(Creston, Iowa) – Officials with the Creston Police Department say a man residing in the 500 block of N. Chestnut Street, in Creston, reported Monday morning, an incident of vehicle vandalism. The man’s truck was spray painted sometime between 1-a.m. and 5-a.m., Monday, with the damage estimated at $2,000.

(Mount Ayr, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Ringgold County report a Clarke County man faces charges following an injury accident that occurred early Saturday morning (July 1st) in southern Ringgold County. Authorities say 43-year-old Jaycob Leroy Waske, of Murray, was traveling west on Highway J-55 a little after 3-a.m., in an are open only to local traffic, due to construction. The report said Waske ignored signs leading toward the construction and drove through warning cones indicating a roadway drop-off of approximately one-foot in the westbound lanes leading to the bridge.

The 2008 Chevy Impala he was driving then struck the bridge deck at a high rate of speed, totaling the car and damaging the construction area. Waske and his passenger, 45-year-old Joshua Lewis, of Mount Ayr, were treated at the Ringgold County Hospital and later transferred to Mercy in Des Moines, as the result of suffering multiple fractures during the crash.

Jaycob Waske was charged with Interference with Official Acts, and cited for Failure to Obey a traffic control device (Signs), along with Leaving the scene of an accident-Failure to provide aid or information after an effort to hide the accident from law enforcement. His bond was set at $300.

Jaycob Waske (Ringgold County S/O photo)

(Knoxville, Iowa) – A single-vehicle crash Tuesday evening in Marion County resulted in the death of a woman who was a rear-seat passenger in an SUV. The Iowa State Patrol reports 34-year-old Whitney Marie Brown, of What Cheer, was a passenger in a 2013 Chevy Equinox driven by 49-year-old Tamara Goodlife, of Altoona, when Goodlife failed to negotiate an “S” curve on southbound Highway S-45, west of Knoxville.

The vehicle went off the road and into a ditch until it came to a driveway, and vaulted over it. The SUV then went airborne and struck a tree on the other side of the ditch. Brown was not wearing a seat belt, and died at the scene of the crash, which took place at around 5:15-p.m., Tuesday. Three other occupants of the vehicle were injured and transported to the local hospital.

(Radio Iowa) – Fort Dodge police say a person was fatally shot shortly before 10 o’clock last (Tuesday) night. The 15-year-old male victim was found in the street on the southwest side of the intersection of 15th Street and Fourth Avenue South. The teen was pronounced dead at the scene. His name was being withheld until all family members are notified. Fort Dodge and Webster County authorities continue with their investigation.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowans are being warned about a new type of phone scam called “smishing.” It’s similar to “phishing” except now crooks are using text messages to try and get you to give up your personal financial information. Paul Benda, a cybersecurity officer with the American Bankers Association, says people should know not to reveal sensitive information like their passwords and Social Security numbers, even if the source appears legitimate.

“They’ll send a text that looks like it comes from your bank. It may look exactly like texts you’ve seen in the past, and it’s a fraud alert asking you if you’ve made a purchase. You hit ‘Yes’ and someone then immediately calls your number and then tries to convince you that they’re from your bank,” Benda says. “So the challenge we’ve got is that a lot of times, the caller ID even shows the name

“They’ll talk you through, they’ll sound very professional, and then they’ll start asking for your details,” Benda says. “They’ll ask for you to confirm your username, your login, and things your banks would never ask. Then they’ll send you that one-time passcode because they’re logging in ‘on your behalf,’ and then they’ll ask you for that passcode and again, your bank’s never going to ask you for that passcode. Once they’ve got that, they’ve got access to your account.”

Iowans should recognize there’s a red flag when the supposed bank representative asks for your account information — which that representative should already have. “They’re going to try and pressure you. They’re going to try and say, ‘Hey, we’re going to close your account unless you respond.’ Your bank is never going to break up with you over text,” Benda says. “The other thing is, they might ask you to send money to yourself. ‘Oh, to protect your account here, we’re going to have you send money to yourself using your cell phone number.’ Your bank’s never going to ask you to send money to anyone.”
The Federal Trade Commission says Americans lost more than 5.8-billion dollars to phishing and other fraud in 2021, an increase of more than 70-percent compared to 2020.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Fire officials in Red Oak are investigating a garage fire that took place early Tuesday morning. Red Oak Fire Chief John Bruce told the media the Red Oak Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 500 West Coolbaugh Street, at around 2-a.m. Tuesday, following a report a detached garage was on fire.

The flames were quickly brought under control, with minimal structural damage to the garage. There were no injuries. Debris from fireworks were located nearby.  Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Red Oak Police Department at 712-623-6500.

Photo submitted

Firefighters in Red Oak were assisted by crews from the Elliott Fire Department. Also on scene were officers with the Red Oak Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies and Mid-American Utilities. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Communications coordinated their efforts.