(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two recent arrests. At around 12:16-a.m. today (Sept. 12th), Ashley Perez, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested at the Sheriff’s Office in Red Oak, on an active Montgomery County warrant for unauthorized use of a credit card. Perez was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 bond.  And, at around 6:30-p.m. Sunday, Deputies arrested 23-year-old Athea Hamilton, of Red Oak, for Theft in the 5th Degree. She was taken into custody in the 300 block of E. Elm Street, following a brief investigation into an incident that had occurred on August 26th, in the 2400 block of North Broadway Street, in Red Oak. Hamilton was being held on a $300 bond.

And Police in Red Oak report the arrest at around 6:30-p.m., Sunday, of 65-year-old Michael Loren Kelly, from Red Oak, on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. Kelly was issued a summons to appear in court at the later date, and released back to the Red Oak Health Care Community.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says the November election won’t turn on any single issue, but voters will be motivated by values like free enterprise and individual liberty. “When you have over 60% of people who feel the country is on the wrong track, they don’t have faith and they don’t have confidence and they don’t have hope,” Miller-Meeks says, “we need to turn this country around.”

Miller-Meeks held a campaign fundraiser in Coralville Saturday. Two other Iowa Republicans running for re-election spoke to the crowd. Governor Kim Reynolds says Democrats over-complicate things, while Republicans offer common sense.  “The Iowa team is pushing back, we are in a good place,” Reynolds says. “We are showing not only Iowans, but the country what conservative leadership looks like.”

Senator Chuck Grassley says Iowa voters are concerned about inflation and President Biden’s energy policies, particularly when it comes to gasoline production. “The fact it’s $3.69 in Cedar Falls doesn’t make any difference. He can’t take credit for that,” Grassley said. “It’s because people are driving 10% less ’cause they can’t afford the price he got it up to in the first place.”

Florida Senator Rick Scott was the keynote speaker at the Miller-Meeks event. Scott is in charge of fundraising for Republican candidates for the U.S. SENATE, but Scott says he was in Iowa to help a HOUSE candidate because increasing turn-out for Miller-Meeks in Iowa’s first district will benefit Grassley. “I mean, this state will matter, will decide whether we…get a majority in the senate or not. Senator Grassley has to win,” Scott said. “By the way the senate works, if you’re not in the majority, your vote doesn’t matter.”

Christina Bohannan, the Democrat running against Miller-Meeks, says by having Scott speak at the event, Miller-Meeks has aligned herself with Scott’s extreme views. Bohannan points to Scott’s plan to terminate Social Security and Medicare every five years and require congress to vote to reauthorize the programs.

(Corning, Iowa) – The Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Sunday morning, issued several reports, two of which pertained to the shooting of a trail camera(s) on a landowner’s property. Authorities say On Sept. 4th, they were notified a trail camera was hit by a shotgun blast or blasts. Upon further investigation, Kai Turner, of Corning, and Ashton Turner, of Greenfield, were arrested. Ashton Turner was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and Trespassing. Kai Turner was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, along with Aiding and Abetting. Both were booked into the Adams County Jail, and later released on a $300 bond, each.

A juvenile was arrested Sept. 4th, after authorities were notified of a burglary that had occurred at The Pub. Upon further investigation, a 12-year-old was taken into custody for Burglary in the 3rd Degree, Theft in the 4th Degree, and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. The youth was released to their parents, and the case was turned over to the Juvenile Court System.  On Sept. 3rd, Deputies with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle, at Highway 34 and Poplar Avenue. Authorities say following an investigation, Mateo Mancha, of Omaha, NE., was taken into custody on charges that include Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Macha was also cited for speeding. A passenger in the vehicle, Emme Eblen, of Omaha, was arrested and charged with PCS/Marijuana – 2nd offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia.

On Sept. 2nd, Adams County Deputies conducted a routine traffic stop for speeding, at Sycamore Avenue and Highway 34. Upon investigation, a Probable Cause search was conducted on the vehicle for the odor of marijuana. Joshua Villanueva, of Lenox, was arrested for PCS/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also cited for speeding Villanueva later posted a $1,300 bond and was released. And, on Sept. 1st, 23-year-old Moesha Garcia, of Lenox, was arrested for PCS/Marijuana – 1st offense, and Poss. of Drug Paraphernalia, following  a traffic stop for speeding, at the intersection of Highways 34 and 25. Her bond was set at $1,300.

(Cass County, Iowa) – Traffic on Interstate 80 west of Adair was rerouted for hours, Saturday, following a semi tractor-trailer accident that caused both east- and westbound-lanes to be closed. Authorities say the semi struck the cable barriers and stretched those barriers across the interstate, along with the truck. All interstate traffic was diverted down Highway 148 for several hours.

Traffic in the crash zone was stalled from about mile marker 73.6 to near the Wiota Exit 67 (Wiota), while authorities worked to detour motorists who were not caught on either side of the blockage. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Agencies assisting with traffic control at the scene includes: the Cass and Audubon County Sheriff’s Offices; Iowa State Patrol (ISP); Iowa DOT motor vehicle enforcement (MVE), Anita and Atlantic Fire Departments; Cass EMS; the Iowa DOT, and Richter and Son Towing.

(Olin, Iowa) – Officials with the Iowa DNR report that a man from Jones County died, during an ATV accident, early Saturday morning. Authorities say that at around 3:30 AM, 35-year-old James Daniel Minor, of Olin, died when the ATV he was operating drove off the roadway at the Olin Access Wildlife Management Area. Minor hit an obstruction and was declared dead at the scene.

Jones County Sheriff assisted the Iowa DNR at the scene.

(Adair, Iowa) – Adair Police Chief Brad Wendt is on a paid leave of absence, pending the completion of a criminal investigation into firearms charges. Adair City Attorney Clint Fichter confirmed the Chief’s status, Thursday.

