Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff immediately on Monday, October 9, and remain at half-staff until sunset on Sunday, October 15, 2023, to honor the lives lost – including at least nine Americans – in the horrific attacks committed against Israel by Iran-backed terrorist organization Hamas.

“Iowans mourn for the families of those killed by Hamas in Israel. Hamas’ brutality knows no bounds, with reports of Holocaust survivors, women, and children taken by Hamas militants from their homes as hostages or brutally murdered,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Today and every day, Iowa stands in solidarity with Israel and their right to defend themselves.”

Flags will be flown at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex. Flags will also be at half-staff on all public buildings, grounds and facilities throughout the state.

Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

CRESTON, Iowa – Oct. 9, 2023 – The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Creston Construction Office says “If you drive on U.S. 59 north of Shenandoah you need to be aware of a bridge replacement project that begins on Monday, Oct. 16 at 8 a.m. until Aug. 1, 2024, that may slow down your trip. U.S. 59 will be closed one mile north of Iowa 48. While crews work on this project you will need to follow a marked detour route from Iowa 48 to U.S. 34.”

The DOT asks motorists to drive with caution, obey the posted speed limit and other signs in the work area, and be aware that traffic fines for moving violations are at least double in work zones. As in all work zones, you should stay alert, allow ample space between vehicles, and wear seat belts.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports area first responders were called Saturday (Oct. 7th) to the 66-mile marker of eastbound Interstate 80, for a semi tractor and trailer that slid into the ditch and tipped to it’s side.  Upon arrival, responders found that a 2010 Volvo semi tractor and trailer being operated by William Hair, of Winston Salem, NC, was traveling East on I-80, when the semi slid into the South ditch and eventually rolled onto it’s side.

Hair suffered minor injuries during the accident but had a cardiac event soon after that required emergency medical attention.  Life-light was requested and the driver was transported to a regional hospital for emergent care.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports three recent arrests. On Oct. 3rd, Deputies arrested 49-year-old Dodi Avey, of Lewis, for allegedly Depositing or Throwing Litter on the Highway.  Avey was transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held pending her later release on her own recognizance.

And, on September 27th, Cass County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 42-year-old Christina Burnsworth, of Atlantic, on a warrant for Violation of Probation.  Burnsworth was picked up and transported to the Cass County Jail where she was booked and held.

On September 28th, 42-year-old David Wall, Jr., of Atlantic, was arrested for allegedly Depositing or Throwing Litter on the Highway.  Wall Jr. was transported to the Cass County Jail where he was booked and held pending his later release on his own recognizance.

(Sidney, Iowa) – Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope says his deputies made eight arrests over the past week. Included among them was:

On Oct. 1st, 29-year-old Brett Michael Parrott, of Sidney, who was arrested for Theft 4th Degree. He was released after being cited into court.

Parrott

On Oct. 2nd, Fremont County deputies arrested 25-year-old Dustin Carl Lee Perry, of Hamburg, for Driving Under Suspension. He was released on time served.

There were three arrests on Oct. 3rd in Fremont County: 32-year-old Diego Adrian Hernandez-Castro, of Kansas City, MO., was arrested after Deputies made contact with a vehicle parked on Interstate 29. During the stop, deputies located methamphetamine and a stolen firearm. Hernandez-Castro was arrested for: Trafficking in Stolen Weapons, a Class D Felony, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was being held on $5,000 cash/surety bond; 58-year-old Terry Lee Prine, of Sidney, was arrested Oct. 3rd for Violation of a No-Contact Order, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Marijuana. He is being held on $7,000 cash/surety bond. Prine had previously been released from jail for 11 counts of Violation of a No-Contact Order, and Harassment 1st Degree, when 10% of $5,000 was posted on Sept. 14th; And, Fremont County deputies arrested 61-year-old Michelle Louise Allen, of Sidney, on Oct. 3rd, for Violation of a No-Contact Order. She was released on $300 bond.

Allen

Hernandez-Castro

Perry

Prine

The following day (Oct. 4th), 26-year-old Thomas Brett Haughton, of Hamburg, was arrested for two counts of Harassment 1st Degree, after deputies took a report on that day of a male who had approached two small children and threatened to kidnap them in Hamburg. When the children’s mother confronted Haughton, he allegedly repeated the threat to the mother. Haughton was released after posting 10% of $2,000 bond.

Last Thursday (Oct. 5), 49-year-old Kara Marcine Lorimor, of Sidney, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts and Disorderly Conduct. She was cited into court and released.

And, on Sunday (Oct. 8th), 23-year-old Treyton Lee Gubser, of Tarkio, MO, (Photo not available) was arrested in Fremont County, for Disorderly Conduct. He was released after posting a $300 bond.

Haughton

Lorimor

All six Republicans who represent Iowa in the U-S House and Senate are condemning the terrorist attack in Israel and vowing to support renewed U-S funding for Israel’s defense. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.

alternate version with this lead: All six Republicans who represent Iowa in the U-S House and Senate are condemning the terrorist attack in Israel and the two Iowa lawmakers who are veterans are backing specific pieces of related legislation. Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson reports.

