will return to fairly normal behavior – sleeping, feeding – but returning to nurse and care for the fawn.

The fawning season also coincides with an increase in deer vehicle collisions. “There is a lot of movement this time of year that is part of the social structure of deer. The doe is on the move looking for the safe isolated place to have the fawns.  In addition last year’s fawns – teenagers now – are starting to venture out to find new space. These yearlings have to make their own decisions for the first time, encounter other adult deer and build new social structures,” Coffey said. “This movement behavior can occur during all times of the day. Once it settles out, the active time will return to dawn and dusk.”

Drivers are reminded to drive defensively, avoid distractions, and slow down and not to veer for deer. If they hit a deer, drivers can get a salvage tag by calling either the local conservation officer or local law enforcement. There is no fee for a salvage tag it does require that the entire deer is taken.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Saturday, arrested a man wanted on a Montgomery County warrant for Failure To Appear on an original charge of Theft in the 5th Degree. 22-year-old Sebastian Kage Meek, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 6:24-p.m. in the 100 block of W. Coolbaugh Street, and transported to the Montgomery County Jail. His cash-only bond was set at  $1,000.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Chamber Ambassadors hosted a new area business, FMJunk-It on Thursday, May 25th, 2023, during a ribbon-cutting at the Atlantic Area Chamber office.

FMJunk-It is a junk removal service based out of the Carson area. The business was started in March of 2023 by brothers, Drake and Cale Roller. The two are able to remove unwanted items from both residential and commercial spaces and specialize in furniture and appliances removal, apartment cleanouts, garage cleanouts, basement cleanouts, and the removal of any other various trash. FMJunk-It also offers a minor demolition service for items such as small sheds, cabinets, and playground sets.

Both Atlantic natives, Drake and Cale are very familiar with the community and can travel to Council Bluffs, Glenwood, Underwood, Atlantic, Avoca, Red Oak, Harlan, or any other area within an hour of Carson. FMJunk-It is a veteran-owned business, as Drake served as a field artillery section chief in the United States Marine Corps. The name “FMJunk-It” is inspired by the phrase “Full Metal Jacket”, a type of ammunition commonly used in the military. The brothers also want to emphasize that their main goal is to help different people out in many ways. One aspect is donating half of their profit to any veteran charity for every veteran clientele.

FMJunk-It offers a free estimate for all item removal and pricing is based upon the load size or other various landfill fees. To book their services, visit their website, https://www.fmjunk-it.com/ and fill out the free estimate form under their pricing tab or call Drake at 712-249-9978.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) -An official with the Union Pacific Railroad has provided KJAN News with an update concerning a train derailment in Council Bluffs. According to Mike Jaixen, Senior Manager – U.P. Corporate Communications – said that ” At approximately 5:30 p.m. Saturday [afternoon], about a dozen empty rail cars derailed in our Council Bluffs, Iowa yard. There were no injuries or contents released. Union Pacific crews are currently working to resolve the issue. One crossing, at 14th Avenue, remains blocked; we hope to clear this crossing by early this [Sunday] afternoon.”

Police officers in Council Bluffs were on routine patrol when they discovered the derailed railcars in the area north of 14th Ave. and S. 15th St. The intersections of S. 12th St. and 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 14th, and 16th Avenues, as well as S. 16th St. and 23rd Ave., were all blocked due to the derailed train covering those intersections.

Union Pacific official had not requested assistance from the police department as of the latest report, and no police resources were deployed to the incident.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources report that at around 1-p.m. today (May 27, 2023), a boat operated by 31-year-old Jeffrey Mattison, of Cedar Rapids, collided with a bridge piling on the Cedar River, upstream from Ellis Park in Cedar Rapids, located in Linn County, Iowa.

Mattison was non-responsive and immediately transported to the University of Iowa hospital by helicopter. The cause of the collision is unknown at this time.

The Department of Natural Resources is currently investigating the incident. The Linn County Sheriff, Linn County Conservation Board, and the Cedar Rapids Fire Department assisted with the response.