COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA — Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) welcomed a new $1,279,000 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to support the construction of a new campground at Lake Manawa State Park in Council Bluffs.

The new grant comes less than one month after legislation cosponsored by Rep. Axne to permanently fund the LWCF was signed into law.

The LWCF matching grant covers half the cost for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to complete the project, which will include full power and sewage hookups for 40 sites and a new shower and restroom facility.

Lake Manawa State Park covers 1,529 acres surrounding the 772 acre lake – and is one of the most popular outdoor recreation facilities in the Council Bluffs area. The Park offers hiking and bike trails, boating ramps, swimming areas, and ample opportunities for fishing.

An Omaha woman died from injuries sustained in a head-on collision in Pottawattamie County on Friday evening. Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputies report the two-vehicle collision happened at about 6:08 p.m. north of Crescent on Old Lincoln Highway near Missouri Avenue.

The investigation indicated that 21-year-old Carter Calvert of Omaha was southbound on Old Lincoln Highway in a 2012 Toyota Camry as a vehicle driven by 56-year-old Catherine Vasquez was northbound on Old Lincoln Highway. For unknown reasons the vehicles collided head-on.

Mrs. Vasquez was taken to UNMC in Omaha where she was pronounced dead. Vazquez was a special education paraprofessional at Saddlebrook Elementary School in Omaha.  Mr. Calvert was transported to UNMC with serious injuries.

Preliminary investigation indicates that speed and alcohol may have been a factor. The accident remains under investigation.

w/ Chris Parks

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The Creston Police Department reports three recent arrests, two on Friday and one on Saturday.

On Friday, August 21st at 11:27 a.m. Officers arrested 26-year-old Zakary Titus of Des Moines on charges of Eluding, OWI 1st, Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd or Subsequent Offense, Possession of Paraphernalia, Driving While Barred, and Reckless Driving. Titus was being held in the Union County Jail on $13,000 bond.

Also on Friday at 7:15 p.m. Creston Police arrested 41-year-old Chrystal McNutt of Mt. Ayr on a charge of Theft 5th Degree. She was cited and released from the scene on a Summons to Appear.

On Saturday, August 22nd at 1:46 a.m. Creston Police arrested 27-year-old Dustin Boyd of San Angelo, TX for Public Intoxication. He was later released from the Union County Jail on $300 bond.

The Red Oak Police Department reports one arrest following a response to a dispute in Red Oak. Officers responded to the dispute call at 10:02 p.m. in the 200 block of West 3rd Street in Red Oak. After investigation 57-year-old Kathy Waggoner of Red Oak was arrested for Simple Assault. Waggoner was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

The Red Oak Police Department reports the arrest of an Elliott man on Sunday evening following a traffic stop. Officers conducted the stop at 9:44 p.m. on Sunday on Highway 48 just north of the intersection with Highway 34. Following the stop officers arrested 23-year-old Page Pettis of Elliott for Interference with Official Acts. He was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 bond.

While temperatures hovered around the low-to-mid 90’s Sunday afternoon, a good chunk of Atlantic was without power. Reports started coming in at around 4:45-p.m.  According to reports, 25 blocks of the community were affected, mainly west of Olive Street, with AMU crews working to resolve the problem.

Power was restored to at least some residents by around 5:40-p.m. The Cass County Communications Center confirmed power was restored to all customers, and the all AMU personnel mentioned that is was an issue with a fuse.

No other details were available.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Sunday afternoon, confirmed the first death of a child due to complications from COVID-19. The child was under the age of five, and had significant underlying health conditions.

Officials said the death occurred in June and the case investigation was completed on August 6 by the State Medical Examiner. The child’s death was publicly reported this weekend after ensuring the individual’s identity would remain protected and notifying the family. When any pediatric death occurs, which includes any individual under the age of 17, due to disease or other unnatural circumstances, the medical examiner performs a number of routine tests.

The investigation to confirm cause of death includes extensive pathology, metabolic and other tests that can take months to complete and certify, depending on the complexity of the case. In this case, the Medical examiner performed a full range of testing, given the complicating factor of the child’s health history. Ultimately, COVID-19 was deemed the cause of death.

The IDPH said also, “We have made every effort to protect the identity of this child, while the family grieves this devastating loss. Again, we send our sincerest condolences.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will speak at this week’s Republican National Convention. Reynolds’ campaign said Sunday that the Iowa Republican will address the convention remotely on Tuesday and doesn’t plan to attend the event in Charlotte, North Carolina. GOP officials in Charlotte are expected to vote to renominate President Donald Trump in a small in-person session Monday. Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst is also scheduled to speak to the convention on Wednesday.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are investigating after a car drove through a group of protesters in downtown Iowa City on Friday night, but no serious injuries were reported as part of the incident. Iowa City Police said they identified the driver who went through a group of at least 100 protesters Friday, and are seeking more details from people who were part of the event organized by the Iowa Freedom Riders civil rights group.

Video of the incident was posted online. Organizers said Friday’s march was planned to demand additional action from Iowa City leaders.