KIMBALLTON – The city of Kimballton in Audubon County has issued a bottled water advisory for the community of 291 residents through August 1st. Current construction of an upgraded water treatment plant has temporarily resulted in drinking water above the health advisory level for manganese at 1.77 mg/L.

Although manganese is a common, naturally-occurring mineral found in rocks, soil, groundwater, and surface water, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has developed a health advisory level for manganese in drinking water of 0.3 mg/L which is intended to be protective of lifetime exposure for the general population.

The US EPA recommends that infants up to 6 months of age should not be given water with manganese concentrations greater than 0.3 mg/L for more than a total of 10 days per year, nor should the water be used to make formula for more than ten days per year.

Please do not give the water to adults and children of any age. Adults, children, and infants who drink water containing manganese above the health advisory level may be associated with adverse health effects. Bottled water or an alternative source should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice.

The water may be used for bathing and other similar purposes.

• Water, juice, and formula for children under six months of age should not be prepared with tap water. Bottled or other water low in manganese should be used for infants until further notice.
• DO NOT BOIL THE WATER. Boiling, freezing, filtering, or letting water stand does not reduce the manganese level. Excessive boiling can make the manganese more concentrated because manganese remains behind when the water evaporates.

Additional information about manganese can be found here: Manganese in Drinking Water Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions

(Atlantic, Iowa) – Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett, this (Wednesday) evening, swore-in the City’s newest Police Officer.  Forrest Fromm, who joined the Department this month (July, 2023). Fromm is a Veteran of the Iowa National Guard, which he joined at the age of 18.

His rank is that of Staff Sergeant, and he’s a squad leader for his unit. Fromm was deployed to Doha, Qatar from 2020 to 2021, where he served as a Team Leader. He also previously worked for the Ankeny Police Department. Officer Fromm is originally from the eastern Iowa town of Bellevue. He attended the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, in 2022.

Mayor Garrett congratulates Officer Forrest Fromm.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report two people were transported to the hospital following a collision this (Wednesday) afternoon at Osage Street and Highway 34. Authorities say a 2023 Chrysler Voyage van driven by 42-year-old Matthew J. Slutsky, of Philadelphia, PA, was traveling west on Highway 34 at around 2:30-p.m.  A 2004 Nissan Titan pickup driven by 19-year-old Jaxayra A. Matul, of Osceola, was stopped at the intersection stop sign.

Matul told police that there was a vehicle in the turn lane, and she could not see any other vehicles. She proceeded south through the intersection. The van was still traveling west and could not stop to avoid striking the pickup. A witness told police Slutsky did everything he could to avoid the crash, but could not. During the collision, airbags in the van deployed. No injuries were reported to the three occupants of the van.

The pickup sustained heavy damage to the driver’s side rear. Two passengers in the box of the pickup truck were injured. They were transported by ambulance to the Greater Regional Medical Center, in Creston. Two other occupant were uninjured.

Matul was cited for Failure to Provide Proof of financial liability and failure to yield the right-of-way. Damage from the crash amounted to $15,000.

DES MOINES – Today, Governor Reynolds announced she will convene the General Assembly of Iowa on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. for a special session with the sole purpose of “enacting legislation that addresses abortion and protects unborn lives. ”

“Iowans have elected representatives willing to stand up for the rights of the unborn and, in doing so, they have voted strongly in support of pro-life principles and against the arbitrary destruction of innocent, defenseless lives,” stated Governor Reynolds.

“In 2018, I proposed, the legislature passed, and I proudly signed into law legislation that protected unborn babies from abortion once a heartbeat was detectable. After years of litigation, the Iowa Supreme Court was split 3-3 last month in its opinion regarding whether a lower court’s injunction of the Fetal Heartbeat Law should be dissolved. This lack of action disregards the will of Iowa voters and lawmakers who will not rest until the unborn are protected by law.

“I believe the pro-life movement is the most important human rights cause of our time. Not only will I continue to fight against the inhumanity of abortion, but I will also remain committed to supporting women in planning for motherhood, promoting fatherhood and parenting, and continuing policies that encourage strong families. These are the most essential building blocks of our society, and they are what will keep the foundation of our state and country strong for generations to come.”

The governor has issued a Proclamation of Special Session in accordance with Article IV, Section 11, and Article III, Section 2, of the Constitution of the State of Iowa.

(Guthrie Center, Iowa) – The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a vehicle hit-and-run property damage incident. Authorities say at around 9:30-a.m. Monday, a man reported a hit-and-run accident from the previous night at Diamondhead Lake. The Sheriff’s Office says they took another report of a hit-and-run Sunday night near the man’s residence, and that the suspect vehicle was a UTV that was running into parked vehicles.

