Creston Police report the arrest late Thursday morning, of 34-year old Jacob Jeffrey Fry. Fry, who’s from Creston, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center,  on a charge of OWI 1st Offense.  He was later released on $1,000 bond.

Nearly a century ago soldiers went off to France to fight in the “war to end all wars“, World War I. When the war ended November 11, 1918, more than four million served in the U. S. army and half of those had participated overseas. More than 100,000 Americans lost their lives.

National Guardsmen from the Atlantic area serving in the 168th Infantry, would be an element of one of the first American units to arrive “over there”. They were part of the famous 42nd “Rainbow” Division. Learn about serving in the Great War at a presentation this Sunday, April 2nd, beginning at 2 pm, at the American Legion Memorial Building (the Armory), 201 Poplar Street in Atlantic.

The speaker, Darrek Orwig, will tell about war time experiences through eye-witness accounts, historic images, artwork, and period motion picture footage. His recently published book is Somewhere Over There: The Letters, Diary, and Artwork of a World War I Corporal based on wartime papers of correspondent Francis Webster. Newspapers in Des Moines received his war time news reports and art work. Webster worked for Ding Darling before becoming a soldier.

Flags will be placed on graves of WWI veterans in Atlantic cemeteries on Thursday, April 6 beginning at 5:30. Boy Scouts, DOES, American Legion members and other community folks will assist in honoring about 240 veterans. DAR members will hold a coffee earlier in the day beginning at 10 am to honor all veterans and their families.

The American Legion Memorial Building completed in 1929 was built as a memorial to WW I veterans. It has been renovated and includes a Military Museum and a Military Library. Displays currently feature items such as uniforms, weapons, gas masks, a saddle, individual equipment such as a mess kit and much more.

Events are sponsored by the Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE) owner of the Building. There is no fee for the program but donations are welcome.

Red Oak Police arrested a man from Polk County early this morning. Authorities say 30-year old Seth Allen Simmons, of Des Moines, was arrested at around 3:15-a.m. for Trespass, Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree, and urinating in public. Simmons was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

Sheriff’s Officials in Adams County say two Union County women were arrested on drug charges at around 1:25-a.m. today (Friday), following a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle, Amber Dawn Miller, and passenger, Pamela Dea Claiser,both of Creston, weres found to be in possession of a glass smoking devices used to ingest methamphetamine. Miller also had a small baggie of marijuana

The women were brought to the Adams County Jail, where Miller and Claiser were each charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Miller was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/Meth – 1st offense. Her cash bond was set at $1,300, while Claiser’s cash bond was set at $300.

Police in Red Oak Thursday night, arrested a man on two counts each of trespassing and theft in the 3rd degree. 36-year old Luke Daniel Rinehart, of Red Oak, was taken into custody a little after 11-p.m. in the 400 block of E. Joy Street. He was brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where bond was set at $2,000. Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted Red Oak Police in making the arrest.

A lot of Iowans are calling the Iowa Department of Revenue asking about the status of their tax return. Victoria Daniels is spokeswoman for the agency. “A lot is an understatement,” Daniels said, laughing.More than half as many income tax refunds have been issued this year in Iowa compared to last year at this time. “It’s been crazy,” Daniels said. “People are upset, they’re frustrated, and sometimes they’re not very nice.”

The issue isn’t unique to Iowa. Many states are warning that income tax refunds may take several months. The reason refunds are taking longer involves new protections against fraud. “The incidents of tax refund fraud has just skyrocketed in the last five years or so,” Daniels said. “There’s been some (fraud), to some extent, for a long time, but just within the last five years, it’s just out of control.”

Another factor in the refund delay is a new federal law requiring the IRS to hold refunds until February 15 for people who claim certain tax credits. The federal agency conducts an additional review of those returns that are considered especially vulnerable to fraud. Daniels suggests taxpayers get used to waiting longer for their returns. “We’ve been telling taxpayers to allow at least eight weeks before the even think about seeing a return show up,” Daniels said.

And instead of calling the Iowa Department of Revenue to check on a return, Daniels wants Iowans to visit the agency’s website. “We have an app on our website called Where’s My Refund? You just need your social security number, the amount of your return, and the tax year you filed for, and that will give you the status of your refund,” Daniels said.

Iowa has issued just under $142 million in income tax refunds on 2016 returns as of March 24. “Comparatively to last year, that’s about 58-percent less — both in terms of dollars and number of checks that have been issued,” Daniels said. The Iowa Department of Revenue received more than 10,000 fake tax returns for the 2015 filing season, according to Daniels.

(Radio Iowa)