A welfare check on a subject in Red Oak, Tuesday afternoon, resulted in the arrest of 38-year old Dustin Franklin Cross, of Red Oak. Cross was taken into custody for Assault on a Peace Officer, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Red Oak Police were called to the 100 block of East Corning Street at around 4:15-p.m. in reference to a welfare check, and made contact with Cross.

Authorities say the man became combative with officers, who were assisted at the scene by Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies and Red Oak Rescue. There were no injuries. Cross was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens have honored heroic citizens and First Responders at the 2019 Sullivan Brothers’ Award of Valor and Governor’s Lifesaving Awards ceremony held Tuesday morning in the Iowa Capitol Rotunda.  Among them was Matthew Van Baale, of Harlan, who won an Outstanding Service Award, which is presented to persons who have performed a courageous act in an attempt to save an individual who was in danger of losing his or her life or to individuals who unselfishly rendered service in a time of emergency.

Iowa DPS spokesman, Sgt. Alex Dinkla told KJAN News Van Baale was recognized for his heroic efforts following an ATV accident. Dinkla said on a cold, rainy March 29, 2017, a local farmer was working with his cattle, and in the process, his 4-wheeler overturned. The farmer suffered serious injuries. He tried to crawl out and obtain help on his own, but passed out due to his injuries. Minutes turned to hours. Dinkla says while Van Baale was driving in the area, he sensed something wasn’t right, and eventually found the man and called 9-1-1 to summon rescue personnel. “Thanks to his efforts and his determination that day, that gentleman is still with us today. Matthew was awarded the Governor’s Lifesaving Award for Outstanding Service.”

Matthew Van Baale

A total of 20 individuals from communities across the state were recognized for their courageous responses. This was the first year the two awards programs were combined for one very special event that featured the Iowa State Patrol Honor Guard and the National Anthem performed by Simon Estes.

The Governor’s Lifesaving Awards Program recognizes recipients in four different categories including:

• Lifesaving with Valor, which is awarded to those individuals who at the risk of their own life, attempted to save that of another.
• Lifesaving, which is awarded to those individuals who have attempted to save the life of another individual, but did not put their own life in jeopardy.
• Meritorious, which is awarded to those individuals in recognition of courageous and unselfish service rendered during a time of distress.
• Outstanding Service, which is presented to persons who have performed a courageous act in an attempt to save an individual who was in danger of losing his or her life or to individuals who unselfishly rendered service in a time of emergency.

The Governor’s Lifesaving Awards honored 13 civilians:

•    Kenyon Murray – Outstanding Service Award, Cedar Rapids
•    Matthew Van Baale – Outstanding Award, Harlan
•    Sarah “Sally” Dunshee – Lifesaving Award, Ankeny
•    Lee Gard – Lifesaving Award, Grimes
•    MariClare Thinnes-Culver – Lifesaving Award, West Des Moines
•    Sarah Thomas – Outstanding Service Award, Des Moines
•    Nicholas Jaschen – Lifesaving Award, Sumner
•    Luke Preussner – Lifesaving Award, Manchester
•    Daniel Roby – Lifesaving Award, Des Moines
•    Nathan Thayer – Lifesaving Award, Prole
•    Mehl Wright – Lifesaving Award, Keokuk
•    Ryan Cripe – Lifesaving with Valor, Fort Dodge
•    Gregory “Gus” Loehr – Lifesaving with Valor, Callendar

The Sullivan Brothers’ Award of Valor recognized seven First Responders from two fire departments:

•    Firefighter – Joshua Myers, Sigourney Fire and Rescue
•    Firefighter – Joseph White, Sigourney Fire and Rescue
•   Firefighter – Zachery Steinhart, Sigourney Fire and Rescue

•    Captain Rich Damm, Ottumwa Fire Department
•    Firefighter Gary Doud, Ottumwa Fire Department
•    Firefighter Andrew Ewing, Ottumwa Fire Department
•    Firefighter Will Munley, Ottumwa Fire Department

To make future nominations, or for general information on the Sullivan Brothers’ Award of Valor and Governor’s Lifesaving Awards, visit the DPS website: www.dps.iowa.gov.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — An official with Menards confirms the home improvement store had purchased the Mall of the Bluffs in Council Bluffs and will tear down the structure to make room for a new store. Menards spokesman Jeff Abbott said Monday the company would build a “bigger and better store” at the site of the mall in eastern Council Bluffs, just off Interstate 80. Tenants of the mall told The Daily Nonpareil newspaper that they have been told to leave the mall by the end of the year or sooner. Abbott said the new store was needed because and existing one was “small and dated.” Menards is based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two French companies will pay the University of Iowa more than $1.1 billion to secure the rights to operate its utility system for the next 50 years under a plan approved Tuesday. The Iowa Board of Regents voted Tuesday to approve the deal with a newly-formed consortium made up of energy company ENGIE and investor and asset manager Meridiam. Gov. Kim Reynolds told the regents that it was a “historic day for higher education in Iowa.” She called it an innovative approach that will create revenue that help finance the school’s strategic plan. Critics have called the deal risky.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — An African man who was trying to build a new life in Cedar Rapids has spent the past 18 months at an Iowa City hospital, recovering from a traffic accident that killed two fellow immigrants. Jean-Claude Shako suffered head and other injuries in the June 25, 2018, collision while he and four other immigrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo were headed to work in Tama. He’s well enough to be discharged, doctors have said, but he has no family to move in with, no money for a rehabilitation center and isn’t yet eligible for assistance through Medicaid.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A Waterloo woman has been given a 15-year sentence for scamming a couple out of thousands of dollars by saying she had a kidney transplant, tumors and other medical problems. Court records say 47-year-old Shawn Adams was sentenced Friday. She’s also known as Shawn Tomkins. Prosecutors say she got nearly $58,000 in aid from the Waterloo couple after telling them her tale of woe. Prosecutors say she accused one of one of them of sexually abusing her son when they discovered her scam.