A Deputy who arrived on the scene observed damage to the driver’s side of the reporting party’s 2017 Chevy Colorado pickup. The damage was discovered by the vehicle’s owner Monday morning, before he called the Sheriff’s Office.

The pickup sustained $6,000 damage. The incident remains under investigation.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on arrests conducted between June 28th and July 4th. On Tuesday (7/4), 45-year-old Justin James Smith, of Villisca, was arrested on a warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. (Bond $1,000) And, 33-year-old Christopher Lee McDaniel, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault (No Bond).

On Monday, 40-year-old Alvin Lee Baucom, of Glenwood, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. 19-year-old Willow Brook Harvey, of Glenwood, was arrested on a similar charge, Sunday. Both were being held without bond. 35-year-old Joshua Michael Brizendine, of Council Bluffs, was arrested Sunday for Possession of Controlled Substances (PCS). (Bond $50,000). 24-year-old Faith Ann Stapleton, of Council Bluffs, was also arrested Sunday, for PCS.

Last Saturday, 33-year-old Ryan Scott Wendt, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault and Child Endangerment. (No Bond) 36-year-old Michael Gene Charon, of Bartlett (IA), was arrested Saturday, for Theft in the 2nd Degree (Bond $5,000). And, on June 28th, Mills County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 23-year-old Monta Arnell Johnson, Jr., of Council Bluffs, at the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, on a warrant for Violation of Probation. (Bond $1,000).

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Police Department, Wednesday, issued a report detailing 15 arrests that took place between June 23rd and July 4th. Most recently, on Tuesday, July 4th, 21-year-old Sitson Sapong, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct.

On Monday, 57-year-old Larry Garner, of Atlantic, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct. And there were three arrests on Sunday: 25-year-old Sikrit Muritok, 64-year-old Jeffery Oller, of Paducah, KY, and 28-year-old Mixon Fauna, of Atlantic, were all arrested for Public Intoxication.

On July 1st, 47-year-old Amanda Bashor, of Atlantic, was arrested for Violation of a No Contact Order. And, 53-year-old Theresa Reynolds, of Oakland, was arrested for OWI/2nd Offense.

June 29th, Atlantic Police arrested 20-year-old Myson Kovac, of Atlantic, on a Cass County warrant for Violation of Probation (Two counts). On the 28th, 27-year-old Glove Kovac, of Atlantic, was arrested for Public Intoxication. Authorities say on the 27th of June, 34-year-old Brittiny Sampson, of Atlantic, was arrested for Assault causing bodily injury. And there were three arrests June 23rd, in Atlantic:

34-year-old Jennifer Larson, of Atlantic, was arrested for Trespass in the 1st Degree, and Interference with Official Acts; 34-year-old April Medina, of Atlantic, was arrested for Assault on persons in certain occupations (Causing bodily injury), Assault on persons in certain occupations, and Interference with Official Acts resulting in serious injury. And, 35-year-old Chipenson Louis, of Honolulu, HI, was arrested in Atlantic, for Public Intoxication.

There were two arrested June 23rd, in Atlantic: 22-year-old Maximus Callahan, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI & Operating (a vehicle) without the Owner’s Consent; 57-year-old Larry Garner, of Atlantic, was arrested for Trespass/1st offense.

Each of those individuals were transported to the Cass County Jail, booked in and held pending an initial court appearance.

(Radio Iowa) – A district court judge has ruled Iowa counties may provide voter registration forms, ballots and other election materials in languages other than English. A court injunction issued in 2008 required Iowa election materials to be printed in English. LULAC — the League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa — challenged the policy in court. Last week a Polk County district court judge ruled county election officials may provide voting forms in other languages, but they are not required to do so. Joe Henry is LULAC’s Iowa political director.

“There’s between 40,000 to 50,000 people in Iowa (for whom) English is not their primary language and it’s not just Spanish,” Henry says. “It’s other languages from the Middle East, Asia, and so forth and so on, so this is a victory for everyone and it assures our constitutional right to vote.”

A spokesperson for Iowa’s secretary of state says state officials are in contact with county auditors and Iowa’s attorney general about next steps. Secretary of State Paul Pate, who was named in the lawsuit, could appeal the district court ruling. Governor Tom Vilsack signed legislation in 2002 requiring the English language to be used in all state government documents unless documents are necessary to secure a constitutional right. In 2003, state election officials began offering voting materials in other languages and Steve King, who was an Iowa congressman at the time, sued — leading to the 2008 decision that has barred the secretary of state from providing voter registration forms in any language other than English.