Agents from the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed search warrants on Aug. 31^st, at Wendt’s office at City Hall in Adair, gun stores he owns in Anita and Denison, and a rural property in Manning.

To be clear, Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater’s office was not a target of the investigation. Vandewater only became aware of the investigation after it was underway.

(Vilisca, Iowa) – A traffic stop at around 6:30-p.m. Friday in Montgomery County, resulted in a pursuit, and the arrest of a man from Nebraska. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department reports Deputies attempted to stop a black, no-plated Pontiac Grand Am, on Highway 34 near the intersection with T Avenue (Northwest of Villisca), when the driver – identified as 32-year-old Ryan Jennings, of Omaha – sped off, leading to a chase with speeds of around 100-mph.

The car entered a ditch upright near 200th Street and Highway 34. Jennings attempted to flee on foot, but was apprehended by Deputies, who detained two other adult passengers in the car. Also located in the vehicle was a juvenile child under Jennings’ care.

Jennings was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and charged with Child Endangerment, Eluding, and Interference with Official Acts. Multiple citations were also issued. The two adult passengers were released at the scene without charges.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Montgomery County K9 Unit, Montgomery County Communications, Red Oak Police, and Red Oak Rescue.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors are slated to meet 9-a.m. Tuesday, Sept.13th, in their Boardroom at the Courthouse, in Atlantic. One of the items on their agenda is to officially accept the resignation of Cass County Auditor Sara Harris, who submitted her resignation to the Board on August 31st.

Harris had been appointed to the position by the Supervisors following the retirement of longtime Auditor Dale Sunderman, in February, 2022. She took over the position in April, and was expected to hold the title of Auditor until the November 8th General Election, but decided to bow out, when a Cass County Republican Nominating Convention was held and selected Kathy Somers as their nominee on August 16th.

In her letter of resignation, Harris stated her last day in office will be Monday, Sept. 12th. She cited in her letter, the decision made by the CCRCC’s “Organized effort,” to remove her “in a referendum against the board of supervisors when they chose to place party loyalty over process and a full capability of doing the job as an auditor.” Harris said also, she could have campaigned, but “The toxic environment fueled with unnecessary drama would remain and the party powers that decided to push [her] out, to no fault of [her] own, will be more inspired than ever to continue their vendetta against the board and by association, [Harris] and [her] family.”

Following formal action on accepting her resignation, the Board, Tuesday, will act to appoint an Auditor to fill the position, until the election. In other business, the Board will act on abating taxes on a parcel located within the City of Anita, and hear a presentation from Don Brown, with Renodry USA, a company that helps to dry out older structures in an effort to remove excess moisture, mold and other causes of masonry and wall issues.

The Supervisors will discuss and possibly act on: using Renodry’s services; DHS approval of leased copier machines, and (if candidates are available), the appointment of Trustees for the Bear Grove (1) and Washington Townships (2).

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA – A citizen of Mexico who resided in Denison, was sentenced Wednesday to prison, following his plea to a charge of misuse of a Social Security Number. His sentenced was handed-down in Council Bluffs U-S District Court. Authorities say 39-year-old Eric Jimenez Del Carmen was ordered to serve 21 months in prison. following his plea to a charge of misuse of social security number.

In November 2019, Del Carmen applied for employment with Monogram Foods, located in Harlan, by knowingly using a social security number that had not been assigned to him. Del Carmen was able to obtain employment at Monogram Foods as a result of misuse of social security number.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations and the Social Security Administration investigated the case.

(Radio Iowa) – A unique, free concert experience will be staged in central Iowa next week featuring what’s known as a long-string harp with strings that will extend across a downtown Des Moines street, from a rooftop to a park below.

Andrea Brook is the musician who will be playing the instrument she calls the Sonic Butterfly, a 26-string acoustic, chromatic harp — though she says it doesn’t sound like a traditional harp as you don’t pluck the strings. “Because it’s a harp, each string is just one note,” Brook says. “I run my fingers along the strings, much like you would run your finger around the edge of a crystal glass, creating a longitudinal vibration, and this creates this really beautiful, very cello-viola sound.”

Brook is based in Ojai, California and she’s taken the two-octave instrument she designed to perform in countries around the world. This will be her first Iowa appearance. “I have strung the Space Needle in Seattle, the Grand Theatre in Shanghai, a mountain peak in Malibu, cathedrals in Mexico and Brazil, and many, many other spaces,” Brook says. “I literally run the strings from the stage, out at minimum 60 feet but maybe as far as 1,000 feet, and attach them to whatever it is that I’m transforming into the instrument.”

Andrea Brook and the Sonic Butterfly.

The harp has two resonating chambers that are shaped like butterfly wings, each of which contain a projection screen to create a visual, musical experience. Brass strings will be attached along the roof of the Des Moines Civic Center, stretched over Third Street, and down to the harp in Cowles Commons.

“I’m going to be setting up a stage and then we’re going to run the strings all the way across the street and to the top of the Des Moines Civic Center,” Brook says. “So it’s going to be a fairly large installation. Some of the strings will be as much as 200 feet long and so I think it’s going to be really spectacular.”

For next week’s performances, Brook will be accompanied by a pianist, a violinist and a drummer for all-original music, which she calls “evocative.” “We will do a variety of different things,” Brook says. “There will be solo songs so you get to just experience the harp. There will be pieces where it’s just the pianist and I, or just the violinist and I, and we will have big, full, high-energy full band pieces.”

Seven one-hour performances are scheduled over three days — and all are free. Catch Sonic Butterfly on Thursday, September 15th at 6:30 p.m.; Friday, September 16th at 12 p.m., 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; and on Saturday, September 17th at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.