Third district Congressman Zach Nunn calls the attack barbaric and he’s joined with a Democratic congressman from North Carolina to sponsor bipartisan legislation about boosting U-S assistance for Israel. First district Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says Israel is our strongest ally in the Middle East and Israel has a right to defend itself. Second district Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says she saw the importance of Israel’s “Iron Dome” defens e system when she visited Israel last year and Hinson says in the coming days Congress must unite and approve replentishing the system. Hinson is also calling on the Biden Administration to brief congress on how they plan to evacuate Americans still in Israel and get them home safely. Fourth district Congressman Randy Feenstra says Hamas terrorists committed heinous and unprovoked attacks on the people of Israel and the U-S will support Israel as they defend their homeland. Senator Chuck Grassley says he and his wife are praying for the innocent civilians who were murdered by Hamas — and for peace and strength for Israel. Senator Joni Ernst says Hamas is funded and supported by Iran and American must never appease Iran or its proxies. ANNOUNCER OUT: Just before Saturday’s attacks, Senator Ernst called for maximum sanctions on government officials in Iran, as well as that country’s financial and energy sectors. Ernst has criticized the Biden Administration for the recent release of Iranian assets in exchange for the release of five Americans held hostage in Iran.

(Radio Iowa) – An eastern Iowa school is being singled out by the U-S Department of Education. The 225-student Grundy Center Middle School is the only middle school in the state to earn the department’s Blue Ribbon Award for the year. Principal Michael Vokes says earning the honor for exceptional academic achievement is as much a result of what’s taught outside the curriculum as what’s taught within. “What I see with my staff is their unwavering commitment to do what they believe is best for their students and for their kids,” Vokes says. “We’re just talking about character traits and how do we positively walk through a situation.”

The Department of Education uses state assessments and national tests to determine school rankings. The school’s 5th through 8th grades placed in the top 15-percent of Iowa testing. Vokes says the award shows that public education works, especially when whole communities get on board. “It does take a village,” he says. “It does take partnerships between the community and our teachers and our school, and everyone else to make this thing work. There are no shortcuts. We have to really get to know our kids, get to know what they need and where they struggle, and then we have to do our best to meet those needs and help them be successful.”

The school’s 7th and 8th grades both tested near 100-percent proficiency at the state level, which helped secure the nomination.

(by Grant Winterer, Iowa Public Radio)

(Greenfield, Iowa) – Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports two men were arrested last Thursday. 37-year-old Jesus Martinez, of St. Paul, MN, was arrested at around 9:40-p.m. on warrants out of Minnesota, for Possession of 50-grams or more of cocaine or methamphetamine in the 1st Degree, Violation of Probation for failure to comply with a court-ordered treatment program, and for being a Fugitive from Justice. Martinez was being held without bond in the Adair County Jail.

And, at around 10:25-p.m. Oct. 5th, 52-year-old John Leroy Pace, of Clarinda, was arrested in Adair, for Driving while barred in Iowa. His arrest followed a traffic stop for speeding in Adair. Pace was Released on his Own Recognizance. The arresting Officer’s report said a passenger in the SUV Pace was driving, 33-year-old Calie Mace, was taken into custody on a Page County arrest warrant.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Police in Council Bluffs are asking for the public’s help in locating three white men who fled the scene of a stabbing incident, early Saturday morning. According to the Police report, at around 12:52-a.m., Saturday, officers were dispatched to the 1000 block of 2nd Avenue in Council Bluffs, for a stabbing that had just taken place. Police located the victim in the grass next to the street. The man was suffering from a stab wound to his lower right chest. The first officer on the scene applied a chest seal to the wound while waiting for medics to arrive.

The alleged offenders, who were described as being in their 20’s, left the scene prior to officers’ arrival, in a red SUV with a broken back window.

Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to call the Council Bluffs P-D Criminal Investigation Division at 712-328-4728. To remain anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers at 712-328-7867, or submit on-line crime tips through this link.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Drake University is the recipient of a $5-million dollar gift intended for the University’s Center for Public Democracy. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, the announcement was made last Friday by Ron Olson, as he addressed the journalists in Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium during a press conference.

Ron and his wife Jane hope the university will continue to support students as they seek to address problems facing democracy in the U.S. The facility on the Drake campus will now be known as the Ron and Jane Olson Center for Public Democracy. The university plans to use the funds to expand its efforts to teach future generations about civic leadership and participatory democracy.

School officials say the center’s goal is to strengthen the practice of participatory democracy, through teachings in shared governance, healthy debate and collaboration for a better, collective future. Ron Olson says practices like civility and disagreement without aggression are increasingly rare in today’s political climate, and he hopes the center will instill them in young people who could soon become the country’s political leaders.

Scott Raecker, co-founder of the public democracy center and executive director of the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, said the gift will be spread out across all areas of the center’s programming, from scholarships to programming both within the center and to engage other areas of campus to travel opportunities and bringing guests to Des Moines to interact with students. Funds will also go toward constructing a physical space for the center on campus.

The gift puts the university’s campus-wide fundraising campaign over $200 million. The Ones Campaign has a goal of raising $225 million to increase student access and opportunity, fund capital projects, enrich programs and more.